woodman
22nd February 2013, 05:59 AM
Just a question for discussion. What is wrong with racism? It depends upon your definition of course. Logically, I see that everyone I look at is a racist. Even if they promote people of a different race, they are doing it for a reason that is racially motivated, typically. Some would have us believe that if we so much as notice a difference between people, we are racist. How can you not notice? Therefore, how can you not be racist?
Personally, I am not down on any individual because they happen to be different than myself. Nor do I automatically despise anyone for the deeds of their fellows. It is difficult to not notice the tendencies of a group to behave in certain ways though, and it is intelligent to profile therefore, because the odds tell you that a member of a group who behaves a certain way is likely to behave that way themself. This is being pre-judicial, or prejudiced, if you will. Prejudice is nothing more than making an educated decision regarding possible outcomes. If I see an extremely drunk man get behind the wheel of a car, I will make a decision that he is likely to cause an accident. He has not yet caused it, but I think it quite possible he will. I am prejudiced about\against drunk drivers. I am less prejudiced about drinkers, being one myself sometimes. I have seen much evidence that drinking will cause extreme asshole-istic (is this a word?)behavior but it does seem that the closer one's point of discriminatory reference is to the group in question, the less able one is to use prejudice in a pointed and intelligent way. That is, we are blinded by our own membership in said group.
If we automatically are blinded by hate, then we lessen ourselves and fail to see clearly. We often do injustice to those who are deserving of good treatment by merit of their qualities as an individual.
The thing is though, birds of a feather flock together. I have seen by experience that I will often be ill-treated and ill-regarded and sidelined by blacks and some Mexicans and fewer Asians because I am white. I go in markets and restaraunts in the areas I work and I feel a tangible miasma of resentment. Because I am a white man. Maybe this is how black men feel in white areas. I don't think so though. I think it is a resentment of all white men because they feel white men have held them down. No doubt the people on top who are holding us all down are white men. To equate me with those is perhaps a natural reaction.
Anyway, I am just rambling here. I am in the strange position of having some time on my hands and I thought this interesting to ponder.
Personally, I am not down on any individual because they happen to be different than myself. Nor do I automatically despise anyone for the deeds of their fellows. It is difficult to not notice the tendencies of a group to behave in certain ways though, and it is intelligent to profile therefore, because the odds tell you that a member of a group who behaves a certain way is likely to behave that way themself. This is being pre-judicial, or prejudiced, if you will. Prejudice is nothing more than making an educated decision regarding possible outcomes. If I see an extremely drunk man get behind the wheel of a car, I will make a decision that he is likely to cause an accident. He has not yet caused it, but I think it quite possible he will. I am prejudiced about\against drunk drivers. I am less prejudiced about drinkers, being one myself sometimes. I have seen much evidence that drinking will cause extreme asshole-istic (is this a word?)behavior but it does seem that the closer one's point of discriminatory reference is to the group in question, the less able one is to use prejudice in a pointed and intelligent way. That is, we are blinded by our own membership in said group.
If we automatically are blinded by hate, then we lessen ourselves and fail to see clearly. We often do injustice to those who are deserving of good treatment by merit of their qualities as an individual.
The thing is though, birds of a feather flock together. I have seen by experience that I will often be ill-treated and ill-regarded and sidelined by blacks and some Mexicans and fewer Asians because I am white. I go in markets and restaraunts in the areas I work and I feel a tangible miasma of resentment. Because I am a white man. Maybe this is how black men feel in white areas. I don't think so though. I think it is a resentment of all white men because they feel white men have held them down. No doubt the people on top who are holding us all down are white men. To equate me with those is perhaps a natural reaction.
Anyway, I am just rambling here. I am in the strange position of having some time on my hands and I thought this interesting to ponder.