Racism is okay.

[UtahDan]

These definitions were recently suggested to me by my fairly left leaning colleague:

Racism: The belief that you can make some accurate generalizations about people based on their race. This is okay because, of couse, you CAN make many generalizations about races as a group though of course there are exceptions. There is nothing wrong with this and we all do it every day.

Bigotry: The belief that because of the differences above, you are superior to someone else and/or that your rights should be superior to theirs. This is morally reprehensible.

What do people think?

[MikeWaters]

That there is nothing wrong with "racism" would not fit with normal usage of the word.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

That there is nothing wrong with "racism" would not fit with normal usage of the word.

Here is what Merriam Websters thinks:

Racism:
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

Bigot:
a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.

Would you say that the dictionary version is what most people mean by racism? I would argue that common usage favors a FAR more expansive definition.

[jay santos]

I love to get philosphical about racism.

I believe racism/sexism/religious bigotry/any other kind of prejudice can be defined as:

the potential to misunderstand, offend, overgeneralize, or misjudge another person or group of people due to differences in perspective in race, religion, sex, culture, class, or other sociological differences

Then racism/sexism/bigotry can be further dissected as to how serious or offensive it is.

I believe my judging of a black teen's talk and dress is racist, simply because it's foreign to me and it's impossible for me to ignore it when dealing with that black teen. Whether I think it's cool, ignorant, hip, smart, boring, stupid, whatever it's all racist because it's a culture I don't understand from my direct human experience.

Now I can take that inherent racism and let it lead me to being intentionally or even unintentionally abusive, or I can acknowledge the lack of understanding, and try to incorporate that humility into my thoughts and actions.

We are all racists. But we don't have to be jerks.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by jay santos

We are all racists. But we don't have to be jerks.

I think that is what my colleague was suggesting.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

I think that is what my colleague was suggesting.

I think Jay is correct and I generally agree with your colleague, but that word is so nuclear that redefining it in the way suggested is probably impossible.

[minn_stat]

Originally Posted by myboynoah

I think Jay is correct and I generally agree with your colleague, but that word is so nuclear that redefining it in the way suggested is probably impossible.

Oh, but it is so fun to try...

For some time, I have occasionally mentioned to someone that I discriminate. Their eyes get wide, or they give me a funny look, and so I tell them that furthermore, I think that people that don't discriminate are dangerous kooks.

Finally, I explain to them that sure, I discriminated when I decided to marry my wife instead of someone else, I discriminated when I chose what to eat for breakfast this morning, and so forth. Discrimination is not only OK, I tell them, its desirable!

Maybe I'll throw in a jab at racism now and again, now that you've planted the idea in my mind...

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by minn_stat

Oh, but it is so fun to try...

For some time, I have occasionally mentioned to someone that I discriminate. Their eyes get wide, or they give me a funny look, and so I tell them that furthermore, I think that people that don't discriminate are dangerous kooks.

Finally, I explain to them that sure, I discriminated when I decided to marry my wife instead of someone else, I discriminated when I chose what to eat for breakfast this morning, and so forth. Discrimination is not only OK, I tell them, its desirable!

Maybe I'll throw in a jab at racism now and again, now that you've planted the idea in my mind...

But we should also be ready to admit our discriminations are not always (in fact almost never) perfect and pure and correct, therefore our discriminations (though necessary) are constantly sinful and potentially hurtful and offensive to others.