fwriction

I read that, in some textbooks, use of the term Mother Russia is banned, as it may be offensive and sexist towards women, mothers in particular. Instead, a replacement has been chosen: Russia, vast land of rich harvests. So, rather than approach anything that could possibly be construed as controversial yet accurate, textbooks have resorted to altering history. I mean, where would some of us be in life if we heard Ivan Drago in Rocky IV say that he “must break” Rocky in the name of Russia, vast land of rich harvests?

*(Information c/o: The Atlantic Monthly, 03/2003.  “The Language Police,” by Diane Ravitch, pages 82-3.)