What's your Opinion on Racism?

1. 62

   richbrayanposted 12 years ago

   I know this is a very touchy issue but people ought to know! I can't help but feel sick each time the thought that Racism still exist occurs in my mind. I feel as though modern idea-logy on racism has some how changed.
   I hear rappers using the "N" word in their music videos as an identification for one another bringing in millions of views on youtube,isn't that racism? I see schools selecting student predominantly based on their wealth,race before even considering their intelligence or potential,isn't that racism? I hear footballer albeit in the heat of the moments using racist taunts against one another and yet nothing is done about it.....It's every where but people are afraid to talk about it
   
   May be I just don't know what racism is. I'm creating this forum so you can all share your views on this issues,and also share your experiences on Racism.....
   
   No one is right or Wrong!! All views welcomed with no Discrimination

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   1. 60

      adelecelesteposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately it is human nature to be suspicious and intolerant of another group of people just because of their differences whether they are physical, like skin color, or religious. People are afraid of those who are different from themselves. They feel their security in who they are, threatened so they feel that they have to put others down to feel good about themselves.
      
      These days with the rise of "political correctness" we often see schools selecting their student body based on race needing to have a certain percentage of each minority in their school. I agree with you that in their fear of being racist the schools and organizations forget to consider the individual students qualifications and intelligence, which as you say results in another form of racism.
      
      In conclusion I would say that racism is rooted in fear of those who are different than we are. Some people can get along easily with those from different races and some people are just determined to be hateful. However, hate is really fear in disguise so that brings us back to the fear factor. 
      
      I have never been afraid of those from other races. As a small child I always looked on the children from other races as very special and magical and I wanted to be their friend so I could be touched by that magic too. This world would be a different place if we looked on those who are different from us as magical instead of looking through the eyes of fear.

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      1. 62

         richbrayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with your point that the element of fear does in fact lead to some form of racism but I also think that lack of knowledge of other people's culture also plays a major role in racism. If people were thought about other people's culture perhaps there wouldn't be "the element of fear".

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   2. 61

      couturepopcafeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      One thing I've learned about people is that there is a lot of unbelievable hatred and carelessness in the world.
      
      "Like a savage gulf filled with all manner of degeneracy,
      something that draws you in,
      the words we choose can be a twisted dragon or a Brahmin song,
      rocks which yield foliage or rusted teardrops frozen in time
      
      Don't throw your words away.
      Hate is a word which has morphed into a character
      growing hopeful in its prelude to madness.
      
      Be the flower that inverts on itself,
      a sweet, fragrant, delicate infusion
      bursting with juicy spicy flesh.
      Kiss the vulture.
      Be conscious of eternity,
      that lightning with no name.
      Look into the precious, piercing, fleeting eyelight
      and crumpled fires of whimpering creatures moving in all directions
      
      Words, intending to execute, spill perishable blood,
      grossly negligent,
      a cat's whisper moving stealthily,
      sandpaper breath rolling over flesh,
      leaving broken windows reaching for emptiness
      
      wear your sacred tongue like an aromatherapy cocktail
      a rain forest massage or
      the soft beat of faerie wings turning the moon to gold
      
      surrender your love
      let it accomplish for you the whole of reality:
      the courage to know truth
      gladness of the heart
      fulfillment of the soul'
      
      Live your life like there is no racism.

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   3. 81

      John Sarkisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Racism is a part of everyday life.  Ironically enough, the more you try to alienate yourself from it, the more evident it becomes.  Sometimes when we say "all _______ arent the same" and then somethings personal happens that only helps to strengthen  your point - in a negative way course...sad....   I do believe that eventually things will change one day (positive way), hopefully not too far off in the future.

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   4. 88

      Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      To be curious when presented with something different than ourselves is human nature.  That's where racism is inherent.  The trajectory of the human race is one that will bring it to a place where no one will view other human beings, that look differently from themselves, as different.  They will just be another human being, full of the million different qualities that make them human.

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   5. 0

      eslinsiderposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It's ignorance. Which can be learned unfortunately or passed down from one generation to the next. The person who usually uses the "n" word is that words meaning.
      
      In Hip Hop that word has most often a different meaning and spelling. Although for some I think it matters who is saying that word, but not for all as KRS-one says anybody can be a "nigga". It doesn't matter what the color of your skin is.
      
      Listen to "Sucka Nigga" by Tribe Called Quest. Q Tip refers to it as a word of endearment.

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2. 0

   idratherbeposted 12 years ago

   I feel racism is a learned trait. If we can get along as small children why does it progress to racial divide as some get older? My conclusion is racism is learned by people we encounter as we get older.

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3. 62

   hirundineposted 12 years ago

   It may be, that some are confusing "racism" with "bigotry"?
   
   To be a racist one has to believe in one race's way of life, to the exclusion of others.
   
   To be a bigot, or hold a bigoted attitude or opinion; is more or less global.
   
   Yes along the road to racism, is bigotry.  I'm not arguing either position is correct. Still one can be a bigot and not be a racist.
   
   My observation of myself and others. Is that anyone who is different from our own norm, tends to receive more scrutiny. Thus leading to bigotry and the purgatory of racism.
   
   It's afterwards; as either party becomes assimilated, we move on and then have other suspicions of yet another difference, etc.
   
   I imagine? That most people are able to process this stuff out by themselves and then? There are those who continue to harbour resentment to others who are different - bigotry. Some of these go on, to full blown racist atitude.
   
   I'm trying not to be a apologist for bigotry, either!! I'm saying that bigoted atitudes, that are fairly common and global; should not be taken as, necessarily, being racist.

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4. 60

   knolyourselfposted 12 years ago

   If one's worth depends on the comparison to someone less than what one is, or I am more than that, then what easier way to do it than skin color.

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5. 73

   lone77starposted 12 years ago

   We're all human.
   
   Racism is like everything else to do with the ego. It's divisive. It's us versus them, me versus you.
   
   "Tolerance" is not much better. "I tolerate you." Sounds sick, doesn't it? It feels so much better and more liberating to celebrate our diversity and our uniqueness.
   
   Back in the 80's, when I lived in Los Angeles, I was dating what I consider to have been one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. I was nervous, self-conscious, clumsy and smitten! One day, she seemed very distant and almost wouldn't talk to me. Finally, she revealed that she was very upset with me for a referral I had made. One of my customers I had referred to the office where she worked as a secretary for an employment agency. You see, my customer told her over the phone that he wanted to hire some people, but none of them "darkies." My friend was quite hurt, because she had a beautiful, permanent tan and how could I believe in such hateful things. The ironic thing was, she doesn't sound stereotypically African-American, so my customer was clueless about sticking his foot in his mouth. Well, this took me by surprise as much as it did her. After that incident, I made no more referrals for that customer.
   
   Now, fast-forward 20 years. I have found the woman of my dreams and I'm living in her country, the Philippines. She's half my age, but she's teaching me so much. I'm learning new levels of humility.
   
   Racism is ignorance, certainly, but ignorance is the source of ego and selfishness. And ego is the root of all evil. Sadly, we all have ego. It's a tough disease to shake off. Like the old master once said, we need to take the beam out of our own eye before we talk to another about the mote in theirs.

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6. 61

   DavidSimmons1776posted 8 years ago

   nice post

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