Sasvermont - I totally understand where you are coming from. I also know - having worked in such a country - that human parents in 3rd world countries (and maybe others) often maim their children to make them 'better beggars', to the extent of cutting of an arm or leg. Blindness too? Who knows...desperate times lead to desperate people and measures...

While that hasn't happened here, the use of the word "ugly" can be disturbing to some. I wish I could think of another word that would work.

The English language is funny - wasn't too many years ago, and it still means this in other countries: the word "cute" means "bow-legged".