EMW

Logically this seems totally ok to me. Liberal belief supports the idea that everyone is equal, and that just because someone is of a race, we shouldn't assume things of them.

As crual as this sounds, I totally disagree. If a majority of a race has a characteristic, then why remove all aspects of them to not 'offend' those who are more successful.

For example: Mexicans are naturally poor, and present a huge roll in the crime rate growing in America. Now, of course you have very very successful smart Mexicans, but am I racist to say that the majority of Mexicans aren't of the higher class? Isn't this true?

This is a huge movement that is growing today, and I really don't approve of it. Being racist is totally OK as long as you don't act upon it. People are not created equal, and never will be. I don't like the hindrance this presents to those who passionately want to be successful.

I know this was a little harsh. I over exemplified a bit, for the sake of the argument, but let me here what you think...

It is impossible for people not to THINK certain things about certain people. Generalizations usually have an iota of fact to them. Human beings naturally categorize people based on what they wear, how they speak, their race, etc... It is when you discriminate based on race when you are truly racist. For example, locking your door when a gang of African-American boys walk by your car isn't necessarily racist because your brain perceived them as a threat and acted accordingly. The same could be said for a group of boys walking in a threatening manner, etc...

However, it is when you disallow a certain race to do something/have something, etc... based on nothing more than their race that you become racist.

As a manager in retail, I have to keep an eye on certain groups of people. Manner of dress, speech, attitude, etc... all play a huge factor in who I decide to keep an eye on.

Once, I had two people enter the line from opposite directions. The one who entered from the right actually was in the right because that's the way the line was supposed to go. They entered at almost the exact same time but the guy from the right had actually been standing to the side longer. I look at the lady on the left and then to the guy on the right in a nano second and made the decision to serve the guy on the right. After I was done with him, the lady from the left said, "Can I ask why you took him first" with a tone of "Did you take him first because he was white?" It was unnecessarily awkward and an example of how ridiculous some people get about race.

What brought this conversation on, Connor?

I think all people are created equal. But the circumstances they come into and the culture they are raised by are really what shapes them. You ultimately decide what to do with your circumstances but people of different races are raised by different cultures to value different things. It's not wrong to form an opinion or even discriminate based on what someone values, but when you start to do that based on your assumptions that all people in a certain culture value that thing, that is wrong.

Being racist is totally OK as long as you don't act upon it.

Hmm, not so if you go by the definition of racist:

Prejudice or discrimination based on an individual's race.

By the very definition of the word, you are only racist if you put other people on a lower level because of color.

VIP wrote:

It's not wrong to form an opinion or even discriminate based on what someone values

How so? Discriminating against me for my values is wrong, unless my values are harmful AND I act on those values.

I agree with VIP. (However only in the sence that it's the culture not race).

It's not race, it's the culture.

What if an American was raised by another "Race", and is lead to a life of crime. What does that do? He's not from that "Race", it was the culture he was raised in and the value he learned. Can you discriminate him the same way your would discriminate a "Mexican"? I know many friendly and very good Christian hispanics, there not criminals. I know many Americans who are criminals. It's not the "Race" It's the values learned.

I also believe that befor the tower of Bable was built, and God seperated the nations, there was no such thing as race, only people from other nations. Eventually it all leads up to Noah, then Adam. How can thousands of "Races" develope from one person? It doesn't. Other wise you have to believe in evolution.

Pirate92 wrote:I agree with VIP. (However only in the sence that it's the culture not race).

It's not race, it's the culture.

What if an American was raised by another "Race", and is lead to a life of crime. What does that do? He's not from that "Race", it was the culture he was raised in and the value he learned. Can you discriminate him the same way your would discriminate a "Mexican"? I know many friendly and very good Christian hispanics, there not criminals. I know many Americans who are criminals. It's not the "Race" It's the values learned.

I also believe that befor the tower of Bable was built, and God seperated the nations, there was no such thing as race, only people from other nations. Eventually it all leads up to Noah, then Adam. How can thousands of "Races" develope from one person? It doesn't. Other wise you have to believe in evolution.

Exactly. It's culture.

I can't tell you how many people I've heard refer to Obama as a "house n*gger". They are like, "He's not black! He's a house n*gger!" I'm like...what? That doesn't even make sense.

Racism...ageism...whatever. It's all relative.