Racist? True or untrue

[Kaylia_D.]

I really and truly dont mean to offend....i ask this because this is personally important.
Due to my fondness of asian culture i must ask this question.

I was once told that Asians are racist towards coloured people. As a person of colour i would like to clarify the statement. Once again i do not mean to offend..i know that there are many asians on this forum so your response (along with many other) would be appreciated...once again i know this is a sensitive topic and i truly do not mean to offend or single out anyone. On a more general note what do you think about racism in the world. I am curious to hear your thoughts as i feel passionately about this topic.

Take care all
Kaylia_D

[pianohopper]

I wouldn't necessarily use the word racist, it is very strong and liberal. 

Point in case:
the Japanese in particular, I have heard from friends, are very ... grudging toward otusiders.  I have heard that, the better you know their language, the more they resent you, as an unwelcome guest in your house.

I know many Asians who are not at all racist.  Sometimes, I think, they tend to be shy, quiet, with people outside their own familiarity zone.  (by they, i mean the ones i know.)  I happen to have dated a Korean exchange student,, so I strongly believe they are probably the least racist of anybody around.  Asians seem more finely tuned to politeness and manners than Westerners. 

In fact, I know Asians who laugh about their own skin -- calling themselves "yellow," in much the same way that black people call each other n---.  I don't think this is a fair statement at all.  In fact, downright ignorant.

However --- racism on the part of a whole race, nationality, et al, is ridiculous statement.  As with any group, some members are more prejudiced than others.  There are racist redneck white people down South, so some foreigner might conclude "all white people are racist" by visiting an area like this.  this isn't true at all.

I have been told by black people that I'm disagreeing with them because "I'm black," or "You're racist."  This offends me horribly, and I find this to be the more racist statement.   Just because I am white means I disrespect black people?  Very stereotypical. 

Racism cannot be applied to an entire race, just as anything else cannot.  This is where dischord in the world comes from.  "all muslims are bloodthirsty terrorists."  "all black men are carjackers."  "all hispanics are illegal immigrants." 

Be very cautious when playing the "racist" card. 

[Kaylia_D.]

thanks for your reply. I didnt mean to "play" the racist card. I know its is unfair to generalise as i know they are many exceptions. Maybe i should have used a more subtle word like prejudice. The reason why i ask this question is that i once like this Jap guy but was discouraged my peers and parent to continue my feelings...so that obviously left me heartbroken. 

[prometheus]

There is nothing in the genes or any 'race' that makes them more prone to racist ideas.


Actually, the whole concept of race is pretty weak. All humans are so similar, compared to animals, that using the word race is not very correct. Actually, the ethnic differences in apperence that do exist are becomming blurred anyway. Most 'black' people in western countries often have more 'white genes' than 'black genes'.

Look at athletics. While ethiopians are very strong long runners, Jamaicans are very strong sprinters.

And the differences there are have nothing to do with skin colour. It's just a difference inbetween 'tribes'.  It has nothing to do with colour. The fact that they are both coloured doesn't have anything to do with it. They could just as well have been white.

Note that I had to degrade myself to pseudoscience to get my point across.

[rob47]

Siberian Husky's NOT an illegal immigrant? doubtful.

Racisim is hilarious!

It's never been proven that humans have an inate fear of strangers/outsiders,  but it has also never been disproved.

thanks for your reply. I didnt mean to "play" the racist card. I know its is unfair to generalise as i know they are many exceptions. Maybe i should have used a more subtle word like prejudice. The reason why i ask this question is that i once like this Jap guy but was discouraged my peers and parent to continue my feelings...so that obviously left me heartbroken.

hahaha yes maybe more subtle words.....

[prometheus]

Xenophobia is very different from racism.

I do think people can have phobias about strange people that are part of other communities, groups and cultures. But when you look up 'phobia' you will see that it means 'unreasonable/irrational fear'.

[llamaman]

A lot of people have xenophobia. No one likes to admit it.


