I ask this because I feel the very existance of these government departments actually promotes so-called 'racial' discrimination by defining differences. In fact, there is ONLY ONE HUMAN RACE and discrimination on the basis of skin colour is no different than discrimination on the grounds of different eye colour , hair colour or size of feet. If all humanity was of the same skin tone, would we have riots between the 'blue-eyes' and the 'green-eyes', or the Size 7 boots and the Size 9 boots?
The fact that we have common ancestors (Humanity came out of Africa [or, if you prefer, God created all things] ) tells us that we are all one and the same. DNA profiling tells us that we are all one and the same. If the Neanderthals were still with us, then there might be some justification for 'race' relations policies. But every Human Being on this planet today belongs to ONE race - Humanity.
There are several terms in English that are nonsensical - 'interracial' for example. There is no such thing. 'Mixed Race' - again, no such thing. 'Race Riots' - ridiculous. It should be 'Some Humans rioting against some other Humans'.
I'm happy to acknowledge Cultural differences and would suggest that the Race Relations departments of governments be replaced by Cultural Relations departments. Not only would this do away with the nonsensical definition of non-existant 'racial' demarkations, but it would foster tolerance and understanding of cultural differences and allow us to explore them without feeling intimidated or threatened.
I once overheard someone who had been refused something say 'You only refused me 'cos I'm black'. Actually it was not true, but people will consider this to be a semi-reasonable assumption simply because we are 'conditioned' to think in terms of different colour = different race. But think for a moment how much more ridiculous that would have sounded if she'd said 'You only refused me because I have green eyes'. But it's effectively the same thing.
Be proud of your culture by all means. Be proud of your skin colour if you like, but for all our sakes, be aware that every single Human being is unique (and skin tones range from very white to very black, with every possible shade in between) and that discriminating on the grounds of a nonsensical percieved 'racial' difference is just plain daft.
snak
11 Comments
(I agree with the motivation behind your post but I think the Commission is, unfortunately, still necessary.)
http://www.equalityhumanr....com/pages/eocdrccre.aspx
There are no separate 'races'; only different cultures. My point was that by having official demarcations citing 'race', you only continue the misconception that there are more than one.
but it ABSOLUTELY is still necessary.
I understand. But I think we (we who really don't think 'race' exists) do have to accept we need to keep the notion of race so we can talk about racism.
You say we need to keep the notion of race so that we can talk about racism. My point is that we have to abolish the notion of race because it's meaningless. Simply, there is ONLY ONE race. Humanity. Any and all demarcation only adds (or even causes) 'race' problems.
I would suggest that the idea that we need to keep the notion of race actually ensures the continuity of so-called racism.
i dont think she is disagreeing with your overall sentiment, infact i would say that her and i agree with you
i think its a difference of semantics
in a perfect world we wouldnt have racism, but it exists, and it thrives
i can name plenty of recent examples:
1. people voting against barack obama because he is a black man.
2. brigette bardots nasty comments against muslims
3. the guy that was kicked off msnbc for making a racist comment against a womans basketball team
and those are only the famous examples. i see some example of it almost everyday out in the community i live in, and i live in a more open minded area.
Dropping the 'racist' tag will not stop people being 'black-ist', or 'white-ist', or Islamophobic, but it may, it just may, make some people realise that skin colour is irrelevant. Maybe it will take a generation or two, but maintaining the idea that there are different races can only lead to more tension, not less. It's the way man is built - my tribe, your tribe. My team, your team.
I fully expect people to vote against Obama because he's black. People think in terms of 'race'. Remove the conception that black (or white, or brown or yellow...) is different racially, and you remove the objections from at least some people now, and all people over time.
I don't know what BB said against Muslims but to assume Muslim = Terrorist is extremely ignorant. I work with many Muslims as well as Sikhs, Christians, atheists and Buddhists - Whilst I don't agree with their religious tenets, I do not assume they're any different to how they feel love, pain, anguish etc, because I know they are all part of the (only) human race.
If there was no concept of 'race' then 'racist' comments would just make the commenter look ridiculous. You can imagine how daft he would have looked if he'd made an eye-colour remark, or a hair-style remark. You would not have had half the people incensed and the other half agreeing.... he would have looked daft to everyone. Take away the concept of different 'races' and you take away the effect of such comments.
I maintain that if you keep the concept of 'racism', you will foster the belief that people of another colour are of a different 'race' and the problem will never go away.
at least as far as your original thought that wouldnt it be nice if people didnt see people in terms of race but as human beings
unfortunately we are not there yet, and until we are, there needs to be measures in place that protect minorities against discrimination
if you dont understand that you are kidding yourself about the reality of the situation
You are absolutely right when you say you agree with my original thought that "wouldnt it be nice if people didnt see people in terms of race but as human beings" and follow it up with "unfortunately we are not there yet, and until we are, there needs to be measures in place that protect minorities against discrimination".
However, sticking the nonsensical 'racism' tag only ensures that it will, because you foster the erroneous beleif that there ARE different races, when ther are not.
You say that "if you dont understand that you are kidding yourself about the reality of the situation", which I find somewhat annoying because it's people who maintain the idea of 'race' who are a) kidding themselves, and b) only ensuring the situation continues.
If we could drop the silly and meaningless 'racist' tag and call it 'social discrimination' instead, then people will start to see that discriminating against (or disliking) someone because they are somewhat darker of skin, or lighter of skin, is as daft as discriminating against (or disliking) them because they're female, or taller, or have flat feet, or green eyes.
But stop calling it 'Race' relations as this is meaningless. Call it 'Culture' relations. We need to start thinking (and educating) in terms of one planet, one race, different cultures.
Hey you know AdGuy always gets the last word! ;)