Help me with my racism?

Question

I am a very rational and empathetic person and I know it's not beneficial to stereotype or generalize an entire race or religion because of the actions of a few, but I am becoming overwhelmed with my hatred for certain groups. Mainly because my interactions with people of those back rounds has been negative. Can someone help me, I don't want this to consume my thoughts of blacks, whites, arabs, and hispanics?

Actually, I was raised to respect people regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, and religious affiliation, but after interacting with people I no longer possess that idyllic view. I should have expected these crass "answers."

mgiraudjr, i will pay heed to your advice and avoid dealing with people of those back rounds. no need to provide any more answers :)

Ahmad, I am aware of the origins of the term Aryan, I am Kashmiri (North India) of Aryan stock.

Ahmad, it is fine. I am a calm person, so your post did not infuriate me. Your points do resonate with me, and since you're of South Asian extraction(like me) they are more meaningful. I live in Canada and we are a pretty diverse nation, but with that said, I still come across people of those particular ethnicities and cultures who are hateful towards us, desis. It's not morally right to combat their ignorance and hatred with my own, but it's just hard when that is all you see and experience.

Answer 1

**NOTE: I am aware that this is a VERY long response, but set aside 5 or so minutes, and read this. This is the closest thing to 'help' that you will recieve on Yahoo! Answers.

Your use of the word 'Aryan' in your name has set off my BS-radar. It seems that you need some clarification on the use of that word.

According to wikipedia:" Aryan (/eərjən/ or /ɑːrjən/) is an English language word derived from the Sanskrit and Persian terms ārya-, the extended form aryāna-, ari- and/or arya- (Sanskrit: आर्य, Persian: آریا). Beyond its use as the ethnic self-designation of the Proto-Indo-Iranians, the meaning "noble/spiritual one" has been attached to it in Sanskrit and Persian. In linguistics, it is sometimes still used in reference to the Indo-Iranian language family, but it is primarily restricted to the compound Indo-Aryan, the Indic subgroup of the Indo-Iranian branch.

In Hinduism, the religiously initiated Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishyas were arya, a title of honor and respect given to certain people for noble behaviour. This word is still used by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians to mean noble or spiritual.

Aryan does NOT mean blond, blue-eyed white.

If you are _white_, and not _brown_ (Indo-Iranian) and you just used this word to describe yourself, then you just ******** failed at life, dude. GG. If I call myself Aryan, its because of my South Asian origns. If you call yourself Aryan, its because you read far too much race-hate literature and you can't be helped.

Now, one thing you have to understand is that ethnocentricity is part of human nature. Societal structures have changed greatly over time. Whereas at some period in the past, this tendency helped humans to thrive and expand by laying the framework of co-operation and solidarity, it is now a hurdle to our progress as a species.

One doesn't get rid of one's ethnocentricity, one learns to deal with it, and to redirect it. Key to achieving this is more open dialog with people of other faiths. What you really have to understand is that racism is a cyclic process, whereby exclusion leads to misunderstanding, which in turn begets fear. Fear manifests itself as hatred and we all read the news, we all know what happens as a result of that.

Simply put, the more you meet people of other races, the closer you will come to the realization that we're not all THAT different and we can all find a way to make things work. That's what humans do, we all share the same human spirit.

EDIT: IN RESPONSE TO ORIGINAL POSTER'S COMMENT: I'm afraid that anonymity and an audience make guano-flinging idiots out of all of us, and I, for one, took the bait and wrote an emotionally-charged tirade. First of all, I would like to apologize for both my language and tone. The point bing that even if you had misused the word Aryan, what I said would have informed you but would not have changed your perceptions for the better.

Though I will say this; after having lived for a number of years in England, UK, I learnt that excluding myself from society at large for fears of racism only compounded my problems. Once, I had the chance to talk to a 'skinhead' and I realized that they are just as afriad of us as we are of them. In any case, exclusion cannot be the answer. Neither is complete assimilation into a host culture, but I do believe that there is some healthy compromise to be found at some point in the middle.

