What is racism?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Everything's about context. For example:

Presidente Fox's comments were a reference to the stereotype that Meixcans hold of blacks as hard workers. "He works like a black man" is a common saying in Mexico. So while even "positive" stereotyping has its pitfalls, I don't consider his comments particularly mallicious.

Compare that to Galloway's use of "Zionist" and "fundamental Christians." He pointedly meant those as insults. A far more distressing thing.

The view of prop 200 being racist has to do with who it affects, how, and why. My personal opinion is the resolution has to start at the border. If you don't want illegal immigrants, do more to prevent them, and relax that requirements for legal immigration. But I'm of the opinion that politicians (on either side) don't want that because of what it will do to the economy. These kinds of denial of service aren't going to slow illegal immigration. It's still more attractive to be here. So all that it's doing is putting illegals, who, in Arizona, are nearly all hispanic, at risk. It may not be because they are hispanic, but the fact is that it's a law that affects almost exclusively hispanics and fails to address the root problem.

Is the "N" word inherently racist? Language is tricky. On one level, words are just words and only have power if we let them. On the other hand, if we don't create a distinction, then it becomes difficult to recognize where the dividing line is. If we allow people to be okay with using racial slurs, then it makes it that much more difficult to impress in the society how to recognize true racism and that it's a problem. Yes, language only has as much power as we give it, but I think it's important for us to give it that power.

[Betty]

[quote=Ghoulish Delight]Everything's about context. For example:

Presidente Fox's comments were a reference to the stereotype that Meixcans hold of blacks as hard workers. "He works like a black man" is a common saying in Mexico.QUOTE]


Someone else (a hispanic) had mentioned that to me but took it differently - that blacks were lazy - so it was an insult and not a compliment.

I'm all for not allowing illegal immigrants to use our schools, social services etc, with the exception of dire emergency services... and even then there needs to be some restrictions as people should not be going to the ER for an ear ache. In Mexico, you will be deported as an illegal alien. You don't get social services... you can't send your kids to school...

And yet they expect it from us when they enter illegally.

I think the billboard that read Los Angeles, Mexico raised a lot of eyebrows.

Racist is an overused word that caries a lot of baggage and is often used for to further an agenda that has nothing to do with racism.

[Tref]

Originally Posted by Betty

Racist is an overused word that caries a lot of baggage and is often used for to further an agenda that has nothing to do with racism.

Are you saying racists over pack?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Betty

Someone else (a hispanic) had mentioned that to me but took it differently - that blacks were lazy - so it was an insult and not a compliment.

But it doesn't even make sense that way. I mean, if what he meant was that blacks are lazy, then he was saying, "We Mexicans are even lazier than blacks!"

Now, I'm still don't think the comment was completely "okay". Like I said, even positive stereotypes can be devisive. Lord knows that saying something like, "That math problem's too hard, even for an Asian," is not really kosher. But I'm less bothered by it than outright hate speach.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But it doesn't even make sense that way. I mean, if what he meant was that blacks are lazy, then he was saying, "We Mexicans are even lazier than blacks!"

Now, I'm still don't think the comment was completely "okay". Like I said, even positive stereotypes can be devisive. Lord knows that saying something like, "That math problem's too hard, even for an Asian," is not really kosher. But I'm less bothered by it than outright hate speach.

Fox said that "Mexicans take the jobs that even the blacks won't do". By saying this, he was saying that mexicans are willing to do work that is even beneath the blacks- not saying that blacks, or mexicans, are lazy. Still, it is promoting a stereotype that blacks do the dirty work- slave work- that whites won't do. It was insensitive to blacks, mexicans and whites- very often the whites and blacks aren't doing the work because it's not an option. The jobs go to illegals, who are paid less than federally mandated minimum wage, and often under the table.