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Stamp It Out Campaign User Forum
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this space to comment on our Stamp It Out campaign. Do you think terms like 'primitive' or 'Stone Age' are accurate descriptions of modern-day tribal people, or unacceptable and racist? Should journalists be discouraged from referring to tribal people in this way, or are worries about these terms political correctness gone mad?
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Comments
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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
Why play word games? Indigenous cultures who use only stone tools are stone age cultures by definition. They are primitive as opposed to modern. Instead of being a victim use your energy to educate people on what we can learn from 'stone age' cultures. Show what value they have. Language only has power over you if you allow it to have that power. This type of effort is a waste of resources and appears silly to the masses.
Civilised or not civilised or primitive are inaccurate terms. They involve only those who use them. As a value judgement, they are nonsense except for those who used them. A culture can't be judged by the standards of another with which it doesn't share the same reality.
Mamadou Senghor, Dakar, Senegal
What needs to change is civilised people's attitudes towards primitive cultures. Not using such words will not help that happen, rather it will make things worse and reinforce current prejudices, which even politically correct people have.
Mark Wild, Edinburgh, UK
Some people use these terms in a derogatory way and others do not. I wouldn't necessarily accuse people who use them of being racist. However, I think that it would be better to invite people to use more accurate terms for the indigenous population, to insist on the idea that although they live in a very rudimentary way, they are as comtemporary as ourselves. We need to invite them to use more precise and neutral terms by using reasonable arguments.
Laura, Madrid, Spain
I think if these words are often used to describe tribal peoples, it is just because journalists have not yet acknowledged them, their way of life, their beliefs and much more. How can a teacher teach the right things if he is an ignoramus??? That's the same thing for journalists. How can they use the right words if they don't know the reality of tribal life?
Matt, France
I do not understand what is wrong with referring to tribal people as being 'stone age' if they indeed do not have any metal technology. Of course in the articles where it is used in a derogatory manner it's not acceptable but it's not the terms themselves just the general aproach of the writers that needs to change.
Jessica, Bristol, Somerset, UK
Our daily language is littered with colonial language meant to infer that Europeans had a God-given right (manifest destiny) to invade the Americas, commit the largest genocide of all time, whitewash the whole history of it and today ignore the truth. Still today the U.S. government is trying to get rid of native people by using genocidal laws that specify blood quantum which of course is equating blood to economics and which will destroy the Indian nations as it is rigged to do so. The media and the U.S. government continue to use language such as peaceful, well meaning pioneers, settlers and puritans vs marauding, scalping, warfaring Indians. Sites marked across the U.S. note so-called Indian massacres but never tell the story of Native Americans being pushed off their lands, left to starve and die or the places where the cavalry systematically shot and killed Native American women, children and men. Even the highly respected NY Times continually writes about Native Americans from this perspective.
Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, Corrales, New Mexico, USA
Primitive means 'being the earliest of its kind'. Living and being in the same ways as the 'earliest of their kind' is what tribal people are, surely? In a world of so called 'free speech' and 'free living' do they not have the right to continue living their lives in this self-sufficient manner? When the rest of mankind has devoured itself by its own inefficiencies, greed and lack of foresight, then these tribes may, just, be the only survivors of our species!
Rachel Shelley, Oman
Using the terms primitive and stone age in relation to these tribes is not in itself the crime. Everybody is entitled to an opinion - so are the people who use these terms. That we have to respect. What people using these terms should respect is the right of every person to hold their own beliefs and cultural and societal values. The crime is they do not respect that by choosing to attempt to denigrate the rights of these tribes to their way of life.
Richard, Nice, France
My dictionary definition of 'primitive' includes synonyms such as original, primary, axiomatic, primeval, elemental and natural. To my mind these are positive words. I would call tribal peoples primitive and I wish I myself could be so honoured. Unfortunately I'm stuck in the 'sophisticated' western world. A campaign of political correctness would play into the hands of the detractors of tribal peoples; rather we should focus on educating the public on the value of primitive peoples.
Roger Goodman, Kyogle, Australia
Ever since the beginnings of colonialism, Europeans have associated others all over the world with a past age, & in terms like 'stone age' this self-righteous thought pattern (which has of course been used as a justification for taking these peoples' land) still prevails. It is therefore high time to stop using such words, even when intended in a positive way.
Rebekka Rohleder, Berlin, Germany
Unacceptable and racist! They are judgemental and carry negative connotations. To be replaced by terms such as 'people with stone age technology but often advanced human development and spirit'. Or 'marginalised people with less access or knowledge of advanced technology' or the like. The fact that their technology is less developed is usually due to marginalizing forces since more technologically advanced societies surround.
C Blanc, New York, USA
Not only do these terms erode the dignity of peoples with centuries of exemplary culture, but they increase the pressure on such people to conform to the valueless standards of modern 'civilisation'. I agree with Pilger & Simpson.
