Is the term "racist" an embedded control mechanism designed to stifle serious, rational debate?

Question

I know it sounds a bit "tin foil hat" brigade, but have you noticed the response amongst a wide section of people is that it's "RACIST" to question anything about someone else's culture or anything to do with immigration.

It's like they're programmed to say it without thinking. Immigration? "Racist!" Crime trends? "Racist!" Cultural bias? "Racist!" Educational development? "Racist!"

Is this the ultimate in social engineering? How can people be made to understand that discussion and debate is the key to understanding and progress?

Thanks for your comments so far. There is a respondent called "me" who has unwittingly highlighted exactly my point - a complete inability to comprehend, process and rationalise. I do not condone the mal-treatment of ANYONE based on their skin colour, heritage or religion. All people should be treated with respect.

To "Me" Please re-read the question and some of the answers and then examine your response and the reasoning behind it.

Answer 1

Good question.

Once you've resorted to calling someone a 'racist' or comparing them to Nazis/Hitler, you've lost the argument.

The term 'racist' should mean extreme cultural imperialism, but the inconvenient truth remains that some ethnic groups commit disproportionate levels of particular crimes; it's impossible to stand back and read the dry statistics without someone crying 'That's racist!' in the background.

Talk of immigration isn't racist until people start lumping illegals, legals, asylum seekers in one category, then declare that the UK is being 'swamped'.

Asking why young black men aren't doing as well in school as thier peers isn't racist, either. Or why young Muslim people feel disaffected. Or, indeed, why the white working class feel disaffected, too. Or why some cultures feel it necessary to perform female circumcision.

These questions need to be asked, but PC/knee-jerk reactions to questions which are framed in an emotional, culturally ignorant way prevents us from making any kind of progress in society - which is what we want, right?

Answer 2

This term is being used so much that it is losing its impact. Racism does happen and its WRONG on all accounts but its like crying wolf to many times. Eventually people stop believing. Someone who becomes or already is a victim of true racism would have an uphill battle just to see justice. It is such a politically motivated word right now. I think that is why we are seeing this trend that people who debate current immagration issues are being called racist. If people can't discuss their concerns and remain confused for fear of being labled then they can't form a solid opinion based on real facts. The advantage of having people "undecided" on an issues means they can be pressured into a beleif system based on very limited and edited information. A person who is truly informed can't be fooled by gimicks because they can see what is being hidden. By using the term "Racist" to stiffle debate among American citizens political figures can more easily pass legislation through without revealing details that could have a major impact on our country. (Please don't think I am screaming conspiracy here.) This is just an observation because it is obvioulsy easier to pass a proposed bill if there is no demand for debate or discussion. As for your other question about making people understand debate is good...I have no idea. People can't be forced to care. Natural human laziness keeps us from aking questions. If you don't ask questions you don't have to deal with the answers. However, I think we are already making progress. After all, Yahoo! Answers has provided us (two complete strangers) with the ability to communicate and debate. I never would have known your question if you hadn't posted it here!

Answer 3

An extreme example is dear old George Galloway he said:

"These people have come here to live they are as British as you or I "

He called a caller "racist" for not agreeing .

These bleeding hearts who want to prove how "non racist" they are and are prepared to give away the UK to prove it are far more dangerous to the UK than any German Nazis ever were.

I also do not condone the mal-treatment of ANYONE based on their skin colour, heritage or religion. All people should be treated with respect.But must I really allow 10s of millions to come here to the UK or be called a "racist"? these people who use racist so loosely and so half understood and oversimplified are idiots pure and simple.

Answer 4

They do not want to discuss anything. If you disagree with there point of view, you are a racist. They are completely wrong but it does stop debate. It's there way or the highway. Guess you are correct. You will never have an intelligent conversation we these people. You keep doing the right thing. It is they, not you that are racist. Sad but some people one cannot talk to.:(

Answer 5

Jean-Luc,

It is used much more frequently than I like. Racism does exist, of that there is no question, and we should ALL work on its eradication. But to use that term whenever you discuss outstanding nation-wide problems you can get cut off at the knees if you are labeled 'racist'. The argument/debate is over for you - you have been discarded. The media, especially, will pounce on the most innocent of phrases and turn you into today's pariah. It's a shame.

Answer 6

FACT: most people don't actually understand what the term 'racist' means.

I constantly hear people accuse people of racism for very petty things, like saying derogatory language to different coloured people. This is miss-use of a term and causes needless damage due to the magnitude of the word.

Racism IS: " The belief in the superiority or inferiority of races on a general or specific context"
Racism IS NOT: " reference to anything to do with colour"

Most people whip out the "racist" card when they have no clue what it means.

Answer 7

yes it is because they actually dont have any valid arguements so its easy to call people racist. and what makes me laugh is that they contradict themselves quiet often too, because a typical phrase is human rights and being equal. well if thats the case then how come they dont question the islam or hindu as man/woman are not equal and if somebody is forced to live in a certain way even though he/she doesnt want to,how can that be right? well funny enough these people dont answer questions like that. unfortunately most of these people cant be made to understand that a debate is useful,they are stuck in their ways in the same way real racists are,very small minded

Answer 8

very good point but the trouble is, society is so complex that we trondle through life unaware of the governments constant brainwashing via TV,cinema ,news papers Internet etc.its the very rich who run this planet people we don't get to meet down the pub mate.i think through social economical,religious and ethnic differences we are all being taken for mugs.they tell the Islamics to hate us kafers through their religious schools then they tell us those nasty little Muslims are trying to harm us.were all being taken for a ride.it matters not who is killed as long as the dollar,pound etc keeps rolling in.society is full of millions of things that are put in place over hundreds of years to keep us pious and subservient.[example and there are millions] invade Iraq under false pretence make billions on selling weapons to the army] wonder who owns the company's that build the military hardware from soldiers knives and forks in the canteen to the tanks and war ships.tin foil hat [gonna buy one].sadly most just dont get it,they got it wrapped up and there is jack we can do about.

Answer 9

It's done primarily because an honest look at statistics will have one race or another as a primary focus point. For example...It's perfectly OK to say that a serial killer is most likely to be a white male, but it is racist to say that inner city crime is most likely to be committed by a black (in some neighborhoods Hispanic) male.

Sanity should be defined as looking at the facts as they are not as you would like them to be.

Answer 10

Its taken a lot of work since 1936, and way back before that too, to ensure that nazi little thugs did not use such words as 'debate', as the Nazis debated the Jewish issue, while what they meant was "lets get rid of them".

You do not wish to discuss immigration, and if you did, why not include the worries of the French and Spanish about the huge influx f English people into these countries, who will not assimilate, a wonderful disguised word for nazi, or learn the language.

You see, they are ex pats, even in your mind, not immigrants, thus not a topic needy of debate. Or put it another way. They are white and not black or brown, so not immigrants, as immigrants are always foreigners, and usually black or brown.

Listen to yourself. What debate, you are a racist, and you simply want to turn back many years of hard work and be able to taunt people in the street again, based on colour. Well, son, it's not happening, and you will just have to get used to a multi-cultural England.