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Are you racist?
Posted by Tonyboy • 4/03/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: racism, racist
Are you racist? I believe everybody is racist whether subconsciously or consciously or both. However not everyone believes in practicing racism.
User Comments
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I have been a victim of racism here on this very forum! It's hard being lavender on a racist forum like this one.-
Go back to lavender country, you dole scrounging aardvark. -
You're bloody Welsh! You should be standing firm with your oppressed lavender brothers!
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Cer adra'r cont o sais hyll!
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Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!
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You shag mingers in a Cardiff chippy.
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That's a lie I have never even met your mother.
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That may be true but at least it's her own shoe and not a council shoe like your mam's
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You see that Thora Hird?
That's you, that is.
That's your mum. -
I am aware of the lady to which you refer.
You see that Shirley Bassey?
That's your wife and your sister that is. -
No, that's you, that is. That's your girlfriend. You see those old people who wear lavender? The really old ones who often stutter, dribble and then poo themselves? Well, that's you, that is. That's you out on the pull.
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*Spits coffee all over computer screen*
Buwahahahahahaha -
How can I be your mother? I'm not your sister.
You see those underpants that have a picture of a caveman on the front and say "Rub my club" that's the underpants your mam was wearing when they arrested her in Iceland for trying to nick a Wall's Vienetta and a bag of oven chips for your granddad's upcoming wedding to your youngest sister, the one with the funny eye and a club foot that answers to the name of Bernard. -
You two crack me up!!!!!!!!!!!
My roots are, among other things, Welsh and English, so I am enjoying both sides of your banter!
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what???! racist?? GO DA HELL!!!! -
No, I prefer racing ... -
lol I would not have expecting this kind of response in a million years.
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Years ago, a group from Berkeley did a seminar on racism. Their premises followed thus:
1. All racists are white.
2. All whites are racist.
3. There are no exceptions.
I told them that if this is so, and if racism is an evil to be eradicated, then the only logical way to destroy racism is to destroy white people.
The response? I was told to shut up.
So I walked out. And I never felt so betrayed in my life. I stopped dating other races after that, even though I had dated all ethnicities with whom I had been in contact and all races on the planet.
Because I knew I was automatically labeled an evil person after that, singled out because of my race, and how this teaching would permanently harm all future relationships with other races. Never mind what my race was in a past life.
And beyond this, I do not speak about racism. After all, I'm white. I'm supposed to shut up.-
Easy for me to say Lynnea I know, but I don't think you should have let this group of idiots who don't know what they are talking about influence your core beliefs and your life so much. There are a lot of people who talk B.S like this of any colour.
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Sounds like another form of racism. -
I've said enough. Let the reader draw his own conclusions. After that, silence says everything.
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Fact: Everyone is racist! Humans are tribal creatures. We are biologically programmed to be racist. This is a part of our survival mechanism. We have evolved over time to be cautious of foreign invaders...and to protect ourselves, our people and interests. It is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Funny how modern society tries to mould us into something that goes against the grain of our biological and evolutionary design.
P.S, I am not racist
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not only white are racist all colour are racist!
Kamau Kambon says kill white people
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMOkDOXAovQ -
I am watching someone growing up.... :-)
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I definitely have moments of bigotry and bias and hatred - but race has nothing to do with it.
Usually, it's stupidity or cruelty that sets those emotions off. -
Just an observation: Discrimination is not only about the skin color (I'm white); it's about where you are from too. Until recently I used to think that Brazil (my country) belonged to Latin America. But guess what? I've been doing a research about pay TV and I've just found out that WE were excluded. We buy the signal from the same LA division channels, but only the other countries are privileged, and WE are the leftover. They broadcast for them first and tries to hide it from us.
WBLA.com, for example, I'm not sure what language it was supposed to be. Cause this 'wonderful' brazilian version is in 'portunhol' (português+espanhol). They even didn't bother to make a decent PORTUGUESE version. And they are gonna broadcast a lot of shows for "LA countries" first, not us. At first we could choose in a menu the language to enter the website, now they throw you right inside this 'brazilian' version so that way you can't see what's in spanish version. And www.eonlinelatino.com/ has a huge LA countries menu, but guess what? No BraZil neither BraSil there too!
It's completely unrespectful, since we exist and buy TV from them too. We are not guilt because Portugal 'discovered' us by MISTAKE when in fact they were going to India! They can't exclude a country (and a BIG one) just because this country doesn't speak spanih!-
I looked hard at the eonlinelation link to see if they missed another country besides Brazil and they don't they even have Trinadad and tobago included! They missed out a country the size of Europe something is definitely up!
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Racism?
Not at all - only pre judgements that society gives us with it's shallow labels... -
People tend to think of racist/racism in its most extreme form as a result I think the tag scares people a lot. But just because someone is racist to whatever degree it does not necessarily make them a bad person just a misguided one.
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There is just the human race ...-
Your mother raised you right!
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I'm with you. One people.
Is it racist to notice that people from certain countries have certain attributes? I'm from the UK, live in Canada, and notice lots of differences between the two peoples. It just happens that most in each country happen to be caucasian.
having said that, what I find crazy is that people who are deemed racists often dislike non-white races.
Hey, if you're going to hate a people, hate us white folks. We've done the worst damage of all!
BUT - that would be stupid too, naturally. Don't let a few spoil it for the rest. -
"white people have done the most damage of all"
so untrue.
Whites are actually the new kids on the block when it comes to the civilized world, and recorded history. The entire history of humanity is filled with racism.
And I'm not saying this to defend my white ancesters,(less than half are white anyway)but because I am a student of history. -
"white people have done the most damage of all"
Probably the silliest sentence ever wrote on blog catalogue :s
without white people and western civilization you would still live in cave and drive horse. -
@without white people and western civilization you would still live in cave and drive horse
Is that as far as you know and think? REALLY?
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I went to a HBCU for a while, we were taught...well not taught but we were supposed to ponder the idea that only white people can be racist because they are the only ones with something to gain from it. In other words you can't discriminate against someone in a better circumstance than you are in, therefore you cannot be racist. I've used this to joke with white friends and associates that I have. In all honesty, I don't agree. I think everyone's racist in their own way because people are constantly passing judgement. If I may expand on this topic Tonyboy, what nationality/race do you all think gets the most racism thrown at them? I personally think people's hatred toward Mexicans has exceeded their hatred for many other groups. I don't hate anyone but I have opinions about all races including my own.-
Very hard to say kenalexandra, I would say that there would not be such a level of hatred of mexicans in the UK. but I think the darker your skin is the more likely you are to have racism thrown at you in most places in the world.
I have seen examples of racism against many ethnicites/nationalities. Chinese, Mexican, Filipinos ,Irish, viet, Eastern europeans...the list goes on I could not there is blatant racism that you can see and there is subtle kind which you don't see.
I have heard the argument that only white people can be racist a lot of times now and it is flawed on so many levels. -
I wonder where people come up with those theories? If someone with pale skin says they hate dark people it's racism but if dark people say I hate pale people it's not? There is no logic to that infact that is just heaping the oppression on to a whole race of poeple and saying it's ok to kick them as long as their skin is pale enough.
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I am indifferent, I have other things to think about. Your mind is like a room and you can only put so much in it before it gets cluttered. Hatred and racism often are clutter which get in your way in life. -
A better way to put it is are you discrimintory? There are alot of isms out there and many of them have nothing to do with skin color.
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i really like how you framed your question, that is, differentiating BEING racist (or thinking in terms of race) and PRACTICING racism. i think for the most part people concern themselves with racism only when it becomes a practice or it's manifested in some way that is plainly obvious to everyone. what is most problematic for this question, which you quite nicely pointed out in this differentiation, is whether or not there is always a connection that can be made between what we do or say and what we think. in that case, the question becomes even more complicated: which is better: being racist and showing everyone that you are or being racist and telling people that you're not. obviously a better alternative is to not be racist at all, but is that even a possibility?-
If someone is practicing racism in whatever way, believes in that concept I much rather they be up front about it then just pretend they are not. People have different reasons for being racist generally I find its because of what they have experienced and what they have been taught.
