Saturday, July 31, 2010

Racism, What I Have Learned (Part 2)

I’ll have to admit the more I get into the discussion of Racism the more interesting it becomes. I am beginning to come to some conclusions on the issue that I never thought I could have. I am reluctant to express those conclusions until I feel that those conclusions are the only conclusions that can be declared as valid in my mind.


If we are to end racism in this nation we first must agree that it will only be accomplished when we have eliminated the word “racist” from our personal vocabulary of use. Now, remember, I said vocabulary not the dictionary. This will only be accomplished when a person is willing to attribute any feelings of harm to something else other than race. The question becomes of how to accomplish this.

The first thing we must realize is the fact that racism is a group concept not a concept of individualism. While a person may act in some manner that can be implied as a racist act, We must further presume that the person would have acted in the same manner or a similar manner against any other member of that group under the same circumstances.  We must also recognize the fact that in order to call it a racist act we must presume that the person would not have acted in the same manner if the person who was harmed was a person of the same group he identifies with. 

There are problems with the above idea. The use of presumptions as an argument to come to a conclusion is considered as a fallacy of logic. Presumptions are often determined to be false also. We saw this in the Sherrod incident.  In other words, the presumption, itself, must be proven true in order to justifiably call the act as an act of racism.  What we do see in the above idea is the fact that two different beliefs must be governing the actions of the accused person

Furthermore, it goes against the whole concept of the meaning of justice as we declare we practice or believe in this nation. It is presuming that a person is guilty of racism and it is the responsibility of the accused to prove himself innocent of the accusation of racism. And this is an impossibility if for no other reason other than the idea of the credibility of the person which the accuser is not willing to trust. And as we saw in the Sherrod incident the credibility and reputation of a person can be instantly effected based solely upon the accusation.

This kind of thinking will not help bring an end to racism. It will only be fuel to declare that the problem still exist and perpetuate the idea that we still live in a racist society. And as we already know, the perpetuating of the existence of racism benefits no group who honestly wants a solution to the problem. It only benefits those who would use it for personal or political gain.

Another problem that comes to mind is how do we measure racism? For if there is no valid basis for the measurement of it how can we come to the conclusion that racism still exists or is no longer a valid basis for someone to use as a reason for someone else’s actions or words on an objective basis? The very fact that the idea of racism has evolved from one idea to another is proof that there is no effective means to measure it in reality.

If we are to bring an end to racism these are questions that need answers to. If there are no answers to these questions are we doomed as human beings?

11 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Can anyone explain why racism, if not manifested in name-calling and violence is considered anyone's business other than the person who is supposedly racist? Are we NOT ALLOWED to dislike someone for our own reasons, rational or otherwise? Should we really be forced to provide jobs or housing to someone we're suspicious of, or don't like? If we must hire a certain percentage of minorities, shouldn't they have to hire a certain percentage of the majority; or are we to believe that two wrongs do, indeed, make a right?

Even real, NON-VIOLENT racism is a moral issue between each individual and God. Is it wrong? Yes. Is it any of government's business? NO! To pretend otherwise is to make thought crime a reality. If hate can be made illegal, so can love. The day WILL come.

The Griper said...

all rights begin with the right of "free will". without the right to express "free will" there is no right to liberty.

there is no such thing as minority rights. rights are bestowed upon individuals not groups.

thinking along the lines of group rights is the first step towards the acceptance of a socialistic society.

TOM said...

We Americans (a group) declare certain rights for all. That's group rights. The Constitution defines our rights as a group, as well as individuals.
The law says there are minority rights, and defines them.
You may disagree with the law, but the law proves your points to be wrong.

The Griper said...

you can have individuals, Tom, without having groups but you cannot have groups without individuals. when rights are acknowledged as belonging to individuals then by definition every individual possess that right therfore the group that those individual belong to possess the right as the total of individuals

Gorges Smythe said...

Tom, if I recall, our founding fathers felt that our rights were God-given, not group-given. Plus, I believe the courts have so far opined that those rights are for individuals.

TOM said...

I guess all those court findings in "group" cases were a myth.
When passing laws for minority rights, individuals were not mentioned. A group of minorities were (black, gay, women, etc.)

tweetey30 said...

Wow what a topic.. You are right though.. We may dislike someone for there what ever but does everyone have to hate that one particular group because of it. Lots going on here my friend and I need to get some thoughts out one of these days on it..

SjP said...

She smiles...shakes her head...and thinks that race and racism continue to be a difficult discussion; albeit a needed discussion. But, she realizes from the post of her good friend and many of the comments, that a conversation regarding the impact of racism is difficult if not impossible to have for those who may not have ever experienced and or been victimized by it.

The Griper said...

SJP,
he smiles at his good friend and whispers,

and sometimes people can be too close to an issue to be objective in the discussion about it too.

LandShark 5150 said...

Can someone tell me when was the last time a white horse won the Kentucky Derby?
Just funning.
The topic of racism will always be mixed bag of nuts with a mixed bag of answers. I look back at my youth, my first childhood best friend, David. He was black and the first black person I ever knew. We both knew we were different, hell we were. We were young,not blind. I moved away, not seeing or talking to him until one day, 15yrs later, we met again thru work. We weren't best friends but just friends. We laughed at so called remarks we bantered at one another, that some looked harshly at. We didn't.
Again I moved off and lost touch. But we often talked about race and agreed that a simple silly movie made us look at race in a humorous way. "Blazing Saddles" and those who were in it spoke volumes on race and human thought to it. They made us laugh at how silly race is. We are unique and alike. We have, in my opinion, retreated from our advancements made. Self worth and confidence of character has been lost. If you are not secure enough to see the difference between right and wrong, the steps humans have made to correct past transgressions then, in my mind, your worth laughing at.
I have lost track of David. I miss my old friend. Even if I happen to be white.
Yes I know this is simplistic, but we are too. We're to smart to allow color or religious differences to die in the past and to stupid to allow it to live in the future.
But we are all human.
From a guy who isn't descended from the Caucusus Mountains.

ConservativeWanderer said...

TOM said...
If 3 people watch a lynching, they may be quiet, even hang their heads.
**********************************
Humm, I can’t seem to remember any such lynching’s happening in my lifetime. You must be pretty damn old with such thoughts.!

BTW, I must be one of those racists you're talking about because I'm cheering for Andrew Breitbart

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