" 
 :::Can someone please tell me what exactly is the problem with ""mecca"". So far I se LadyofShalott say that it's ""culturally insensitive"" - but I would ask if she still thinks so considering that the one and only one person that complained about that was a sockpuppet of a person impersonating a Muslim - a grossly offensive, disrespectful act that just makes my jaw drop. ""Mecca"" as a generic term is commonly used in English. Even the New Georgia Encyclopedia uses the term in the intro to the History section of its ""Atlanta"" article. If someone is genuinely offended, I see a reason to change it, but so far I am wondering if everyone is just ""assuming"" that the word ""mecca"" is offensive... or even ""non-neutral"".  "