Not being racist what at all? I think this is only possible when someone is a baby or very young child and not influenced.
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There are a lot of posters on this thread that must be soaking wet through......They are in denial -
Tonyboy,
upon what do you base your theory of every person being a racist?-
rfburnhertz,
I base it on the theory that we human beings are not perfect and never will be (in my opinion.) -
So a consistent imperfection throughout all humans is racism?
A sad theory perhaps, not a demonstrable fact.
I think there is a decent chance that the claim that all persons are at least a little bit racist may just be a line that embarrassed racists use to feel better about any racist thoughts they may have had or racist words they may have spoken.
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I've never heard it said that racism mis a white problem.
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No, not at all, I can't even understand the concept of racism.
We're all from the same race, the human race, and anybody who does not understand that is not only wrong but stupid. -
I am not racist - unless you count the HUMAN race as being a race.
I believe we are ALL on this planet together - and we MUST all come together - understanding that each CULTURE has differences. We MUST all learn to accept differences as an important factor.
This is not negotiable.
Our World will not survive if we do not overcome our own idiocy.
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I took a quiz a while ago from The University of Texas, or at least the person who was administering it was from there, to see if you were prejudiced in any way. It showed you pics of different races and asked you questions about them. Your score was determined by how long it took you to respond and whether or not you answered correctly. I wish I could give you more info on what questions they asked, but it was a while ago. The quiz said I had a slight preference for white people. I thought that was interesting as I feel I pretty much treat everyone the same.
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Another question is to ask if you have prejudices?
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Gone quiet
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lol Bernie I would be very surprised if someone denied have any prejudices at all.
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Hey Tony
I used to carry out some diversity training and yes - some people do claim to have no prejudices. -
I think they are lying to themselves mate. No one is perfect.
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Its funny how people think that a jointly or widely held prejudice is ok. lately I have noticed in Britain that there is a lot of humour aimed at fat people and ginger people. Its as though all the racist and homophobic jokes are allowed to be applied to these groups.
I was at a football match when a bloke says to me " I hate blacks don't you" - WHERE did that come from. Why did he think that I would agree with him!!! he'd had a beer or two and so had I so I told him exactly what I thought about his remarks and black people. He shook his head and walked off - he though I was mad not to hold his views. -
if a black mans racist is it ok, if its a white mans racism that made him that way, cus the bully is the victim they say.. by some sense, were all the same..
- katie melua
yes.... but who to mwahahahahahaha
im irish, so i get the brunt of retard jokes all the time...
it may take us 10 people to fix a lightbulb.. but were happy goddammit!!-
But could you be happier..
It may be just the jokes now but in the past there were signs on hotels say bin "No Irish". The jokes are the lingering death of that prejudice. -
And you make the best beer on the planet! (This coming from an Englishman!)
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Most racist jokes I hear tend to just compound stereotypes. I am definitely not a fan.
I don't really know how people in the past could have found someone like Bernard Manning funny. -
I have been. I was at ac comedy gig the other week and the comedian started having a quiet go at the polish workers. He actually said "you are all looking a little uncomfortable right now" - clever and perceptive.
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The polish and other Eastern Europeans usually just get called Russian from what I have seen.
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every human being is racist, those who say their are not are liar!
A girl i know works at the local hospital. She was going to get a drink for one of the patients, and referred to it as a black tea.
"can i have a tea with no milk or sugar?"
"a black tea? ok i'll get it for you just now"
And bam!!!! Reported, and given a warning!!
I've never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life.
Why don't we just delete the word "black" from the English language altogether if it's gonna get so many people into trouble. Refer to anything as black now (even when it is) and you get accused of either upsetting someone, or being a downright racist.-
You reminded me of a visit to Kentucky Fried Chicken. I don't like dark meat because it's too strong. I wanted regular milk, not chocolate milk. The lady at the register worded things strangely and was black. Our conversation came out weird...
What kind of meat do you want?
White
Do you want white or chocolate milk?
White
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Music Industry is invaded by blacks
I'm listenning to music now to random music playlist on the net I noticed that most of it is black's music. If i don't like black music is it mean i'm racist? -
Tiger
The people who gave the warning to the girl who said black tea are the ones that are racist. If that really happened she can easily take further action against them. Its easy to say the word black. People can and do use it everyday without anybody.
Does not liking black music mean your racist? Use your own judgment. Why do think anyone would find that racist?-
Because that the way it is today, where some part of the society is struggling behind this politically correctness thinking.
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you are taking a small sub-set of the genere and applying it to the whole. Even R&B? R&B is beyond respectable when it comes to artistic integrity. -
Even the most critically acclaimed hip hop, like Kanye West is crap with a capital C.
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I mean look at this crap man:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=740d8sTpM7U
that a shame to the entire human race.-
That clip says more about the use of women in music videos than anything else. Disgusting.
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tiger
i don't struggle with polite language. Thats all PC is when you cut through the crap.
Some of your language above is offensive to me. I suppose its my problem. It shouldn't be though.-
it my language is offensive to describe an offensive situation!
Sorry if i offend you it was not the goal.
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Last time I checked rubbish music was not exclusive to one genre. Its a matter of taste, not liking a certain type of music is obviously not racist. If the suggestion is that black people are the dumbest on the planet that is a different matter and that is racist.
Some good music can be found in any genre if ones mind is open enough.
As for the video, I can't see it. It says not available in my country.-
the video is
Lil Wayne - Lollipop
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I watched the video and found it pretty tame, you made it sound like he was having sex in the video or something. It is just him singing with lots of beautiful women in the background
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technically only the majority can be racist.
but i agree that everyone has racist thoughts or feelings but not everyone acknowledges them-
How would you know that???? I mean what are you basing that on and can you share some examples.
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If you go to the Indy 500, does that make you racist?-
LOL!!!
If I may I add, Adam was also a racer (Not a racist) because He was first in the human race...
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It depends on a simple truth- "will it make me famous" -
rfburnhertz: I don't think I ever claimed it as fact I said in my first post I believe. A line that embarrassed racists used to make themselves feel better? Some I think, but not all.
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This notion that if we don't admit to being a little bit racist means we're in denial is utter hogwash.
Racism - like all forms of bigotry - are opinions formed about a specific group of people, in their entirety based on stereotypes, false information, and fear. Bigotry is typically used against one group to elevate another group.
I do not look at any group of people in it's entirety and apply a blanket generalization of misinformed opinion, and hatred - certainly not to boost my own self esteem.
I base my opinions about individual people on their actions, behavior, and character. I do not base any opinions on people because of their skin color.
Ergo, I am not racist. Not one single bit. -
I'll admit to prejudices. I work on mine. Its not just about judging people. Its about unreasonable fears, doubts about criminality, enjoying certain jokes, would you consider living with a person from a certain group, having their children, inviting them to your house and so on.
if you honestly haven't any prejudices, you are a very special person. For me racism is a celebration of the prejudice. You may brag about your opinion and disadvantage people on its basis at any opportunity.-
I don't prejudge people. I wait until they give me something to judge, then I make my decision.
Example:
Person A walks into a store, I pay not attention to person A unless I have a reason to, and, I make no judgment about person A that isn't either reasonably obvious, or made after a behavior is evident.
If person A is dressed like a construction worker, I might assume that person A is either in construction, or is working on some sort of construction project. If person A is wearing a cowboy hat and a dinner plate belt buckle, I might assume that person A likes country/rodeo things and/or is not from around here (we don't have any rodeos around here).
