Quote:
Originally posted by RACooper
That is a definition though that would then in a way tacitly excuse acts from one group and expect it from another... all based on the percieved power of each group in a social enviroment or society... how is that a helpful definition when it itself is discrimantory?
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Why is it a discriminatory definition? And how does it excuse acts from one group?
That's like saying one excuses defamatory statements that are not in writing by refusing to call them "libel." But such defamatory statements are not excused, they are just given a different name -- slander -- because they don't fit the definition of libel.
By that same token, and again assuming the more limited definition of "racism," saying that an act like the one described at the start of this thread is not "racist" doesn't excuse the act; it just says that "racism" is not the correct label for it.
Personally, I think there is some value in insisting on precise definitions of words like "racism." Otherwise, such words can become so vague and overused that they start to lose any real meaning.
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