Racism

[mortalterror]

Racism exists. Institutional Racism exists. By institutional racism we don't just mean it exists in a few individuals in society, but it is a system of biases, prejudices, stereotypes, and assumptions that proliferates through our institutions, such institutions may include: our businesses, our banks, our schools, our literature, our stores, etc.

I know what happened, your WHITE PERSONS EMAIL must have gone straight to spam. Racism is over, Eric. We're onto bigamy now.

Oh, and I saw a report about that swim club thing on the news. They kicked a couple of white groups out too; so it was more of a rich vs poor thing.

[Emil Miller]

[QUOTE=Drkshadow03;755861] Racism exists. Institutional Racism exists. By institutional racism we don't just mean it exists in a few individuals in society, but it is a system of biases, prejudices, stereotypes, and assumptions that proliferates through our institutions, such institutions may include: our businesses, our banks, our schools, our literature, our stores, etc.

Have you ever wondered why?



[QUOTE=mortalterror;756032]. Racism is over, Eric.

Racism ( a word propagated by liberals for the unquestioning masses) will never be over while so many people have a stake in it.

[Nightshade]

But there is a Foucaultan conflict--the seniors most active on the tenant council are overtly hostile to the disabled population--which, as I previously indicated, is just as bad, if not worse, than racial prejudice.

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I missed this the first time round,but yes I have to agree disability related prejudices in some ways more insidious than racial prejudice and worse is people can find ways to get away with it.

[MarkBastable]

Racism a word propagated by liberals for the unquestioning masses) will never be over while so many people have a stake in it.

Libersls - a word propagated by besieged conservatives to disconcert the unquestioning bourgeoisie.

Hey - this dismissive-definition-on-the-run thing is very satisfying. I think we should make this central to all debates here.

[JuniperWoolf]

Who knows though - my general view is that Canada is really two countries - based on the diversification of the population centre - people in Vancouver, I would think, are probably more tolerant than people in rural Alberta, simply because Vancouver is a diversified city, whereas in rural Alberta generally all the exposure to non-white, non-native Canadian perspectives are limited to press, or minimal exposure (generally these townships tend to have one Chinese restaurant, for instance, which sells Americanized food of low quality).

I know that this is going back a bit and kind of deviating from the point, but you're not from Alberta, are you? If you were, you'd know that most places in rural Alberta have a native reserve almost every 20 km, and therefore plenty of exposure (side note: have you ever noticed that Canadians are quite prejudiced against Albertans? I've been called a stupid racist hick who only cares about money so many times...).

Now back to the subject at hand. Papaya is completely right in her assertion that the trouble lies in the subtle things: being followed around stores, the cops picking you out of a crowd, stupid comments... and, although it may seem like a cop-out, she was also correct when she said that unless you experience being a minority, you will NEVER understand. I have a lot of native friends. There's a reason why the highest suicide rate in Canada is native females. I know, because I've seen it literally THOUSANDS of times. The problems faced by aborigionals are so very much more complex then a lot of people realize. Its not just segregation vs. assimilation, they have had their pride and self-respect completely stripped away and half-assed government programs really do make it so much worse. If you were told that your culture were backwards and silly, then had the land that you loved taken away, then you were given a little tiny villiage where you were treated like a child in that you didn't have to pay taxes and were given money from the government every week, what would you do? I know what I would do: I'd get very depressed, start fights and maybe get wasted. Not to mention the fact that many people (not just a couple) HATE natives because these people honestly believe that those who live on reserves and recieve governemt funds are stealing their money. No, I don't have a source or a government-funded poll to support me here, all that I have are my own experiences and those of my friends. This isn't just an "oh, that happened hundreds of years ago, get with the times and get over it" kind of thing, it really does happen today, and often. (NOTE: I don't have a solution. This is a very complicated issue. The point that I'm trying to make is that to simplify racism or to pretend that it doesn't exist will only exacerbate the problem)

One of my friends in high school got suspended because she had just removed her nail polish, and a teacher (having smelled the nail-polish remover) asked her if she had been drinking. My friend lost it. From the outside, this looks like a slip on her part, but unless you've seen the build up, the hundreds of little comments and insinuations, the snide remarks, you don't get it. It wasn't just the teacher, it was everything, over a looong period of time. That little incident just happened to be the one that pushed her over the edge. I wouldn't be suprised if it were the same situation in the case of the professor.

