Can Anyone Explain Why?

[Tom Collins]

Many people have tried to explain this to me and I still don't understand. What with this "person" starting all of these racist threads lately, it feels like the subject has already been brought up and it might be safe for me to inquire of the good and intelligent People of the AH.

I'm just about as "white" as they come. I only have about an 1/8 Native American blood and there's a bunch of other dribs and drabs of other stuff. Mostly, I'm German and Black Irish.

I'm actually more the pink of blood under very pale skin but people keep insisting that I'm WHITE. I've never, in my entire life, seen anyone who was the colour of a white crayon. Isn't that why they put in that one they call "Flesh"? 'Course, I always hated that colour and would add some brown with it to make the skin tone look more realistic...but I digress.

My point is that I am what is refered to as "white" and I've spent my entire life trying to figure out why people care. I really don't get it. In my mind, skin colour is only relavant when considering what colours look good on you, be it clothing, makeup or jewelry. Myself, for instance, I can not wear red. It makes me look like my head is going to explode. Other people can wear red because their colouring will allow it.

If someone could explain to me how the depth and quality of a person's pigmentation has a relavence beyond this I'd like to hear it.

And, please, don't pull out your Bible to do it. I've heard all of the arguments from the Bible. What's more, I've heard the exact same words used to prove that both light and dark skin should be held in higher reguard...such tactics hold water about as well as a sive.

Also, there's no point in telling me that I don't understand because I've never experienced racisum, I have. I grew up in San Antonio, Tx. and was the onlu "white" kid in the school. I don't mean in my class or in my grade, I mean in my school. Once my brother went on to Junior High that is. Everyone else was either Mexican American or African American. Believe me, I know what it's like to be treated like shit purely because of the colour of your skin. I don't hold it against them. I used to, at the time, but I understand now that they were mearly following the pattern set by their elders.

That doesn't mean that I understand why people care what shade another person's skin happens to be.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't understand it either.

Some of my younger relations have darker skin than mine.

Some of my contemporary relations have (or had) bright red hair. When one married a woman with identically coloured hair (that's how they met at a party), their children were all carrot-tops.

Why should I treat the red-haired ones differently? Or the ones with darker skin?

Og

 

[Typo Fu Master]

I wish I had a better answer: I think it's because they were taught that way, by parents who were taught that way by their parents. And so on.

I know there's more to it than that, but right now I can't think of a way to elaborate.

 

[Guest]

 

[zeb1094]

It's just more of the same crap you experienced in school, only this time it would be by those of this generation who have been filled with hate a loathing of anyone not of the 'White' race. They just happen to define what they think the 'White' race is and if you let it be known you were 1/8 Native American you wouldn't qualify.

These people are the true Neo-Nazi of the world. Their hate for anyone different than them, in looks and thinking, are looked upon as subhuman. The best think to do is just ignore them and report the post as spam as it violates the rules of posting on Lit.

 

[Tom Collins]

Pink people unite!

*kissin' Miss Jammies* Everyone's pink underneath.

 

[elsol]

*burp*

It isn't about being White... it's about finding an excuse to hate someone else.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[Tom Collins]

It's just more of the same crap you experienced in school, only this time it would be by those of this generation who have been filled with hate a loathing of anyone not of the 'White' race. They just happen to define what they think the 'White' race is and if you let it be known you were 1/8 Native American you wouldn't qualify.

These people are the true Neo-Nazi of the world. Their hate for anyone different than them, in looks and thinking, are looked upon as subhuman. The best think to do is just ignore them and report the post as spam as it violates the rules of posting on Lit.

Actions define humanity but that's just MNotSoHO.
But, if you want to get scientific about it then it makes even less sense. If two creatures can have viable offspring then they're of the same species. If not then they aren't. An ass isn't a SUBhorse, it's simply an ass.

Frankly, zeb, I don't care who knows my racial heritage. I wouldn't want to be part of their "White America" anyway. People like them make me ashamed and embarrassed that people will think I agree with them purely because I find it difficult to tan.

 

[Recidiva]

You're just not racist.

Even though lots of people try to tell me I am just because "everyone is," I'm still not.

I firmly believe that everyone has a right to be disliked according to their own personal flaws and foibles. Racism is just laziness.

 

[oggbashan]

Positive Role Models

In the UK, many of our sporting heroes are not white/pink.

They are still heroes to the majority of the sports fans. When they visit some other countries they can be the subject of racial abuse. That annoys their teammates, and the UK fans.

We have non white/pink faces as TV newsreaders and presenters. We have non white/pink faces as contestants in game shows.

My local Chief Constable is black. He might take offence if someone offered him a racial insult. Offending a Chief Constable is unwise. He was selected for his ability.

