Africa and Columbus (letters to the editor “Hirngespinste” and “Immer stupid”) should also no longer be correct?
These are proper names.
Europeans have called the continent that since ancient times.
And Columbus discovered America over 500 years ago and started conquering it for the Spaniards.
Even as someone who, as a child, said “Negro kiss” to a well-known sweet (and didn't know the word racism at the time), I would speak differently today.
Because we should always be careful not to offend anyone in our choice of words.
Language changes and with it the meaning of words.
What once had a positive or neutral meaning can be negative today.
Christian Vordemann
Editorial letters to the editor
