Yesterday, I read a blog from
Paul_Partisan regarding
the acceptance of racism. I commented that no matter how hard we may try to convince people otherwise, only they can change for themselves. We can’t control how others think, regardless of their ignorance as that would render us into fascists.
However much racism is unacceptable, it will always remain as long as we have freedom of thought. To say that racism can be abolished would be idealistic and impossible. This is why a compromise is in order. Racism without violence is the only answer, as we continue to educate.
Comments (50)
many of my friends are racists.
in fact, most of my family is too ... :(
Isn't rejecting someone because of who they are as bad as rejecting someone because of who they are? As long as they aren't hurting you in some way, it can even help them to have non-racist friends like you
Sometimes you like the people but not the values or beliefs. Hence why I'm able to continue being friends with people who are super christian and super republican. lol
Do you really have that much choice in the matter? I would tell her to zip it (racial commentary) around me if I was in the same situation.
For one thing, let's use the proper terms: Racism is defined as the belief that some ethnic or racial groups are genetically superior to others. Prejudice is the act of holding universal beliefs about other races (or other ethnic or social groups) or ones' own race (or ethnic or social group) based on experience or actions of a select few. In my experience, I've known very few actual racists; on the other hand, most people, even those who do not interact differently with members of different groups, are prejudiced. It's normal. We have significant experiences with only a few hundred people over the course of our lives and we make generalizations based on those experiences. And sometimes we make generalizations based on nothing more than our own perceptions without any experiences to back them up.
That being said, I don't think there's anything inherently wrong about befriending people who may hold negative opinions of our individual racial or ethnic groups. If anything, such relationships may cause others to reconsider their prejudices and find that releasing their preconceptions is better than maintaining their cognitive dissonance. And if they don't, at least you haven't made things worse.
My thing is, racism is only one trait out of a person. A foul trait, but certainly not a rare trait. I wouldn't deny someone friendship for that. Me befriending them, however, would give me no excuse to behave in such a manner, and I would not. If they choose to be racist they may, however I wouldn't do the same.
As you say, racism will most likely always be around. Unless everyone gets the same color hair, skin, and eyes over the next hundred or so years, we will still have racism. Racism is like stereotyping; you look at one thing from a person, without knowing them, and you base your opinion on that -- or a whole group of people from just one bad person. Stereotypes come from there being differences amongst humans. We will always be different from one another.
apparently you don't have much choice. i have a low tolerance for racism. the mentality that things won't change, is exactly what will make things remain the same. Racism may never completely go away, but it can get better. If we just say, it's always going to be around, makes it as a sort of acceptance.
my father is racist, and it make my heart sad. we're not very close, so i don't really deal with it all that often. mostly, though, i try to distance myself from someone when i find out that they are racist.
Racism just sort of naturally happens in the south, which is where much of my family is from and it makes me so uncomfortable I can not even find adequate words to express it. That in this day and age people still hold racist views is absolutely appalling to me. It makes what goes on in a person's mind and heart secondary to the amount of melanin in their skin - by now shouldn't we be beyond that kind of thinking?
It's a meat suit. One day we'll be leaving it behind and how will we be remembered once we shrug it off? I know I'd rather be remembered for what I did rather than what I look like.
Last night I asked some racist guy to be my friend on youtube...He seemed really kool besides being agaist all races except whites. I just seemed to be outta my mind on a sugar rush at 12 at night maybe that had something to do with it... :S
I wouldn't think it was wrong to not accept her as a friend. for example, I have alot of atheist friends but Iam not an atheist. I just don't believe in what they believe. I think its the same difference. If they don't push their values on me I don't do it to them. I listen though and try to understand. Iam not a racist, I currently don't think I have any racist friends, if they were though I would like to know their reasons.
people who are racist are ignorant stupid people. I try not to associate with people who are that narrow minded. To judge someone based on the color of their skin is flat out retarded why not judge the person's character instead.
I dont feel that anyone has the right to judge anyone else, you would be the as she if you shunned her because she is racist.