As for racism, I am not going to state my views, as I feel that they will provoke controversy. Just like my views on religion.


Wow. I really didn't "sound" my age when I "said" that.

[dinosaurtales]

Racism seems like a strong word for what you are describing.  I think it's more cultural and less racial that causes people to distrust people of other cultures.  I don't think being born Japanese makes you hate blacks, for example, but LIVING in Japan, as a Japanese - which I understand to be a more homogenous culture than , say the US - they would be more uncomfortable by nature with people of other races or cultures.  it's understandable.

that said, there are certainly some cultures that have distinct lack of tolerance or at least lousy attitudes about other cultures, some in particular.  For instance, when I was at college it was pretty universal that the middle eastern students from Iran especially, thought Asian cultures were just scum. (isn't that interesting?) i have no idea what the basis was for it, but it was prevalent in their conversations.  Any clues to the history?

[Siberian Husky]

I write this as i prey for Rob47 to get home safely from his trip, knowing all to well how all asian drivers suck at the wheel.

did you all know..it is scientifically proven..that is it very much possible for YOU to share a more similar midochondrial DNA match with of a totally seperate race than of your own family members....

"blacks are better suited for athletics"
"asians are better suited for education"

both these misocnceptions have been written in stone, it seems these past generations...its funny how we point to race in the forum of biology and default givens whenever a prevalent trend in human diversity comes up...

yes there has been a significant increase in the numbers of asians with degrees and statistics do show that they as a whole do well on tests and evaluations than other "groups"....but what about the asian culture?..and its preservation for perseverance..now im not asian..but im familiar with the general idea of a strong work ethic..now this may be an overstatement..or maybe i didnt pin the tail right on the donkey's ass..but im hoping my opinion digests well with you readers...

now..blacks in sports...you know..people have even gone to the extent of claiming that blacks have an extra muscle in their calve that allows for greater strides and more endurance...but does that really contribute to 3 pointers?..or being a lineman?...good hand eye coordination?...there have even been claims that blacks have wider nasal passages that significantly increase their ability to breath....i dont get it?...why is it so hard for the dominant group..being mostly whites...to accept the fact that...athleticism...and physical drive are just attributes that are harnessed to a larger degree in african american culture..and the keyword is culture..we are really wasting our time trying to justify the differences between man through biology...we are 1% body..and 99% character...there are many more answers to be revealed within the crevaces of disposition, character, history, experience, and intuition...

anoter funny fact...well not relaly funny in the sense of haha..but more of a reflection of how rediculous we are as human beings...follow me...when slavery was at its peak...there was actually "scientific" documented proof that psychologically, blacks were inferior, and that they suffered from a certain mental disease...that had them obsessed with freedom...and THIS..was used against them to keep them confined....

now..lets ask ourselves..collectively...what is the IMPORTANCE and SIGNIFICANCE of ethnic/racial diversity and profiling aside from cultural preservation...i, to this day,. have not come across an answer viable enough to justify racial diversity/profiling/stratiphication...

in the long run....no one can win...we can only cut slices off this notion of racism...we cannot eradicate it completely..simply because it is merely a branch of an already large being called prejudice..a being that knows no form of biased terms...it reaches out to those of different sex..to different sexual preference..to religion..to music likers..to USA vs Iraq...to California vs New York...to Northern California vs. Southern California...to San Francisco vs. Oakland...to Irvington High School vs Kennedy High School.Pianostreet vs DaSDC..to family rivalry..to you vs your neighbor...aslong as we are human..there will be prejudice..and as long as we have prejudice..it will touch racism..because diversity doesnt die..

collectively...we all want a paradox

there are those who hate racism and want the embrace of conformity to solve the issue..
there are those who hate racism and want the embrace of diversity to solve the issue..


differences are beautiful
differences kill

[Siberian Husky]

lol wait what?..did Kaylia just say Jap?..

in the wise words of this wack ass, but mildly thuggish, rapper JapanFace Kawasaki

"gotta do whatcha gotta do..hahaaa"

[Siberian Husky]

i dont even know why i post on this forum anymore...

