Comments on: Reference Question of the Week – 7/29/12

By: Claritza

Claritza — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:47:53 +0000

As I was exploring the depths of Old Cairo, an Egyptian woman made me smile by calling out “Aloha, Yankee Doodle!”

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:07:32 +0000

@Jessica: but to be really 21st century, the business card of course has to have a QR code on it…

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:53:41 +0000

I love that idea of handing out a business card while off the desk. Even if they don’t call, it does promote the librarian in a 21st century image.

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:55:47 +0000

@J: thank makes sense, although it didn’t occur to me – I grew up in Ohio and now live in New England, so “yankee” is something I’ve always been (despite the fact that I was born in Texas). I’m sure there are plenty of nickname for other nationalities that an American might use that are just as inaccurate at a regional level. If nothing else, perhaps hearing a foreigner use “Yank” would be a good opportunity to explain those differences.

By: J

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:16:25 +0000

I should have gone on bit. We are all American’s here in the US. Still referring to the Northerners as Yankees and Southerners as reb’s or the like doesn’t make make us all seem as one nation united.

By: J

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:13:02 +0000

I don’t think all American’s enjoy being called a Yank though. The term reminds people of a time in history when the nation was at war and we are reminded that sadly slavery was once an accepted practice in the Union. Foreigners use the term to describe any American but that ignores a big and painful part of our history as a nation. I wish the term would go away.