Years ago, the only way for a non white/pink person to succeed was through sport, typically boxing. Now they can hope to achieve in any field. It may still be true, unfortunately, as it used to be for women, that they have to be significantly better than their competitors, yet there are many role models in many areas of achievement.

What can act against a section of non white/pink people is a minority culture for some of them that it isn't cool to study or to achieve anything except street credibility. There are some white/pink people who share that culture too.

Og

 

[zeb1094]

I certainly am not racist either. I don't hate people based on skin color. I hate people when they proof themselves to be assholes. That is the only true indicator in life. Whether you're an asshole or not! Of course as with many things there are degrees of assholes! There are big assholes and little assholes. But all assholes are esentially the same. Assholes.

Oh in case you're wondering, if you're an asshole, I will tell you you're an asshole.

 

[Kev H]

*burp*

It isn't about being White... it's about finding an excuse to hate someone else.

Sincerely,
ElSol

Though I dislike being close enough to smell his burps, he is close to the painful truth - the truth about us humans.

Racism is like many other smokescreens, and if you focus on that you lose the big picture. Humans have a frightening ability to be close-minded, to latch onto an idea, whether caused by fear or paranoia or self-affirmation or even deflection. Humans can revel in their ignorance in ways that defy reason, and they can bask in feelings of hate/superiority without even realizing the damaging effects on themselves.

The base reason for this lies in the very nature of human beings. Being able to withstand the drivel of conformity takes work - a reflection of the work it takes to build self-respect and worth. Some people merely chose on some level to forgo that work (growth). I have no clue why that is, but it says alot about us.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

I blame the inbreeding for creating racists and other idiots.

That's why I keep telling people to marry interracially, to stop the inbreeding.

 

[Tom Collins]

Though I dislike being close enough to smell his burps, he is close to the painful truth - the truth about us humans.

Racism is like many other smokescreens, and if you focus on that you lose the big picture. Humans have a frightening ability to be close-minded, to latch onto an idea, whether caused by fear or paranoia or self-affirmation or even deflection. Humans can revel in their ignorance in ways that defy reason, and they can bask in feelings of hate/superiority without even realizing the damaging effects on themselves.

The base reason for this lies in the very nature of human beings. Being able to withstand the drivel of conformity takes work - a reflection of the work it takes to build self-respect and worth. Some people merely chose on some level to forgo that work (growth). I have no clue why that is, but it says alot about us.

So, Kev, what you're saying is that racisum is a smoke screen for the "stranger danger" syndrom and the ignorant fools don't even realise it?

 

[cloudy]

*burp*

It isn't about being White... it's about finding an excuse to hate someone else.

Sincerely,
ElSol

I agree.

Other than that, staying out of this thread.

 

[Aurora Black]

This is the only contribution I'm going to make...

YEEHAW!

 

[Kev H]

So, Kev, what you're saying is that racisum is a smoke screen for the "stranger danger" syndrom and the ignorant fools don't even realise it?

Please, don't force words into my mouth, or simplify things for the sake of simplicity (on a complex issue this only breeds misunderstanding). I am attempting to address what I see as a fairly common human trait, one that must be fought and reasoned with (and no I am certainly not exempting myself in some way from this, in case you were wondering).

Racism is only a small part of this greater malady, imo, and to understand it is to understand that many people simply have not overcome the urge to judge harshly. Those of tolerance typically have looked past any "label" to the individual (though it is damn hard to talk in generalities without using labels).

 

[Colleen Thomas]

This is the only contribution I'm going to make...

YEEHAW!

Y aknow, I like this song

 

[Tom Collins]

This is the only contribution I'm going to make...

YEEHAW!

PMSL...smartass.

 

[Aurora Black]

PMSL...smartass.

You know me.

*fades back into the shadows of writing*

 

[matriarch]

*burp*

It isn't about being White... it's about finding an excuse to hate someone else.

Sincerely,
ElSol

Exactly!
And in my mind, this is not a whole lot of people, but one person continually reinventing themselves on Lit, so they can keep posting the same message....over and over and over again.

I'm just glad that at last people here have realised what a waste of time and wit it is to post on the threads. Just ignore them and let them drift quietly off the front page.

 

[Tom Collins]

Please, don't force words into my mouth, or simplify things for the sake of simplicity (on a complex issue this only breeds misunderstanding). I am attempting to address what I see as a fairly common human trait, one that must be fought and reasoned with (and no I am certainly not exempting myself in some way from this, in case you were wondering).

