Omegavegeta wrote:
Last Post on the Subject of Race:
I leave you with the following thoughts regarding Obama's election:
Is it not true that if a white person said or thought that "race mattered" during the last elevtion & voted for McCain, that they were racist? Sure, other factors may have played a part, but if "race mattered" to a white person & they voted for McCain one can easily make the conclusion that said person was, in fact, racist.
On the flip side, if an African American said race mattered & voted for Obama (9 out of 10 did btw), using the textbook definition then that black person too would be considered a racist.
But they aren't. As African Americans, their subordination has continued to be institutionalized, so voting for Obama because of his race makes sense. It's a reaction TO institutionalized racism, not racism itself.
Even if an African American voted for Obama for no other reason than they hated white people (so voted against McCain), that's still a reaction TO the institutionalized racism said African American (and their ancestors) have been subjugated to over generations. If that institutionalized racism was never there, that African American wouldn't have the resentment of white people that they had when they went to the voting booth. Yes, that black person is prejudiced and/or a bigoted, but not a racist.
Edited, Sep 3rd 2010 4:31am by Omegavegeta
I leave you with the following thoughts regarding Obama's election:
Is it not true that if a white person said or thought that "race mattered" during the last elevtion & voted for McCain, that they were racist? Sure, other factors may have played a part, but if "race mattered" to a white person & they voted for McCain one can easily make the conclusion that said person was, in fact, racist.
On the flip side, if an African American said race mattered & voted for Obama (9 out of 10 did btw), using the textbook definition then that black person too would be considered a racist.
But they aren't. As African Americans, their subordination has continued to be institutionalized, so voting for Obama because of his race makes sense. It's a reaction TO institutionalized racism, not racism itself.
Even if an African American voted for Obama for no other reason than they hated white people (so voted against McCain), that's still a reaction TO the institutionalized racism said African American (and their ancestors) have been subjugated to over generations. If that institutionalized racism was never there, that African American wouldn't have the resentment of white people that they had when they went to the voting booth. Yes, that black person is prejudiced and/or a bigoted, but not a racist.
Edited, Sep 3rd 2010 4:31am by Omegavegeta
I was with you until that last paragraph. Such hatred is still racism, no matter what justification you need to use for it. That's exactly what racism means. You let your emotions dictate to you how you think the word should be defined, but they're clouding your judgement.
