Quote:
Originally Posted by RU OX Alum
I didn't say all, I said the majority. And if you think it applies to you, then it probably does.
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Interesting. I don't think it applies to me. However, I do know a lot of people who listen to Rush who aren't racist, and I don't know how you can arrive at such a generalization - that the majority of his listeners are racist - without knowing a majority of his listeners. I was being snarky at first because I don't care for sweeping generalizations that have the potential to include me. However now I am not: I am genuinely curious as to why you believe most of Rush's audience to be racist. Simply because they listen?
(And for those who have noted that he said majority and that I could be in the minority, I know that - and I know that my comment did not reflect that.
Again, I'm just curious as to the evidence behind the post.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by RU OX Alum
A good hint is the way you downplayed the racism in the post right above the one I'm quoting.
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May I ask you to be more specific? In what way did I downplay racism? Perhaps the comment that preciousjeni quoted? If so, I will clarify. When I stated that there are some things that I might think are okay but they aren't, I don't mean to say that I think it's okay to use racial slurs and otherwise discriminate against others on the basis of race. I simply mean that I am glad that I have "followed" the GC race wars, as I have been exposed to many new opinions and theories. In particular, I have learned a lot from Chaos/DrPhil. (Really) Is it sad that my education on this very real problem has come from a fraternity/sorority chat site? Probably. But I am not familiar with other credible sources to get it. Is that sad again? Yes. But there's a lot of crap out there, and I don't know how to wade through it to get to the good stuff. I guess I have never taken the time to try because it doesn't have a direct impact on my life. But I am interested in the dialogue nonetheless and would love to further my education on these issues.
I have never been a victim of racism. The "racism" that I have been witness to is limited to jokes and inappropriate comments. Which some would argue as actually prejudice because there is no direct issue of power. (Racism = Prejudice + Power) I AM NOT justifying these comments and jokes. I am trying to explain my inexperience and complete lack of knowledge in these very weighty matters.
I have learned that I have a lot to learn. And that just because I might think (or thought) racism has diminished in America, those that have been (and continue to be) discriminated against might not agree. I've really been thinking about it a lot lately for some reason (maybe because of the recent race wars) and thinking about my own experiences and whether or not I have said or done something in the past that could be considered racist or prejudice. I guess that's why I reacted to the statement about most of Rush's listeners being racist. I don't listen for 3 hours a day/5 days a week, and what interests me is his commentary on policies - foreign/domestic/fiscal/etc. As I mentioned to DS, I hadn't even heard of the Halle Berry/Halfrican thing until he mentioned it in this thread.
To further explain the statement PJ quoted, because of some of the things I have read on GC, I have really sought to examine my own perceptions and ideas of racism and prejudice. And I listen carefully to statements made by others to evaluate what might be behind it. I respect that I will never understand how deeply racism affects some Americans.
Bottom line: I love dialogue. And if I have made a racist or otherwise racially insensitive comment, I would love to hear why it is so. I will be happy to admit my wrong and will take the education to better myself.
Hybrid Mode
