Racism Today... have our actions against racism taken it too far? Is it becoming the other way around? anyone?

Question

okay, so tell me your opinion of racism. Do you think that is is still racism, when blacks make fun of whites, or other minorities making fun of or discriminating against majorities? Also tell me what you think about girls being able to say bad things about guys, but if a guy says a bad thing about a girl it is sexism. If you have any other views, questions or comments on racism, let me know, I'm been wondering this for a while.

also, do you think that it is right that scholerships from the government can be offered specifically to first nations? I mean there would be a huge deal made about it if it was offered to a majority, like to all whites, or to all non- first nations,... thanks...

Answer 1

I understand what you're saying. But, rather than getting into a long explanation about what I think and why I think it, I'll simply say this:

Many folks think that racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice are all one sided. Of those people who think this, some are of the opinion that the state of things is no different than it was before (i.e. women suffering the most sexism, minorities suffering the most racism, etc...). And others think that it has, as some people say, "flipped" (the opposite of the former). My opinion is that we've reached a time in which NO ONE has the market cornered on prejudice. It's the area in which all groups are equal (or close to it).

Answer 2

Racism is definitely more of a black and white thing. White people are not the only people that can be racist. Not even close. It's what you hear about the most though.
Other races/nationalities can be racist towards each other as well. I don't think it's okay for anyone to be racist/prejudiced against anybody.

I think in some ways our actions towards racism have gone to far and in other ways not enough. It's hard telling. With the advent of political correctness, you have to wonder if people are less racist or just afraid to openly make racist comments.

Sexism...same thing. Both men and women can be sexist. I'm not so much talking about off-handed remarks (such as all men are this or all women are that) but more along the lines of discrimination.
Your last question sounds like you are talking about affirmative action. I think we still need it but the way affirmative action is enforced in the United States needs to be revamped. It was never supposed to be about quotas or one race/gender. But it happens.
The government in the United States offers Pell Grants and an assortment of student loans to everyone. I'm not sure what financial aid is available for international students.

You do pose a serious point though...it seems we can't say anything nowadays without offending somebody.

Answer 3

I was never subjected to racism, my family was always open and accepting and taught me to be that way. I feel like it is just as racist for someone to make fun of a white person as if they make fun of someone in a minority. I look white, but I have ALOT of Native American ancestry. I also think that the horrible things that happened years and years ago should be remembered so that the same thing doesn't happen again, but it isn't right for certain groups of people to expect special treatment because of something that happened to people they don't even know they if they have relation to or not. I mean, maybe if they were directly affected, but where does the line draw? My ancestors were treated worse than any other minority, african americans, mexican americans, but I don't carry it with me and have a constant chip on my shoulder. I wouldn't be here today, and I wouldn't have the life I have if things hadn't been the way they were. It was horrible, unjust, and a sad side of humanity. But thats what it is, humanity. Humans can be very evil, and ignorant mostly. I hate that when there is a black comedian making jokes, that I don't even know if its okay to laugh or not because I feel uncomfortable, but I'll betcha everyone there no matter what their color will laugh at a white joke and feel perfectly fine with it. I don't agree with the way things are, and the boundries of "politcal correctness" that are put up right now. I also cannot stand women who talk negatively about men, and then pull the "sexual harrassment" card when a man talks negatively about a woman. Whether it be sexual, deragatory, or just sexist. It goes both ways. For racism, and sexism, no one is excluded.

Answer 4

Wow, your question contains a lot of questions. Nonetheless, good questions.

Yes, racism rings true regardless of whether the target group is the majority or the minority. I have to point out that racism could mean many different things: from simple name calling, discrimination of access to public services, or organized hate crimes. So we may have to discuss those in detail separately if you post a more precise question what you mean by 'taking it too far?'

As for sexism, it is not so much sexism that a guy says bad things about a girl. It's more about different treatment, for example, in employment or public facilities. In which case, I don't think it is any better than women discriminate against men.

As for first nations. That's a toughie, I have actually discussed this with a friend and came to no conclusion. Our founding fathers, God bless them, have developed this wonderful country on the backs of the First Nations people. Providing them special privileges is 1) a way of showing the world that we are not animals and compensating and accommodating them. 2) a sad attempt to silence their voice without physical force. Because when some foreigners wipe 80% of your ethnicity off the map and takes over your land, you tend to hold a grudge.

Answer 5

I think racism is wrong no matter who does it to who. I'll probably offend a lot of ppl saying this but black ppl can just as racist as white ppl. I'm mixed and have heard several comments made about white ppl by my sometimes ignorant black friends, but know one ever really does anything about, if it was white ppl saying the same kinds of things about black ppl it would be a huge deal. When it comes to sexism I think a man has every right to say something about a woman if a woman says something about a man. If I call a man a pig or bastard or something like that I have no right to call him sexist or whatever if he calls me a b*tch or a ho. About the scholarship thing I think it's fair because in this country's history white ppl seem to have had an advantage over minorities. I really really like the fact that they have scholarship programs just for women since men have always, in the past, kind of controlled the country.

Answer 6

I think many people are taking this topic (racism/sexism etc) extremely lightly! and that's not cool
there's all these jokes about others' ethnicity that offends them but everyone laughs? why? am i supposed to assume that it's light-hearted? well how am i supposed to know? what if it's not? ya know. I really despise racism and wish it could just go away. but i don't think it will anytime soon because so many ignorant people are around everywhere you go. I'm a minority and i do find other minorites making fun of majorities i guess it's different with culture.. like uhh.. "white people usually do this but we..." that kind of thing

I think ur comment on sexism is really interesting! I always wondered that myself if guys make fun of girls it's sexism but if girls make fun of guys it's kinda light hearted.. also when guys abuse girls he's a jerk but when girls abuse guys it's like the guy seems like a wimp.
It's all thrown together with judgement and stereotyping which i also strongly dislike. i wish it could all just go away. no more hate :)
i'm also wondering.. why a person with a certain ethnicity can make fun of people of the same ethnicity but when a person makes fun of people a person of a diff ethnicity it's racist. I find myself kind of making fun of my culture a bit.. but that's cuz well. don't all people do that?

Answer 7

I will clear something here and now.

There is racism in all cultures. And, yes it definitely exists after centuries and centuries. It exists out of fear and ignorance. It exists in all media. It exists in propaganda. It breeds war, it breeds hate, it breeds death. After centuries of it, we STILL haven't sufficiently quelled it. Racism is an instinct and human flaw that will always remain but CAN be calmed enough. As for sexism, that will stick forever, since people will mistake the woman for the victim of things.

Answer 8

Well, I agree with you. i think that people are discriminating agent majorities like you say, but its just not people of color that you have to worry about offending anymore. now its people of a different religion. or nation. I for one am sick of people telling me what I can call my own holiday, I heard ( I am not sure this is true) but I heard that they are now asking people to call Halloween fall harvest and Christmas winter festival. What is that. NO! It is Christmas to me and Halloween to me, I don't understand that, just as I don't understand why African Americans or blacks or what ever we are allowed to call them now. Can have a all blacks college fund and an all black TV station or an all black awards show, but if white people where to do that I don't even want to think of what would happen.

Answer 9

I agree with Ms. Informed. The black/ white issue should be over by now. We have far too many other issues with other races of people. This is 2007!! Personally, there are some of both races that annoy me.

Answer 10

Yes, its very unbalanced, i was allowed to apply for two scholarships on the PSAT because im recognized as being black. The Jena 6 trial is completely one sided, where black kids who knocked out a beat up a white kid are being celebrated as heroes because they got extensive jail sentences. The whole world is screwed up.