Hey John,

If the N word was also a move that somehow wasn't connected to the slur, you wouldn't dare argue that it's different or that you should get to call it, so drop the argument please. Just because you don't think I should be offended about the word and how it reflects on my heritage doesn't mean you get to dictate whether I actually am. I would ask you not to decide for others how they ought to experience and respect their racial identity, thanks. 

Isaac 

On Tue, Oct 8, 2019, 5:10 AM John Sweeney via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Since the topic has been re-opened…

 

First, please may I clear up a couple of points of confusion.

 

The original version of the Gypsy dance move did not involve eyes.  The first known mention of eyes is in America in 1983.  Dancers outside the modern contra genre do not always lock eyes.  Indeed, in 1911 Cecil Sharp defined two moves, the Whole-Gip Facing Centre and the Whole-Gip Facing Outward, the second of which definitely didn’t involve eye contact!

 

English is a rich and varied language wherein many words have multiple, different meanings. This is one of them! In this context the word Gip or Gypsy is a historical dance term. It has nothing to do with the people known as gypsies.

 

Roma and gypsy are not synonymous.  One of the definitions of gypsy is just “traveller”.  Dance Gypsy just means a dancer who travels.

 

For lots more background on the Gypsy move please see http://contrafusion.co.uk/Gypsy.html. 

 

= = = = = = = = = = =

 

However, if you insist on linking the two together, the move and the person, then please read on.

 

I am sorry, but I do not believe that the word “gypsy” is intrinsically a racial/ethnic slur.  To be a slur it would have to be used in a way that the context and tone make it a slur.  If I call someone a “stupid gypsy” in a nasty tone of voice then it would be a slur.  But, of course, I could say, “stupid blonde”, “stupid Irishman” or “stupid child” in a nasty tone.  None of these make the individual words “blonde”, “Irishman” or “child” into slurs.  Context and tone are crucial in making an ordinary word into a slur.  In the context of a dance there is no slur intended, and none should be inferred.

 

If it was intrinsically a slur then would these, and countless other, organisations use it in their names or descriptions?

Gypsy Council USA https://twitter.com/gypsy_usa

The National Federation of Gypsy Liaison Groups http://www.nationalgypsytravellerfederation.org/

Friends Families and Travellers https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

 

The Pope started his address to the Pilgrimage of Gypsies with, “Dear gypsy friends”. https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2015/october/documents/papa-francesco_20151026_popolo-gitano.html I don’t believe that he intended it as a slur!

 

 I have been teaching dance for nearly 50 years, using the words “Half Gyp”, “Whole Gyp” and “Gypsy” and of the thousands of people I have taught, not a single one has ever suggested that it might be a slur in that context.

 

I am Irish and have cousins who call themselves gypsies and who would be most upset at the suggestion that the word is intrinsically a slur.

 

Rather than remove the word from our vocabulary, surely we should instead be trying to make the word positive.  Fight back against those who use words nastily and reclaim our language.

 

When all the gypsy organisations in the world declare that it is a slur and change their names then I might start to believe it, but until then please consider just explaining to anyone who asks (IF anyone ever asks) that the dance move is a completely different use of the word, and because of its context cannot possibly be a slur.

 

            Happy dancing,                         

                   John                                  

                                   

John Sweeney, Dancer, England   john@modernjive.com 01233 625 362 & 07802 940 574                         

http://contrafusion.co.uk/KentCeilidhs.html for Live Music Ceilidhs                       

http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent                                         

http://www.modernjive.com for Modern Jive DVDs

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