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Is racism wrong?

Is racism wrong?

  • Yes

    Votes: 88 83.8%
  • No

    Votes: 15 14.3%
  • There is no such thing as racism

    Votes: 2 1.9%

  • Total voters
    105
I see you have a BS in Trollology. Lumping all these characteristics together and implying they only pertaining to Southern Christians.
That's not what the poster did at all. He stated that they would only be discriminated against if they met a certain criteria, a criteria that not all Southern Christians meet.
 
That's not what the poster did at all. He stated that they would only be discriminated against if they met a certain criteria, a criteria that not all Southern Christians meet.
Spare me the hairsplitting, I understand full well the liberal mindset about southerners. Snobby, elitist, Christian-hating, atheistic liberals who truly believe that most southerners are incestuous, religious freaks. We hear this **** all the time around here. Most don't know their asses from a hole in the ground about the South, but pretend to be superior.
 
Spare me the hairsplitting, I understand full well the liberal mindset about southerners. Snobby, elitist, Christian-hating, atheistic liberals who truly believe that most southerners are incestuous, religious freaks. We hear this **** all the time around here. Most don't know their asses from a hole in the ground about the South, but pretend to be superior.
Look, don't get your panties in a bunch just because you misunderstood someone else's post. The point was clear and concise, and your prejudice and confirmation bias let you see what you wanted to see.
 
There's nothing wrong with honest assesment of the differences between races, and to an extent it's not even wrong to take pride in one's own race/culture.

When it becomes racism (and wrong) is when that belief turns to the belief that some races are superior or inferior and should be treated differently.

It's wrong is when an individual is judged based on the trends in his race, even if superiority or inferiority aren't involved.
 
Spare me the hairsplitting, I understand full well the liberal mindset about southerners. Snobby, elitist, Christian-hating, atheistic liberals who truly believe that most southerners are incestuous, religious freaks. We hear this **** all the time around here. Most don't know their asses from a hole in the ground about the South, but pretend to be superior.

What about us liberal white male Southerners? Oops.
 
Racism is. Period.

Whether it's wrong or not depends on the social values of the society you live in. I think racism to the point of hate and violence is wrong, but I also believe that humans have the inherent tendency of being wary of differences. Norms are defined by what everyone else is and you are not. If you arrive in a place where everyone else looks the same but you look different, people will have all sorts of ideas about you.

We are a surface level species that depends largely on constant variables for social stability, and, usually, require generations to adjust to major change.
 
Whether it's wrong or not depends on the social values of the society you live in. I think racism to the point of hate and violence is wrong, but I also believe that humans have the inherent tendency of being wary of differences. Norms are defined by what everyone else is and you are not. If you arrive in a place where everyone else looks the same but you look different, people will have all sorts of ideas about you.

We are a surface level species that depends largely on constant variables for social stability, and, usually, require generations to adjust to major change.

Way to take a stand.
 
Racism is. Period.

Whether it's wrong or not depends on the social values of the society you live in. I think racism to the point of hate and violence is wrong, but I also believe that humans have the inherent tendency of being wary of differences. Norms are defined by what everyone else is and you are not. If you arrive in a place where everyone else looks the same but you look different, people will have all sorts of ideas about you.

We are a surface level species that depends largely on constant variables for social stability, and, usually, require generations to adjust to major change.

Oooooh edgy!
 
What is racism, by the way? Here we have a thread going about it, and no one has yet defined it.
 
What is racism, by the way? Here we have a thread going about it, and no one has yet defined it.

Racism n.
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
 
Racism n.
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

I hate that definition.

I think racism is simply prejudging someone based on race. Nothing to do with superiority and all that.
 
Of course it is wrong and pretty sad that questions like these still need to be asked:(
 
I can't really vote as there is no "other" option.

Racism as a belief system isn't wrong in and of itself. Everyone has biases of some sort. Most biases are arbitrary.

When it becomes wrong is when people allow their racism to cause them to engage incertain behaviors to undermine and oppress another race. Oppression is wrong, beliefs are simply beliefs.

I can disagree with a person's beliefs, and I disagree vehemently with racist beliefs, but being tolerant of everyone includes being tolerant of people who hold beliefs that you vehemently disagree with.

True tolerance is accepting people no matter who they are or what they believe.

That includes racists.
 
I can't really vote as there is no "other" option.

