Refugees?

I was watching Meet the Press yesterday and the former Mayor of New Orleans, Marc Morial, objected to the use of the word "refugee" for those needing help in New Orleans (& elsewhere, presumably). Other black leaders have also raised the same objection.

Watson and others also took issue with the word "refugee" being used to describe hurricane victims.

"'Refugee' calls up to mind people that come from different lands and have to be taken care of. These are American citizens," Watson said.

Added Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.: "They are not refugees. I hate that word."

For what it's worth I heard Rush Limbaugh object to the use of the word refugee on Thursday or Friday of last week. At least we have some agreement on the issue, which is probably not the most crucial at this time.

I've used the word without thinking that there was any "color" connotations. Although most of the refugees we've seen in recent years have been either African or Asian (post-Tsunami), I remember the word being used fairly often during the wars in former Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

I (and many others) have been misusing the word. The definition requires some political dimension for a person to be a refugee. According to Dictionary.com a refugee is, "one who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution". Merriam-Webster Online says, "one that flees; especially : a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution".

Again, it's not the most pressing issue.