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by Caveman on June 21st, 2007

Caveman

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Are you racist?

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  • by inconsequential on July 30th, 2007

    inconsequential

    If you'll excuse the pun, racism isn't quite as black and white as some of the responses in this thread seem to portray. While I've known a lot of people who were very egalitarian, they were still ultimately human.

    Part of being human is seeing yourself as normative, if only subconsciously. Very few of us actively feel inferior to other races, but does that mean we always believe that others are exactly equal to us, all of the time?

    When conflict occurs between individuals, differences of opinion can quickly escalate into an active process of differentiation at numerous levels. It's a defense mechanism that helps us to justify our own perspective. "I'm right and you're wrong because..." People often perceive an invalidation of their beliefs as an invalidation of themselves.

    Threat invokes an emotional, not a rational response, and more often than not it is the most salient differences that leap to our minds -- race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, etc.

    If, in the heat of anger or frustration, you've never entertained a stray thought of: "He/she is doing/thinking this because she/he is __________" I applaud you. But I also question if you're being entirely honest.

    I think that egalitarianism is an active process, and that racism is a continuum of behaviour. Most enlightened individuals do a pretty good job at thinking and acting in a way that affirms the political, economic, social, and civil equality of all people. Racist people are just those whose prejudices are so strong that they can't be retained internally, and become obviously visible in observable behaviour.

    But I think we're all guilty of thinking irrationally about ourselves and others from time to time, particularly during stress... but the best of us recognize that process as it is happening, and stop it dead.

    Comments

    • That's an excellent answer, even though I don't agree with it. All the points I can give.

      MrWitch

      by MrWitch on July 30th, 2007

    • Fantastic answer.

      Arisztid

      by Arisztid on August 15th, 2007

    • Very well put. + (btw, I like your screenname)

      Mrs.Dufresne

      by Mrs.Dufresne on August 15th, 2007

    • Thanks all. :)

      inconsequential

      by inconsequential on August 16th, 2007

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