Politically correct Seattle removes 'citizen' from city's vocabulary

Brett T. | 11:39 PM on August 02, 2013

The Handbook of Racial Code Words filled up pretty quickly during the 2012 campaign, with words like “chair,” “crime” and “kitchen cabinet” being identified as subtle nods to white supremacy. With the election in the history books and immigration reform making its way through Congress, the word police changed focus and the Associated Press agreed it was time to retire the terms “illegal immigrant,” “illegal alien” and “undocumented.”

The city of Seattle has decided to take things a step further, asking city employees to avoid the term “citizen” in favor of “resident.” And one other thing: “brown bag” is also a no-no. Government workers should instead use the words “lunch-and-learn” or “sack lunch” to avoid possible offense to people of color, according to a memo issued by Elliott Bronstein of the city’s Office of Civil Rights.

The word "citizen" is "potentially offensive" according to Seattle diversocrats. http://t.co/8Y4BUHzm5Z

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) August 2, 2013

How are citizens — um, residents — reacting to the city’s latest step toward political correctness?

Idiots in Seattle can go stuff it ..I'm a citizen of the u.s. unlike your city that is overrun with illegal aliens

— SGT USMC (@paphotog) August 3, 2013

Dear Seattle go f*ck yourself. Seattle removes offensive words 'citizen,' 'brown bag' from vocabulary http://t.co/WSSsrNYaxR via @msnNOW

— Christy (@usmcdaffy) August 2, 2013

Seattle finds "citizen" and "brown bag" offensive … my seat finds Seattle offensive! #pcpolice

— Caveat Emptor (@nitewryter) August 3, 2013

@SenFrankNiceley. Seattle has not heard of the first amendment? I am a citizen and will brown bag it. They can stuff the PC BS.

— Dave DuBrucq (@DaveDuBrucq) August 3, 2013