Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!purdue!umd5!cvl!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Digression
Message-ID: <11010@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: 11 Apr 88 09:01:51 GMT
References: <5017@uwmcsd1.UUCP> <2790@gryphon.CTS.COM> <1221@uop.edu> <1294@uop.edu>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 18

>In article <472@flatline.UUCP> erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) writes:
>>Nit pick:  "Calling a spade a spade" is a racist cliche'.

In article <1294@uop.edu> todd@uop.edu (Dr. Nethack) writes:
>... the term comes from cards, not racism, (where it was later attributed to).

Ah, but where did the *cards* come from?

In fact the origin is not racist but classist.  Swords (now Clubs)
symbolised the nobility; Diamonds, the merchants; Cups (Hearts), the
Priesthood, and of course, Spades, the working class: the farmers.

What matters now is whether the term is perceived as racist by
those who might perceive it as racist (a rather circular question,
but that which is considered offensive has never been based on logic).
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris