Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Really though whether you dress up as an Indian or Viking what should that have to do with the history of either race? The term "Viking" actually means "pirate" or "raider" yet has been attached northern Europeans. You can argue that Norwegians could be offended by the use of Viking. Ironically it was Native Americans that drove the Vikings out of North America btw.
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Just to clear something up:
- The term "Viking" was not just attached to Northern Europeans arbitrarily, it was part of our language, meaning either "expedition" or "seafarer". Later, it became synonymous with "raider". It referred more to a person who did a specific thing, rather than a people. In the last 100 years or so, it became associated with Norsemen of the Viking Era in general, but it does not actually refer to a race or any people that have existed for about 1000 years.
Bringing up Vikings to me doesn't make sense. It is not offensive, nor is it close to the same as Indian. Viking is more along the lines of "Knight" or "Pirate". Just because the names were at one time more specific to a certain area of the world, doesn't mean they directly apply to a people in the same way Indian does.
The Vikings were not only never a "people" per say, but they were also never marginalised. It is probably more believable to say your name celebrates a strong, conquering group that history looks romantically upon (and is used as a marketing tool profusely, even in Scandinavia), as opposed to a people who you conquered and disparaged for most of your history with them.
So no, you can't argue Scandinavians are offended by the promotional use of the term "Viking". It's probably more offensive to suggest we would be, honestly.