More of less racist
 

Has moving to the Middle East made you more of less racist. Now, it would appear that we all have different personal definitions of racism so we shall use that of my employer. Sadly, we don't define racist, so we shall go with racial discrimination:

the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life

Re: More of less racist
 

I'm more "culturalist" if there is such a thing....I have no preference when it comes to race except perhaps I prefer the look of women from some parts of the world in general and not others.

Better change the title of the poll - race and culture are two different things.

Re: More of less racist
 

I love the semantics Norm. But, franky, that is rubbish.

Race and culture are so intertwined it's unreal. Sure, there are exceptions - Chinese Americans for instance, or some Pakistani Brits. But, even in those cases when you scratch the surface, of say a second generation Pakistani Brit, you find that they are living with their inlaws. Race and Culture are the same.

Take BC as an example, she moved to the gulf just as clocks were invented. She is a brit, and yet, even after all these years she hasn't really taken on the culture.

Re: More of less racist
 

[QUOTE=Millhouse;9352778]I love the semantics Norm. But, franky, that is rubbish.

Race and culture are so intertwined it's unreal. Sure, there are exceptions - Chinese Americans for instance, or some Pakistani Brits. But, even in those cases when you scratch the surface, of say a second generation Pakistani Brit, you find that they are living with their inlaws. Race and Culture are the same.

Take BC as an example, she moved to the gulf just as clocks were invented. She is a brit, and yet, even after all these years she hasn't really taken on the culture.[/QUOTE]

but I do understand the culture, however I am yet to race off to the local mosque for integration

Re: More of less racist
 

Race and culture are not the same at all, semantics or not to suggest that is "rubbish".

Many people of the same race will tend to be of the same culture due to accident of birth and growing up in the same region as people who look and behave the same but that's it. If you say race and culture are the same you are saying that people of different skin colours behave differently because of their skin colour (because race is mostly a description of skin colour, hair and eye and nose shape)...and I earnestly hope that is not what you are suggesting because given what we call race makes up less a few % of the human genome. People of the same family can have more genetic differences than people of the same race. Some biologists even question the concept of race. Usually only Nazi types will give credence to race and culture being the same...good excuse to start wiping out anyone who doesn't make the fuhrer's friend list.

My goodness your statement is worrying - I hope it's just a case of you not thinking it through and actually meaning people of the same race tend to share the same culture because of growing up around each other.

N.

Re: More of less racist
 

More anti-Scot than I ever was in Blighty. Does that count?

Re: More of less racist
 

I've stayed out this debate, as I generally tend to do when it comes to discussing race and culture, but just going on record to say I think Norm is on the right lines.

The other factor to consider is religion. Which is different again to race and although heavier intertwined with culture, these are still three separate elements that go into studying a complex issue.

Racially, I'm Asian. In the British definition ( Indian sub continent rather than American definition - the Far East / Oriental ).

Culturally, I'm British. Brought up there, educated there, worked there most of my life.

Religion wise, I'm Muslim, but disassociate myself from this lot here in Saudi, or even the ones from Pakistan etc, as I think they have it wrong on a lot of levels.

So, generally speaking, when we stereotype, we take into account all three aspects , or as many of them as we know about.

But, here's the crux of it all - and I'm not sure everyone understands this - if you are a racist / bigot / whatever-ist, then its YOUR issue, your baggage to carry around, your hatred, and ultimately, your own problem which will get in your own way.

So deal with it.

Re: More of less racist
 

But, here's the crux of it all - and I'm not sure everyone understands this - if you are a racist / bigot / whatever-ist, then its YOUR issue, your baggage to carry around, your hatred, and ultimately, your own problem which will get in your own way




hmmm definitely food for thought. I have to admit, had not thought about it in that way....it is true though.
But what to do about those issues that have led a person to think the way they do?

Re: More of less racist
 

wise words mate :thumbup:

Re: More of less racist
 

[QUOTE=Blue Cat;9352792]I didn't say you don't understand it. I said you don't follow it - you confirmed my post...

Re: More of less racist
 

We are not going to agree on this. I would not be worried by my statements - to use your words you either don't understand them or have not thought them through.

So tell me - is it better, in your opinion, to discriminate on race, culture or not at all?

Re: More of less racist
 

Seconded - I have a very racist (using all versions of the definition) friend and it eats him alive. I enjoy baiting him almost as much as I do Norm!

Re: More of less racist
 

I answer to nobody in my racism.........

.......... but, just for my own satisfaction - who the hell is Malcolm Little?? :confused:

Re: More of less racist
 

Isn't he Malcolm X's younger brother?

Re: More of less racist
 

he's that talking mouse