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It's time to end the shameful use of the ‘t-word'
I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss the plight of a downtrodden group in America, yet another cause worthy of having a support group named for it - or at least a new syndrome.
An aid group to further the rights of the forgotten, unfortunate victims that I am concerned about should have a fancy name just like other such organizations do. I hereby propose that it be called the Society for the Protection of Guys Named Tom. If you're really into acronyms, we could instead call it PETT - or People for the Ethical Treatment of Toms.
Whatever.
Regardless of the title ultimately picked for it, the sole purpose of my organization would be clear: to eradicate the slanderous and heinous injustices associated with the abuse of our good name.
Whether it's used to identify a sicko who peeps through a window or to describe a male cat, I am sick and tired of having the name Tom dragged through the mud for such purposes. Sure, those uses might seem innocent and non-threatening on the surface, but trust me, they come across as crude and totally insensitive to the long-suffering ears of us Toms.
I would venture to say that nearly everyone reading this column either has a Tom in their family or else knows someone who carries the burden of that name. And while our years of abuse might have been unnoticed to others, we've painfully endured in silent shame as the “T-word” has been exploited so callously.
Take, for example, the term “Peeping Tom,” which is used to define a man who looks through windows at night. Now that's a fine thing to be linked to, is it not? Couldn't the Founding Fathers or whoever chose such terms have used a different name?
It is my understanding that that the original “peeping Tom” was that legendary individual who ogled Lady Godiva as she rode naked through the streets of Coventry. That's all well and good, but it looks to me like the man could just as easily have been known as “Peeping Fred” or “Peeping Walter” and had just as much effect, over time.
Then there's “tomfoolery.” That word is applied to behavior that is silly or foolish. Here again, why did they have to pick on the name Tom? I certainly have been guilty of silly and foolish behavior from time to time - so have guys named Ralph and Mike and Marvin. Ralph-foolery, Mike-foolery or Marvin-foolery might not have the same ring to it as “Tom-foolery,” but you get my point.
And now for a personal favorite: “tomboy.” That is what you call a girl whose behavior or pursuits, such as in games or sports, is considered more typical of boys than of girls. Personally, I think it's really cool when a girl does guy things such as sports. My only complaint is that, once more, they chose the name Tom to designate such a girl, and why?
It is my contention that if they had been worked into our language at the dawn of civilization and used constantly over the centuries, the words “Phillip-boy” or “Doug-boy” might be just as acceptable today for describing females who play football or climb trees.
Sadly, I would be greatly neglectful if I did not mention one of the most shameful designations of the name Tom, and that is its use in the term “Uncle Tom.” An Uncle Tom refers to an African-American who is considered by other African-Americans to be subservient or to curry favor with white people. Just like those whom it is leveled at, I find that description somewhat disturbing, especially since it represents yet another bashing of the name Tom.
This unfortunate phrase originated with the anti-slavery book “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in the pre-Civil War era. I don't want to criticize a great author or anything, but I would certainly feel better if she had named her famous work “Uncle Robert's Cabin.”
My list of wanton disregard could go on and on and on, including such words as “tomcatting” (referring to man chasing women - as if no fellow named Bill or Jim ever chased a woman), but by now the trend should be clear. It is my conclusion that no name in the English language has been cheapened more so than Tom.
So as my new support group gets up and running, we will not be seeking any tax-deductible donations or non-profit status. In these politically correct times in which we live, our group simply wants a little consideration. Our creed will be the same as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), except that the word “Toms” will be substituted in place of “animals” in our mission statement.
We will, therefore, attempt to educate Americans that Toms are not theirs to wear, experiment on or use for entertainment.
An aid group to further the rights of the forgotten, unfortunate victims that I am concerned about should have a fancy name just like other such organizations do. I hereby propose that it be called the Society for the Protection of Guys Named Tom. If you're really into acronyms, we could instead call it PETT - or People for the Ethical Treatment of Toms.
Whatever.
Regardless of the title ultimately picked for it, the sole purpose of my organization would be clear: to eradicate the slanderous and heinous injustices associated with the abuse of our good name.
Whether it's used to identify a sicko who peeps through a window or to describe a male cat, I am sick and tired of having the name Tom dragged through the mud for such purposes. Sure, those uses might seem innocent and non-threatening on the surface, but trust me, they come across as crude and totally insensitive to the long-suffering ears of us Toms.
I would venture to say that nearly everyone reading this column either has a Tom in their family or else knows someone who carries the burden of that name. And while our years of abuse might have been unnoticed to others, we've painfully endured in silent shame as the “T-word” has been exploited so callously.
Take, for example, the term “Peeping Tom,” which is used to define a man who looks through windows at night. Now that's a fine thing to be linked to, is it not? Couldn't the Founding Fathers or whoever chose such terms have used a different name?
It is my understanding that that the original “peeping Tom” was that legendary individual who ogled Lady Godiva as she rode naked through the streets of Coventry. That's all well and good, but it looks to me like the man could just as easily have been known as “Peeping Fred” or “Peeping Walter” and had just as much effect, over time.
Then there's “tomfoolery.” That word is applied to behavior that is silly or foolish. Here again, why did they have to pick on the name Tom? I certainly have been guilty of silly and foolish behavior from time to time - so have guys named Ralph and Mike and Marvin. Ralph-foolery, Mike-foolery or Marvin-foolery might not have the same ring to it as “Tom-foolery,” but you get my point.
And now for a personal favorite: “tomboy.” That is what you call a girl whose behavior or pursuits, such as in games or sports, is considered more typical of boys than of girls. Personally, I think it's really cool when a girl does guy things such as sports. My only complaint is that, once more, they chose the name Tom to designate such a girl, and why?
It is my contention that if they had been worked into our language at the dawn of civilization and used constantly over the centuries, the words “Phillip-boy” or “Doug-boy” might be just as acceptable today for describing females who play football or climb trees.
Sadly, I would be greatly neglectful if I did not mention one of the most shameful designations of the name Tom, and that is its use in the term “Uncle Tom.” An Uncle Tom refers to an African-American who is considered by other African-Americans to be subservient or to curry favor with white people. Just like those whom it is leveled at, I find that description somewhat disturbing, especially since it represents yet another bashing of the name Tom.
This unfortunate phrase originated with the anti-slavery book “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in the pre-Civil War era. I don't want to criticize a great author or anything, but I would certainly feel better if she had named her famous work “Uncle Robert's Cabin.”
My list of wanton disregard could go on and on and on, including such words as “tomcatting” (referring to man chasing women - as if no fellow named Bill or Jim ever chased a woman), but by now the trend should be clear. It is my conclusion that no name in the English language has been cheapened more so than Tom.
So as my new support group gets up and running, we will not be seeking any tax-deductible donations or non-profit status. In these politically correct times in which we live, our group simply wants a little consideration. Our creed will be the same as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), except that the word “Toms” will be substituted in place of “animals” in our mission statement.
We will, therefore, attempt to educate Americans that Toms are not theirs to wear, experiment on or use for entertainment.
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| To students at Pilot Mountain Middle School, along with school and town officials there, for getting the youth involved in painting fire hydrants along the town's Main Street. |
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