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Reposted: Bigotry vs. Racism Hi folks. I originally posted this as a comment on Bigblocks blog, but then decided to share it here. It's about the controversy over recent bigoted comments made by Mr. Sterling, owner of the LA Clippers. I have a problem with how some terms are used interchangeably. "Bigotry" and "prejudice" may be synonymous, and "dislike" or "hate" are just varying degrees on a scale. They all express personal preferences. But I have to distinguish all of those terms from "racism." Racism, involves taking some action. It's what happens when a person's personal preferences inspire them to either unfairly advance one ethnic group over another, or to outright oppress an ethnic group. I've heard some stories about Sterling's prior history, and there's evidence there to support the accusation of "racist", at least in his past. But judging only from the recent comments in the news that stirred up this controversy, I can only apply terms like "ignorant" and "bigot" to him. I don't have enough detail to judge whether or not I'd call him a racist -Tho he may well be one. Still, as I understand it he's already been punished for any racist behaviors he's committed in the past. But we can't penalize people for ignorance or bad choices in their personal preferences, even if they are about who they care to socialize with. We don't have to like or even respect them, but we can't punish them. For an example taken to extremes, we'll have to start punishing older people who don't enjoy time spent with young people because of the music they often hear them playing, and we'd also have to punish young people who won't hang out with elders because they are averse to being where they might hear opera. Just my thoughts on the matter. GBU all, Gavin |
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5/1/2014 4:16 am |
Hi Gavin: Before I retired I was a Law Clerk and worked for several different law firms where many of the lawyers were Jewish. Anyway, over the years I heard many Jewish lawyers make jokes and snarky comments about black clients, and black people were not treated the same as white clients. The lawyers actually had a nickname for black people. I don't know how to spell it but it's pronounced "schwarzer". I heard on the news that Sterling is also Jewish, so I was wondering if it's a common practice for Jewish people to look down on black people. If so, it would be so ironic because Hitler thought both Jews and blacks were sub-human.
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So telling his girlfriend who is of mixed hispanic and black lineage to not post a picture in which she is posing with a black man and telling her to not bring black people to his game is bigoted? Really? That is not " or to outright oppress an ethnic group"? But I'm not taking it personally. It's his business, not mine. GBU, Gavin
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Hi Gavin: Before I retired I was a Law Clerk and worked for several different law firms where many of the lawyers were Jewish. Anyway, over the years I heard many Jewish lawyers make jokes and snarky comments about black clients, and black people were not treated the same as white clients. The lawyers actually had a nickname for black people. I don't know how to spell it but it's pronounced "schwarzer". I heard on the news that Sterling is also Jewish, so I was wondering if it's a common practice for Jewish people to look down on black people. If so, it would be so ironic because Hitler thought both Jews and blacks were sub-human. GBU, Gavin
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LOL! Why am I not surprised? I've come to realize this guy is like a lot of Christians who want to be recognized as "the" spiritual leader. In his case, it's an example of a "little bit of knowledge being a dangerous thing." Even when I tried to converse with him civilly, he has to act as though he's on some higher level, and even though it's not true, he wants me and everyone else to pretend he is. I was like him a bit myself about 10 years ago. He'll grow out of it. I think? --Maybe not. GBU, Gavin
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But then again you are not black at least according to your photo GBU, Gavin
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