If person A bumps into me, and politely says "excuse me" or allows me to go ahead in line, I might assume that Person A is kind, and polite. If Person A bumps into me, yells at me, and is otherwise rude, then I will assume that Person A is a jackass.
If I am talking to Person B, and person B recites some misinformed opinion on a hot button issue that I know is false, and refuses to even look at the actual facts - I will assume that Person B is willfully ignorant, and thus, a waste of my time. On the other hand, if Person B engages in reasonable debate, I will assume that Person B has different opinions, but is otherwise an OK person.
I also regularly enjoy many "off color" jokes about a wide array of people if the joke was said in an appropriate manner, at an appropriate time, for an appropriate reason, by an appropriate person (think: comedian with a live, adult skit that makes fun of everyone and everything) - but I will not laugh or enjoy off color jokes that are obviously not meant to be funny, but are intended to be derogatory. -
hum, then I must be special, except I don't think I am, because I know many like me
YOu stated:
"ts about unreasonable fears, doubts about criminality, enjoying certain jokes, would you consider living with a person from a certain group, having their children, inviting them to your house and so on."
There was a time ONCE where I was fearful of irish men when I was a kid, but that is because the ira were setting off bombs in London and I became afraid of anyone who was irish (cause they didn't wear a sign stating they were not ira if you know what I mean).But I don't think that was an unreasonable fear for a 10 year old child.
As for the rest, no I don't relate. My fave uncle was from pakistan, my husband is Turkish, my kids are Texan.
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I'm not racist, I'm an equal opportunist! -
i am not racist, i'm misanthropic, i hate everyone equally :b
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A lot of jokes are funny and derogatory.
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A little self depreciation (and depreciation of others along with it) is good for us - we need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. I have no problem with black comics making fun of white people, or men making fun of women, or comics making fun of Anarchists, or Pagans, or mothers, or short people or any "group" I could possibly be a part of so long as they are the type of comic that makes a point to poke fun at all of the things in life everyone takes too seriously.
I think Bill Engvall is hysterical (Although Ron White is funnier), I think Ralphie Mae is wildly funny, I think Jim Gaffigan is side splitting funny - all of these comics do provocative, insensitive jokes. But they are not derogatory. -
How would you like it if someone comes out with comics that hurts you in the core of your religious sentiments
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But are the same jokes just as funny when a colleague tells them over a cup of tea?
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Usually if a coworker is telling jokes that a comedian tells are not as funny when a non professional tells them regardless of what type of joke it is.
That's because the timing, approach, and delivery are all wrong. And it's usually an inappropriate time for it, anyway.
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Anok: What you describe seems like prejudice to me. Take for example person A bumping into you, yelling and being rude to you, it is very reasonable to assume that the person is a jackass but it is still a prejudgment. It could be that the person has had a very bad day or just received some bad news which may have made that person act in a way that they normally would not. Person A who has been very kind and polite to you could for all you know be a serial killer or rapist or something else unsavory.
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It's not prejudiced, unless you think that otherwise polite people randomly lose control of their tempers or become rude to strangers if they've simply "had a bad day". I have bad days all the time, I still manage to say "please" and "thank-you".
And yes, Person A could be a serial killer - Person A would just be a polite serial killer. The point, however is that I am basing judgment on ACTUAL behavior, and not a random and arbitrary stereotype based only on appearance or grouping.
Whether or not my assessment is entirely 100% accurate based on one, two or more encounters with that person is not the point, because my assessment of that behavior, at that time is absolutely 100% correct.
Prejudice, or bigotry is NOT based on anything tangible, nor is it ever considered on an individual basis. Discernment and judgment of character IS based on individual encounters, on a case by case basis, and with tangible evidence to point to and say "Yes, Person A is a (fill in the blank), because Person A did X, Y, and Z"
If you can't honestly see the difference, that is a serious problem. -
That is really more of a post judgement, if it was prejudgement then she wouldn't have liked the person before they even yelled at her.
Judgements are a part of human nature, it's part of our survival instincts.
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I am not really a fan of jokes that just compound stereotypes. Words can be very hurtful, what might just seem like a harmless joke to one person could be very offensive to the next person.
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Most big time comedians' biggest fans are the demographic of the people they make jokes about.
The Blue Collar Comedy Tour is ALL about making fun of "rednecks". ("You might be a redneck if"....jokes are the biggest selling jokes of all time for that group). Their biggest fans are - guess what? Rednecks.
Ralphie Mae, and there's another one (can't remember his name) both have lengthy skits about minorities and mentally handicapped people. Both have audiences that are made up largely of minorities and handicapped people who paid a lot of money to hear the jokes that supposedly "offend them".
In fact, the one whose name I can't remember has a whole skit on mentally handicapped, and one show the entire front - center seating area was FULL of handicapped people. He was actually taken a little aback (as told by him on a different tour - they showed video clips) and the mentally handicapped people stood up and confronted him when he DIDN'T do his normal skit. They were pissed! They thought it was funny! They paid a lot of money to hear him do *that skit*, and they made him do it, too!
Honestly - there is a time and a place for everything. There are times when holding one's tongue, and being really careful about what you say and how you say it is of the utmost importance. But we need to stop taking everything - particularly ourselves - so damn seriously.
We are NOT that important.
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You don't think it is possible for a normally polite person to behave out of character because they have had a bad day? I am not saying being rude to a stranger is right by the way.
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Not so "out of character" that they lash out at strangers, no. And if they do, they probably aren't as "nice" as they let on to be naturally.
A normally polite person still has enough politeness in them to say "oh sorry" or "excuse me" or "thanks" instead of "F*ck you, asshole, get outta my way" to a complete stranger who hasn't actually don't anything to deserve such treatment.
Hell I'm not even normally polite, and even I'm nice to strangers, even when I am having a bad day.
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Not anymore, gas prices got too high--no more racing for me!
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It is more than possible that they have a big regret about what they did later on, its just that you will never know about it.
Yes you manage to be polite, keep control of your temper on a bad day and that's great. Not everyone though is able to maintain that standard. I don't think because some is polite all the time it means they are a good person or vice versa.
I remember Chris rock's Niggas vs. Black People routine, it backfired spectacularly. He said on the 60 minutes interview "By the way, I've never done that joke again, ever, and I probably never will. 'Cause some people that were racist thought they had license to say nigger. So, I'm done with that routine."
I think that routine caused a lot of damage there are people who still refer to that act today to justify their use of that word.-
You're free to have whatever opinion you want - but my argument stands.
Judging someone on a behavior - even an "out of character" behavior, is not bigoted, prejudice or otherwise uncalled for. You are judging an individual on their individual behavior.
There is a reason people say "You only make ONE first impression".
And if comedians "offensive" routines were so offensive, there wouldn't be any comedians left doing those routines, they'd either be out of a job, or they'd change to keep their job.
Oh, but Chris Rock still has an arsenal of race-based jokes. He just doesn't use the one that flopped.
Honestly, we need to - as ChelleB says - pull the offending stick out of our offending arses because this is an offensive world". We need to get over ourselves. -
That opinion isn't holding any water I'm afraid. People that commit violence often regret they did so at a later date, doens't mean you should write it off as an opps moment.
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I think a lot depends on what kind of conclusion is reached as a result of that behavior. First impressions can be wrong.
I think Chris Rock is a bit more aware now than he was previously.
I don't think we live in an ideal world where everything is fair game to joke about. Joking about certain topics may have big consequences. Comedians have got to be aware of that.-
No, first impressions are not "wrong" - you are directly judging the action itself, your "impression" is a direct result of an action - that isn't wrong at all. making a judgment about the person's entire life based on that one encounter may be wrong - but in my experience, that's kinda rare.
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Yet everyone can make blond jokes an write it off in good fun....
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Judging someone for their actions is not racist. Judging someone for their skin color is.
