Can you be against the "Cultural Behavior" of some groups without being racist?

Answer 1

I think we can hold to moral absolutes without being racist. I do not see our society benefitting from an "anything goes" mentality.

Wow, Leogirl, that's not racist, it's grouchy! J/K

Answer 2

as long as you focus on the behavior, and keep in mind what annoying cultural behaviors you may exhibit, ok.

But if you see a person and assume they are going to behave a certain way because of how they look, then your internal racist alarm should go off and you should think about if you are being fair to that individual. Every group is made of individuals and the term "cultural behavior" is a lazy way of thinking about someone before you know them.

Answer 3

Why would you be against the "Cultural Behavior" of any group unless you obviously had preconceived notions about the group in the first place?

I live just outside of Dallas, TX. I live in an apartment complex and just like any apartment complex, we have people of many different ethnic backgrounds. So it's not uncommon to hear Tejano music in the parking lot or rap music booming from a car window. It's also not uncommon to hear country music being blared from a truck. Nor is it uncommon to hear rock music being played pretty loud from my apartment any given Saturday.

I'm also Italian and often times I have a lot of friend and especially family over for big meals. We get loud and we often get a little obnoxious. I wouldn't want my neighbors uncomfortable with my "Cultural Behavior" any more than I'm sure they don't want me judging them for their behavior.

People are different... they are raised in different backgrounds and they celebrate their heritage in whatever way they feel comfortable with. I work for an African-American attorney. He's extremely intelligent, well-spoken and well-educated. He's often on television and keeps an extremely professional appearance. However it is not uncommon late in the evening to see him in his office listening to hip-hop. Should I feel uncomfortable because I was raised to appreciate a different kind of music.

I think you have tendancies towards other races that make you feel uncomfortable around them in general. You don't trust them and you're afraid of them. Imagine what they must think seeing your white self bopping around and doing the many, many Caucasian things I imagine you do in a day...

Answer 4

Yes! Certain behaviors are harmful, and we should discourage them.

If that behavior is concentrated in one or two ethnic groups or cultures, that does not make it any less harmful.

This is different from being prejudiced (having a belief that every member of a group acts in a stereotypical way) or being a racist (believing that one group or another is genetically inferior).

Good question!

Answer 5

Of course, I could completely hate the "gangsta" style and like blacks. We should like or dislike people based upon their behavior and not based solely on race. If there were 3 people looking for a job. The first was black, looking like he should be in a hip-hop video, looking "gangsta" and talking the same way, the second is white but looks like the first, and the third is black, dressed in shirt and tie, with dress pants and shoes, and speaks articulately which would you hire? I would pick the 3rd, if I were racist I would hire none, or the white guy.

Answer 6

I think so. There was a Mexican dude who cleaned our office at my last job and he was in love with me. I tried to tell people that I'm not racist, but I wouldn't want to date a Mexican because they are usually really possessive of their women and often find it necessary to be macho around other men. It's not because of his nationality, but because of his culture. I'm Italian and my own culture is kinda like that too. However, I'm not going to judge everyone before getting to know them, but it is something to look out for and to take into consideration. However, keep in mind that it has NOTHING to do with race or ethnicity. Nothing. It's socialization.

Answer 7

I'm sure from your other questions and comments that you haven't a clue what Cultural Behavior means. I posted up some links so you can be educated about the subject without all of your spin and misreadings. Enjoy!

Answer 8

As long as you don't think your 'culture' is superior to theirs. You see many in the world don't consider a 300 year old country as the final arbiter on cultural doctrine. Arrogance I suppose could be attributed to some in the USA as a culture.

Answer 9

Of course.
I know many PC far left "liberal" people wouldn't agree, because they don't know how to deal with those inconvenient factual implications against certain people,
but that is because they are immature and find covering up and pretending those things aren't real is better than actually confronting them and dealing with them on an adult level to bring about change.
...but evil goes on because the good let it.

Many times, these people are also moral relativists, ...their ultimate truth is that, there is no right or wrong, only difference in opinion--
but this, they often forget, is only one of many different philosophies and most of the greatest thinking philosophers of all time would disagree with this one new age philosophy made popular by someone very recently in the 20th century.

They will call forced abortion in China, sex selected abortion, whiping out girls and women in Japan and India, child sex slavery in Cambodia, bull fighting in Spain,
killing children for dumb ritualistic reasons in Africa, genital mutilation in Africa / Asia and Middle East,...
are "cultural" and say there is nothing "wrong" with it, because who are we to "judge" them???.. and they will then go on to make many elaborate excuses for them, anything except hold the culture or the people responsible for their own behavior.

Who are we to judge except civilized people who have learned from mistakes of the past and are now evolved enough to be able to correct others dumb and brutal behavior perhaps???

Answer 10

Absolutely, the issue is one of consistent morals/values. As long as you don’t like the behavior and apply the standards to everyone you can be successful at this. Most people cannot pull this off though because they don’t have consistent standards and allow the situation to dictate their likes/dislikes.

Answer 11

Honestly, it all depends on that culture. I think one of Americas biggest problems is being too trusting and too accepting..