What is so bad about racism?

Question

I mean, the reaction some people have to it is like a fundie reacting to the smell of sulphur. As biological beings, we are genetically programmed to react most favorably to those who are most genetically like us. Same with all other organisms. That is how speciation occurs.

If racism is preferring those like ourselves, then what is so wrong with that?

Skip: In nature, what we call racism in the human world paralells the kind of preference organisms have toward those of similar phenotype. There are studies with fruit flies and other organisms.

Answer 1

A very good question indeed.

I'd be willing to bet that if you asked around, 9 out of 10 people would tell you that they thought racism was bad, but would have no idea why they thought it was bad -- racism has become a very misapplied and overused word in our too-too sensitive society.

To begin with, for purposes of your question, I think that you are confusing "racism" with "discrimination". If we define those terms:

Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

Discrimination: The ability or power to see or make fine distinctions; discernment; to choose by a standard.

Hopefully, simply defining those terms would answer your question. But I'll go a little more in depth just the same.

Racism is wrong because it is irrational - it makes no logical sense. Racism holds that on the basis of your race, and no other, you are superior or inferior to others of another race. There is, of course, volumes of evidence to the contrary.

Racism is wrong because it is immoral. To determine your superiority or the inferiority of another based on something as arbitrary as race is to fail to judge a man by his actions and character, but to judge him by the characteristics of his collective ancestors. Collectivism is always evil, and racism is collectivism distilled to it's ultimate form.

Racism is wrong because it is collectivism. It takes an individual and undermines his individuality, robs him of the respect due to any other individual and dehumanizes him into a faceless, nameless mass that has no features other than the ones attributed to it by the racist.

There are other mindsets as venal and irrational as racism, that many people feel disturbingly comfortable with; collectivist generalizations that lead to the worst sort of bigotry -- the person who says that "All Republicans are evil", "All homosexuals are perverts", or "All Arabs are terrorists" is just as morally reprehensible as the person who says that "All whites are superior" - and for the same reasons.

This does not mean that every time a person makes an insensitive comment or tells an insulting joke that the person is racist; they may be bigoted (which is another thing altogether), they may simply be insesitive to the impact of their statements (which is not and should not be looked on as a crime), or they may simply be ignorant. Or something else altogether.

As far as that goes, it is possible to dislike someone, or an entire race of someones, without neccessarily being racist. That is to say, without believing in the genetic superiority of your race over theirs.

But it is important not to confuse racism with discrimination. Discrimination is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. I discrminate every day and I'm sure you do as well. For instance, I discriminate against high prices and poor quality and in favor of low-priced, well-made merchandise. I discriminate - just a bit - in favor of pretty, intelligent, creative women (and very strongly for one in particular). I discriminate against liars, cheats, thugs, murderers, rapists... and I discriminate against racists, no matter what the tint of their hide may happen to be.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

There are degrees of racism. There's a continuum extending, right to left, from racists who commit large scale genocide, such as the Nazis, to people who make no distinctions on the basis of race. Almost all people are racist to some degree, a biological drive or program has not been shown. It's thought to be due to training and socialization.

Racism and reacting "favorably to those who are most genetically like us...is how speciation occurs"?? Geograpic barriers are #1. African Americans for example, now have an average of 20-30% European heritage as shown by DNA tests. My calico cat came from a family of black, white, gray and orange ancestors. Oftentimes opposites attract.

Check your biology book or ask over on the science/biology topic if you'd like to inform yourself and have an intelligent discussion on the causes of racism and differences in skin color.

Answer 3

Pretty much everybody is racist... You're right. We all have preconceived notions about other races. Our brains are designed to group facts/memories into files for storage. By storing qualities of different races together, our brain is just trying to be as efficient as possible. Having said that, it is important to try and counteract this phenomenon and not make decisions or judgments about another person based on race. Not everyone fits the stereotype and discrimination occurs when people judge solely on their preconceived notions. But to pretend that racism is something that can someday be eradicated is a naive and altogether unrealistic hope.

Answer 4

i think I've met you before. your point is true baby's also naturally like pretty people better but should they get paid more? when we go with our genetic programming and dislike everyone different we end up in more wars then we really need to be in because when you get down to it we are all basically the same with different pigmentation and bone structure. my relatives are all short but i know not all tall people are evil (one day I'll find one) =] good debate question

Answer 5

i pass to college in western Tennessee and often times pass to acquaintances interior the jap area. As maximum folk enable you understand you will discover racism everywhere you pass. one ingredient that i've got observed approximately rapid nutrition places in Tennessee is that whites and blacks tend to consume dinner at diverse hours and that they are going to rotate workers from sign up to grill consistent with their race. different than for the occasional glare or awkward greeting human beings tend to maintain any bigotry they might ought to themselves. you may assume to be dealt with with understand via maximum if no longer all of the human beings you come upon on your trip. in simple terms be arranged as an inter-racial couple for some human beings to be uneasy around you 2 mutually, as that is something new to three of those around you.

Answer 6

Racism is distinction between people due to their race. This causes injustice. People are more worthy than their race and color and so on. This is different from what we like or who we love.

Answer 7

genetically like us, that would be like everyone, genetically no dif.
how would you know what my genetic makeup is, what you mean is you are white, and if someone is not white, you don't like them, or what ever you are
come on dude, if we all want to live on one earth racism sux.
its part of evaluation that our minds evolve as well

Answer 8

Nothing is wrong with preferring someone that is like you.That in its self is not racism.Racism promotes hatred and subjugation of other peoples.That is wrong.

Answer 9

Well you are wrong. Women act differently. We are programmed to choose between variety. More different it is better to choose.