Saying racist jokes or words does not make you racist, either. Believing that another race is inherently inferior is racist.
We're all human, and we're all capable of doing some really stupid things that other people will make fun of us for. -
To have a impression is not wrong. The impression that you get as a result of an action might be a wrong impression. Yes it is your impression but that does not mean it is not a wrong one.
I think people often make a judgment about about someones entire personality based on a first impression.
Like you said There is a reason people say "You only make ONE first impression". -
All I have to do is show up with this avatar and I am the most hated among women
yet I have lot's of men friends. So YES racism is everywhere in the littlest of things.
I am sure there were and are instances when I myself added to the pot of racism
and anyone who says they are not or never added to the pot is a bold faced liar.
I am sure there are many different degrees of racism.
I had racist teacher in high school who kept telling us that Egyptians are not black people
but when I went to Egypt years ago all I saw off the banks of the nile were black people.
I was told that black people can't have green and blue eyes or blond hair and the fact is some black people do have green, blue eyes and blond hair. Racism is slowly feed to us from a young age, so much so, that most of the time you aren't even aware of the racism.
My Great Aunt wouldn't let me play with the next door neighbors kids cause they weren't catholic like she was, all this crap we have to deal with growing up, yet it's part of growing up.-
I've encountered many racist people - but I've never judged anyone by the color of their skin, or their ethnicity.
I've never "added to the pot of racism". In order to do that I would have to make statements about an entire race of people that are unfounded, hateful, and untrue. I haven't done that. Ever.
For example, I've never lumped all black people in with rap music. Or lumped them all in as being poor. Or even having the same type of skin and hair - although there are many similar genetic features, there is still a lot of variety within various races.
Why is everyone so convinced that everyone is racist? -
Without racism cultural difference would never exist, we would be all the same.
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@Anok...It's pretty simple
The eye itself is discriminatory -
ttiger - cultural differences have nothing to do with racism. Please see the definitions below.
Jeunelle, the eye may be discerning but it is not "discriminating" in the sense of causing racism in everyone.
My eye does not make me look at a person and say "Oh, it's a Black/Hispanic/Asian/White person, he/she is inferior to me". Or "Oh, look at that (derogatory name), I hate those people."
It doesn't happen. I don't do that, and I never have. -
@Anok...you have your view and I have mine.
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It's not about views - it's about applying an opinion to an entire group of people regardless of the individual differences.
A few people here are insisting that racism exists in all of us - that we are racist, and those of us who claim not be are liars, in denial, or full of shit.
Several of us have answered back - no, we (the individuals) are not racist. Not one single iota.
I don't look at someone and see their skin color, size, shape, or any obvious affiliation with a particular group and think to myself - Oh, I hate those people, or oh, it's a whatevergroup person - they must be criminals, hoodlums, poor, stupid, dirty, perverted, child molesters etc and so forth.
I don't do it - there is no "view" about it. I give people the benefit of the doubt, and a basic level of common respect until they do something to change my opinion of them. That's how I operate. -
I am not arguing with you and I do not agree with you
We do agree on some things but not this and I am moving on to something else that interest me....goodbye -
So you've made a blanket judgmental about an entire group of people regardless of what their actual opinion and behavior is? And them walk away and don't' want to back that up?
This is the problem. You can't say that everyone is a racist, and expect people to just accept that, particularly when it's not true.
you can't say that any more than you can repeat any other blanket statement about a group of people such as:
Blacks are inferior, women are stupid/weak, Hispanics are thieves, Asians are...I dunno what people say about Asians...homosexuals are child molesters etc and so forth. -
You can argue all through this thread if you want but I'm done
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I'm not arguing.
I am stating a FACT.
I am not racist, and never have been. I do not judge people by the color of their skin.
Either prove that everyone is racist - or take the statement back - because calling everyone a racist is a heavy allegation, one that I'm not only completely against, but also offended by.
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No, not everyone's racist...
but you'd be lying if you said you weren't PREJUDICED, because we all judge. Maybe prejudice is what you meant. -
Do I really have to do this?
prej⋅u⋅dice
/ˈprɛdʒədɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [prej-uh-dis] Show IPA noun, verb, -diced, -dic⋅ing.
–noun
1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.
3. unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, esp. of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious, or national group.
4. such attitudes considered collectively: The war against prejudice is never-ending.
5. damage or injury; detriment: a law that operated to the prejudice of the majority.
judg⋅ment
/ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [juhj-muhnt] Show IPA
–noun
1. an act or instance of judging.
2. the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, esp. in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.
3. the demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity: The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire.
4. the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind: Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence.
rac⋅ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
big⋅ot⋅ry
/ˈbɪgətri/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [big-uh-tree] Show IPA
–noun, plural -ries.
1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.
dis⋅cern⋅ing
/dɪˈsɜrnɪŋ, -ˈzɜr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [di-sur-ning, -zur-] Show IPA
–adjective
showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding: a discerning critic of French poetry. -
You cannot change something I believe is inherent in all of us, and that is fear of things different than ourselves.
I honestly believe over time it will only get worse...why?
Because we continue to try to force diversification when it goes against our very human nature, we are animals, and I just don't think it's something that you will ever change.
Sure, because we are "more" intelligent than most other animals, we try. We try to look past the things that make us different, and we try to pretend as if we aren't different, when we are, and you can't change that fact.
The more we try to pretend white people are the same as black people, or that men are the same as women, I think the bigger divide is created.
Instead we should acknowledge we are equal in the eyes of the law, but there are definitely traits that make us different.
To do otherwise, only creates more animosity.
To continue to force people to accept those outside their "tribe," only creates more animosity.
We went from a society where we lived separately, to forced integration over a very short period of time.
During that time, we all tried to get along, and things were fine. But, it is my opinion that this melting pot that we have created has too many cooks in the kitchen, and just one too many spices have been added.
In just a bit over 40 years we have had to accept the fact that whites, Hispanics and blacks would have to not only work together, but to live together, and then to spice things up we've added numerous other races since then, and now Homosexuals want to be tossed into the mix.
I am sure you will have those who will argue that immigrants have been coming to America for hundreds of years, and yes they have.
But, with each new immigrant that entered this country, you had your new "n*gger."
Whether it was the Chinese, the Irish, the Italians, whoever. They each had to overcome the resistance the established communities put up to keep the new outsiders, just that...outside.
Now consider this. If you can't get two groups who each descended from white skinned Europeans to get along. People who not only look alike, but even share some cultural similarities, then how do you expect people of different races to get along?
You can't.
My point is not that racism is okay, it is, what it is.
I am not even saying that we should accept it, that it should be allowed. I am saying that it will always be here, and there is nothing you can do about it.
You can attempt to educate people, but you will not change something that you were born with. You will try to rationalize why you should be accepting of other cultures, other races, and in your head it will sound all peachy keen and you will feel good about yourself as you profess you are not a racist.
While deep down, you will fight the urges, that you as an animal were born with.
You will also smile as they continue to make new laws, forcing you to accept yet one more person, one more race, one more religious belief, one more confused sexual identity, in the name of diversity.
But deep down you will resent it, and it is this, that will ultimately be our undoing.-
Uh - no, it sounds like YOU are racist/bigoted, and are simply trying to justify it.
I've heard the "well it is what it is, and we are all different" bit before. From the local Neo-Nazis.
Not buying it. -
Your point is not that valid.
I think promoting different cultures and understandings are important, but we don't.
In school, not all of us learn about each other, and we have a sense of entitlement.
Only small minds think one is better than the other.
I dated a Persian doctor once, and a guy with roots in Scotland. I appreciated the differences and embraced them.
There's a saying:
If you see the world today exactly as you did 20 years ago, you wasted 20 years of your life.
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no! I have never held a bigoted or racist view of any group. As for prejudices I do not make "adverse judgments or form opinions beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts".
