Reverse Racism

[Fatstep]

I personaly don't know any black people.

 

I know plenty of brown people.

 

Also, the NAACP was formed by; 2 African Americans, 3 Whites, and 1 Jew.

[TheFaithfulStone]

Okay.

 

Did you have a point?

[infamous]

When a definition for racism draws any distinction about a racial attack, whether it be in reverse or in (drive?), I think we've lost sight of how ridiculous a prejudice it truly is. From my point of view, racism makes about as much sense as determining the value of a human being by measuring the length of their middle finger. There's a definite message here if one will only read between the lines...............Infy

[Leila Night]

racism makes about as much sense as determining the value of a human being by measuring the length of their middle finger. There's a definite message here if one will only read between the lines...............Infy

M'eh... I think most (thinking) people know how ridiculous it is; continuing the myth is just really, really convenient. Really.

[HydrogenBond]

If I am not mistaken a racist is anyone who thinks that their race is genetically superior to all the others. The hate stuff is not racist, per se, if one does not beleive they are genetically superior. Most people associate racism with the negative stuff, but this is no always the case.

 

Many so-called racist use negative arguments. By doing this one lowers the floor on another race to create the illusion one has risen higher, without having to go anywhere. It sort of smoke and mirrors. Often such arguments are compensation for not feeling genetically superior. If one really was a racist, there would be no need to lower the floor, since one would assume they tower above already.

 

I am of the opinion, all races bring something special to the table, but none have it all. The floor is sort of level if one looks at all the strengths in the ideal and complete human being. Many try to tweek the floor to create the illuision of racial uperiority in all, but that is a myth. That is why there is often so much over-compensation in the guise of hate.

[Buffy]

I am of the opinion, all races bring something special to the table, but none have it all.

So in your opinion, which races are missing which "special" things?

 

Les généralisations dangereuses,

Buffy

[infamous]

So in your opinion, which races are missing which "special" things?

 

Les généralisations dangereuses,

Buffy

Good point Buffy,............there are certainly many examples of and ways to define racism. There are times when people define their own personal prejudice without even being aware they possess it. Do I need say more?????

..............................................Infy

[Boerseun]

...because the whites are already "advanced."

Says who?

 

That's the kind of generalization that makes a racist...

 

Loads and loads of poor whites tells a different story. Problem is, a National Association for the Advancement of Poor Whites will be seen as a racist institution, because "Whites" can't be "Disadvantaged". That's a classic racist stereotype.

[Boerseun]

...because the whites are already "advanced."

Says who?

 

That's the kind of generalization that makes a racist...

 

Loads and loads of poor whites tells a different story. Problem is, a National Association for the Advancement of Poor Whites will be seen as a racist institution, because "Whites" can't be "Disadvantaged". That's a classic racist stereotype.

[gribbon]

What would interest me is (I know this is a touch off topic) why there is still such an enourmous gap between whites and blacks. In Britain, America, and a number of other countries, it is the case that Blacks are far more likely to become involved in criminality, far more liekly to be in prison, live in poorer and more deprived neighbourhoods, have a significantly lower income on average, and are less likely to gain qualifications etc etc...

 

I'm not being racist, but this does intrigue me...

[gribbon]

What would interest me is (I know this is a touch off topic) why there is still such an enourmous gap between whites and blacks. In Britain, America, and a number of other countries, it is the case that Blacks are far more likely to become involved in criminality, far more liekly to be in prison, live in poorer and more deprived neighbourhoods, have a significantly lower income on average, and are less likely to gain qualifications etc etc...

 

I'm not being racist, but this does intrigue me...

[Fatstep]

IMO, it's because of how they are raised. If a person (not particulary black) is raised on wellfare then they are far more likely to be on it as an adult. Our country makes it too easy to not do anything and still get payed.

 

Off topic, but; Why is it that the only people who appear to be afraid of going to jail/prison are the ones who will more than likely never go? People who have been in prison are not afraid at all, they get free meals, a home, and sometimes a job, although they cannot see their loved ones often they still like being in prison. Am I wrong or is prison supposed to scare you in to being rehabilitated?

[Fatstep]

IMO, it's because of how they are raised. If a person (not particulary black) is raised on wellfare then they are far more likely to be on it as an adult. Our country makes it too easy to not do anything and still get payed.

 

Off topic, but; Why is it that the only people who appear to be afraid of going to jail/prison are the ones who will more than likely never go? People who have been in prison are not afraid at all, they get free meals, a home, and sometimes a job, although they cannot see their loved ones often they still like being in prison. Am I wrong or is prison supposed to scare you in to being rehabilitated?

[Leila Night]

That's the kind of generalization that makes a racist...

Loads and loads of poor whites tells a different story. Problem is, a National Association for the Advancement of Poor Whites will be seen as a racist institution, because "Whites" can't be "Disadvantaged". That's a classic racist stereotype.

 

"Disadvantaged" white people are not so BECAUSE of their race.

