How Can People Say "Racism" Is "Ignorant" And Only "Believed" By The Stupid?

Question

when we have historical examples of Racism in highly educated and industrialized cultures, such as Japan and Germany During WW2.

Each culture had its share of philosophers and PHd's. You'd be hard pressed to say the Germans weren't "smart" enough to "know better."

So if there is ample proof that Racist beliefs have NO DIRECT OR INVERSE CORRELATION with intelligence and education, why do people call all Racial ideology "Ignorant" or "stupid."

I think you two are missing the point, how can we say that only a "fool" would believe in Racism if we have historical examples of Racist cultures filled with people who were racist and not fools?

Oh okay, so I'm a racist for asking this question? That makes absolutely no sense, will someone anwer this question who's not 16?

Keith, in Germany's case, I'd have to ask you to reconsider their economic "decline"- not only was their economy booming due to industrial war production, their quality of life was also increased.

EWS: So you're saying that when people call racists "stupid" and "ignorant" they're talking about their moral intelligence?

MOCKINGBIRD: I don't think I'm missing any HUGE differences, you cannot have a "PHd" and be stupid. Period.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF RACISM OR AN ASSERTION OF IT'S VALIDITY.

After reading all these posts I have come to the conclusion that the reason people attach the word "stupid" to racists is because they are taught that racists are stupid. They generalize the racist without regard to the racists actual intelligence.

I'm finding the logic is circular--
"racists are obviously stupid because if they were NOT stupid then they wouldn't be racists"

AND being smart may not be a safeguard against racism, but it IS A SAFEGUARD against stupidity.

Answer 1

That is an excellent question. People often "see" racist as rednecks with two teeth and a confederate flag t shirt. And these folks, are often times ignorant and stupid. But, they are the ones that GET the press. I use that term loosely too. Press, meaning the talk show circuit.

Jerry Springer is NOT going to get an educated racist to join his circus. Maybe you can catch a glimpse of one on sixty minutes from time to time or John Stossel might be able to smoke one out, but it doesn't happen often.

I have always stated the most racist system in America is the social welfare system, which is run by a good number of intelligent people. I don't think the grand wizard of the KKK could have come up with a more perverse scheme than welfare. Think about it.

One more thing, think of what our educated government officials did to the American Indian (and are still doing today). It will sicken you. That's reality baby!

Oh crap, I'm on a soapbox now, aren't I . Sorry. Good day then.

Answer 2

I actually think you have a valid question and your inquiry does not make you a racist. However, racism generally is an issue of ignorance, because those who perpetrate these acts are generally quite ignorant of the culture they are acting upon. For example, in Russia, the pogroms against Jews were perpetrated out of fear. Rumors spread about the odd things Jews did, and that they were even dangerous, and very organized violent acts were carried out in protest. It is ignorance that leads people, even highly educated people, to believe very fantastic stories about groups they don't know much about. Racism can be carried out by highly educated people who are also ignorant. You can be very intelligent, and yet incredibly culturally ignorant at the same time. Education is one tool to fight ignorance, but not a vaccine. Even the US has had its share of racist policies in the past, which were even ruled Constitutional by the Supreme Court (think: Japanese internment camps during WWII). When people say only stupid ignorant people are racist, they are generalizing. People who do not know any better, and don't have the cultural tools to necessarily know any better, are generally where racism breeds most rampant.

Answer 3

first of all, part of the reason why the nazis came to power was economic decline. they were voted into power by a disullusioned middle class that had lost its econominc wealth first to inflation caused by insane monetary policies following the versailles treaty, and what was left went in the great depression. at that point, the german people new hitler had racist policies but they didn't care because he promised them work and with the jews he presented a handy scapegoat to them. the economic rise started after 1933 because hitler needed weapons and infrastructure for the war he had been planning for a while. so much for historical facts. regarding the actual question, racism IS ignorant, and it is believed not by the stupid but by the brainwashed. yes, highly civilised and educated societies have done terrible deeds in the name of racism. why did they do it? because there are times when we all want simple answers to our questions. not: "why am i unemployed and my children have tuberculosis?" "well you see, there was the versailles treaty, and to fulfill the obligations of that treaty we had to do the following, which meant the money that should have gone into the economy went into that instead etc. pp." but "well, you see, it's all the jews' fault, they want to take over the world." and there are times when people are desperate enough, or maybe just lazy enough, to believe that. racism is not the result of stupidity, it's the result of intellectual laziness, despair and downright perfidiousness.