I find it insulting that there are people who imply that racism is a thing of the past, or a rarity, in the same way that I feel sick when I hear people ask "what's the big deal with feminism? According to law, men and women ARE equal. What more do those b****es want?" especially with the rate of domestic violence and sexual assault in this county, not to mention the nauseating media portrayal (has anyone here ever seen a show called "Keys to the VIP?") Officially and legally, racism and sexism don't exist. The problem isn't legal, its social, and I don't see it ever going away.

[Nightshade]

If you were told that your culture were backwards and silly, then had the land that you loved taken away, then you were given a little tiny villiage where you were treated like a child in that you didn't have to pay taxes and were given money from the government every week, what would you do? I know what I would do: I'd get very depressed, start fights and maybe get wasted. .

See thats my point treating people differantly because of their race, and not just differantly badly but in some cases the dilberate obvious overcompensating just highlights the differances and makes the matter worse. for instance I have had people get them sleves into an absalout flap worrying and trying to help me when Ive been at work (or on a visit to a differant work place) and said I wanted to pray. And I usually end up having to explain that they needed worry if I need something Ill ask, but I usally have everything I just I need 10 minutes of my tea break at a slightly different time. Or take my currnt work place, they wont give me overtime in Ramadan because after 4 years they still aren't convinced that I wont collapse aqnd die one day while I am fasting As if I havent been doing it for 15 years and know exactly what I am doing.

On a side note wellkind of, I was seriouslly annoyed in 06 or 07 which ever it was at the official apology for salvery thing. ALthough some of my black friends where pleased by it. I felt it belittled it all. Plus what good is an apology by decdants to decndants? It happened and we all have to live with tyhat. Apologising means it could possibly be forgiven, and swept under the carpet. Plus it just reminded people of all the reasons people have to have grudges. And another thing until we stop having highlight race at every turn and have to stress equal oppertunities they we are not really past rascism at all. What we need is a day when it matters so little what race a person is that it never ever ever comes up, except in context of desribing people, like blonde green eyed, or a darkskinned etc.

[Emil Miller]

. The problem isn't legal, its social, and I don't see it ever going away.

Exactly the point I made earlier.

And another thing until we stop having highlight race at every turn and have to stress equal oppertunities they we are not really past rascism at all. .

Your experiences underline a very important aspect of the race problem. I am sorry to say that liberals are going to continue harping on race because it gives them an air of moral superiority. They believe they have the keys to the kingdom and are not prepared to give them up. As I have already pointed out, too many people have a vested interest in racism.

[Lynne50]

I have read with much interests many of the posts so far. In my humble opinion, what we should do is instead of saying racism doesn't exist, we should all imbrace racism. What I am attempting to say is, that we are all, deep down, racists. We all are proud of our cultural backgrounds, which we should be. We should be celebrating our differences. And, like others have said already, racism will never go away. It's clearly impossible. It's just the way the world is. I do think that people, of all ethncities, need to be able to laugh at themselves a bit more. If you can laugh at a joke about yourselves within your own ethncity, then it should be fair game for others too.

There is a difference between making blatant racial remarks that are hurtful, and ones that are said out of ignorance and being uneducated about the facts. I think it is all of our duties, to educate these people, as respectfully as one can, and not let people get away with these attitudes.

I guess I'm naive. I grew up in an all white suburb. My city, was known for it's racism. I should say,that my hometown city is considered middle-low income and economically is probably even lower now. However, I never heard anyone speak badly about minorities, except for my grandfather, and I didn't see him that often. I never met a black person, for my whole entire school career. There was only one Jewish person in our school. Talk about being isolated. I don't consider myself the least bit racist, though. I enjoy interacting with all types of people.

Let me get back to my orginal thoughts, And they were??

We can not wipe out racism.. It's too important to us all. On the one hand we need to celebrate our differences, yet on the other we have to use commonsense. Racial profiling should not be used, but you can understand where it comes from, esp. in these times.
I think some of the burden should rest with our schools. They should promote differences, rather than deny them. I think we should have more school assemblies on this subject. Maybe there should even be public forums, like President Obama's small town meetings, to address these matters.
Opening dialogues is the only way to lessen people's fears. I think fear drives racism and why should we all be living in a fearful society. How time consuming and wasteful is that!

