Ethnicity: Your Views?

Question

Should ethnicity (ones ethnic background) be an issue in Western Society today? How much do people feel that ethnicity IS a factor, and how much of a factor is it in everyday life, interpersonal relationships and work/education.

Can a very strong awareness and consciousness of ones ethnicty be limiting or even destructive to onself?

Many of those who answered have either avoided the actual issue mentioned in my question or gone off on a tangent that fails to answer it. Please read the question carefully before responding.

Answer 1

I think it's too much of a concern. I think also it's a kind of respect of persons. Yes it helps to know sometimes about a persons' background if that background puts the person at serious odds with his new environment. What in fact is needed is a real honesty in dealing with one another without the one upmanship we all try to practice or defend against even from our own flesh and blood. We need to treat each other with, failing all else, a sense of respect and consideration.

Answer 2

I consider myself non-racial at all. I call it as I see it.. I'm a straight shooter.. As I've seen, African Americans still seem to hold on to the "minority" issue much more than what the majority of Caucasians do. I've been victim back when I was in HS of being condemned for my caucasian heritage. I did nothing wrong, i've never in my life laid an angry fist to an African American. So in a sense, I've been descriminated against. All races deal with such an issue. Those that truley know me, know that I find it much easier to become friends and trust a black man rather than a man of my own race. It goes back to personal situations that i'd rather not get into.

"Can a very strong awareness and consciousness of ones ethnicty be limiting or even destructive to onself?"

I would have to answer "yes" to your question. A person can be so caught up on his/her being descriminated against, that he/she doesn't see each person as an individual but rather a group. Of course the exemption to this is that a person CAN be very aware, concious, and PROUD of his/her ethnicity and heritage.

Answer 3

I feel that as long as there are differences between peoples, physical or otherwise, issues will be made. Should it be so? In a perfect world, perhaps not but the world will never be perfect.
The one thing that really bugs me is when people confuse race with ethnicity. They are two entirely different things! I believe in
celebrating the differences rather than foolishly trying to believe
that we are all the same. Yes, we are all of the human race and that is pretty much where the similarity ends.
When people answer questions regarding race or ethnicity with a dismissive "We are all of the human race" style answer, they are only trying to publicly validate themselves as non-prejudiced. It's all about keeping up appearances for the self-righteous!
Certainly most people are not racists, not even close, but all but the most sheltered innocents have their share of prejudice to a greater or lesser degree.

Answer 4

For me, ethnicity is about self identity. Not about worse or better. If my friends don't eat beef or whatever its no different from any other dietary restriction, I wouldn't make a big deal about a diabetic diet.
I judge people by their humanity and compassion first; I can't stand being around people who are arrogant or ignorant. There are better things to talk about. I don't mind whether people assimilate or not. I'd hate to think they feel like they have to do it, or that there's any pressure. I like open minded people who are open to discussion and ideas. I like people who can make me think, and see the world in a new way.
For me the ideal would be that it isn't an issue, that there is space for differences between us. I don't believe that a strong sense of self identity can be damaging unless the people who you are around can only tolerate people who are very alike.
But I'm aware that we don't live in an ideal world and I have friends who struggle to strike a balance between community expectations and what they want. If western society is a genuine democracy it really shouldn't be an issue any more than whether you are Catholic or Jewish.

Answer 5

"He who controls the past controls the future." - George Orwell


This is a complex issue. I think it isi important for people of various ethnicities to be ethno-focused. Why? Especially for people of Black origins, there has been a constant belittling of black people. Our roles in history was marginalised to a brief appearance as slaves. It has been only since the 18 Century with the writings of such prominent scholars as Diop and Jochannan that the roles of black people in history started to be reassed.

In the 20 Century, the book Black Athena published by a Harvard or Yale scholar questioned the historicity of certain taught premises. This book caused such an uproar that debates raged in Universities and Online. The book's themes are too deep for me to sumarise. Neverthelss, historians and archeologists attempted to refute the claims of this book but until today -I believe that the book remains largely uncontested.

When I look around, I see that all other ethnic groups are proud of their ethnic origins so should one be. The only way this sense of self can become limiting is if it prevents you from prospering and enlarging your circle and causing you to live in the past and neglect the future.

Answer 6

People from different ethnic backgrounds are being accepted in society because of their commitment and the way the y keep chasing something.
Thnics have also been recognised as people who work hard in other countries to get somewhere in life. As a result their children live happy lives

Answer 7

It shouldn't be an issue but many still seem to have a problem with other people's ethnicity. We should just except that we're all human and have feelings. For some of my friends they have had problems in everyday life. Im so mixed i don't have a particular ethnic group to lay root to so i can choose which group i wanna b in depending how i feel.

Answer 8

i dont see how it could be limiting or destructive. unless of course they were so obssessd with their ethnicity that they shunned all the other different ones around them, which of course there is so much of that ne how ie. racism.

it should not be an issue here in western society. that is what we are, a great melting pot, here to give all cultures a chance, and freedom. it is a factor in everyday life cuz you have illegal immigrants that feel they should have all the benefits citizens do, caucasians (i never said i could spell) hate african, africans hate caucasians everybody hates jews and the canadians are going to take over the world!! our country is a mess.

Answer 9

You can't avoid it. It is not a question about "should". It is. It is very interesting to know about your history and where you came from. It is what makes cultures interesting. If everybody was the same than life would be boring. Multiculturalism and multiethnicity are issues which make a society waht it is - in part.

You look at it in a negative and derogatory way. And the word does not mean this.

It is to be embraced! We should CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES MAN!

Answer 10

There is nothing wrong with people having a sense of their origins so long as they don't forget to treat others with respect and dignity or don't discriminate against them.

Very strong awareness without any respect for others e.g. as found in some Islamic groups can be destructive.