Nor do I have"Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion."
Do I judge people, sure I do based on their actions, but it has nothing to do with the colour of their skin, of where they are from.-
Racism is a form of discrimination based on race, even if we where all white/black/brown/yellow etc etc we would discriminate against each other based on other factors, maybe because on social status (we already do discriminate because of it), its human nature (sad but true).
Discrimination will never go away so we can assume Racism will never either. -
Oh I don't know. Head out west and you find much less discrimination in general because people there have a more mortality oriented view of life. You can't discriminate if we're all headed to the same place anyways. -
ttiger you are preaching to the choir, I am not sure why you think I would not be aware racism and discrimination wouldn't go away? I answered Tonyboy's question, and didn't make a statement about the future of discriminatory practices.
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I am extremely racist against green-skinned people. I am a normal skin-pigment supremicist. All hail normalcy!
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I grew up in a very mixed city - lots of Asian, Hispanic, Black and White people. I have worked for a company that was mostly Asian. I think I am over the skin color thing but only if these people live here in the USA with me.
But I honestly think that if I was in a different country, I would have preconceived ideas/stereotypes about that culture that might not be true to everyone there. It would be my ignorance affecting me. -
I am not racist I hate everyone equally -
A relative of mine hates everyone from the Middle East with no regard for individual countries or governments. He just lumps everyone together and connects them all with the bad stuff that's been going on for the past 50 years. Events in the past 10 years only intensified the hate.
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Sadly I have a relative like that and last time he saw my mum he asked if I am still married to that coloured boy. shrug!
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Hoping your "mum" said, "Yes she is, and he's the most wonderful husband in the world. I couldn't ask for a more fabulous son-in-law."
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I think she put him on the spot and asked him who, and he had to say his name and then yes, she added the wonderful husband bit
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NEveeeeeer -
Not racist....I think everyone harbours some form of prejudice. What makes us rational adults is looking beyond our personal prejudice and taking a person at face value. -
race doesn't exist. Its just a stupid notion that people made up. Biologically we are all the same. -
everyone is racist to a certain extent. some simply take it too far.-
what evidence do you have to support that contention?
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i was driving my car today behind a little crappy neon something or other and there was a huge "Latin Pride" sticker covering the entire back window. Now im wondering to myself what people would think if I rode around with a huge sticker in the back of my car with a "white pride" logo?
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"White pride" is synonymous with racism - because the KKK, neo-nazis, and other white supremacist groups have made "white pride" their catch phrase.
It's like having a "Just do it" sticker on your car - and expecting people to not think about Nike shoes. Once it's branded...
Try "Irish pride" or "French pride" or "Viking Pride" or something. -
I was at DISNEY LAND a couple years ago and a ghetto mexican had a HUGE tattoo on his neck that said "Brown Power" with a fist beside it. He had 2 kids. I can guarantee you those kids will go to prison for violent crimes, theft/vandalism.
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He had 2 kids. I can guarantee you those kids will go to prison for violent crimes, theft/vandalism.
really? How can you "guarantee" that? Do you know when he got hat tattoo? Do you know what that means to him? Do you know if he is a good father? If he has sole custody of his kids, or was having a visit? Do you know if he's a reformed criminal who now does community works? Or perhaps he got that tattoo while drunk?
What exactly do you know about that person to warrant a judgment of his children?
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nope -
Even definitions about racism in the dictionaries vary. Definitions about race are contested by all sorts of scholars. Even the term race is something to be analyzed. Racism is about much more than not liking someone or making any kind of judgment based on skin color.
Just by laughing at a racist joke a person might be unwittingly showing a display of racism.
There were black people who used to like the late racist comedian Bernard Manning who loved telling jokes about black people but that does not mean Manning jokes were ok or not racist.
If someone claims never to have never had at least one kind of racial or prejudice subconscious, conscious thought from childhood right through to adulthood to a bunch of strangers, I would suggest that it is hardly surprising they would be skeptical.
There is not one person here who can prove that they are not racist anymore than I can prove that everyone is. What you can do is put forward an argument... a view, then people can choose to believe it or not. Nobody is obligated either way and it is certainly not personal.-
Making blanket statements that everyone is racist IS personal.
Unless you can prove that everyone has racist tendencies or is racist with some sort of falsifiable evidence, then you should drop it, and realize that just because it's your "opinion" it doesn't make it OK to repeat it over and over again when the "opinion" is factually incorrect.
And no - there are no "huge debates" about the definition of racism, or what racism is.
Racism - the judgment of an entire group of people based on ethnic background, race, or genetic makeup with no regard to individuals. Based on lies, stereotypes, and a need to feel superior.
There? Is that better? Does that help you?
Do you feel like you are superior to other people because of your race/ethnic background/genetic makeup? Do you hate an entire group of people based on nothing more than their skin color? Do you apply blanket statements to entire groups of people based only on their skin color and factually incorrect opinion?
If so, you're a racist, congratulations. If not, you're not. It's just that easy.
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of course i am........... and everyone else is also
its just a perspective thing, just as long as you don't let it get the better of you, you will be fine
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Tony you have just offered your opinion, albiet a blanket statement about humanity, and haven't backed it up with anything to support it. It is not up to us to prove anything because most people here haven't asserted that everyone isn't or is racist.
What is provable is that prejudice has existed for centuries and has been exploited by various governments, tribes, religious groups etc in an effort to protect or manipulate. It has touched every society of every ethnicity, but that doesn't mean that it is inherent in human nature to be racist. It is a behaviour that is taught or learned, just as homaphobia is, and the notion that somehow women were or are inferior.
"'Racism is learned behaviour and we have to unlearn it"
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/mar/21/election2005.uk1
Schoolteacher Demonstrates Racism is Learned
www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-2358353.html -
A blanket statement, which is backed up, but history and the present day jafabrit, which is partly backed up in your post. Now if someone wants to say that they are non racist, non prejudice and that is fine but I maintain it is the viewers choice as to whether they believe that or not.
Being completely non racist, non prejudice means, no room for improvement, it means perfection. A perfect pure person....
Subtle racism is often unintentional and unconscious.
What I think is that everybody is ignorant. Why? Because no one knows everything, everything about every culture, no one is perfect, nobody knows themselves inside and out to the fullest extent.
Racism is about ignorance.
Racism is in part learned but from whom? The environment that we find ourselves in. From the time we are born we already become influenced by our environment, which includes the media, family, friends, strangers.
If you have not grown up in a place where there is no one of a different color then what the media, family, friends, strangers say have even more of a influence, because that is all you a have to go on.
As illustrated by the Jane Elliot story
In another version of the story, one major impetus for the creation of the exercise was that none of her 8-year-old students had ever met a black person. Jane, growing up in the same small town in Iowa, had not seen one until she was nineteen. For this reason, she felt that simply talking about racism would not allow her all-white class to really comprehend what it is really about.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Elliott
Do we notice that people look different, speak different? Of course we do.
Nobody is color blind we DO notice that people are different.
Why do you think humans generally gravitate to a partner of the same ethnic group?
Because it is generally what they find attractive.
And Anok just because you say, “ there are no "huge debates" about the definition of racism, or what racism is.” that does not make it so.-
But it is still a LEARNED behaviour and as such showcases it is not inherent in human nature.
Is it possible for us all to learn to be racist, sure, just as men were culturally conditioned to view women as inferior, but I wouldn't say it is inherent in men's nature to be gender bigots. -
No one has said that racism doesn't exist, hasn't existed.
What we are saying is that not everyone is racist.
And "noticing the differences in others" is NOT racism, any more than noticing the differences in flowers or animals is flowerism or animalism.
There is nothing wrong with differences. Everyone is different - genetically, naturally, culturally different. It's basing and applying unwarranted and false opinions that are often used to oppress people based on those differences - and for no other reason than those differences that you have racism.
