What is racism?

scaeagles · 05-18-2005, 09:24 AM

I am not interested in a dictionary definition.

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 This has been called "racist" by some local Hispanic leaders, and they have called for boycotts of AZ until it is repealed.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.

Vincente Fox, el Presidente of Mexico, recently said that "Hispanics do the jobs not even blacks are willing to do." Is this racist?

Howard Dean said at some recent rally "The only way republicans could have this many blacks at a rally is if they brought in the entire hotel staff." Is that racist?

Is using the "N" word in and of itself make you a racist? When Robert Byrd used the word a couple of times during an interview, was he being a racist? Was Chirs Dodd racist for praising Byrd a few weeks later?

Was Trent Lott a racist because he praised Strom Thurmond at a party in his honor?

I think the term "racist" is overused in a political context and therefore cheapens true racism when it occurs. This is not to say that none of the above items are racist in nature. Maybe some are. But isn't it overdone a bit?

I'm about as much of a WASP as you can be (is that a racist term?), so maybe I just don't understand.

05-18-2005, 09:24 AM	#1
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	What is racism? I am not interested in a dictionary definition. 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 This has been called "racist" by some local Hispanic leaders, and they have called for boycotts of AZ until it is repealed.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. Vincente Fox, el Presidente of Mexico, recently said that "Hispanics do the jobs not even blacks are willing to do." Is this racist? Howard Dean said at some recent rally "The only way republicans could have this many blacks at a rally is if they brought in the entire hotel staff." Is that racist? Is using the "N" word in and of itself make you a racist? When Robert Byrd used the word a couple of times during an interview, was he being a racist? Was Chirs Dodd racist for praising Byrd a few weeks later? Was Trent Lott a racist because he praised Strom Thurmond at a party in his honor? I think the term "racist" is overused in a political context and therefore cheapens true racism when it occurs. This is not to say that none of the above items are racist in nature. Maybe some are. But isn't it overdone a bit? I'm about as much of a WASP as you can be (is that a racist term?), so maybe I just don't understand.
	Submit to Quotes