Should anyone who misuses the word racist be prosecuted?

Question

I am sick and tired of this word being used by people who dont even understand what it means.
Should people who call people racist, when they are not and are just making a valid point, be punished just as severely as a real racist would be?

Answer 1

I agree. Seems that nowadays anyone who makes a comment about another race is labeled a racist. Funny how a saying such as "white men can't jump" is not generally considered a racist statement (rightfully so, in my opinion), but if I were to say that "black men can jump really high" then I could be called a racist because I am allegedly generalizing the black man and making some inference to a negative activity (which, in my mind, is like the racism calling folks shining a mirror on themselves by showing their prejudices toward their own race rather than accepting a general statement for what it is - and we ALL stereotype).

This larger issue behind racism accusations is not limited to just blacks and whites, or reds, or oranges, or browns, or anyone else. The much larger issue is that we have established a pretty low bar in this country for common sense and mental acuity. The bar was lowered when we started having to bend over backwards for every numbskull and freakshow that comes down the pike and wants "fair" treatment (before the "racist" callers jump in here, it is not necessarily any particular race I am referring to here, see my first sentence in this paragraph). Well, we have often bent so far backwards to give those folks fair treatment that we have been unfair to everyone else. Somewhere along the line, we decided that we need to establish laws that make things equal for everyone. In doing so, many of those laws have failed because they were addressed at making things "fair" for one particular race or group, which inherently makes them "unfair" laws because they create a legal advantage for one particular race or group of people. Which came first, the attitude or the laws is hard for me to say. But, now it seems that anytime you make an overly positive or negative generalization about a particular race – you are automatically labeled a racist.

Let’s face it, folks, each race has its own general characteristics that is special to that race. We are NOT all equal at everything. Why must we insist that the only difference between each race is the color of the skin when in fact there are cultural and even genetic influences that generally define that race? Chinese generally tend to be smaller in stature, blacks generally tend to have good rhythm, Mexicans are generally devoted to their family, whites are generally rhythmically challenged – so what? Why do so many of us unnecessarily make the assumption that the statements I just made are racist merely because I pointed out general racial differences? As long as we don’t say that one race is better at EVERYTHING good or one race is inferior at EVERYTHING good (or vice versa), then what is wrong with this?

Of course, somehow I am a racist now and the asker will probably be labeled a racist since the asker was obviously implying that one race is better than another and those who think differently should be prosecuted...lol - j/k.

Answer 2

If I look in my Collins Dictionary dated 1986 it states

Racialism : a doctrine without scientific support, that claims the superiority of some one race : also Racism - Racialist.

So if you feel superior than another race, you're a racist. Thing is, out of 1 million people being called "Racist" in todays society, probably only 1 person feels superior. The other 999,999 are not racist. They may have made a remake about another race but at no point felt superior.

I'm not aware of any race of human on the planet weaker than any other. So if I feel immigrants should be banned because there are not enough jobs, I'm not feeling superior over the immigrants. But I bet my last dollar people shout RACIST.

It's down to politicians. They need educated in life skills. They don't understand the basics of the subject.

Problem is, you would have to lock up an awful lot of idiots for mis-using the word racist.

Answer 3

I think they are two of the least understood words in the English language. racist noun [C] (UK OLD-FASHIONED racialist) DISAPPROVING someone who believes that other races are not as good as their own and therefore treats them unfairly: ignorant adjective 1 not having enough knowledge, understanding or information about something: I am quite happy to have a discussion about anything but judging someone based purely on their race is racist and as most people here have not studied or even read the Koran does suggest that some peoples position comes from a point of ignorance. I hate terrorists and dont believe the laws are tough enough - I despise what some Muslims are doing to this country And I also hate people coming into this country simply to live on benefits, there are enough Brits capable and willing to do that - but I dont blame the actions of percentage on the whole. I would like to take you to task on the hoards of Muslims hitting our shores with different cultures - they are doing nothing any different that the hoards of Brits who have hit the Spanish costa's speaking their own language, buying British food in the supermarket and eating British food. Or what about those that live in the middle east who have their own fenced in area's where they can dress how they like and drink beer and live like mini Britian. They dont allow it on the streets but nor would we let a native Africian walk down Oxford street barechested (female) or fully naked man. As I said I am more than happy to have an adult conversation and will respect your opinion through I may not agree with it, however I fear the actions will be more hate spilled emails (not from you) and to be blocked again (from you)

Answer 4

Hahaha! I don't think prosecute rather shoot them on the spot! Human rights: I think by having all these rights and stuff it is just taking away the freedom! By hearing all the comments about who said what in a racist way, I conclude all people in fact racists, because they naturally favour a certain gene pool. Media bolloks!

Answer 5

If we prosecuted every person who speaks before thinking, says something stupid or out of line, we would need more jails then the world is able to build!!!!
The media is a lot to blame for some of this crap!!
Example: Skin heads and nazi wanna be's, Don't give them the air time! Period!!
Al Sharpton who lives in Beverly Hills, and comes out like a cockroach, when TV air time is his food.
We give "blow holes" a public format, and this is why we have so much stupid crap! A Black comedian can use the "N" word in his stand up routine, and the audience laughs. Let a White guy use that......It's all a bunch of crap to me!
If I call you stupid, and you aren't, so friggen what!
When it harms someones way of life to the point of it effecting their livelyhood, that's when it needs to be addressed properly. Not just some ignorant @$$ spewing his stupid crap, we were taught to ignore people like that when we were kids for crying out loud!!!!

Answer 6

I think we should be more concerned if someone is hurting folks with knives and guns than worrying if someones feelings are hurt by words.
That said, No, people should not be prosecuted for misusing words in the English language. Should we make someone stand in the corner because they used the word axe instead of ask? Or maybe skreet instead of street? Bad for good?Or even Y'all instead of all of you?
Nope the language is finite and we should treat it like the grand old dame it is.

Answer 7

It shouldn't be going that far. People just misuse terms from time to time. Everybody on this Earth has thought or acted upon their racist beliefs. You may not be a racist (generally speaking), but you have at least thought of it.

Answer 8

Let's see,,if that was the case, we could say goodbye to Jesse Jackson, The NAACP, The KKK, and alot of others,,,so I would have to say YES they should be prosecuted.....

I'm talking about people/groups who keep racism stirred up, that wants everything to be blamed on a different race, that use race to incite problems and not try to solve them; not everyday people who make mistakes in how they say something.

Answer 9

People just need to be educated.

Racism only exists as long as we see a difference between humans based on their skin colour.

It is a disease across all races at the moment with each one counting points on the other to keep the torch of hatred alive.

Hate me if I'm an a$$h0le and not because of my skin colour.

Answer 10

I know, I don't think they should go as far as to prosecuting them, I just think they should be sent a definition of the word from a dictionary...Some people are so highly strung on here! They take it way too seriously!