I don't apply factually incorrect blanket statements about entire groups of people. Doesn't matter what group it happens to be.
And no - there are no "huge debates" about what racism is. There may be pockets of people who want to take racism to a level that makes everything a racist thought or statement (much like your arguments) but that is by far not the majority opinion. -
Anok is a Treeist! She has a secrete loathing for all things woody and wants to cut them down!
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I've been told I'm too naive.
I have this really non-judgment attitude because I grew up in a diverse area. Sure, there were a lot of Latinos like me, but our circle of friends were colorful.
I had a gay friend recently come out to me, and he mentioned that some people already knew. I've known him for 10 years and never noticed he was "gay."
That's the same attitude I have. Don't know why. I stay away from stereotypes because making blanketed statements is silly.
But I do tend to hate certain groups. The "homies," for example. But only because losers get on my nerves. -
No I'm not -
Of course I'm..................not! Can anybody tells me why Jews are being hated so much? -
Of course I'm..................not! Can anybody tells me why Jews are being hated so much?
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Of course I'm..................not! Can anybody tells me why Jews are being hated so much?
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Because people were/are culturally/socially/religiously conditioned to view them as worthy of hate, because some government bodies found using them as scapegoats a means to redirect dissatisfaction away from them, because some people who are are unhappy/disenfranchised need a host to vent their anger on, because their parents taught them to hate.
Oh sorry, Ahem! I was supposed agree to the notion that one's hatred and prejudice towards Jews is inherent in human nature and therefore everyone is anti-Semitic whether they know it or not, admit it or not
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I might be naive here but I do not think hating Jews is a general, world wide thing.
I can understand it being a political reaction, coming from people of an opposing government/country to Israel and they are confusing the citizens with the government. Plenty of people hate Americans for their interference in the Middle East.
I can also see it being a religious thing for the same reasons. Many Catholics are still upset about the Jesus thing.
Whatever it is, it's not personal. I do not see widespread Jew hating from other countries/cultures around the globe. -
busylizzy, check out the wiki entry (and the bibliography that supports it), it has been pretty widespread over the centuries.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism
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Lol why three times locateblogger?
Racism is not just about the extreme hatred oppression angle. You do not have to hate or oppress in order to have racism or prejudice inside you. People have different degrees of racism or prejudice. If you are ignorant (which we all are) then you are capable of racism or prejudice.
We are all flawed human beings, so when someone claims perfection, it means they can no longer improve because there is nothing to improve on...nothing to learn...
How would you know that definitions about racism are not being discussed around the world?
Just because you have heard or seen nothing about it, that does not mean it is not being discussed more than you think.
It is more than possible to offend someone with a term you use to describe a group and you would not know it was offensive to them.
Even the term “black” is not without controversy or any merit of discussion. Many of us use it everyday without any thought at all but there is a minority of people who are still offended by it.-
No one here is claiming to be "perfect". But just because we don't know everything doesn't mean we are racist.
You know what I do know? I know that race, ethnicity, gender and culture are not indicators of a person's ability, capacity, or character. Because I know that, I don't judge people based on their race, ethnicity, gender or culture. Ergo - I am not racist. I don't, and I never have - as the thought that a person's "group" indicates any of the above mentioned qualities has never crossed my mind - not as a child, and not as an adult.
And yes, I know that there are no "huge debates" raging on about the context of racism in the manner that you are implying. There may be "huge private debates" among small groups but no, there are no huge debates raging in societies about racism in the context you are pushing.
And while there may be a push to use politically correct terms to classify race - most people in the US accept Black and White instead of African American and Caucasian. Other races are indicated such as Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Indian, etc and so forth. Black and White are as accepted as "Gay and Straight" instead of "homosexual and Heterosexual".
If you want to classify every little tiny thing - everything up to and including the classification of races/ethnicities as "racist" then that's fine for you. However people understand that classifications are not derogatory - they are scientifically and genetically sound classifications based on DNA and genetics.
Racism - and all forms of bigotry - are the absolute opposite of rational scientific findings, and reasonable assessments of people as individuals or as groups. -
"If you are ignorant (which we all are) then you are capable of racism or prejudice."
Apart from the fact that nobody here has claimed perfection, your argument is a Syllogism, a fallacy argument like saying
"# Pie is food.
# Food is delicious.
# Therefore, pie is delicious"
racism is ignorance
people are ignorant
therefore, all people are racists
You still haven't proved your case other than offer YOUR opinion.
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You should have a look at the following link as well Lizzy if you're not too busy
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew?#Jewish_by_birth -
Lizzy
Without the Jews there would be no Catholics!!!! They gave us our religion. -
Oh my,pardon me Tonyboy,I didn't know how my comment was published three times.I remembered clicking the add comment button once only.Please accept my apology.
Seems like the Jews topic is a hot discussion here.I'm the one who brought it here and I want to apologies if it cause a bit uncomfortable for certain people.I'm just a bit curious.
There is no point for hating other people actually,we are not angel nor god and all of us do mistakes.-
I don't see any indication that you bringing it up made it a hot topic or caused any discomfort????
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Its cool Locateblogger bring it into the discussion if you want to. Nothing wrong with asking.
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Actually many scientists argue legitimately argue that race does not exist and it is a social construct.
Who decides what is politically correct and what is legitimately offensive to someone? What you might call politically correct could be another persons upset. In the UK Asian is used to describe people from the Indian subcontinent and oriental is used to described to describe people from East Asia. A number of East Asians find the term oriental offensive, should they be told shut up and stop being politically correct? Is it a “tiny thing”? I don’t think so.-
"Actually many scientists argue legitimately argue that race does not exist and it is a social construct."
Isn't that what I said, that racism is a learned behaviour!!!!!!! -
Actually many scientists argue legitimately argue that race does not exist and it is a social construct.
If you mean to use the word "race" as "culture" then yes - there is a debate about that.
If you mean to use the word "race" as "ethnicity" then you would be incorrect - there are no arguments about the genetic factors and differences/similarities in races.
As humans populated the earth (moving out from one area, into others), different groups evolved to be able to better handle the environments they were living in - creating the different races, or ethnicities.
This is scientifically proven.
Culture, however, is a combination of man made traditions/rituals, and nature based needs.
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I hope not ... just a little scared about what I do not know.-
Your reaction is natural, it is normal for humans to fear the unknown.
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The American Anthropological Association’s statement on race states:
In the United States both scholars and the general public have been conditioned to viewing human races as natural and separate divisions within the human species based on visible physical differences. With the vast expansion of scientific knowledge in this century, however, it has become clear that human populations are not unambiguous, clearly demarcated, biologically distinct groups. Evidence from the analysis of genetics (e.g., DNA) indicates that most physical variation, about 94%, lies within so-called racial groups. Conventional geographic "racial" groupings differ from one another only in about 6% of their genes. This means that there is greater variation within "racial" groups than between them. In neighboring populations there is much overlapping of genes and their phenotypic (physical) expressions. Throughout history whenever different groups have come into contact, they have interbred. The continued sharing of genetic materials has maintained all of humankind as a single species.
www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm
Terms like black and white are accepted generally in society. Even non racist folk use these terms.
Their meaning is still draconian. Black still generally with the odd acceptation means bad and white means good. These meanings are thousands of years old and people still believe them and apply them to others today. So I don’t think it is politically correct to challenge or question terms when people still suffer because of it.
I said a while back jafabrit that racism was in part learned but as humans, we are not perfect there is a bad element in all of us. To deny that is to deny you are human.-
" we are not perfect there is a bad element in all of us. To deny that is to deny you are human."
I regard that as a fallacy argument again and it bears no relationship to your original claim.
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Personally, no unless you consider the acknowledgment of stereotypes. If at at substantial level that there is evidence of truth in it then to me that isn't racism that's just accepting statistics. Yes also noting that statistics don't reveal everything.
