ize what they are doing to per- tions of words, which no longer the dictionaries and the retail
petuate derogatory definitions are proper descriptive defini- stores which sell them, then per-
of words that no longer are in tions.
* hers will realize
common usage — definitions
are doing
I believe that
which are offensive to people pie of al
w men
emonina- to so many of their
By LEONARD N. SIMONS
of various religious, ethnic or tions
fair,
press their • elings by continuing to includ
nd
d untruthful en-
hese many vu
EDITOR'S NOTE: Last week's JTA report of the failure of racial groups—definitions detri- a
li-
dictionary publishers to eliminate offensive definitions of "Jew," mental to a nation's future and
~ kn itions of
ensive words , in t
and ethnic gro s.
ary, to both the p i
"Jewish" and "Judaism" again brought to public attention the to the relationship of one h
battle that is being waged to avoid the spread of such misinforma- man being to another—deft
tion. The Jewish News recently called attention to the valiant tions which should never h
efforts of Leonard N. Simons, prominent Detroit community. leader been included in dictionaries
and nationally prominent advertising executive, to call a halt 'to the first place. These derog
or you on the
such prejudicial references. The editor has asked Mr. Simons to tory, or vulgar definitions only
outline his views, which we now present in the following article: perpetuate untruthful generali-
new 1962 Chevrolet, at this time.
*
ties and myths. Decent people
will
agree
that
this
is
profanity
About a year and a half ago
Stop and see me at Shore Chevrolet
against our fellow men—and
I had occasion to look up the
that,
in
my
opinion,
is
a
pro-
Co. Inc., 12240 Jos Campau.
definition of a word which
fanation against God.
started with "m." I saw the
Definitions are certainly a
word "Moses," and was shocked
part of our educational society.
to see that the only definition
Recently President Kennedy
they gave to the word was,
said, "Upon the effectiveness
"nickname of a Jewish money
UN 4-9039
TW 1 - 0600
of our educational system the
lender." Nothing about the fact
future depends upon in this
that Moses was the person who
world." Anti-Semitic definitions
gave the Israelites and the world
in the dictionary are a part of
the Ten Commandments—that
Nov. 29, 1961
New Issue
the slow poison of hatred in our
he was a great prophet and the
society. The dictionary is an
Father of the Jewish religion.
This advertisement is not an offer to sell or a
important means of influencing
The dictionary I was using,
solicitation of an offer to buy these securities.
the minds of men. It is another
published by the Press of Ox-
The offering is made only by the offering circular.
tool used to form and change
ford University, is one of the
people's minds. That is why it
most respected in the world.
100,000 Common Shares
is so important to see that all
Then, I looked up some other
definitions
in
current
editi
words. "Jew" . . . and on that
LEONARD ' N. SIMONS
represent up-to-d
same page I found "Jesuit."
* * *
of words.
and Up-to-date
Here again the derogatory defi-
ost dictionary
I•feel t
Par Value $1.00)
nitions astounded me. A Jew, any derogatory definitions • of
id not want to
spelled with a capital "J" had Jews or Jesuits, and also ,did publish
becau
se clung
several definitions: "A person not include any offensive wards make
2.50 Per Share
expense i olve
of the Hebrew race; (tranf. col- like "Wop, Sheeny, Chink, Po- of
nd
ng the typ
loq.) extortionate usurer. Drivel' lack, Dago," etc. This was the ch
circular may be obtained from- the
you
eir books.
of hard bargains; rich as a; Thorndike-Barnhart dictionary, in
Blow or from brokers who are quali-
on
of t
unbelieving, incredulous person; published by Doubleday & Co. 0 a couple li
I then contacted the Ameri-
ce
dealers in securities.
ge, it leave a blan
tell that (an unlikely tale to the
ey' then ave
the plate.
(s)." The next definition of can Jewish Committee and the
find some ther definitiong
ORRISON & FRUMIN, INC.
Jew, with a capital "J": (col- Anti-Defamation League of
11 up the space o
loq.) Cheat, overreach. (prec.)" Bnai Brith, to see what could t
MEMBERS DETROIT STOCK EXCHANGE
sequenc
The next one is, "Jewing- possibly be done to clean up en
ged.
Wattles at base of beak in some the dictionaries, not from a their
However, . these changes
domestic pigeons. (JEW—from strictly selfish standpoint, of
resemblance to hooked nose- course, as applied to the Jew- shouldn't be too hard to do if
ish people, but also as applied they want l 'make them. They
ING.)"
