Petting Zoo: Midgets vs. Dwarfs

[Cassie Carter]

There's a certain passage in Petting Zoo where Billy asks the raven to
explain the difference between ravens and crows. The raven brushes
off Billy's question by saying the difference is like the difference
between midgets and dwarfs.

About . . . ten years ago, or so, Jim asked me to do some research for
him on the differences between ravens and crows, and between midgets
and dwarfs.

I encourage everyone to do quick Google searches on these concepts to
get a quick idea of the information I provided to Jim.

When I presented my research findings on midget/dwarf to Jim, I made
if VERY clear that both terms were pejorative, akin to "nigger," to
persons who prefer to be called "little people."

My research on crows and ravens included photos and detailed
descriptions of the differences between the two.

Please comment: given what Jim knew about ravens/crows and
midgets/dwarfs . . . what do you make of the details on these matters
in the novel The Petting Zoo?

By the way, should I put the research I did for Jim on the website?
Would people be interested in this? If so, where should it go?

Cassie