I am very much anti racism. Recently I have been irritated with those who voted for Obama stating "We made history!" ??? We made the history with MLKJ, not BO. And what irritates me more is once you ask them about stances on policy with Obama they can only give you surface level arguments. To me these people are an insult to MLKJ. He wanted us to be seen without skin color; not to vote somebody for their skin color because of what it could represent if he wins. It's still discrimination and absolutely insulting. -
No I'm not racist. Though I will admit to stereotype occasionally. Mostly for jokes, not anything to far offensive. -
jafabrit, if someone uses a word which can be seen as derogatory to describe a ethnic group but that person does not hold a bigoted or racist view of any group are they completely non racist?
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"jafabrit, if someone uses a word which can be seen as derogatory to describe a ethnic group but that person does not hold a bigoted or racist view of any group are they completely non racist?"
That was not your original statement, you held that all people are racist. Words and meanings change over the years, and what was once not offensive can become offensive and derogatory, a racist wouldn't care about that now would they.
Can you share a term that you would consider derogatory and is in common usage without consideration to how it might be offensive. I can share one example. -
I would also aver that ignorance of a word being derogatory is not proof a person in racist. It is when they knowingly use it they exhibit racist attitude.
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Words are very powerful and the wrong words can cause massive problems. The PM of Italy has just said that the 17000 who are living in tents after the earthquake should regard this time as a camping weekend. People still read and write about great speeches made in history. Your Jefferson and my Winston Churchill were great orators and their words helped create history.
Words have sharp barbs. They are often invisible to the person saying the words. They do not see the hurt and damage that they cause because they don't want to. The prejudice linked language comes from values and beliefs. Often we don't know where or when they were formed. They are part of us - the inner core. Its a dangerous and volatile place to meddle.
If we don't want to question our values and beliefs, meddle with our inner core values, we can never improve ourselves. -
I don't know why but I start to believe that all of us are actually have racist attitude in our mind.But weather we apply it or not,it is another story.That is how it differentiate us.
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What COLOR are our languages, nationalities, and religions ?
What COLOR is a HUMAN THOUGHT ?
ONLY the BODY has a COLOR.
What COLOR is Creation ?
I love my cats and dogs and trees and flowers.
And I love the color Orange.
But Orange is not a dog or a cat.
I don't like Poison Ivy... but ONLY because it does not Like Me.
If I treat a puppy like a Junk Yard Dog then I don't expect it to become a beloved family pet... but whose fault is that ? -
The PEDDLERS of products have successfully convinced buyers to use chemicals to kill the dandelions in their lawns.
Even the most beautiful creations can become the victim of our WORDS. -
Racism= the consequences of capitalism
Equality and justice can be found through anarchism.-
bollox
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That bollox is you 4 sure
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Jafabrit, I know it was not in my original statement, I am developing my point further.
"Words and meanings change over the years, and what was once
not offensive can become offensive and derogatory, a racist wouldn't
care about that now would they."
The assumption that anybody who is racist is bad is wrong. Or that anyone who is racist does not care is wrong.
Black definition.
Soiled, as from soot; dirty: feet black from playing outdoors.
- Evil; wicked: the pirates' black deeds.
- Cheerless and depressing; gloomy: black thoughts.
- Being or characterized by morbid or grimly satiric humor: a black comedy.
- Marked by anger or sullenness: gave me a black look.
- Attended with disaster; calamitous: a black day; the stock market crash on Black Friday.
- Deserving of, indicating, or incurring censure or dishonor:
Looking at those definitions how can black not be considered to offensive? Black and Negro are the same but negro is considered offensive to far more people. Society decides what is offensive and what is not and you are influenced by what society says, as we all are.
So you depend on society to tell you what is racist and what is not.
Being a non racist means being free of ignorance, perfect. You should know every word that could be considered offensive to every ethnic group.-
I have a book in the house called "Black: the history of a Color, and while you have focused on all the negatives related to a colour you have ignored all the positives.
press.princeton.edu/titles/8717.html
"In the Maasai tribes of Kenya and Tanzania, the color black is associated with rain clouds, a symbol of life and prosperity.
Native Americans associated black with the life-giving soil.
* The Hindu deity Krishna means "the black one".
* The medieval Christian sect known as the Cathars viewed black as a color of perfection.
* The Rastafari movement sees black as beautiful.
In Western fashion, black is considered stylish, sexy, elegant and powerful."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_(color)#Beliefs.2C_religions_and_superstitions
In the East white is the colour of mourning and funerals, for death, white is used in the word whitewash, white elephant, and the dictionary describes it as "blank", and to describe ghosts. shall white people be offended?
You are the one ascribing a negative connotation to a colour.
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Sadly we are all racist. Now 99.9 percent of us don't mean to be or do it intentionally, but at some point we say something bad about another race.
It's human nature.
Myself, I feel that if the Good Lord above didn't love a wide variety of colors, he wouldn't have made his children in different colors.
And for the real racists out there:
Always remember Jesus Christ was born in Jerusalem....show me a white man born there from parents born there.
He himself was not white....it show's the uneducated level of racist fool's throughout the world, that's why inbreeding is illegal
They will regret it on Judgement day.-
"It's human nature."
There is NO proof that being racist is human nature, but there is proof that it is a learned behaviour. You want to provide links to research that supports your argument. -
may not be human nature...read an article in Sailing magazine written by a couple who left their home to live on a sailboat. They raised their son on the boat and they said that because they were constantly pulling into different ports and meeting people with all different backgrounds that he interacts the same way with all people regardless of race. This seems to support that it is not human nature, but something that we learn from the people around us.
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So you believe black is widely seen in the world as positive rather than negative do you? Would you use the word negro in reference to someone. Its widely used in Portuguese and Spanish speaking countries.
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You state that the colour black is offensive due to its dictionary meaning, which doesn't support your argument since black can also mean positive things.
"Would you use the word negro in reference to someone"
I am not Spanish/Portuguese nor do I speak Spanish/Portuguese, so why would I used that to describe someone?
I describe people generally as they wish to be described.
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jafabrit
The west is writing the history of the world. The west has had the power and wealth. Your list is great, but know to who. It will not help the next black person that goes for a job interview with a middle aged, middle class white male.-
I am not talking about the history of the world , I am talking about how a colour represents many things, and since tonyboy only pointed out the negative it seems relevant to point out the positives also.
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Agreed "human nature" was a bad choice of words. All I meant was we see it on t.v. we hear bad things we get angry etc. I do not believe in any form of racism. I believe the world would be a much better place if we all just got along and shared thoughts and views as we are doing here.
It is learned agreed.-
I don't think it was too bad a choice of words myself. Yes racism is in part learned but have a think about how human nature is. Would we do bad things if no one ever taught us what was right from wrong? Of course we would. Arguably it would be worse. There is a bad element in all of us because no one is perfect.
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There is a good element in all of us also, but how good and bad is manifested is not predictable and it's also subjective. It is determined by environment, circumstances, culture, social conditioning etc.
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You all are great people being non racist. I am in an inter-racial marriage and do activist work. The hardest thing I have to do is not be racist by making assumptions based on prior actions of others in that socioeconomic group or even by the color of their skin. What has helped me is being with enough different people to learn to understand people are going to surprise you. We are unique, all of us, and at different times in our lives.-
"The hardest thing I have to do is not be racist by making assumptions based on prior actions of others in that socioeconomic group or even by the color of their skin."
Is that because you haven't been exposed to a larger group, nationally or internationally, socially/economically? What I am asking is are you making those assumptions based on your exposure to one group within your state or within the United States within just one socioeconomic group.
Would you make the same assumptions about someone who happens to be the same colour but from another country?
