Real World Event Discussions

How Can I Prove I am Not a Racist?

POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 05:20
VIEWED: 17920
PAGE 14 of 20

HKCAVALIER

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 7:32 PM

AU,

The question was "How can I prove I am not a racist?" and I gave an answer to that specific question. If you can show compassion to people who consider themselves to be a different race from yours(regardless of your own feelings on the matter) on issues of race, you've proved you're prolly not a racist. However, if you fail to do this, it does not follow that you are a racist. But if you are outraged or disgusted by my answer, then yeah, I may start getting the idea that you're a bit racist, in terms of how you think. That wouldn't be the end of the world.

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
HK

Are you an individual, or are you a "race"?

AURaptor, you and I don't think alike. That's obvious, isn't it? I see a lot of misery in the world growing out of this "either/or" way of thinking. We divide people that way, we divide ourselves that way, because very often what we think of as a matter of "either/or" is really, truly and forevermore, "both/and." When we love someone do we only love them? Do we have any non-loving feelings for them? Of course we do, it's only human. To deny my unloving feelings toward the ones I love, just means lying, dissembling to them, and that creates distance, undermines the love. Y'know what I mean?

Of course I think of myself as an individual (eccentric, even). I also am aware that I belong to an ethnic group or "race." I know I share a lot of characteristics with other people based on any number of criteria--race, sex, vegetarianism, etc. Bloodline matters, culture matters, but I do try to focus on my individuality in most cases. However, if I meet a black person who is hostile toward me on racial grounds I will tend to forgive him his prejudice in light of our nation's history and his personal experiences which have clearly been bad enough that he feels the need to mistrust an entire race of people because of it.

I'm painfully aware of our country's history and the scars left over from slavery and segregation. Did you know lynchings used to be celebrated, something you'd bring the whole family to and take pictures with the corpses? I'm not talking about in the days of slavery, I'm talking about this century! That these pictures used to be converted into postcards and sold in drugstores? I don't bring that up to implicate all whites in such lynchings or to exonerate all black hostility, only to give you just a single example of how accepted the torture and murder of black people was by our predominantly white culture only some 3 generations ago.

I am a little less sympathetic (just a little, mind) to a white person who finds he needs to blame all black people for his personal difficulties with black individuals in his past, because at no time in our American history have white people been tortured and murdered while whole families of blacks in their Sunday best celebrated and got their pictures taken with the corpse. There is a real inequity in experience there and it impacts my reaction to the folks I meet in my life. Only time can heal such wounds and I believe people deserve all the time they need.

You may call that racism, or perhaps racial favoritism and I see no reason to argue with you, because I think I understand how you get there. I see your point. But I know I get there by way of compassion. I only hope you can see my point.

Quote:
Are we to judge you by your character, or the color of your skin?

Of course I would prefer that you judge me by my character, but we don't always get what we want in life and I'm not a crybaby. If you choose to judge me by the color of my skin, I'll likely be saddened by it, but again, I can't control you, wouldn't want to, and tend to understand where most folk are coming from.

Quote:
My 'race' has done no injustices to people of color. I can honestly say that because we didn't transport anyone on a cargo ship, didn't buy / sell anyone, didn't treat anyone like property or cattle.

Well, that's nice and all, but it betrays a somewhat shallow apprec

NIKI2

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:45 PM

Quote:
I never thought that one of the most taboo subjects of modern life could become so...dreary. I am amazed by RWED's ability to make even transform the contentious into the utterly petty and boring.

Truly, the cure for racism is reading Rappy and Kane post about race.

All Hail the Great and Mighty Mincing, for stating the obvious!

Thank you Mincing, for the needed perspective. I wonder off and on why people keep on keepin' on trying to get through, rather than try once and give up (I know, I have trouble remembering that sometimes, but I'm trying to!).

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of __________________, code name ‘Nike”,
signing off

KANEMAN

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:50 PM

You can never prove you are not a racist to a liberal, once they know you are a Conservative their minds are made up. I know you are not a racist. And every conservative on this board knows you are not. So why care.....I am sure you don't.

KANEMAN

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:50 PM

WULFENSTAR

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:51 PM

Kane for the Win... and the truth.

KANEMAN

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:53 PM

ANTIMASON

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 10:14 PM

how is a picture of Obama, made out to be a witch-doctor, racist? it's satire for crying out loud, quit being so sensitive.

you people on the left really need to get a backbone and try to stick up for your ideological views based on there merits for once, rather then resorting to impuning the character of your opponants. if you believe in marxist, collectivist thought, be up front and honest, and argue your points! if even a quarter of so called 'tea partiers' were racist, that would still leave three quarters who aren't, who have legitimate concerns and political differences. i think it says more about you, that you cannot appreciate a grassroots movement advocating liberty and individual freedom. why throw the baby out with the bath water, just because some in the movement are not yet consistent in their advocacy for personal liberty? its the message! is there someone here actually arguing against liberty?

