I'm asking this ? on this site 'cause I am more comfortable here-and much of this site is about prejudice

Question

I sometimes feel that America--the US is so racially charged it's like a bomb ready to go off and blow your great nation apart. It was (and still very much is) black vs white..and now everyone vs mexican. Before that it was Native Americans against Europeans. What I really don't understand is how the people that came over from Europe and just took over the land can now say that it isn't right for someone else to do the same? It was never right for anybody to do that..but surely we have learned to be tolerant of others..or have we? I don't mean to sound like I don't think the US is a great place...but I really worry about the rampant racism that is so obvious on these sites. Is that the way it is in reality? Or am I just picking up all this racial rhetoric because of the sites that I am on? Racist remarks are everywhere on here. Why? Aren't most of us beyond that now? Please this is a serious question. I am not trying to insult anyone.

Answer 1

It is not just the sites you visit, racism is still very prevalent in this country. Honestly, I am surprised you do not experience more of it in your everyday life. One more recent racism issue you left out involved Muslims following 9/11. The vast majority of Muslims are not violent or hateful yet there were attacks on Mosques and abuse of Muslims throughout the country. I do not have issues with Mexicans or any other race of people in any way, but I do have issues with people who do not follow the rules about coming into the country. We are facing a problem in this country, but it needs to be dealt with in an appropriate manner. Unfortunately, many people in this country are not yet beyond racism.

Answer 2

Da Ben Dan...another great question!

I live and travel around Texas...as a traveling therapist. I'm now in the Rio Grand Valley. This is the border region of Texas. All of the cities, McAllen, Harlingen, and Brownsville...are on the border or only miles away from it.
As a "white man" I don't usually witness any outright racial hatred...racism...per say. I'm sure it does go on...but not so overtly. Most of my friends here are Hispanic or of Hispanic origin. They seem to like me...I know I like them.
Even with all the border hoop-la lately...things are going well here...no trouble I know of.
On the other hand, having worked in East Texas and North Eastern Texas...things are a little different. There I noticed that the African Americans and Caucasians stayed to themselves. I noticed a more racist attitude among the locals (not all, especially the younger ones). I think that the "old" black vs. white racism still survives in some parts of Texas.
I live in Houston most of the time...and love it there. It's one of the most diverse cities I've ever called home. Every race from around the world lives and works there. I love that.
India, China, Pakistan, all parts of Europe, Asia, Mexico to include Central and South America, Arabs of all persuasions and Middle Eastern countries, and of course just ordinary folk like myself.
So...to answer your question....some racism still exists....but less than this forum would suggest. Some people use this forum as a loud speaker to spew hate...which amplifies their voice beyond their normal limits. Ignore the hate....America is a good country....with some flaws. We're working on the flaws...give us time.
Thanks for living in the States and giving us a chance....I'll do the same the next time I'm in......uh....well....you didn't say where you're from....
Peace be with you....-Vinny.

Answer 3

First of all, I think if you try to understand the Europeans that come over here, ..one has to put your mind in a whole different frame of mind...several hundred years ago most of the world had not been explored or understood what was there or where....mankind has always been of a adventurous mind wanting to know what is around the corner or over there...no one came to this continent to take it over..it was, look..what is this and look at all that open country...unfortunately the Indians had not discovered wheel yet and were very happy living the way they were..but it was kinda like today when a very rich Californian that lives in a very rich environment and house is worth a million dallors..they look at where I live and my property is dirt cheap..so they buy here and raise the price of everything not knowing it hurts my economy...now I am kinda like the Indians and wish the sob's had never came here.. I was happy with what I had but now I can't afford it any longer because taxes had shot up..

Answer 4

The heritage and societies that Native Americans had are only taught as a passing thought in US textbooks. There are the feel good paragraphs about Thanksgiving and the acknowledgment of the Trail of Tears, but that is about it. The promises of the US government to Native American tribes relocated to the western US are not taught while the defeat of General Custer at Little Bighorn is shown as a Native American attack on the "Euro-Americans."

Those who are Hispanic Americans have a valid point when they say that they did not cross the border but the border crossed them. The US President U.S. Grant called the war "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation" and the war resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with many Mexican lands becoming a part of the US.

The US celebrates is openness to those from other countries with such things as Ellis Island and making it seem that the US has always been open to those from other countries, while ignoring the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that lasted over 60 years or the Japanese-American Internment camps during World War II.

When many immigrants to the US came from Ireland and Italy, there was no debate about making English an official language. The immigrants learned English in order to assimilate and it was not uncommon for a US born child of immigrants to speak of a grandmother who only spoke the language of the country they emigrated from. Now that some immigrants come from different countries than those who already live in the US it is suddenly a divisive issue.

Prejudice has always existed, and the US does not have monopoly on prejudices as they exist everywhere.

The poem on the Statue of Liberty says "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The ideal of this poem does not truly exist in the US, but it also does not exist in any other country.

It is easier to concentrate on differences than similarities, no matter which country you call home.

No matter how accepting society has become, there will always be some who is labeled as different.

Until different is not considered the same as wrong, there will always be prejudice and discrimination.

Answer 5

The racist and hateful remarks on this site are simply by a handful of very unhappy people. They have no lives and to fill their hollow existence they try to get a rise out of the people who use this site constructively. I hope you do not get the wrong impression from these few bad apples. As a whole most are tolerant and believe in equal rights for all. Unfortunately hate is so ugly it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Answer 6

People will say things in an anonymous forum (like YA) that they would never say to your face.

It does not mean that's how they feel - many are simply looking to be inflammatory and feel powerful.

Better they play with the keyboard than play with guns, I say.

Interesting statistic: Since the US began 200+ years ago, there has never been a US census where less than 15% of the population was born outside the country. We have ALWAYS been a nation if immigrants. It will never change.

The breeders always win in the long run.

Answer 7

I totally agree with you hun,its like that over here in GB too, the intolerance is not always apparent, but you can feel it quite a lot and I find it so sad, we have so much to learn and enjoy from other cultures,I have trvelled a lot and have found most people to be incredibly nice, and my outlook is much improved with learning...good question xx

Answer 8

Please pay no attention to the idiots on this site....it is supercharged with extremists, and often, as you well know, one person becomes ten with clone names. Most of us are NOT racist by nature. We do have a serious problem with immigration here, or more precisely, illegal immigration. So far, we have not been able to stem the hoards from entering the country, using our welfare system, and sending American bucks back home to Mexico. Taxes are not paid on most of this money...can you imagine Canada putting up with this??? me neither.

Answer 9

I too am shocked by the amount of racial comments on this site! I would think that we should be moving past so much narrow-minded thinking, but it's obvious we are not. I think a lot of it depends on the part of the US you live in - I have lived in different parts of the country and have experienced racism to different degrees. It is sad that there are still young kids growing up with racist ideas and beliefs...

Answer 10

So the US is racist. Big deal. The problem isn't America, but human nature.Man is flawed. You know this. It will always be us vs. them.
Things may be different next life time. Don't be late!