Census Terminology
Census Terminology
To the Editor:
Okay. I do not understand why I seem to be in a such a minority in feeling that the Census form seems so blatantly unbalanced in its request for information.
I was almost expecting a Spanish version first, then English, but gladly, was not presented with that choice.
But, what is up with Question 8? Wanting to know if I am of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin, and if so, what country do I originate from. This is not a race, but a place of origin.
Then, Question 9...concerning race. First one is White. Second, Black, African American, or Negro. I found this staggeringly obvious in itâs omission. If our dark-skinned citizens require three different racial descriptions, how is it that White is only one? Last I knew, White was a ridiculous term laced with a history of all kinds of negative connotation, with Caucasian actually being the correct racial term as Negroid was the original correct term. I personally donât like to be called White and always write in Caucasian, if it is necessary for me to state âwhat I am.â White is the color of a sheet, or a clean piece of paper, not me. If language and proper names and terminology are so critical in these days of political sensitivity, then why and how does the term âWhiteâ still stand so singularly?
Itâs like trying to find that old crayon color, âflesh tone,â a pasty pinky color with the implication that everyoneâs flesh is that color... Crayola no longer makes that one.
And, as for Question 8, why is it that only that âgroupâ is being asked for their origin? Why is it not important where my âWhitenessâ comes from? Germany, Ireland, Poland, and Holland all had a part in what makes me âWhite.â
So, in the end, there does seem to be a certain agenda to this yearâs Census form and I am choosing not to participate. This formâs original purpose was solely to determine how many representatives each state would be allocated in Congress. That purpose and that purpose only. I will give them that, my body count, and thatâs it.
As for all the other questions on this form, one can only wonder, where is the outrage over these requests for information?
Where is Reverend Al when you really need him?
Victoria Maybeck
40 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown                            March 28, 2010