Can racially charged opinions like this one be changed?

1. 87

   Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years ago

   Can racially charged opinions like this one be changed?
   
   A Michigan politician, L. Brooks Patterson, stated 30 years ago and in January 2014:  "What we’re gonna do is turn Detroit into an Indian reservation, where we herd all the Indians into the city, build a fence around it, and then throw in the blankets and the corn."

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2. 52

   tbHistorianposted 10 years ago

   While you choose to observe this as a "racially charged opinion", I choose to comprehend this as a parable.  The statements by Patterson project a similarity of the attitudes of politicians in Detroit to the early politicians who chose to imprison Native Americans by declaring law and policy placing them on reservations.  During the initial creation of each reservation, the Native Americans were given blankets and corn as a gesture of support for the tribe members.  Just like those early politicians who accomplished the reservation establishment, the politicians of Detroit have removed all freedom for it inhabitants.
   
   Thus the parable is rendered.

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3. 94

   Cre8torposted 10 years ago

   Sure. Racism is usually taught rather than being learned through experience. To me, anything that's taught can be untaught because it's not emotionally rooted by an experience. If someone racist experiences something positive with that race (say a work environment/accomplishment) they begin to question what they've been told and opens them up to more of these types of experiences. Slowly, the prejudice is unlearned. Granted, it takes the right mix of personalities but that applies to anyone regardless of race.
   
   No different than changing a religion that one grew to know. It happens.

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   1. 87

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It would be positive if the older folks that maintain such prejudices could let go of them.

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   2. 66

      Ralph Deedsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Patterson will never change. He's been making dumb, racist remarks forever. He can get away with it because his Oakland county constituents are 77 percent white and because he actually does run a tight fiscal ship. Obama won the popular vote.

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   3. 87

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for that information, Ralph. I had the feeling that Patterson is mean spirited.

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4. 62

   Cathy51hposted 10 years ago

   Yes we can change people way of thinking maybe by not voting for people that easily manifest how much they detest minorities even the very first Americans the American Indian. What is wrong with these people? This is a great Land we came to this land to seek religious freedom and because at one point we were treated this way ourselves, now that we enjoy "Our Freedom of religion and our pursuit our happiness" And We are acting pretty much like those who transgressed against us? Lets not vote for people like that! When we hear stupid stuff like that from anyone like that maybe we should build a fence and throw them in with the herd themselves for the animals that they are!

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   1. 87

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Certainly, these politicians would not ant to be rounded up themselves, would they?

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5. 74

   Marisaupaposted 10 years ago

   Opinions are merely personal expressions or appraisals. As such, they are entirely subjective. This is why one is ill served listening to, or worrying about opinions. Actions are far more important to me than opinions.
   
   Actions can be quantified, they can be assessed and evaluated. I never strive to change a person's opinion. I focus more on persuading them to take a proper course of action by guiding them through a process that will allow them to analyze the facts and hopefully arrive at a course of action that is consistent with my own.
   
   I'd much rather deal with an individual that may "sound" racist, but that acts indifferently, as opposed to one that adheres to strict "political correctness" while they advance actions that result in the undermining of entire groups of people under the cloak of "compassion."

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