One of my friends don't like Mexicans and Jewish people but I still like her. Sometimes you just end up disregarding their beliefs and such because you simply love everything else about them. I think it's the same with religion. For example, there are a lot of things I don't like about "Christians" and what they do, but one of my closest friends is really devoted to that religion.
at some point the arguments no longer become worth it. my extended family is a bit racist and I've tried taking the other side in their discussions but it does no good so now I just stay out of them. They're old and set in their ways. Although my grandma does think Obama is attractive, so maybe a step in the right direction there?
if the Sneeches can do it, we can do it, too:)
@GermanWrench - For one thing, let's use the proper terms: Racism is defined as the belief that some ethnic or racial groups are genetically superior to others. Prejudice is the act of holding universal beliefs about other races...
Any dictionary definition of "racism" would have multiple entries. In one gradient of its meaning, "racism" does cover "prejudice."
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism
I draw a line between "friend" and having a "working relationship" with someone. Would you and she go out for croissants while she's not on the clock? ... I've had to be amicable with people, that I wouldn't want to have lunch with on my own time, for the sake of work and responsiblity. I don't think that's really compromising your values at all.
You crazy cracka
Actually it is. Because eventually, things like that rub off not matter how hard you try to keep at bay.
If I have any friends like that, then its behind my back. I guess because I'm multi-raced, I wouldn't be friends with someone like that cuz I can understand five different view points.
@GermanWrench - Lol you must certainly live in a glass bubble.
Its funny that you would say something like this, because (generalization here) you probably have not been on the other end, or that specific ethnic, racial, or group that's being stereotyped, denied, or ostracized. It's not as easy as you seem to make it.
@poisonedpin - I am a member of such a group -- I am both Jewish and Messianic, ostracized by white supremacists (including my father-in-law) and orthodox and conservative (and a good number of reform) Jews, somewhere in between two clashing cultures. But I acknowledge that such people are the exception to the rule and most people simply see me as just another big-nosed American trying to get by. I don't let those who despise or distrust me define who I am as a victim when I'm as free as any other American to live my life as I choose. I've known a lot of people over the years (being in the military exposes a person to an amazing variety of people and cultures and experiences) and, despite the occasional off-color joke, have never seen a person intentionally kept down due to race or ethnicity. In fact, two of my Chiefs are black men, one is an American Indian, and my LPO is a black woman. Does that mean discrimination never happens? Of course not. But it means that it's the exception rather than the rule. Regardless, the individual is responsible for himself. I've been through enough crap in my life -- having my very faith and culture questioned by one side, being told I am a disgrace to my country and a detriment to the "white race" on the other -- to know what's really worth worrying about and what's just the ramblings of a radical and vocal few. I adore the fact that one of my father-in-law's grandsons is half-Japanese and he's about to have another who is half-Jewish; such things make me RELISH the anguish, the disappointment, the hopelessess that true racists have when they realize that they are the minority and their views are slowly being squashed by a new, more open, more tolerant society than the ones required for true racism to grow.
As for prejudice, well, that's another matter entirely -- and one which people really need to distinguish from racism. Everyone is prejudiced. You can't get away from it; it's a matter of functioning as human beings. We all make generalizations and condense our experiences into tiny snippets of information for the next time. It's what's helped the human race survive for as long as we have. Is it always right? No, but it is understandable.
There's a fine line between making comments about someone's race. If it's something you categorize as "hate", then people should develop a tolerance for it. If it's something made out of jest due to stereotyping and it's understood by both parties, it's cool. And if it's something admiral you find about the other race, then it's a celebration of cultural diversity.
Maybe your friend simply thinks you're a twinkie.
I'm reminded of an account written by a former Klan member who, by circumstances outside his control, was forced into working on a committee with a black woman. He found that in spite of his racism he came to genuinely like her and they became friends. It was also a turning point for him, causing him to rethink many of his assumptions. He would later renounce his racist beliefs and leave the Klan.
@GermanWrench - The person is right. True racism is the belief that everyone of a certain race should be exterminated because they are genetically inferior. Whereas in today's society, prejudice and stereotypes play more strongly and is often confused with racism.
I have to admit that I have my prejudice against most people, but that doesn't stop me from befriending people because of their race.