Peter Heneker, Llechryd, Wales, UK
I see nothing wrong with it and I have an AB in anthropology.
Terry Perl, Union, Montana, USA
The POSITIVE response would be best. Keep reminding the press that there is no such thing as a simple culture or language. All are highly developed, unbelievably complex, sophisticated, and beautiful, and have functional reasons for the way they are.
Guy Ottewell, Lyme Regis, England
I have no profound words. Simlpy put; our brothers and sisters in cultures different than our own are our brothers and sisters today. Cultures may differ, humans are one. It matters that these terms are not used; both to respect others and ourselves. Messers Pilger and Simpson are right and are to be encouraged.
Robert Taylour, Sark, UK
The terms are simply patronising. It's about time, in the 21st Century, that we all stopped putting people in 'pigeon-holes'. I wonder if it has occurred to the offending journalists that tribal peoples are in many ways more civilised than we are.
Myra Miller, Molesey, UK
They are primitive by modern day standards but really who cares? I doubt they do if they are resisting contact with the outside world as they won't know. Campaigns such as this trying to stamp out the use of such terms are pointless. Time wasted on this would be better spent trying to help them maintain their way of life, would it not?
Anonymous
Stone Age people ensured the survival of our species, even by the humble use of stone tools for thousands of years. 'Primitive' are the brains of the so called 'civilised', short-visioned modern humans who have no respect or regard for anyone who dares live near a tree, let alone the jungle.
Panagiota Giogli, London, UK
If the tribal people are so 'primitive' and we are thus of superior race then why is it that we (the non tribals/indigenous) are the ones who have systematically destroyed our planet, cancered our people, poisoned our children and committed atrocities so cruel and vile that I can only call ourselves the most backward, ignorant and incompassionate barbarians on this this planet, we are of the stone age and they the new age.
Alexandra Spanswick, London, UK
I would say that the words primitive and Stone Age very accurately describe the condition of these tribes. They ARE primitive, and they ARE Stone Age. It isn't an argument, they are. How else can they be described? Just because one calls them primitive or stone age does not nescesarilly mean it is a negative thing, and I would say it's time to put this PC crap aside. If they don't want to have contact with the outside world, let them be. It's their land and their lives.
Wilson, Loudon, USA
Primitive is pejorative. Stone Age is inaccurate. But worse, perhaps, is 'pagan'. Pagan is highest bigotry.
Bruce Stamm, Straughn, USA
There seems to be a little hypocrisy going on here... Why are the two drunken fisherman referred to as 'invaders'? What an unhelpful term to refer to two people who have been killed by these 'modern-day' tribal people.
Dan Jackson, Sydney, Australia
No, those terms are not racist and objecting to them is the sort of PC thing which puts off well meaning people from championing tribal people.
Liz Butler, Dublin, Ireland
Civilized people have always used the terms 'primitive' and 'savage' to describe tribal peoples.They do this to dehumanize them so that civilized people do not feel as bad when we steal their land, kill them and their customs. The comments in support of the terms also contain messages requesting invasion. When we use these terms we pull along the cultural baggage and history of genocide associated with these terms. 'Neolithic' carries none of these connotations and should be used by reporters.
Jt Gleason, St. Paul, MN, USA
In this day and age - and constantly evolving global village - it's wrong to call any human being 'primitive' or 'stone age'. Coming from the north east of India - I'm a tribal now married and settled in the UK and proud of my origin. There is a vast difference between the west and developing countries but far more with the tribal world and surely the best thing to do is to leave these tribal communities alone in their natural environment without outside influence, let them develop on their own.
Nino Cummins, Manchester, UK
Some of us use terms like 'primitive' meaning a culture's technological state, without meaning it to be insulting. 'Indigenous' describes a culture's origins, but not their current lives. If we could find an *accurate* word that is respectful of these cultures, that may help work against assumptions that they are less because they lack our technology. Hardly anyone uses 'housewife' anymore, but people still use 'illegal alien', because the alternatives aren't very good.
Lindsay, Laguna Beach, CA, USA
As a Brazilian, I am very much familiar with the use and abuse of words like 'primitive' and 'Stone Age' referring to our indigenous peoples. Whoever knows them more than superficially knows these terms do not apply. Moroever, if they were so primitive, what are so many foreign laboratories doing in the Amazon, stealing their knowledge and practicing biopiracy?
Cidy Damasceno, Santo André, Brazil
Semantics, semantics. The words 'primitive' or 'basic' do not have either positive or negative connotations, yet somehow they impress the idea of being backward. The effect of the language reflects the reader's sensibility as much as the writer's prejudice. As modernizing westerners, we appear to find something inherently inferior about concepts that are less complex. Indeed, the word 'simple' can be used offensively. But, and this is my point, in the same way that 'simple' can also used positively, by people who appreciate its quality, 'primitive' can also come to impress positive connotations, in people who believe in its quality. And more and more of us do.