I started to look up these to the Jesuits (an order of the can Merely include a few addi-
Catolice religion), and as applied tional definitions of some of
words in several
religious, racial or eth- the words on that, page, so that
tionaries, an
Ps.
their problem would 'be elim-
m had similar
ery one o
endous amount of cor- inated.
definiti
of the word "Je
ce has gone back and
Any dictionary publisher who
The
rd "J it"
•
ween our Jewish de- recognizes his responsibility to
fined
encies and the Oxford adVance life in this universe
"cr .
ity Press, as well as should, in good conscience, do
cr
other dictionary publish- anything and everything pos-
ns
some of which incidentally sible through their dictionaries
ozen dif-
apps
e owned by people of the to eliminate as much of preju-
ent diet na s, I found on
Jewish faith. An attempt has dice as they possibly can. They
e dictionary that did not
been made to have some of can do this by eliminating defi-
these definitions changed, or nitions which are today proven
unfair and untruthful.
eliminated.
The Oxford University Press,
If responsible publishers, like
for instance, has agreed to elim- Doubleday & Co., can arrive at
inate their offensive definition the conclusion that vulgar and
of "Moses." They have agreed offensive words have no place
that in their next edition they in a modern dictio
will eliminate the statement back up t
of dictionaries
that the "Jews are a member lish*
ey get out, then why
of the Hebrew race." However,
on the offensive definitions
't the pUblishers of all of
naries emulate
the word "Jew" they
the other di
rt their exam
dogs,
agreed in the future t
even
hen cost them
"vulg." (meaning vulg
ittle
of the to set s e type
they use the defini
ing "an some c
word "Jew" as
in t
extortionate usur
but they before
to
FOR HANUKAH
definitions. their ne
ions?
won't eliminate
. . . FOR FUN !
So far, each
blisher in-
New dictionaries are produced
ng the prob- from time' to time.
sists on appro
Swiss chocolate dredels in bright
A new dictionary co
lem from a sta point of what
colored foil. Box of 18 dredels,
ublish-
they call "lex graphy." The existence becau
98c. Come see all our Hanukah
ionary's
edito-
ers,
and
mits
them
to
fact
that
this
chocolates and pastries.
acies, as
, want to ,present a
include any in
great many current or new
far as_modern day
of words is concerned, is be- words in the English language,
side the point to these so- which come into usage, as well
as current definitions of' some
called "scholars."
I cannot understand how in- of the older words.
Get the most from your savings
telligent people like the publish- . A new dictionary should elim-
Exclusively at:
a higher than average 3 1 /2%
ers of dictionaries cannot real- inate archaic, obsolete defini-
current rate. Come in or save-by-
Cites Instances to Prove Bias
Das
Exists in Defining Many Terms
,
•
g& 3a612/1_
n Steel Company
WE POINT THE 'WAY TO
ABOVE AVERAGE EARNINGS
plus
.
10
EXTRA -
BONUS DAYS
Every Month
BARYONS
24711 COOLIDGE HWY.
At 10 Mile Rd.
Across from Dexter Davison Mkt.
18309 Wyoming nr Curtis
Barton's Confections and Baked
Delicacies are Also Available
at Crowley's Street Floor.
OPEN SUNDAY & EVES.
Montreal Joint Appeal Raises Record Sum
MONTREAL, (JTA) — The
unprecedented total of $3,575,-
661 has been raised in the 1961
Joint Campaign for Combined
Jewish Appeal and United Is-
rael Appeal of Montreal, it was
announced by general chairman
Gordon Brown.
Alvin Bronstein, executive di-
rector, exlained that the 1961
results represent the increase
of close to $263,000 over the
total amount raised in 1960.
This sets a new record for the
largest sum ever raised in an
annual campaign in the history
of the Montreal Jewish com-
munity. It is also the greatest
amount ever achieved in one
campaign by any Jewish com-
munity in Canada.
Health insurance benefit pay-
ments by insurance companies
during 1960 amounted to more
than $3.1 billion.
mail. We pay the postage both
ways.
Current Rate
Downtown: CADILLAC SQUARE Corner RANDOLPH
Northwest: 13646 WEST 7 MILE Corner TRACEY
Both offices open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Northwest office open Thursday Night till 9
Downtown Friday till 6
7 - THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, December 1, 1961
Leonard N. Simons Charges Dictionary Publishers
Perpetuate Prejudices with 'Vulgar' Definitions