Racism
@silenciobarnes (249)
United States
May 10, 2007 1:11pm CST
Racism is a funny, funny thing. The number of reasons to not like a noun are almost infinite. I use the term noun to mean "a person (or persons), place, thing or idea".
I think that deep down everybody has a very strong racist streak towards something. But it's when you let it out and flaunt it that it becomes a problem.
Even amongst groups of racists there are subsets of racism. For instance, there are the white supremacists that believe that segregation is the key. Send those colored folks back to Africa and wherever else they come from and leave America for the white man as it was initially intended.
But then you have the white supremacists that say "Kill em all, they are a blight on this planet anyway." or the ones that don't advocate killing them, but enslaving them.
You got blacks that hate whites and whites that hate blacks, you got everybody hating the Jews, you got countries that are even now committing genocide on people that look just like them and even worship the same god, the only difference being HOW they worship said god.
Am I the only one that can see the humor in all of this? I mean, it's funny. It's such a small thing but we make it so large and all consuming.
What happens later, how does something like this grow and grow and grow, when it should be shrinking?
I include myself in this, I've got some of my own unfounded prejudices. But at the same time I recognize the need for a global society. It may sound cliche but it's true, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. And not for peace and harmony neither, I think we should come together for our very survival as a species.
To put it simpler, "Can't we all just get along?"
2 people like this
7 responses
@nurhoney (1123)
• Philippines
10 May 07
Sad to say but racism is one thing that can't be phased out in time. It will just be always present wherever in the world. It might just be lessen. I think racism is a kind of insecurity and jealousy of other race...which is also a common generalization of a race like when one person do something bad, other people would say that his/her race are all bad. I really don't like anybody being racist coz it is rude and not nice. I love all the people i get to meet and i respect them for who they are. We are all created in the image of our GOD so why hate others and see them very different from you. Love and peace for all.
@silenciobarnes (249)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Racism is a kind of insecurity. And possibly a jealousy as well. For instance: When I hear an ethnic group talking in there native tongues, I get jealous and I recognize it for what it is. I don't have a native tongue. I'm black and was born in the US, so I'm as American as you can get. Without going into the whole US black, white thing, I will say that it bothers me that I don't have a native identity. I'm just American, I speak English, but I SHOULD have a native identity other than that considering the fact that I feel so APART from the majority Caucasian United States. But that's just another thing that affect us. It's another stumbling block towards universal equality. Because I know that even though a lot of my people can't put it into words, they feel the same way.
I can't agree with you that we were made in god's image, but I do agree that we are all from the same source. And yes, there should definitely be love and peace for all and not just a few.
@legbamel (179)
• United States
10 May 07
Hear, hear and a hearty heck, yes! You hear of people saying or doing the stupidist thing imaginable because they are deluded enough to think that they are somehow better than someone else and all you can do is shake your head. You've got to laugh to keep from crying, sometimes. Or to keep from going over and smacking the idiots upside the head.
At the same time, you can catch yourself thinking something and suddenly realize how bigotted it really was. I hate those moments, but I recognize that everyone has them from time to time. At least they give you an opportunity to take a look at your feelings and where they came from. That's the first step to changing them, right?
@silenciobarnes (249)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Correct. Self reflection is the first step. When you think about you're own motivations for certain things you come to see just how profoundly silly a lot of your own actions and reactions are. Especially when it comes to race.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
16 Apr 08
"Can't we all just get along?" - I sure wish we could! Or would! I think of racism, prejudice and intolerance as the blame game.. To me it's a saying "see that group over there? They're the 'guilty' ones! But not my group! We don't share any blame for the condition of the world and the hardships of life.. It's them!" And to me it's juvenile and an easy way out.. A very sad example is the Hootu's and the Tutu's, one group did terrible things to the other.. and then a few years later we have what occurred and was made into a couple of movies of the terrible account.. Yet it was a back and forth thing, and how long can it go on? Forever? (And this, of course is just one example, and all people's have some of the same in their histories). Will it go on forever? It seems so, the way racism, etc has been going on since forever.. It's so sad, but seems to be the thing people fall for the quickest.. over and over and over, it happens.. Even today we have all new prejudisms, even acceptable ones shaping up just fine! The new enlightened hatreds I call them.. but it's still the same old ignorance.. but people seem to be falling in line like so many enthralled following the piper.. All we can do is be determined not to fall for it on any level or leveled at any group at all. We're all of the one human family, which is made up of many beautiful branches.. and life one day, I believe/know, will reflect that very nicely! 
@Adrenochrome (1653)
•
11 May 07
I think that people don't like to take responsibility for their own lives, and prefer instead, to blame someone else for their own shortcomings. I remember the race riots in England during the early 80s, and the BNP saying such stupid things as 'They come over here, taking all your jobs'. If I can't find work, I try harder. It isn't the fault of Africans, Caribbeans, Indians etc, it's my fault.
People always find it easier to blame others, rather than find fault in themselves.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, and hope one day mankind will realise it's up to each and every individual to take responsibility for their own lives, actions and behaviour.
All the best, and may the cliche one day be reality.
1 person likes this
@Jlowe110 (313)
• United States
20 Aug 07
I think racism is very bad. Even though I don't know many racists... or any at all, we still think its funny to make racist jokes. EVen some of the other races love to hear those jokes, you'd be suprised. But I think its also offensive, and you have to be careful what you say and do. But yes, I frown upon racism.
1 person likes this
@PsychoDude (2013)
• Netherlands
10 May 07
I think many people wonder about that from time to time, but some people are capable of coming with the most moronic reasons why it isn't possible. Whether it is brainwashed by certain religious figures, parents, friends or anything else I don't know, but it definitely isn't a good thing if you ask me and simply a sign of weakness, fear for what is different than yourself.
1 person likes this
@silenciobarnes (249)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I agree that most prejudices are deeply rooted in fear. I think ALL people fear what they don't know and can't understand. But I think racism goes a bit further than that. Especially for those who learned it as children. Then, it's not a fear, it's a learned behavior. It's like knowing that the sky is blue and dirt is brown, they are also taught that does different from them are just "not right". It's hard to break something like that. Because you or I might see the common sense, but a person raised that way can't see it as common nor sense, to them it just IS.