[Kassaa]

i dont even know why i post on this forum anymore...

Because you're cute <3

[Siberian Husky]

Siberian Husky casts level 60 silence on Kassaa

[BoliverAllmon]

my views are racism is this. I think too many people "cry" racism when there is none going around and when someone really is being treated unfairly due to race nobody gives a fart because too many people have cried racism for no reason already.

[thalbergmad]

You are spot on.

Little boy blue has blown his horn once to often.

[maxy]

We are all racists.  Anyone that says otherwise is a liar. 

[BoliverAllmon]

We are all racists.  Anyone that says otherwise is a liar. 

disagree

[Torp]

disagree

I concur with your disagreement.

[BoliverAllmon]

I concur with your disagreement.

I thank you for your concurrence with my disagreement. BWAHAHAHAHA

[goansongo]

Maybe you mean to say that everyone discriminates... 

[026497]

We are all racists.  Anyone that says otherwise is a liar. 

I strongly disagree with it. I am not a racist!

[leahcim]

We are all racists.  Anyone that says otherwise is a liar. 

So you are all seal clubbers then? 

[gilad]

It's very easy to become a racist. I'm a white south african, i was privileged to grow up here and learn about race, equality and natural justice.

 just about everyone here has a problem of sort with their of coloured neighbours. But it is out in the open and that helps aliviate it, e.g we have lots of race related comedy and stuff like that. Everyone here understands that each "race" is trying to make their way in the world and have the right do so.

Of course black men here are responsible for nearly all the crime on the streets, and it's violent to I might add. With over 20000 murders here every year over the last decade. thats 200000 murders, it's crazy.Anyway come visit SA it's a wonderful place if you dont get murdered, and you may even experience being carjacked at gun point as i and many others have, it makes life very exciting, like an adreneline shot everytime you leave home.

Anyway to the point, i believe in environmental development as oppsoed to inherent traits per race. Black people here and around the globe have endured oppresson from the civilised barbarian that the white man was. They have been kept down and left to fend for themselves, ostrisized and been denied true equity. apartheid here denied black people education, though they did allow for schooling that provided all african children with atleast a grade 5 education, just enoguh to learn to read and do basic maths etc; So they work for the white man in low paying jobs and never rise to the top echelons of society

It is no surprise now you see why black men are responsible for so much crime here, it's because jobs were protected for whites and whites own all the means of production. Marx would have seen this as class struggle rather a race struggle. Well it is both.

I remember as a 10 year old lad I used to do a lot walking in the streets,eve nthough they weren't particularly safe. I remember on one instance which soon became 2,3 and 4, I was walking along side a black guy in his 20's. I said hello and all and we engaged in conversation, he wasn't the friendliest until he said he hates the "europeans". I who had never heard the word before concured with him nodded and said i hated them to.I eventually enqired about what a european was and found out in SA context it means any white in south africa. my heart always weeped when i saw a black man being given orders or treated like dirt by a "european" and when mandela became president i was overjoyed.

All men are made equal, but some think they are more equal than others.

People stereotype, it makes life simpler and more categorical, i've rambled on and on sorry for that.

[thalbergmad]

I know a couple of white South Africans who came over here from Durban because they were fed up with the crime.

After 2 car jacks, a few violent break ins and one attempted kidnapping, they decided it was too dangerous.

You say you were overjoyed when Mandela became President, but to an outsider, i cannot see the good that he has done.

I would like to hear your opinion on this is my South African friends are very critical of him.

[gilad]

I know a couple of white South Africans who came over here from Durban because they were fed up with the crime.

After 2 car jacks, a few violent break ins and one attempted kidnapping, they decided it was too dangerous.

You say you were overjoyed when Mandela became President, but to an outsider, i cannot see the good that he has done.