Answer 4

I think (personally, not that I would know specifically) that most racism occurs in people who are ignorant of the culture that they are racist against- I think that this is where the ignorant argument comes in. People with high degrees are usually very ignorant of the "other side of the tracks" so they are more inclined to "stay with their own", it also works inversely where some people are poor so they don't have the opportunity to leave where they came from so they aren't able to meet people of other cultures.

As far as the stupid argument, you would have to admit that most racists are stupid.

Answer 5

Being smart doesn't automatically make ones beliefs right or true.

People like to believe there better then other people just based on what race they are , and not what they do as individuals, simply because feeling smug and superior feels pretty good, and you don't have to actually DO anything to be a particular race.

Being intelligent is no safe guard against racism, narcasism,vanity and a deluded sense of superiority, in fact I believe that they need to be specifically conciously guarded against, otherwise being intelligent will lead people think up all kinds of unture reasons there better then other people.

Racial superiority is an impossibility to prove, and really, trying is a waste of time, people have too many factors going into what makes them up to give any weight to just one.

People should consider themselves an individual human being, a peer in the entire human race made up of individuals of inherient equalility living in an inequal world and it's those inequalities that lead to other inequalities.

If people want to be truely superior to there peers, first they need to think of everyone starting off equally, then they need to hold themselves to the highest moral and ethical standerds, think about what they do, not what they look like , they should try to live there lives as best they can, be as good as they can, try to do as much good as they can, try to leave the world better off and more equal then they found it and leave the measure of there individual greatness or superiority to historians and anyone who remembers them.

Answer 6

in case you learn background, then you definately will locate that there was once a thirteenth sign. that is referred to as Ophiuchus. some historic calendars unquestionably had 13 months to boot, and have been based on the cycle of the moon, that's around 28 days. This thirteenth sign become later removed from astrology that's what we've on the instant. additionally, make no mistake this sign remains a constellation interior the ecliptic of our orbit around the sunlight, yet modern astrology divides the sky up into "precis" 30 degree segments, which leaves room for decrease than 12 signs and indications. those segments of the sky are bigger than the constellations they incorporate, so whether you weren't born precisely on a constellation, you in easy terms are seen to be a factor of despite one is closest on your birthday.

Answer 7

The Germans allowed themselves to be fooled into believing the ridiculous notions put forward by the "intelligent" people in their midst. There is no arguing they were intelligent enough to come to rational conclusions, but allowed their emotions to rule their heads. They were looking for scapegoats to blame for their state of affairs after WW I. The Jews, gypsies and others were handy for this purpose because many of them had money and power. Many Germans were angry and frustrated after the war, and were looking for someone to blame. Hitler and his minions were able to focus the blame on others instead of coming up with viable solutions to their economic problems without going to war. Their success indicates the level of anger, hostility, frustration and venom the German people felt leading up to the war. Hitler was able to tell them what they wanted to hear.
I think it would be difficult to prove the point that there is no difference in culture, there obviously is. But it is those differences which make for the richness and diversity we see in our lives. One culture is not superior or inferior compared to others. They are just different from each other.
I believe it would be extremely difficult if not impossible to prove scientifically that one race is better or worse than the other when all facts are considered evenly. When one is not able or willing to consider all facets of an argument for or against an assertion fairly, they are speaking out of ignorance and/or stupidity. Therefore, their assertion of racial superiority or inferiority is invalid.

Answer 8

Holding a degree or diploma only indicates a persons ability to complete a task, it does not mean that the person has learned the difference between what is morally right and wrong. Most peoples live by a code of human morality and decency, to put by the boards simply because you possess a degree is ignorant.

Answer 9

This is my opinion on that.

People say racist ideology "ignorant" or "stupid." because racism hurts societies. In every single case of historical events, where racism was an issue, social and economic decline to effect. Also those who believe in racist ideals, are believed ignorant because they are not open to the beliefs of others and not being willing to work with someone or even tolerate someone of a different race or religion is bigotry.

Racism=social, economic and political decline.

Answer 10

Lets see! Because "racism" as you call it is based information provided by ill-informed individuals and stereotypes. Generalizations cannot be used for all people of any given social or ethnic group because each individual differs in many ways. Example: all Pit Bull Terriers are not violent raging baby killers and all Poodles though nice and cute looking are sweet and even tempered.