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innerSpaceman · 02-16-2006, 12:34 PM

Which is why I think we oughta just use the term "racism" more loosely, since there's no valid replacement term out there. Nationality, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation all come under the umbrella of the stereotypes and discrimination we are usually talking about when we talk about "racism."

We don't we just accept that the term encompasses far more than "race" (whatever that is) and throw some thought into the more interesting (imo) topics of whether we are racists, to what degree, what we might propose to battle the effects of racism on either a personal or world level?

I'll go first.

I have no solutions. I agree with GD that stereotypes can be useful for a quick, preliminary analysis - but that's as far as they should go. I think affirmative action is deeply flawed, and deeply necessary. There's nothing on this earth that going to stop me from my personal bigotry against Germans and arabs.

I get ticked off when blacks get upset with gays for comparing the struggle for gay rights with the struggle for civil rights.

I get ticked off when jews (specifically Israelis) act towards others (cough*Palestinians*cough) with the same oppression that jews themselves have complained of for centuries.

I'm bummed that I'm too lazy to learn Spanish at my age, and somewhat resent that it's become necessary to speak two languages in my region of the United States.

I'm generally glad that I've always lived in racially diverse cities, but note that I have experienced and seen that people, in general, tend to mix only with members of their own race. I have very few friends that are not white, and I usually see Asians with Asians, Latinos with Latinos, and blacks with blacks. It's good that I see plenty of blacks and Latinos and Asians, but I look forward to a time when we all mix it up a little bit more.

I don't see that happening any time soon.

02-16-2006, 12:34 PM	#4
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Which is why I think we oughta just use the term "racism" more loosely, since there's no valid replacement term out there. Nationality, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation all come under the umbrella of the stereotypes and discrimination we are usually talking about when we talk about "racism." We don't we just accept that the term encompasses far more than "race" (whatever that is) and throw some thought into the more interesting (imo) topics of whether we are racists, to what degree, what we might propose to battle the effects of racism on either a personal or world level? I'll go first. I have no solutions. I agree with GD that stereotypes can be useful for a quick, preliminary analysis - but that's as far as they should go. I think affirmative action is deeply flawed, and deeply necessary. There's nothing on this earth that going to stop me from my personal bigotry against Germans and arabs. I get ticked off when blacks get upset with gays for comparing the struggle for gay rights with the struggle for civil rights. I get ticked off when jews (specifically Israelis) act towards others (coughPalestinianscough) with the same oppression that jews themselves have complained of for centuries. I'm bummed that I'm too lazy to learn Spanish at my age, and somewhat resent that it's become necessary to speak two languages in my region of the United States. I'm generally glad that I've always lived in racially diverse cities, but note that I have experienced and seen that people, in general, tend to mix only with members of their own race. I have very few friends that are not white, and I usually see Asians with Asians, Latinos with Latinos, and blacks with blacks. It's good that I see plenty of blacks and Latinos and Asians, but I look forward to a time when we all mix it up a little bit more. I don't see that happening any time soon.
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