I would like to hear your opinion on this is my South African friends are very critical of him.

Mandela brought compassion to a nation that was wrife with rumours of anarchy and distrust. HE spent his life in jail 27 years, and he came out in favour of a fair new non-discriminating dispensation.
You should read his book, "the long walk to freedom", very touching and educational story.
The problem that faced us after he became president and south africa democratic was a logistical one. Firstly he was flanked by many incompitants in his party, and i mean many, for example our deputy president was just removed from office for massive corruption. While on the topic of DPs our new Dep Pres just had her house burgalled, great place we live in.
These unqualified new cabinet members etc didn't pick up the reigns of the well organised government before them. the roads we drive on decayed, traffic lights are always down, tax monry yields littls and tax is a fortune.
Of course the biggest problem facing us here is crime, and like the other things the new government ministers were to busy filling there soup bowls and pockets to care.
As a result SA has suffered, blacks and whites have been crime targets, these hardened criminals here dont discriminate.
I'm happy that the local population that were oppressed before are free to conduct their lives as they wish and justly.
But it's tough here and personally, I to am ready to leave. I fear for my life or those of my loved ones at all times. We dont have organied transport here only mini bus taxis that are like coffins on wheels, our government hospitals are aweful, they'll put a sick person on the floor for days even if their are beds available. Thabo Mbeki our new president denied that HIV causes AIDS but rather that it was some rubbish.
The country still functions, but i'm ready to leave myself.
Although it has nothing to with race. Just an instinct to survive and jump a sinking ship.
oh so sad.

[thalbergmad]

It is a pity it is that bad.

From the pictures i have been shown by my friends of Durban, it was a beautiful place to live. It got too bad for them, so they came over here.

I live in the South of England and thought that crime was bad here. To my South African friends, it is heaven.

[gilad]

It is a pity it is that bad.

From the pictures i have been shown by my friends of Durban, it was a beautiful place to live. It got too bad for them, so they came over here.

I live in the South of England and thought that crime was bad here. To my South African friends, it is heaven.

haha, i spoke to my mom tonight she went to a movie, and the guys next to her kept saying "F**cking whites" referring to the white prison guards in the movie, "the longest yard. hehe, i thought we were the rainbow nation but hey.
ya, South africa is beautiful, i love going for drives here into the rural areas, just beautiful, the country is beautiful it really is.
And as for crime, i'd imagine where you are you may get mugged and beat up or have your house robbed?
over here it's the violence that sickens people, they'll kill you unprovoked, this place is swarming with killers.thats the ugly truth of it. I wanted to go to the mall yesterday but it was closed after a security guard was killed in an attempted robbery.
i really can't wait to leave this place, but i still have a good few years to wait out.
but you know, we just look forward and put on our blinkers and try get on with life.

[nanabush]

I fkin hate the word Racist, wish it would rot in hell...ppl use that too often, you like say somethign their like RACIST.. Not offending anyone, I JUST HATE THAT WORD.

[gorbee natcase]

Some of my best friends are asian and they are increadibly racist in my presence towards many different cultures I wouldnt worry about it, but on the other hand a friend of mine called Mr Hussein said he wouldnt "go in to business with an asian because they are all bent" but if I tried to marry his daughter his brothers would proberbly kill me (literaly) 

[BoliverAllmon]

Some of my best friends are asian and they are increadibly racist in my presence towards many different cultures I wouldnt worry about it, but on the other hand a friend of mine called Mr Hussein said he wouldnt "go in to business with an asian because they are all bent" but if I tried to marry his daughter his brothers would proberbly kill me (literaly) 

see that kind of crap is stupid

[026497]

A lot of people have xenophobia. No one likes to admit it.


As for racism, I am not going to state my views, as I feel that they will provoke controversy. Just like my views on religion.


Wow. I really didn't "sound" my age when I "said" that.

Are you 7? My 7 year-old cousin has said something similiar