[etni] Re: ALERT! anti-semitism on a dictionary site

a small step forward

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Howard M. Love, Jr. <howardmlove@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: YourDictionary.com
To: marjef@xxxxxxxxx

Dear Mr. Green,
It came to our attention this morning that the first definition and an 
associated idiom for the headword entry "Jew" was offensive.  I looked at the 
entry with our editorial team immediately.  While the entry did note that the 
reference was "vulgar and offensive", we have decided that explaining the bias 
is not worth the risk of perpetuating it.  Thus, we decided to take the 
definition and the associated idiom down from the site.  We will be notifying 
the publisher of the dictionary, from whom we license our definitions.  Thanks 
for bringing this to our attention and please accept our deep apologies.
Sincerely,
Howard Love
CEO
YourDictionary

--- On Mon, 7/21/08, jeffrey green <marjef@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: jeffrey green <marjef@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: YourDictionary.com
To: admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Monday, July 21, 2008, 2:14 AM
 
First.
As a Jew, I find it extremely offensive to see that the first definition for 
"Jew" in your dictionary is the verb "to jew," which is synonymous with "gyp" 
(equally offensive to Roma people) - if you're going to include that verb, it 
certainly shouldn't precede the noun.  I see that you also have an invidious 
definition of the verb "welsh" before any other definition - 
Second,
As an Israeli who opposes the occupation (please look that word up), I still 
find it offensive that the only examples of occupation are related to Israeli 
occupation of Palestinian territory - it seems to me that China has occupied 
Tibet and could also serve as an example - the definition shouldn't read like a 
piece of pro-Palestinian propaganda.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M. Green
 
 
-- 
blog: http://marjef.blogspot.com/

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