Racism as a belief system isn't wrong in and of itself. Everyone has biases of some sort. Most biases are arbitrary.

When it becomes wrong is when people allow their racism to cause them to engage incertain behaviors to undermine and oppress another race. Oppression is wrong, beliefs are simply beliefs.

Good point about racist thoughts vs. actions.

I can disagree with a person's beliefs, and I disagree vehemently with racist beliefs, but being tolerant of everyone includes being tolerant of people who hold beliefs that you vehemently disagree with.

So? What's wrong with intolerance every once in a while?
 
I can't really vote as there is no "other" option.

Racism as a belief system isn't wrong in and of itself. Everyone has biases of some sort. Most biases are arbitrary.

When it becomes wrong is when people allow their racism to cause them to engage incertain behaviors to undermine and oppress another race. Oppression is wrong, beliefs are simply beliefs.

I can disagree with a person's beliefs, and I disagree vehemently with racist beliefs, but being tolerant of everyone includes being tolerant of people who hold beliefs that you vehemently disagree with.

True tolerance is accepting people no matter who they are or what they believe.

That includes racists.


But racism is based on ignorance. Should we be tolerant of ignorance, or try to educate those who don't know?
 
But racism is based on ignorance. Should we be tolerant of ignorance, or try to educate those who don't know?

It isn't always based on ignorance. I have already mentioned one line of thinking from an evolutionary point of view. And there are some well-informed people who still agree with Abraham Lincoln:

...and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
 
I think "Intelligent" society can be interpreted differently...

One man's 'intelligent' society is another man's barbaric, backwards culture.

So, obviously you think darfur is an intelligent society then. :2wave:
 
It isn't always based on ignorance. I have already mentioned one line of thinking from an evolutionary point of view. And there are some well-informed people who still agree with Abraham Lincoln:

The science of genetics did not exist in Lincoln's time, nor were there very many interracial marriages. There is no reason why the races can't live together on terms of social and political equality. the only thing that can prevent them from doing so is racism itself. Racism can only control human affairs in a vacuum of knowledge.
 
The science of genetics did not exist in Lincoln's time, nor were there very many interracial marriages. There is no reason why the races can't live together on terms of social and political equality. the only thing that can prevent them from doing so is racism itself. Racism can only control human affairs in a vacuum of knowledge.
The existence of racism prevents equality, and a lack of equality justifies racism. So racism justifies itself. :mrgreen:
 
So? What's wrong with intolerance every once in a while?

Nothing. that's why I'm tolerant of racists. ;)

I just have a personal value regarding tolerance. If someone were to confide in me that they had racist views, I wouldn't judge them for it. I would seek to find out why they hold those views and then work with them to find out if they want to change those views.


But racism is based on ignorance. Should we be tolerant of ignorance, or try to educate those who don't know?

If they aren't taking actions based on their racism, the only way I could know about their views is if they simply stated them with no other goal except to share the information.

For example: Someone could make the statement "I think X race is inferior to Y race". that in and of itself is in no way offensive to me. It's just a statement of their beliefs.

To me, it is identical to saying "I think pizza from local restaurants is inferior to Pizza Hut Pizza".

Its an opinion statement. I may disagree with someone about the pizza, but I would not be intolerant of them. I would share my own opinions in teh hopes that they might change theirs of their own volition, but I would not forcefully "educate" them.

But if someone said "Pizza Hut is the superior pizza, and all other pizza places should be closed down" they are now arguing that specific actions should be taken because of their belief which I disagree with. That is when it ceases to be just a belief, and starts to become an oppressive behavior.

I do not tolerate those behaviors.

Even in myself (especially within myself, perhaps).

If I say something like "Racists are ignorant, and they need to be educated" I'm engaging in the very same oppressive behaviors which I reject.

If the first example, where beliefs are shared without oppressive actions being advocated, I am in a sharing relationship with the person in question. I am not judging them as a person for their beliefs.

In the second situation, where oppressive actions are being advocated, I am judging the behaviors of the person as intolerable. In order to remain internally consistent, I must take the same stance regarding my own behaviors.

This is simply my worldview. I neither expect nor require others to conform to it. I welcome a rejection of my principles from others. I don't think everyone should be confined to my own choices.
 
I hate that definition.

I think racism is simply prejudging someone based on race. Nothing to do with superiority and all that.

Well i'm sorry I didn't take the definition from the Misterman-Webster Dictionary. My apologies.
 
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