Fred Duff Gordon, New Radnor, Mid Wales
Your group's article about the murder of 2 men by the Sentinelese is a digusting and disturbing piece. In the title the men are called "invaders" yet your director has the audacity to call the deaths "tragic." Please... You people don't view these deaths as tragic. After all these men are INVADERS who are stealing pigs fish!!! Then to say that the bodies should be left there so as not to "disturb" these murderers?? While you may think it's important to leave these PRIMITIVE (that�s right... I said it) people in their natural habitat, I think it is more important that they be held accountable for murder. It is not 60,000 years ago... It is 2006 and you just don't get to murder whoever you want. Armed forces should go to the island, and force these people to hand over whoever murdered these men and they should be taken to trial in the real world. You sickos should be ashamed.
Rick Gerard
From my friendships with Australian Aboriginal people, the words 'primitive' and Stone Age' mean to me deep, age old wisdom and spirituality. However, I know the press uses these words to indicate inferiority. I see this negative assumption all the time, not just in the press, but also in interviews and novels and have often wondered what I could do about it. Thankyou for your campaign, I will be on the lookout in Australia.
Elysse Shelley, Melbourne, Australia
What is 'primitive' ? The original way to live, the way we all used to live until we were corrupted by civilisation. What is wrong with this term? Nothing. Unless you don't like this original, wild way of living.
Bairbre Flood, Cork, Ireland
I only hope that we Westerners can cherish areas like the Andaman Islands from a non-involved distance. In too many instances we have soiled beyond redemption cultures which we have seen as primitive or tribal. Thinking that our culture is pure and supreme.
Dave Benn, London, UK
'Primitive' is not necessarily a derogatory term - some OED definitions fit most tribal people, some don't. 'Stone-age' is probably innaccurate, but is it an insult? It is perceptions which matter. Personally, I have enormous respect for people living still living in ways that have worked for thousands of years, and who still resist 'development'.
Tessa Hosking, England
'Primitives','Stone Age' are not correct words to describe small tribes! We live in the 21th century and when we have different customs, we are all part of humanity!
Brigitte Eicher, Karlsruhe, Germany
They are primitive, stone-age, uncivilised, and what we should be doing is convincing people that there is nothing wrong with that and a lot right with it. Otherwise civilised people's bigotries will remain unchanged and there is no hope for these people and their ways of life.
Andy Savage, Ireland
I find your campaign very apt, and it reflects something I have been railing about for decades. Look at the recent coverage of the new animals 'discovered' in West Papua - references to stone age people abound. But don't underestimate how hard it will be to reframe the debate. Most perfectly normal educated people simply do not see anything wrong in referring to others as 'primitive' or stone age. Unlike their acceptance that references to Littel Black Sambo being no longer acceptable.
Sue Byrne, London, UK
Journalists in particular and the media in general wield a lot of power. But we cannot complain unless we are prepared to take the time to speak out against what we know is wrong, and to choose our own speech carefully. Labelling anyone 'primitive' because their beliefs and/or lifestyle are different from ours is ignorant, dangerous, cruel and a weapon for fascism. Worse, when those people live with a great deal more wisdom than the average Western consumer.
Roselle Angwin, Tavistock, UK
Extract from letter to the Sun: Perhaps we should put the concept of what is primitive into perspective, and re-examine what is primitive, advanced, or just different, and according to what criteria. In my very own and subjective opinion, somebody who does not read the Sun is likely to be less primitive than somebody who reads it. So according to this view a Sentinelese is relatively advanced, no?
Jonathan Demenge, Brighton, UK
As someone who teaches archaeology I am acutely aware of the power of images (verbal or visual) in determining how students perceive of peoples in the past. Lazy stereotypes (racist or neo-evolutionary) create genuine problems in attempts to understand diversity - past and present. On these grounds, I am delighted to see your campaign and wish it every success. However, I would like to see the full text of reports I am asked to write to editors complaining about - any chance of a link?
Graeme Warren, UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin,
Ireland
I think that to call anyone primitive, tribal or not shows disrespect to that person's unique value,and it is so wrong that we, who in many ways have led to their destruction call them primitive. What can possibly be more primitive than the killing of another person?
Johan Sandberg, Linköping, Sweden
These derogatory terms reinforce the strereotypes that people living in Western civilisations have about tribal and indigenous people, and imply that they are inferior because of the way that they choose to live. The persecution of indigenous people is illegal and goes against their human rights, and if journalists could help to change the West's perception of them, we would be one step closer to standing up for their rights as human beings and protecting their way of life.
Rebecca Gale Hayes, Barcelona, Spain
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