Racism is only a small part of this greater malady, imo, and to understand it is to understand that many people simply have not overcome the urge to judge harshly. Those of tolerance typically have looked past any "label" to the individual (though it is damn hard to talk in generalities without using labels).

I wasn't putting words into your mouth, I was asking if those words were applicable. I didn't simplify for the sake of simplicity, rather for the sake of clairity. I was inquiring if I had understood the gist of what you'd said and I can see, by your reaction, that I didn't.

My apologies for inadvertanly offending you.

I expect that I'll have to resign myself to not understand why people need to hate. I have no need to hate anyone. I don't even hate people who do hate for no tangable reason. I pity them because they blind themselves to the beauty of diversity. I don't need to feel supirior to anyone. The qualities of another person neither lessen nor enhance my own. Only I can do that.

 

[Guest]

 

[Colleen Thomas]

With respect to those who don't like it, Racism is easy to understand. It's a very natural phenomena. Creatures, will, when given the opportunity, more often than not gruop with like creatures. I dive and you see it a lot on a reef head. The parrot fish will, more or less, be near each other, the angels will too. Some of it is habitat preference, but some of it is just a social instinct.

That dosen't excuse racism in higher creatures. It's also our instinct to piss on the carpet, but we generally will not let nature take it's course till we find the bathroom.

I think tom, your problem understanding is, you are approaching something intellectually that is really not an intellectual activity. I'm white. If you drop me in a gymnaisum and the white folks are segregated in one corner, the blacks in another, the asiains in another and the hispanics in the other, I will, more often than not, gravitate to the corner with the white folks. Similarly if the humans were grouped in one corner and the other three helds lions, tigers and giraffes, I'd probably go where the humans were. But if the situation was exactly the same and Renza, or Des or Luna wolf or Blacksnake was there, I'd more than likely drift to the corner with my freinds, rather than with my race. In my case, race is irrespective in making friends.

For a racist, that isn't the case. They haven't overcome their natural propensity to group with like critters. They have, in effect carried that natural proclivity out to a dogma. Only then do they apply their intellects and that most often is used to present rationalizations for the dogma. Racism then, is almost anti-intellectual. It has to be. No one can support the statement Jerry Rice was not the best reciever of his era. Jerry is black. No amount of wanting or wishing is going to produce a white reciever or one of any color for that matter, who was better. A racist then, won't address the question, but will obliquely try to support his stance by minimizing the accomplishment.

If you ever listen to a real racist, they most often speak in poleminics, citing Axioms and maxums and wildly over generalizing. That's one of the better indicators of a lazy or lesser intellect in debate. That isn't to say you can't be highly intelligent and be a racist, it is to say you can't defend your racism without a fall back set of naked assertions that are failsafes.

I was raised in a place where prejudice was the norm. If you haven't been brought up in it, it's very difficult to understand. If you have, it takes an almost monumental effort of will to critically evealuate your beliefs. You have to challenge some of the very basic assumptions your world view is built upon. That's hard even for a disciplined and adapative mind. Try it. Pick something you absolutely are sure is correct, something you've never doubted in your life and try to argue against it. It's tough. Really touugh. Now imagine what you are arguing against is something that has a natural support to it, i.e. the support grouping with like critters does. Now lower your educational level, set yourself up in a community where your base assumption is everyone's base assumption and try it. It's getting exponenitally more difficult to do isn't it?

With many racists, this is the intellectual feat you are asking of them. To challenge something that has become as much a part of their world view as the law of gravity is to you. the vast majoity of them will fail in that exercise as will the vast majority period.

 

[Guest]

Tom, I can only offer what I've gleaned from my own questions about this. The idea of "us" and "them" seems to originate in our prehistory. Tribal thinking (second chakra, etc) is all about having everything for "us" and being afraid "they" will take it all, because of course "They" are their own "us" and want it, just like we do, around and around. "Them" is anyone unknown. What is unknown is therefore scary and dangerous, and easily hated. Most people will tend to hate what scares them, especially if it scares them without reason. If it's scary, dangerous, and unknown, better to attack and destroy it than risk it attacking and destroying you.

As people have moved beyond tribes and small groups into a larger, more mixed world. some people more than others cling to those ways, the way some people more than others cling to childhood habits and ways of thinking. Few people really have "tribes" anymore in the ancient sense. We mix and intermingle among groups of people, change locations as individuals more than as groups. But those primative behaviors travel along. What isn't "like me" is "them" and therefore dangerous, etc.

I don't think it ever enters into the arena of reason. I think it stays at a very primative level, a childish level, and is reinforced that way.

I am also of the pink skins. But if I'm outside for two long, I become a REAL redskin. Irish/German here -- amazingly, my mother was very DARK skinned! We didn't look related.