What is racism?

[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.

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

There are clear differences between races in physical features.....does it not follow that there are psychological or mental differences as well?

No.

[Ghoulish Delight]

It just doesn't make sense to me that he'd be saying "you should work with us because we're willing to degrade ourselves more than blacks." If that were the case, Mexicans should be far more pissed off than blacks. If his intent was to insult blacks, then he was insulting Mexicans just as much if not more.

Don't get me wrong, intent aside, it's something he should appologize for. But having to appologize for being insensitive in your wording is a world of difference from having to appologize for intentionally being racially insulting. And I don't he was.

[wendybeth]

That is exactly what he says he meant by that, GD. Thereofore, in his mind, he wasn't being derogatory to blacks, and as far as mexicans go, I don't think he much cares. Why the hell do you think they want out of there? They are not remotely enfranchised, and if their feelings got hurt, no one would care. The ruling class in Mexico doesn't want them there, either. Makes rich people uneasy to have a large underclass of desperately poor people hanging about, especially in a country that has already gone through several bloody revolutions, and is teetering on the brink of another.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

In AZ, we passed Prop 200 last November. What this ballot initiative did was to put into law that to receive anything other than emergency services, everyone must present proof of citizenship. Any social services, enrollment in school, etc. This has been called "racist" by some local Hispanic leaders, and they have called for boycotts of AZ until it is repealed.

I don't think it's racist to deny illegal aliens everything but emergency services.

I would imagine that this initiative doesn't mention the word "Hispanic" anywhere in it and applies equally to anyone who enters the country illegally, regardless of their race. Therefore, I don't see it as racist. Sure, the people that enter Arizona illegally are likely to be mexican but they could also be from south or central america as well. Heck, they could be canadian, russian, or scandinavian. The law would apply to them equally.

When you break the law, there are consequences. If I get caught driving under the influence, the ability to drive is taken away from me. If I commit a felony, the ability to vote is taken away from me. And, if I enter any country illegally, I expect that there would be ramifications.

There are benefits to being an american citizen. I don't believe that those that have chosen to break our laws and enter the country illegally should be entitled to those benefits other than emergency medical care. It has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with what their race or country of origin happens to be.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by mousepod

No.

I'm curious - why do you say that? If our DNA makes us look physically different, with various races sharing common physical characteristics, it would logically follow that there are differences in our brains as well. Does this mean one is bad and another is good? No. It means there are differences. Why is it acceptable to embrace physical differences, but the thought of mental differences is offensive?

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I'm curious - why do you say that? If our DNA makes us look physically different, with various races sharing common physical characteristics, it would logically follow that there are differences in our brains as well. Does this mean one is bad and another is good? No. It means there are differences. Why is it acceptable to embrace physical differences, but the thought of mental differences is offensive?

Not offensive, just bad logic.

A wider or longer nose or brow or different melanin levels in the skin doesn't imply differences in internal organs, including the brain.

The fact that your argument has been made by many racists throughout the years might lead you to believe that I would group your post in with those hateful people's ideas and be offended, but that's not the case.

Just didn't want a good argument to get derailed by faulty logic.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've thought about it many times. I don't think scaeagles was attempting to imply that a bigger nose is linked to a brain type. BUT, there is a lot of evidence that personality, intelligence, and many other mental traits ARE genetic. Just from an anectodtal standpoint, my mom always had a lot more, personality wise, in common with her father than her step-father, even though she was raised for most of her life by her step-father.

So if there IS a genetic component to personality, then there's a good chance that there will be racial similiarities in that respect.

[scaeagles]

And my argument is not intended, as it is with many racists, to say one is better than the other. Just different. And I honestly don't know if there is any scientific evidence one way or the other. It just seems to make sense.

I believe certain races are more susceptable to certain diseases. So there are certainly internal differences in function of the immune system, it would seem.

I'm not a scientist. I don't know.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

I would imagine that this initiative doesn't mention the word "Hispanic" anywhere in it and applies equally to anyone who enters the country illegally, regardless of their race.

You are correct. But the overwhelming majority of illegal aliens in Az are obviously hispanic.