For you, what does Racism mean? Does it affect your daily life?

Question

Or are you just trying to sit on the politically correct band wagon of society?

Answer 1

WOW - a real question - I hope you won't be sorry that I saw it.

Yes - racism does effect me every minute of my life. I am shocked when people imply that they don't feel racism exist. It's still here. Mostly, especially in the US, it is so 'undercover' that if you are not paying attention you might miss it but don't be fooled.

There will always be an 'underclass' (I know that's not a good word but it is the only one I can use to discribe what I see) - whether they are black or poor or other races or homosexuals or prisoners/convicts or whatever.

Discrimination, racism - they both speak to the same problem.

Worst yet is when we know what is being said or done is wrong but we do nothing like it doesn't effect us. The next time it just might.

It was the Law & Order episode about a teen who drinks herself to death at a party hosted by 2 other teans. All the kids did (everybody else at the part including the host) was clean up the house they were in (tresspassing) and lay the girl on the bed. No one tried to call 911 or even to call the girl's family or to take her home - nothing!

My daughters thought that since no one 'forced' the girl to drink, that no one should be held responsible or accountable. My response was 'inaction is an action' and if we are not held responsible for our inaction especially when it 'does harm', we may as well go back to the dark ages.

Now some might think that might not be such a bad idea but it really is because as bad as we think it is now it would be worst if we didn't have the safeguards that are in place but are not being adhered to, in many cases. I think we stopped wanting to be 'our brother's keeper'. We should care about each other and 'the whole planet of earth' as a people instead of allowing our differences (in beliefs or languages) to stop us from wanting to do what's right for all.

This quote continues to come to my mind because everyday I see that it is so very true and we need to all start paying attention to it 'All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.'

I'm so guilty of the doing nothing. When others are making jokes about groups of people, I laugh. I don't speak up and say 'no, I can't participate in that'. I thnk it's funny - why not laugh? Because I wouldn't like it if something like that was being said about me. Because, in most cases, the thing being said isn't true or what's being done is wrong. Because it's not right and, by doing nothing (except laughing) I am encouraging others to continue this wrong behavior.

It seems like a small thing but it's a place to start to be more socially conscience. You/we start and the rest will follow.

Answer 2

I work at a company where I am decidedly the minority. I am caucasion and the majority is Hispanic. For the most part we don't even bring up the race issue but every once in awhile someone plays the race card. A hispanic worker who was operating a computer milling machine and got stuck on a word he didn't understand. He came into my office and asked me and another white guy if we knew what a polygon was. We just looked at each other and explained what it was. He had a lost look on his face and then asked if polygon was a white guy word. I said no, it was a geometry word. I also told him of all the cultures that aren't white that have contributed to mathematics down through the centuries. I have always said that people who distinguish race are racists and I still believe it today. Its like if you said, You know Bob from down the street is a good neighbor. If you said that Bob from down the street is a good neighbor for a black guy, then you would be racist. I understand if law enforcement or hospitals use descriptions like that for obvious reasons but why do we need to do it when it isn't even necessary?

Answer 3

Ever since I was young, [ I looked just like an Asian baby !! ] I was never excepted with any "race" and was always called "white" or "pink" or any mean thing kids could think of... people would just question me and make me feel bad... in middle and high school I was not liked by any girls [but the mixed or light skinned girls ] .... and now I am way older and still get confused with a puerto rican or dominican, and I speak alot of spanish [because it's my culture..I was raised around spanish and black people] .. but it's funny because I am more Korean and black than I am spanish ... Man, I am ALL messed up ... but race has been a big part of my life..but as I get older, it's becoming less and less significant ...

Answer 4

There is very little actual "racism"

It is a catch-all phrase used to silence those who dare to disagree with the "Self-appointed"
liberal Elite.
All discrimination is Social, Educational, or Cultural.
The next time your brain-washed College Professor starts a "discussion" about the poor sufferimg blacks, or Hispanics, or Native-Americans ask him when he last associated with any of them.
This,of course will bring a smirk to his face.
He will smirk because he thinks that he will soon deal with an innocent like you.
A hundred to one he will say:
"As a matter of fact, It is only two days ago that I had a black man round for dinner"
(smirk, smirk, sneer, sneer)
Ask your Professor.
"Was he a black Garbage Collector?"
Your Professor will look a little puzzled and give you a little talk on how this black fellow was a Professor of this,that,and the other.
and what a joy it was to have him round for dinner and such-like clap-trap.
THEN ask him "When did you last have a black Garbage Collector round for dinner/"
------------------------------------------
Anyway BED
You can see how this carries on.
If he has had a BGC round then
ask him WHEN he had a WHITE GC round
If he says that he hasn't
ask him why not.
If he says that he doesn't know any
Ask him why he didn't seek one out
Like he sought out the BGC (giving him the high 5 and such like patronising crep)
If you are devious enough you can trap him endlessly.in Barbed wire of Socratic Back-stabbing.
You will of course fail all your exams.And be black-listed for Life but WTF.
There's nothing more amusing than watching a stuck-pig of "liberal " throwing a tantrum

It all comes down to THIS:
Your Professor will discriminate on grounds of what "class" someone is
How educated someone is
What his entire cultural life is
He will patronise a few uneducated blacks(but not whites!)
He will wave his arms about to black music(but not to white)
He will only be at ease with people who are:
His social equals
His educational equals
His cultural equals
Colour of skin has nothing to do with it.

In the UK Racism is far ahead of the US:
An 18 year old student has just been refused entry to a course of study because she is WHITE.
NOT ONLY because she is WHITE. But because she is the WRONG SORT of WHITE!!
I don't think any "black" discrimination can beat THAT for sheer imbecility!

Answer 5

To me, being racist means making, and voicing, opinions of people, just because of geographical factors, for example, the country where they live/have lived or where their family originally came from.
I agree that if a white person says something about black people, the media make a big thing about it, but the other way around it is ignored, and find this unfair.
I am personally not racist, not because the governemnt says I can't be, but because I don't think it is fair to judge people on characteristics like their ethnicity, religion, age or appearance, but on who they are as a person.

Answer 6

prejudice over skincolor/origin , Yes it does affect my daily life.
What's "the" politically correct band wagon ?

Lots of people unfortunately are prejudiced, I try (!) not to pretend I know everything about someone else since I'm just starting to know myself...

Answer 7

Racism affects us all whether we know it or not. The inflictions upon others ripple through communities and damage social interaction. It's little more than grown-ups playing childish games and to put it mildly, it's annoying.

People are people, colour, age, gender, social background, religion, illnesses etc etc, shouldn't be the cause to ridicule and demoralise. Though we are all different, we ARE all equal. We all should be granted the right to live as we want to live and be who we are....with a little help from our friends.

Let me help take the edge off things a little......

http://www.dailymotion.com/bookmarks/julianjoepeace/video/xg1wn_thats-what-friends-are-for_music

Answer 8

Racism to me means hating someone you don't even know just because of their race,creed or colour!! No band wagon involved!! Just a fact!!

Answer 9

Racism only affects you if you have a poor self image. If you feel good about yourself then you relegate the opinions of others about you to their proper place. Incidentally, if you think the West is racist then try the Japanese on for size.

Answer 10

It means treating people a certain way just because of their skin color.Not really.Just once.This lady came up to me and asked me if I was part of her special program( english as a second language) .I'm not trying to be arrogant but I speak and write better English than any of my classmates who all happen to be vegetables who would probably run at the sight of a hot shower