I continue to have no idea what the phrase was.
This is another thing I hate about AR discussions.
CC
I'm "proud" to say I figured out the phrase before I got to the ninth paragraph.
"She's not going to tell us!," I chuckled because "the phrase" works grammatically there too.
p.s. I interned in Tulsa where the Cherokee and Creek I met either wanted to be called by their tribal name or collectively as Indians. "Native American" was to them a white term, to confirm your point.
Just last evening I was at a talk by Sherman Alexie. Do you know of him or his writing? www.fallsapart.com
Having read all the blog-versation about racist/sexist/homophobic/anti-something in recent days, it was refreshing to hear him IN BERKELEY especially when he did a riff on being a "celebrity-Indian" which a number of people seemed quite offended by. He then spoke about who influences him (Emily Dickinson) and how he feels about his own writing (it's all crap).
Then I wondered about the types of conversations "uu's" are missing out on in the real world...and started longing for a GA Panel on racism/sexism/homophobia/anti something with Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle and Carlos Mencia.
Not going to tell us?? You realize you're just invite us to impugn your poorly spoken character. 
I've had the same experience with "Native American."
CC and Chutney, I said aloud at that seminary, "That sucks." I really thought I could write this in a way in which it would be evident, but it's probably mostly evident in my own head....certain literary problems develop, of course, when the writer withholds too much (seminary name, and The Phrase That Shall Not Be Uttered). And I'm okay with people impugning my character, temporarily at least. I've certainly said enough stupid things that some impugning is probably justified.
Ms. M One of my five favorite short stories in the world is Sherman Alexie's, "What You Pawn I Will Redeem." I'm in love with that story.
Scott and Chutney, it's nice to have my Indian word choice confirmed.
Dang, I was never gonna guess this one.
Is "That sucks" somehow wrong? It derives from the phrase "that sucks eggs," an Early Modern English term indicating that something unfairly steals resources, like a dog or a fox getting into the hen-house and sucking the middle out of eggs. I just can't understand why we're not to speak of egg-stealing. Is it somehow species-ist?
There is the perception among some people that referring to something in a negative light as "sucking" is homophobic. Now, we all know that oral sex is something that everyone can do, and I'm not sure how much literal "sucking" ever goes on, so hence my cognitive disonnance at age 23.
If you're right about "that sucks eggs" then that certainly explains the dirty old egg sucking dog song... 
I used the word "sucks" three times in less than one minute during a talk I gave at my church.
Would the word have been acceptable at that seminary in a discussion regarding vacuum cleaners?
I would not have guessed that it was "That sucks". Probably because Im not of the generation and culture that would have said that phrase in public. On the other hand, I do recall around 30! years ago (gads!) telling somebody I was in charge of, that that phrase was off-limits.
They asked why, and while I dont recall my response; the longer response was that I thought long about it. And came up with that words and language change. And that I needed to do the same.
I'm afraid my mother says "That sucks" too.
I couldn't figure out what the phrase was, either, so thanks for clarifying. I was raised on a lot of nineteenth-century children's books, so I always thought it was about eggs. My mother, girlfriend, and one high school teacher are all terribly offended by it, though. I guess cultural literacy is important after all; maybe I should have watched more MTV growing up.
I’ve commented on the anti-racism etc. topic here. Because I'm pretty sure that if I mentioned this discussion at work, there would be the uproarious laughter. Oh well.
I think that's a really articulate take on it, Ellis.
My friend, Anne, is going to look up the "brown bag test" and "suck" in the OED. I'll post more this week...though I'm not sure anyone wants to hear anymore!
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