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'jafabrit
There is a good element in all of us also, but how good and bad is manifested is not predictable and it's also subjective. It is determined by environment, circumstances, culture, social conditioning etc.;
You forgot CHOICE -
'jafabrit
I am not talking about the history of the world , I am talking about how a colour represents many things, and since tonyboy only pointed out the negative it seems relevant to point out the positives also.'
It was news to me. Thanks for the information. No doubt Tony can speak for himself but his point was that we are fed a lot of negative ideas from birth regarding the word black.
Your blog is great.-
"No doubt Tony can speak for himself but his point was that we are fed a lot of negative ideas from birth regarding the word black."
I agree with you on that Bernie, which is my whole point, not ALL of us are fed negative ideas and when we are they may be countered by our upbringing, our experiences, and many CHOOSE not to cater to those negative ideas about colour applied to people. It also supports what I said in the first place, that being racist is not de facto, not human nature, but a learned or a socially imposed attitude.
"Your blog is great."
thank you
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yep that was my point Bernie
I think the only way for someone not to be fed negative ideas is if they just stay in their room and have no interaction with anyone and never switch on a TV or radio.
"There is a good element in all of us also, but how good and bad is manifested is not predictable and it's also subjective. It is determined by environment, circumstances, culture, social conditioning etc."
Oh Iam aware how it manifests itself is not predictable but the point is good and bad is inherent in us. That backs up the theory that racism is in part inherent. -
"Memo to self
don't take penis embroidery to a christian based craft store and try and sneak it out to find a frame, ahem!"
LOL that did make me chuckle.
Good stuff, I enjoyed looking at the artwork you have on your blog.-
oh dear, did you have to bring that embroidery up LOL! It was a bit of a challenge, after all, while I am not ashamed of my work, I do care about the sensibilities of others.
"Oh Iam aware how it manifests itself is not predictable but the point is good and bad is inherent in us. That backs up the theory that racism is in part inherent."
I don't agreed with that simply because we don't know how bad in us will manifest itself. That really depends on one's upbringing, circumstances, life experiences, personality, etc etc.
We may have to agree to disagree on this subject tony, but it has been a very interesting conversation and I thank you for that, and for the polite tone this board has kept despite such a touchy subject.
And I am glad my post gave you a chuckle, ahem!
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No. -
Yes, I discriminate only chocolate -
NB: Noticing someone's skin is a different colour is NOT racism. Different colours of skin are gorgeous, especially very dark tones. I think people should point out difference in skin colour as being very very positive.
However - I always stop my kids from pointing out someone as being brown/black/etc, and encourage them to use other attributes to distinguish someone, otherwise that would be the only difference they would see in them. -
Nope! -
"We may have to agree to disagree on this subject tony"
Yes I think you are right at least we agree that racism is wrong.
"it has been a very interesting conversation and I thank you for that, and for the polite tone this board has kept despite such a touchy subject."
Likewise Jafa, this has been by far the most polite discussion about racism that I have ever had. -
I used to be whenever I was in a swimming race. Aren't we all tired of the separation ... Really? Peace and love to one and all. -
Louis Farrakhan Speaks On BET's Show, American Gangster, 50 Cent, Rappers & More!
fr.truveo.com/Louis-Farrakhan-Speaks-On-BETs-Show-American/id/1610649655
he's funny..-
lol Did you really watch nine minutes of this crap? It's as boring as hell. I don't get the relevance of posting it here.
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i mean racism is everywhere,in every culture and ethnicity. here he's doing a violent antisemitic speech and talking about the evil jews
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Only people with their head in the sand do not believe racism is in every culture and ethnicity.
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Good blog I enjoyed reading it.
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An absolute NO with one exception: the human race. -
If Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King were stranded on a desert island, they would soon find something to fight about.
Art becomes something to fight about, religion becomes something to fight about, love becomes something to fight about. Human nature likes nothing better than a good fight.
If we could destroy human nature without destroying ourselves, that'd be ideal. -
Let tolerance be the order of the day.
Anyone can be kind, just as anyone can be a murderer. Our actions make us who we are. -
A couple years ago I was chatting with the guy at the next bar stool (he was a refugee from the New Orleans' Katrina disaster), and a young man (mid-20's) heading for the pool table, stopped, leaned over to us and said, " What are you two old men talkin' about? You a white man and you a black man?"
"Whatever," I said. "And by the way, let me show you something." I had a sketch pad with me (as usual)and a black pen. I held the pen beside the arm of the Afro-American and the white paper by my arm, an Anglo. I said, "See this?(tapping the pen), "He ain't black. And see this?" (flapping the paper by my arm) "I certainly ain't white."
The young man stood for a moment. Blushed. Shook his head, nodding a foolish grin, and left.
We two old coots laughed. Agreed we were both men of color. And had another beer. -
Racism is NOT natural. In fact, racism as we know it--based largely on skin color--is only a few centuries old--invented by Age of Enlightenment thinkers who needed to square their ideas about equality with their ownership of slaves and involvement in colonialism. Before that, it had more to do with geography or tribal group. Thus, people wrote about the "Irish race" or the "English race" or the "German race."-
I heard that theory and I don't really buy it. I find it hard to believe that people only noticed other peoples color a few centuries ago.
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I'm Xenophobic and not too ashamed of it - I have a hard time trusting Germans, non-native Americans, non-native Canadians, non-native Australians, North Koreans, Chileans, white South Africans, and Gordon Brown. -
softmelon : Excellent writing, enjoyed it.
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I just want to post this very good article which shows one of the subtle elements of racism.
www.colorq.org/articles/article.aspx?d=2002&x=colorism -
I think racism occurs subconsciously. We are very stereotypical people whether we like to admit it our not. -
At times.. Yes
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no problem with that.. why the thought in the first place? -
I don't believe I am racist - in theory or in practice. Sadly, not true of everyone in Northern Ireland given the events of today...
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/belfast-racists--threaten-to... -
No, I'm not at all a racist. I find racism absurd, unnecessary and idiotic. -
No -
I am not racist and I had black friends and are equal to whites, yellows, Indians, etc. The important thing is that we are good people, everything else is external and does not count, at least for me
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Racism is born out of ignorance. And no I am not a racist- -
no way! I'm not a racist! -
I'm white and I guess I'm racist.
I hate Asians, Blacks, Latinos and most of all, other white people.... so I guess I hate everyone really.-
Except Morpheus...
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I'm not racist, I hate everyone equally.
But all kidding aside, the fact is, if we were all one race and one sex and worshiped a head of lettuce every Tuesday while hopping on one foot, we would still find differences just to screw each other over.
Heck, we have football fans who can't go 10 minutes without going for each others' throats over who the best team is. -
I don't think we're all racist, but I do believe we all address prejudice on a cognitive level without even noticing it.
I dislike racists GREATLY. Every girl I've ever dated has been either white or hispanic. I myself and hispanic and black. Whenever I walk down the street in certain neighborhoods holding my white girlfriends hand, I do notice plenty people frowning upon it, even in such a great melting pot as my city, New York.
I find even more people that love it, though. We're all human, all mortal, and all idiots at some point or another. I don't think color should matter. Prejudice robs certain people of being judged by their actions. -
Saying "everyone" is racist is like saying everyone is homophobic or a pedophile. It makes no sense.
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Generalizing usually accomplishes that quite well.
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I was raised in a very open minded family, but I remember my mom saying she couldn't help being prejudiced against bigots. I have to admit there are some groups- Nazis, Skinheads, Pol Pot supporters, Terrorists -for whose members I have deep disgust. I wouldn't hate them so much that on an individual basis I might try to to convert them to a more loving approach to mankind. But I would gladly take up arms against their likes if I thought I could save people from their brutality. -
I felt so strong about the topic. I co-founded a site about interracial dating and relationships.
www.interracial-love.com
There's no other blog on the planet like it. -
Phew! People sure sweat some things
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