NIKI2

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 11:40 PM

"You people on the right really need to get a backbone and try to stick up for your ideological views based on there (sic) merits for once, rather then resorting to impuning the character of your opponants."

That was too easy. Given that's what you do consistently, and little else, it fits so well.

You haven't been listening, dear; you haven't heard all the repeated statements that "nobody thinks the whole Tea Party is racist", nor have you noticed that the Repubs have made it clear the Midterms are to be about OBAMA, not the issues, and at one point one of their leaders said quite clearly that they were NOT GOING TO ENUMERATE their platform, just run against Obama's, etc., etc. They holler "drill baby drill", apologize to Big Oil, want less regulation and less government; but they want government deciding abortion, marriage, and everything else that fits THEIR agenda. They talk about fiscal responsibility, but say taxes don't need to be paid for, Voodoo Economics tells them tax cuts pay for themselves, which has patently have been proven they do not.

If the Tea Party would make sense, I'd listen. But they bitch about raising taxes (which have been lowered--don't talk to me about the future, talk about NOW), gun control (which was actually loosened), and when interviewed, the everyday members of the Tea Party can only espouse talking points, or can't even elucidate WHY they hate Obama and his administration...all they seem able to do is toss around "liberty" and "tyranny" and "patriot" and "return to values" and "take our country away" and the usual buzz words like "fascist", "commie", "marxist" and the rest--some of which are diametrically opposed.

They scream "reverse racism" and "racism" every bit as loudly as the other side screams "racism", their kookoo candidates talk about getting rid of the Dept. of Education, Social Security, Medicare, etc., etc., bartering for healthcare, giving free enterprise free reign, but have nothing viable to put in their place...I know, they want "nothing" in their place, everybody for himself, but that's not something the public is gonna buy.

So speak to the issues yourselves and tell them to do the same, not just shout out slogans and talk about things which aren't. Or not.

"if you believe in marxist, collectivist thought, be up front and honest, and argue your points!" How about if we don't? Because we don't. You just like to holler that.

We WOULD appreciate a true grass-roots movement. One is partly responsible for putting Obama in office. But as has been shown several times, the TP Express was NEVER "grass roots", it SOLD the idea of being grass roots to disenfranchised, frightened, angry people, that's all. And the GOP has been doing their damndest to make use of them too, which is kinda becoming a problem for them right now.

Hippie Operative Nikovich Nikita Nicovna Talibani,
Contracted Agent of __________________, code name ‘Nike”,
signing off

MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 1:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by antimason:
you people on the left really need to get a backbone and try to stick up for your ideological views based on there merits for once, rather then resorting to impuning the character of your opponants.

Hey, speaking of needing to get a backbone, why don't you answer my question? I've been waiting three years now...

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=18&t=29741

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Quote:
Originally posted by antimason:
i will likely always be skeptical and left with the same questions, because no one will ever know what happened 'in the beginning'
Are you skeptical of your own beliefs, or only of those that disagree with yours?

Anyway, by bringing up the "beginning" you're running away from my point (remember that I said evolution does describe the origin, only the process since then) My point - you repeatedly claim that there are no transitional fossils, that there's no proof that one species ever shifted to another. There is proof, my dear. You refuse to look at it, but it's there. A cartoon example:

The fossils of this transition from toed feet to hooves have been found, in our very earth. I'm sure there are museums where you can go see these fossilized bones set out before you. How do you explain them away? Do you think scientists have faked them? Or do you just try really hard not to look?

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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

MALACHITE

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 3:07 PM

KPO said: "And with IQ scores, get out of your head that they are measures of genetic intelligence, and see them as 'realised brain potential', or something along those lines."

I just wanted to add another link supporting this statement -- it has some citations of the studies it points out. The jist is that IQ tests measure various parameters, but it is hard to define what true intelligence is and IQ tests don't really measure innate intelligence -- they measure some problem solving skills (with a western philosophical foundation at its root), processing speed,a person's math/language skills, and some other factors. Also, IQ test results are based on what a person has already learned -- if a person has had plenty of opportunity to learn reading and math, they are going to score higher (in general). But it doesn't measure a person's future potential or their chances for future success. Those growing up in educationally/economically impoverished environments are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to taking IQ tests. Also, even an individual's perception of their own intelligence/test taking ability will affect their results (ie, if a person thinks they're dumb, chances are they'll test lower than they would have if they were more confident).

To sum, IQ tests don't appear to measure innate intelligence and they don't measure a person's future potential.

http://www.audiblox2000.com/dyslexia_dyslexic/dyslexia014.htm

ETA: As far as the original posted question. I would say that I agree with the people who are saying it is hard to prove one is not a racist, but a good start would be actively seeking to remove/disavow obviously racist elements in whatever organization you support. Yes, this applies to "reverse" racism, too. Racism is not just white oppressing blacks...