Answer 2

Some of these responses are ridiculous. As an American, I am beginning to realize how racist Britain actually is. Embrace diversity instead of thinking "Oh no!! they are taking over". I literary have friends from almost every culture imaginable, and it has in fact made me a better person. Even the deep south of the US, which has a bad reputation for racism, is not near as bad as what I see on some of these message boards. I grew up in a neighborhood where I was the only white kid, and I was at times discriminated against, but I don't make generalizations of all minorities because of it.

Answer 3

Make an effort to educate yourself about the world in general which is a much bigger picture than you were raised to understand. You'll find it's more interesting to discover and learn the different ways the human being figures itself out than it is to hate.

Also make an effort to realize that there are good and bad people in every race, including yours, and that it is culture, environment, opportunity and upbringing--not biology--which make people the way they are.

I have had the same experience as you but I always make sure to check myself after having racist thoughts. It helps to prevent you from judging and mistreating innocent people in the future. For example in college I came across a lot of Indian people who were annoying jerks but I know from experience that not all Indians are naturally that way. Should I assume that you are a know-it-all and a douchebag because of all these Indian guys and girls I met at school? No. If you're experiencing nothing but bad interactions with people of all those races you mention then maybe it's the area you live in! I've experienced good and bad interactions with people of all those races, as well as others.

Answer 4

listen, you can't put all people into one category because of the actions of a few. Don't worry it is natural to feel racism, but you realize the problem and you address it, don't take what these nincompoops have wrote to heart. One person is different from another, regardless of race, don't let the actions of a few get to you. You can't judge someone from the color of their skin like that old saying you can't judge a book from its cover.

Ohhh **** it, I've had one too many beers, wasn't patient enough for the R & S section drinking game....

Answer 5

You start out young, you rebell against your parents racist ways. You give everyone respect. But then these handfull of idiots turn your mind in another direction. Use your eyes and ears, its all around you. Your eyes are open now. Respect people on how they treat you, give the same back.

I`ve posted enough of these questions to know that America is a passive and politically correct turd. At least as far as yahoo answers is concerned. Dont listen to these other answers, 20 years from now these ******* will be wondering what went wrong. And thier the reason. If you do find a way to not ignore it, let me know.

Answer 6

Move somewhere else or avoid the people of that race.
You could of course try and find a 'good' person of that particular ethnicity or color, but that search might very well verify your beliefs and you'll completely hate them.
Color and beliefs do not make a man, nor the clothes they wear (duh). But their surroundings do.

My sister was once a member of that blue triangle club, open boarders and help the mexicans, peace, love, happiness understanding and all that junk. She now generally hates the people as a whole. People change and everyone has some prejudice.

Answer 7

Your honesty is appreciated. But the overall ingredient to dealing with other races and not hating them is love. You have to have Jesus Christ as your Lord as Savior. When you have His love it is a lot easier to love people. I'm not saying you would magically be able to do it right off the bat, but you would get there. I grew up for a while in Arkansas and experience racism. I was taught to hate white people, but that teaching did not stick because I became saved at a early age. I knew the love of God was in me. The has even used me to win over some guys who were with the KKK, because I had a unconditional love for them. Regardless of there background. God helped me to see them as He sees them, precious and priceless souls. Well, I hope that helps a little.

Answer 8

Remember...there are two things that control people...
Their conscious and their emotion

You have to understand both...sometimes we beat ourselves up because of the emotions we feel. I have learn to acknowledge my emotion whether they are wrong or right.

Second, no matter what you feel...it is your tangible actions that matter (which is govern by your conscious and your 'will')

For example,
My emotional side...may hate at certain race. I don't want to but I have this hatred for that race. My conscious and my 'will' is what governs my actions that follows...meaning the next time I confront them I choose to do a good deed because I choose not to be that bad person.

In summary..
Learn to separate both (emotion & your conscious)...don't be afraid of what you feel. Acknowledge it. Finally your 'will' has the final say in all matters.

Answer 9

Right on, Louie1. Took the words outta my mouth. Perfectly stated!

Answer 10

You know my Grandmother used to say.
Ask a Stupid question; expect a Stupid answer.