The above video might explain why some people find the term "Sambo" less than endearing. If you reside in the 37206, the East Nashville Listserv is your ultimate online resource—whether you want to find a good gutter-repair service or start a neighborhood militia. Like any community forum worth its salt, the ENL strikes a delicate balance, blending the warm, neighborly vibe of a backyard picnic with the contentiousness of the Iraqi Parliament, as previously noted on Pith. So when I checked my listserv digest email a couple days ago and saw a thread titled "Sambo came home," I knew we were in for a wild ride. I poured myself a steaming cup of Drew's Brews' from my Society of Effete Liberals-approved French press and pulled my trendy ergonomic desk chair up to my iMac for a ringside seat. The original "Sambo came home!" post, by Jess:
"Our cat that wondered [sic] off a week ago came home last night! He is in good shape but was very hungry! He is now collared and tagged! Yay! Life is good!"
OK. So Sambo is a cat. A cat with an offensive name, perhaps, though it becomes apparent that Jess had no idea of the name's racist legacy. First reply comment, by Ryan:
"I'm glad that your cat came home, but SAMBO? Are you serious? I guess 'Whiskers' was too generic or something. What's your dog's name, Pickininny?"
So began a listserv firestorm that as of this writing has garnered 95 comments on three separate threads. (The other two are titled "Look what Sambo started" and "The truth about Sambo Jangles.") Highlights from the melee, analysis and guaranteed winning Powerball numbers, after the jump:
