Quote:
Originally posted by RUgreek
I never said I was the new authority on anything. Nor did I state I determine ownership of words. I say no one owns words. Don't get smart with me, this is just a discussion, not an attack on you.
By that same argument, if you want to be balanced, just because its in Webster doesn't make it wrong, and if doesn't meet your personal definition of the word, it doesn't mean anything either. I don't know nor do I absolutely assure you that our perspectives of discrimination are different. Maybe our opinions are, but don't make assumptions about people you don't know, just some friendly advice.
You may think what you want about me, it's human nature. Naive, possibly on certain levels, but not this. I do not get involved in topics I don't have a good understanding of. The only thing I wanted to get across, which was lost a long time ago, was that racism exists in everyone. But I see now that no one is willing to say it, so I'll drop this useless debate.
- RUgreek
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Kinda sucks that you are bowing out without having really made a viable argument. I did not intend for my original comment to be smart alecky and if it came across that way, I do apologize. Nothing personal here, promise.
That being said, I have no judgment formed about you. I do not know anything about you other than what you post on the boards. Therefore my comments are derived from the nature of your comments.
The fact that you seem to believe that blacks are claiming ownership to the word "racism" is an odd thought to me. You make it seem like blacks get ruffled over the concept merely because they are protective of the WORD itself. Please correct me if I am wrong, this is how I interpret your posts.
Your quote:
Racism is whatever you want it to be, if it's yogurt with fruits on top, then so be it. But NOBODY owns the word Racism, and I'm sorry to tell you this, but that includes the black community (however you would like to imagine it). Words carry different meanings not just by the way they are said but by who says it.
In reality, racism (no matter what definition you use), is something that actually occurs. We have ALL acknowledged that, ad nauseum. Blacks are probably more upset that they are being followed around stores, denied loans, and constantly harassed by police than they are by not being able to "own" the word racism.
I never called you closed-minded or dismissed your points, apparently you believe so. I never wrote that race is color, this is more of a neicy comment, but go back to my second to last post and you'll see what I wrote is practically the SAME as what you tried to bark at me.
And what is it that I tried to bark at you? Just not sure exactly what you are referring to...
This isn't about semantics, this topic centers around a subject matter that no one here has the guts to admit. All races, no matter how you define them or classify them or describe them CAN and DO commit racism onto another race - also by however you wish to label them. This is the only argument I am trying to make. I have not sat here arguing anything but that. Unfortunately, everyone thinks they are smarter because they can nit-pick at every word I type to make it sound like a vicious statement.
This sounded good, but I do think that most people on this thread had the guts to admit exactly what they were thinking...unfortunately! I am not trying to make any statement sound viscious by any means. I would rather ask and have you clarify than to assume the worst about what you meant.
If you must know, I was specifically referencing this quote in my previous posts:
Discrimination deals with POWER
Segregation deals with POWER
Racism is about RACE, there is no disparity, only misunderstanding by certain groups. If you WANT to believe that Racism is attributed to power, fine. But that is INCORRECT, as far as ANY formal definition of the word throughout history is concerned. Understanding the meaning of words is the first step in correcting the problem, until then, you are at a standstill as far as becoming "open-minded." Racism is being misconstrued by the black community, not because they don't understand but because they can't accept the fact that they do not OWN the word.
Let's be clear about this for once. And please, turn on that "open-minded" brain for a second. Isn't it possible that the african-american community is so upset and angry with white americans that some feel the need to take the word Racism and turn it into their personal description of the white community's oppression?
Please do not tell myself or anyone else on this board that we cannot give a "correct" definition, simply because it might be in direct opposition to your own. By the same right that you have to define a word in your terms, everyone else has that same right. When I stated that my experiences were different than yours, I did so based on your definitions. That is because in my mind, definitions stem more from life experience than from Webster's.
Part of the problem is that America is such a paradox. The "Melting Pot," "colorblind," etc., these are all concepts that encourage assimilation into one culture. But while this country was found on "liberty and justice for all," there is still widespread RACISM (on all parts), prejudice/discrimination (which by YOUR definition is committed ONLY by the majority since it involves power), and opppression. The victim in all of these instances are inevitably blacks. And how can we acheive this "melting pot" when ceratin groups are made outcasts from society anyway? Does it make sense?
Understand that I am not someone who whines and complains and never accepts responsibility. I just look at the root of the problem.
And even though there may have been a few isolated acts that were committed by a "minority" on a white person, I would say that it did not have the far reaching consequences that "minorities" in the United States still suffering from today.
I did not mean that you are naive per se. But some of your views are short sighted. Perhaps if you acknowledge (not necessarily AGREE WITH) some of the things I have mentioned, you will begin to understand. I hope that you are not giving up on this topic because I really think you and others on GC have something to gain from this important dialogue.
ktsnake, I hear you and partially agree with you. However, I do not want to become colorblind. When I see someone the first thing I notice is their physical appearance. I want to acknowledge they are different. To me, someone saying "I don't see black or white, just a person" is like saying "I do not see a woman or man, just a person." It discounts an entire physical characteristic, and in my opinion, that is a disservice.