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Can We Stop Saying ‘Third World Country’ and ‘Banana Republic’?
It’s ignorant and condescending.
After the raid in Mar-a-Lago, apparently to save confidential documents from being sold to foreign powers, the Republicans have been going even more crazy than usual. “This is what happens in third-world countries!” They’ve been crying on Fox News and Twitter.
But the liberals also love throwing the term “third world country” in a derogatory way whenever something happens that they consider to be below US standards.
After the Jan. 6th insurrection, Twitter as well as newsrooms were full of people saying this kind of thing doesn’t happen in the US, but instead in those lower-category countries.
Oh honey, it very much does, so it’s time to step off your high horse and face the facts. And maybe, change the terms we’re using.
There Are No Third World Countries
The problem with the word “third world country” should be clear, but if it’s not, here goes: it’s offensive.
In this worldview, Europe, the US and Canada are first world, and Latin America, Africa and much of Asia are third.
The original meaning actually comes from the Cold War-era and means the countries that weren’t allied with…
