Juliet's question for the young Montague below her balcony is one of the better-known lines from Shakespeare's timeless saga of love and loss, and it appears that Juliet's question is timeless. In an era of political correctness, the United States still grapples with the importance of names, especially those dealing with ethnic distinctions. Even members of the Idaho Legislature are not fully aware of the meaning behind these offensive terms. It is easy to point out blatant mistakes, but a large contingency of people in Idaho and in the United States are simply unsure of which terms they should use.
Political correctness is discussed in newsrooms, classrooms and around the dinner table.
If these were just words, it probably would not matter as much. The fact that these words represent people is what makes this discussion of names so important. To ignore the discussion and stop making an effort to use politically correct terms or the names that a person or group wishes to be called is to dismiss the identity of that person or group. Approaching these issues with sensitivity and curiosity is what Rob McDonald, who covers human rights and diversity issues for The Spokesman Review, strives to do. McDonald said that there is no one right answer.