Is it Afghan or Afghani?

[bluedeminredstate]

Isn't someone from Afghanistan called an Afghan? I seem to remember at the beginning of the war I saw several people make the point that the correct term was Afghan, not Afghani - that Afghani was kind of offensive/ignorant.

Last night I saw Stephen Colbert interviewing the Author of "The Kite Runner" about Afghanistan and Colbert kept bouncing back and forth between Afghan and Afghani. Laura Bush was on Meet the Press on Sunday and she kept referring to "Afghanis." I've read books about the war - some that use Afghan and others that use Afghani. I see or hear the term Afghani now more than I hear Afghan. I think maybe there is confusion because we refer to people from Pakistan as Pakistanis and we somehow translate that to all citizens of "Stans" but I'm not sure.

Can someone set the record straight on this? It's driving me nuts to think that Americans are insulting an antire nation of people everytime they refer to them.

:shrug:

[PeaceNikki]

1. You reminded me of an episode of The Office

Michael Scott: Okay, you know what? I will not donate my winnings to Comic Relief, since apparently, it doesn't exist. I am going to donate to Afghanistanis with AIDS.
Jim Halpert: The aid to Afghanistan?
Michael Scott: No, I mean Afghanistanis with AIDS.
Phyllis: Afghani.
Michael Scott: What?
Phyllis: Afghani.
Michael Scott: That's a dog.
Pam Beesley: No, that's "afghan."
Michael Scott: That's a shawl.
Dwight Schrute: Canine AIDS?
Michael Scott: No
Creed: Who has AIDS?
Jim Halpert: Guys, the Afghanistanannis.
Michael Scott: Okay, you know what? No. No. AIDS is not funny. Believe me, I have tried.

[madokie]

2. Maybe this will help

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afghan

1767
1 a (1): pashtun (2): pashto b: a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan
2not capitalized : a blanket or shawl of colored wool knitted or crocheted in strips or squares
3not capitalized : a Turkoman carpet of large size and long pile woven in geometric designs
4: afghan hound
— Afghan or Af·ghani \af-ˈga-nē, -ˈgä-\ adjective

[bluedeminredstate]

3. Thank you.

I wonder why there were folks saying not to refer to them as Afghanis? Anyway, that clears that up.

[slackmaster]

4. Woof