17 replies to this topic

[Soundbounder]

The voters of a small New Hampshire town will have the final say on whether to change the controversial name of a local pond.
The small pond near the middle of Mount Vernon is known as Jew Pond. Town officials say it got its name back in the 1920s because the operators of a hotel that once stood next to it were Jewish.

The name recently got the attention of New Hampshire Bishop Peter Libasci. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper saying the name conveyed contempt and urged townspeople to change it. Residents will decide in the March 13 election.

Some residents told WMUR-TV that they don't find the name offensive and that it's part of the town's history.






http://boatinglocal....ame-change.html

[Soundbounder]

[El Mariachi]

Renaming the jewfish
July 23, 2001

Few names, words or ideas are so incendiary as those associated with specific ethnic or religious groups. Chief Illiniwek may be only a University of Illinois mascot, but there are reasons why his symbolism troubles those who don't think twice about Northwestern's Willie the Wildcat or Wisconsin's Bucky Badger.

One of these public debates involves a huge fish, a type of grouper primarily found in Florida waters, which for more than three centuries has been known as the jewfish. What makes this question of ichthyological correctness instructive is not the heat the issue has raised, but the refreshing wisdom that three Jewish leaders in Florida have brought to it.

The origin of the fish's name isn't clear. The most innocent view traces to a book authored by an English adventurer in 1697; he wrote that the jewfish was a kosher creature favored by Jews in Jamaica. But the more likely theory is that the name traces back even further to medieval anti-Semitism in Europe.

The name has troubled some, though by no means all, Jews in Florida and other locales. Since 1960 or so, a few complaints about the name have been arriving at the Maryland-based American Fisheries Society. That organization's Committee on Names of Fishes, composed of seven people who really should get out more, is the nation's arbiter of, well, names of fishes.

A few weeks back, the committee announced that while it found no evidence of the name jewfish being used offensively, the group had decided to change the name to goliath grouper. That has a ring of accuracy, given that this little fishie can grow to 680 (yes, 680) pounds.

In subsequent weeks, Jewish leaders in Florida have been commenting to reporters there on the name change. Three of those leaders have used the occasion not to chauvinistically champion the change, but to offer lessons on oversensitivity.

Quoth Art Teitelbaum of the Anti-Defamation League: "Stereotypes about Jews have resulted in everything from murder to social discrimination. [But] in my experience, the jewfish has never been an energizing factor."

Then there's Rabbi Efrat Zarren-Zohar, a prominent Jewish educator: "When you go from a century when people are being killed, murdered for being who they are, to the point we are worrying about the language we use--part of me is saying, `Congratulations, we've come so far."'

And Rabbi Bruce Diamond, a Jewish leader in Fort Myers: "I tell you, in the universe of things that need to change, the name of a big grouper is low on the list. . . . I appreciate their political correctness, but people should think about getting migrant laborers a few more pennies for their tomatoes, do something good for the world. And you got that from the rabbi's mouth."

This newspaper has supported unemployment for Chief Illiniwek. And there will be other situations that, because they deservedly rub some people the wrong way, demand changes.

That said, maybe the tale (not the tail) of the jewfish is worth storing away for future use. Maybe we should ask ourselves whether we should put so much energy into names and labels, and comparatively little energy into asking whether the debate is worth the effort.

One problem is that these naming controversies never end. Yes, the jewfish is now the goliath grouper. But as The Miami Herald noted, this nation has at least nine islands or bodies of water named for the jewfish. There's Jewfish Point in Los Angeles, Jewfish Creek in the Florida Keys, not to mention the well-known Jewfish Creek Bridge, a gateway to Key Largo. Changing all those names would involve sober actions by state legislatures or the very official U.S. Board on Geographic Names and, well, you know.

And let's not even get into the wandering jew (a plant that one smart-aleck newspaper reader in Florida has suggested be renamed the roaming nomad). Or into all the other names of fish--Spanish mackerel, Irish lord--with ethnic-sounding names.

Those who insist on red-alert vigilance in these matters can now fuss over, of all things, the newly named goliath grouper.

See, Goliath was that evil Philistine giant who was killed by a stone from the sling of David the shepherd boy. And how long do you think it will take the Philistine lobby to now claim victimhood because David was . . . Jewish?

[On the Hard]

Really, I think it's time we rename the Gulf Coast Redfish. I mean, that fish is no more communist than any other fish I'm aware of, and as an eater of small fish, may even be characterized as a Capitalist. We need to get on this important issue right away. Please write your congressman (or congresswoman, gotta stay PC here).

[chinabald]

The Rev Jesse Jackson suggests Himey Pond as a more casual sounding name.

[On the Hard]

The Rev Jesse Jackson suggests Himey Pond as a more casual sounding name.

Excellent!!

[Owen]

Sounds like a great place for the canoe joke. ..,


What's the difference etc. ?

The canoe tips!

[mikewof]

Jokes aside, I thought I caught a jewfish once, but the guy at the bait shop told me it was just a gefilte.

[El Mariachi]

Jokes aside, I thought I caught a jewfish once, but the guy at the bait shop told me it was just a gefilte.

I caught one once also, but I threw him back.........'cuz I had no interest.....

[Hatin' life]

Please, please, PLEASE!! Just fucking kill me if I ever find enough time in my day to start a campaign to change the name of sauerkraut to something else because it is offensive to my German blood.



Did you know Jesus was a Jew?

[silent bob]

Oy Vey!

[Regatta Dog]

Pennsylvania has the towns of Intercourse, Virginville, and in between the two is a town named, aptly, Blue Ball. A nice, cold swimming hole of any religion would probably be welcome in the latter town mentioned.

[tuf-luf]

Oy Vey!

[DarthSailor]

The Rev Jesse Jackson suggests Himey Pond as a more casual sounding name.

Hymie?

[Bus Driver]

Hymie.

[silent bob]

From Negro Creek to Wop Draw, place names offend

[GybeSet®]

J Jewfish
Named after a bone resembling Jesus on the cross found
in the fish’s skull, the jewfish requires more than a prayer
to catch. Use large cut baits of mullet or slimy mackerel,
live yellowtail or fresh squid. Fish the deep holes in the
harbour when the tide peaks around dusk or dawn.

http://www.afloat.co...403_fishing.pdf

[Bus Driver]

J Jewfish
Named after a bone resembling Jesus on the cross found
in the fish’s skull, the jewfish requires more than a prayer
to catch. Use large cut baits of mullet or slimy mackerel,
live yellowtail or fresh squid. Fish the deep holes in the
harbour when the tide peaks around dusk or dawn.

http://www.afloat.co...403_fishing.pdf

Is that all it takes?