Do people waste their time claiming they want to end racism while holding on to their basic tribal instincts?

Question

Segregation isn't a tribal instinct?

Xenophobia?
Discrimination?
Prejudice?

Answer 1

this is true. but how do you mean? if you mean by black supremacists wanting their own land away from white people, then that can be understood, even though as a black person i find that wrong. many years of slavery has been the cause of all of this segregation in the first place

Answer 2

That is a very good point. I have to disagree with you to some degree where you say that segregation isn't a tribal instinct.

Segregation is also within segregated communities. I don't think racism will ever die. For the most part, people generally like to go where there they belong. Identifying with culture, religion, language, food etc....all of these things contribute. Just because people prefer to mix within their own, doesn't make it racism. Those who choose to segregate from the rest are simply about relating to the same things and being comfortable with others like themselves.
There's nothing wrong with that...........NOT allowing or accepting differences towards change would be segregation.

Answer 3

No they arent. Tribal bonds ( they are not instincts) are based on mutual help and support-and define a group in terms of shared interests and customs (and, usually, kinship).

The notion that "racism" and its attneant behaviors are somehow inherant in human behavior is not supported by the evidence. These behaviors stem not from the positve links among menbers of a group, but from ideologies that serve onlly to justify violence and/or exploitation against the victims. And it is invariably driven by economic interests.

YOu will find endless examples of tribal societies who did not view strangers in racist terms. The history of the native American tribes is an excellant example. I understand why some scholars have advanced the thesis you talk about--but it simply doesn't hold up. And it can--and does--serve as a legitimating arguement FOR racism--by defining it as something inherant in human society and therefore "natrual" and unavoidable. Adnd that is simply not the case.

Answer 4

I'm not exactly sure I understand the question here, but if my assumptions are correct... you're saying that people can't show difference without also being racist. I hate the phrase "racial tolerance" so I won't use it.

People are different. Simple as that. If ever we are to find ourselves in a racist-free world then we are going to have realize that there are huge differences between white people and black people. And in addition to realizing this, we have to be fearless enough to admit it.

But the problem is on both sides. Everyone has their defences up. Everyone is afraid of offending and being offended. I don't mean toleration, because "tolerance" makes it sound as if there is something bad that must be ignored.

Difference isn't bad, it simply is.

Answer 5

Not really.

I think people waste their time bickering about the minor things without dealing with the major ones They also simplify alot of complex issues as being pure race related. They'd be better to find generic ways to deal with the basic problems.

Major:
- violence against innocent people motivated by race or other reasons. Solution: go after people who incite and act on violence
- Barring people based on race for hiring/promotion. Its hard to deal with this objectively. In extreme cases quotas (which I hate) might be needed to "seed" the system but companies/organizations that promote/hire and pay the best, tend to be MORE likely to succeed.
- Distribution of wealth, poverty in racially polarized economies. For example, blacks/hispanics in the US are less wealthy than whites/arabs/south east asians and oreintals. Solution: The problem is complex but the best one can do is try and make sure that poor people have better environments to succeed: access to better education opportunities, better protection against violence, and hope eventually the situation will work out better. There are no garantees because it is always easier to stay wealthy than to become wealthy.

Minor:
- Dating choices. Solution: do nothing. Date whom you want as long as its mutual.
- "Closet" racism. What does that person "really" think? Get over it. You never get into anothers head. Stop assuming you can.
- PC correct terms. I mean, there are obvious insults but some cases are pretty grey and matters of opinion. Don't worry about them, although using the really bad ones in the context of say the work place is grounds for dismisal.

Etc.

Answer 6

I think that first you have to make a distinction between "racism" and "discrimination". "Racism" seems natural to me and is harmless unless it is acted upon. This brings us to "discrimnation" - which is wrong. No matter how much pride we feel for our own kind, to discriminate against another human being is unfair and just plain wrong. Privately hating someone because of thier color seems odd, but it's not uncommon. Discrimination in hiring, housing, etc is a crime and the laws should be enforced, but any thought police who would bust someone for what they think is an unacceptable situation. In short, you can think about anything you want, as long as your thoughts do not manifest themselves in criminal activity.

Answer 7

people hang onto their tribal instincts because they are familar with the rules of their society.generally people are afraid of that they are not familar with.i think fear is the greatest problem causing feeling in the world.