[Drkshadow03]

What I am attempting to say is, that we are all, deep down, racists. We all are proud of our cultural backgrounds, which we should be. We should be celebrating our differences. And, like others have said already, racism will never go away.

"The poor you will always have with you." - Jesus.

Just because racism will most likely never go away doesn't mean one should stop trying their best to mitigate its effects as much as possible, no less than one should stop trying to help the poor.

[Lynne50]

"The poor you will always have with you." - Jesus.

Just because racism will most likely never go away doesn't mean one should stop trying their best to mitigate its effects as much as possible, no less than one should stop trying to help the poor.

I agree with your statement completely, DarkShadow. I hope I didn't give the impression we should just stick our heads in the sand and do nothing. I think we need to address the situations as they arise both in our private conversations and in more public settings.

[Emil Miller]

I have read with much interests many of the posts so far. In my humble opinion, what we should do is instead of saying racism doesn't exist, we should all imbrace racism. What I am attempting to say is, that we are all, deep down, racists. We all are proud of our cultural backgrounds, which we should be. We should be celebrating our differences. And, like others have said already, racism will never go away. It's clearly impossible. It's just the way the world is. I do think that people, of all ethncities, need to be able to laugh at themselves a bit more. If you can laugh at a joke about yourselves within your own ethncity, then it should be fair game for others too.

There is a difference between making blatant racial remarks that are hurtful, and ones that are said out of ignorance and being uneducated about the facts. I think it is all of our duties, to educate these people, as respectfully as one can, and not let people get away with these attitudes.

I guess I'm naive. I grew up in an all white suburb. My city, was known for it's racism. I should say,that my hometown city is considered middle-low income and economically is probably even lower now. However, I never heard anyone speak badly about minorities, except for my grandfather, and I didn't see him that often. I never met a black person, for my whole entire school career. There was only one Jewish person in our school. Talk about being isolated. I don't consider myself the least bit racist, though. I enjoy interacting with all types of people.

Let me get back to my orginal thoughts, And they were??

We can not wipe out racism.. It's too important to us all. On the one hand we need to celebrate our differences, yet on the other we have to use commonsense. Racial profiling should not be used, but you can understand where it comes from, esp. in these times.
I think some of the burden should rest with our schools. They should promote differences, rather than deny them. I think we should have more school assemblies on this subject. Maybe there should even be public forums, like President Obama's small town meetings, to address these matters.
Opening dialogues is the only way to lessen people's fears. I think fear drives racism and why should we all be living in a fearful society. How time consuming and wasteful is that!

Thanks for the most HONEST and sensible contribution to this thread.

[wessexgirl]

Thanks for the most HONEST and sensible contribution to this thread.

Are you going out of your way to be offensive? Are you suggesting that people who don't see things the way you do are liars? I can assure you, I'm no liar. I don't post on forums to lie. I say what I truly believe, and it seems that because it's not what you want to hear, then I'm assumed to be dishonest.

[Drkshadow03]

Are you going out of your way to be offensive? Are you suggesting that people who don't see things the way you do are liars? I can assure you, I'm no liar. I don't post on forums to lie. I say what I truly believe, and it seems that because it's not what you want to hear, then I'm assumed to be dishonest.

No, he was just noting that Lynne's was the most honest and sensible post in this thread, including his own naturally, which were clearly far less honest and sensible according to Brian Bean's own words. Not to mention the post is clearly sensible because Lynne on the one hand states, "we are all, deep down, racists" while simultaneously claiming that he doesn't "consider [him]self the least bit racist, though." See, perfect sense! Not the least bit contradictory at all. Nothing to see here . . .

[mortalterror]

No, he was just noting that Lynne's was the most honest and sensible post in this thread, including his own naturally, which were clearly far less honest and sensible according to his own words. Not to mention the post is clearly sensible because Lynne on the one hand states, "we are all, deep down, racists" while simultaneously claiming that he doesn't "consider [him]self the least bit racist, though." See, perfect sense! Not the least bit contradictory at all. Nothing to see here . . .

Have you ever seen Avenue Q?

[Drkshadow03]

Have you ever seen Avenue Q?

Of course. Why do you ask?