 

 

What would interest me is (I know this is a touch off topic) why there is still such an enourmous gap between whites and blacks. In Britain, America, and a number of other countries, it is the case that Blacks are far more likely to become involved in criminality, far more liekly to be in prison, live in poorer and more deprived neighbourhoods, have a significantly lower income on average, and are less likely to gain qualifications etc etc...

 

I'm not being racist, but this does intrigue me...

Yeah... I think it's called 'white supremacy...'

[TheFaithfulStone]

Says who?

 

That's the kind of generalization that makes a racist...

 

Loads and loads of poor whites tells a different story. Problem is, a National Association for the Advancement of Poor Whites will be seen as a racist institution, because "Whites" can't be "Disadvantaged". That's a classic racist stereotype.

 

Well, of course any particular situation may be different. In fact any NAA* will have this issue.

 

On aggregate, as gribbon says blacks are more likely to have criminal records, be in prison, live in poorer and more deprived neighborhoods, etc.

 

Those are statistical facts, and I don't think they're in dispute. (In America at least.)

 

One of the interesting things about "black only" scholarships or other race based things, is that while they are well intentioned, they absolutely don't work - largely for the reason you stated. (Note that I don't think they are *racist* since to my mind racism requires not only the intent and will to discriminate but also the capacity to create an unjust outcome.)

 

In any case, and this experience is entirely anecdotal, but I find that most of the "black" scholarships don't go to the stereotypical poor black kid from the ghetto, but rather the exceptional rich black kid from the suburbs. This however, is a problem with execution, not with conception.

 

Now, to my mind, the best thing to do, if you wanted to start a National Association for the Advancement of ________ - would be to make it for the economically disadvantaged.

 

To return to my igglyboo and farkle example. Let us say, that the AVERAGE number of apples an igglyboo has is ten, and the AVERAGE number of apples the farkle has is eight. The "goal" is to adjust the system so that the average farkle can grow the same number of apple trees as the average igglyboo can. (Note that I didn't say "eat the same amount of apple sauce.")

 

Several ways to do this. One - give every farkle an extra apple, taking one away from every igglyboo. (40 acres and a mule, reparations.) Problem with this is that while the average number of orchard owning farkles increases, the distribution stays the same. The reason that farkles have fewer average apples than igglyboos is not because there are no farkles with twelve apples, but because there are MORE farkles with 1 or 2 apples. The farkles curve is still skewed left and the igglyboo curve is still skewed right. The mean is changed while the mode and median remain the same.

 

(Ignore for a minute that the WHOLE curve is skewed left, okay? we're talking about apples here.)

 

Two - give only the most qualified farkles extra apples. ("Black only" scholarships, affirmative action.) Yes, this equalizes the averages, but it doesn't fix the underlying problem. In fact it has the distinct possibility of making it worse The curve gets farther and farther skewed left as the farkles who already have the most apples get more and more apples. Again, changing the mean without addressing the median or mode.

 

Three - give apples only to the lowest rung while taking apples only from the highest rung, of either igglyboo OR farkle. This solves both median and mean. Note that the outcome of this is to give more apples to farkles than to igglyboos, and also to take more apples from igglyboos than farkles.

 

Note that either of the first two option, when applied to igglyboos, would in fact be racist because it would serve only to increase disparity. When applied to farkles, they may very well be dysfunctional, but they aren't racist. Racism is the creation (or at least the attempt to create) and injustice. "Misguided" and "Doesn't work like you think it does" do not imply the sinister agenda some people think it does.

 

An acknowledgment that past racism has lead to present racial inequities is not racism. How did the igglyboos get all of these extra apples in the first place? Why, they stole them from the farkles, of course.

 

Damn greedy igglyboos. Recovering stolen property from thieves does not constitute discrimination against kleptomaniacs. But, if you give those stolen apples back to just random victims, your chances of correcting said thievery are not very good.

 

TFS

[gribbon]

If I am not mistaken a racist is anyone who thinks that their race is genetically superior to all the others.

 

That's what I think....it's not that blacks are genetically predetermined to become criminals, but its the culture that has become associated with them which causes this.

 

They're not in any way inferior, but the Afro-Carrib culture is causing problems....the good thing is that there's no reason why that can't change...

 

On a different note, what does everyone here think of "positive discrimination", and furthermore, why is it that the police and armed forces have far more racist individuals in them then other employment sectors?B)

[rocket art]

but its the culture that has become associated with them which causes this.

 

Greed oriented, materialistic culture forced on others, do not necessarily produce nice results. With such dominant yet warped cultures imposed, the lack of acknowledgment to the cultural contribution of other peoples would result to more strife, misunderstanding and conflict. Not to mention the culture of divisiveness fueled even by religious beliefs. It's quiet complex, but intriguingly the main problems of such dilemma are sometimes not adressed because the proponents who rant about the not so nice results may turn out to be the source of its dilemma after all.