Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on April 12, 2012 at 3:43pm

Racism doesn't just say that there are differences, racism says there are differences and those differences make my race superior to other races.  Diversity says that there are differences, none of which are superior.

 

Everything about us is going to make us different.  Your being catholic makes your thought process alient to me.  Someone growing up in the city will be different from someone from the farm. ANd yes, someone coming up in a black culture will be different from an asian or white or hispanic culture.

 

So if you have a diversity person who can' tell the difference between just being black and growing up emersed in the black culturem then yeah, they are dabbling in the realm of bigotry.  That isn't a flaw with the idea of diversity, it is a flaw of the individual endorsing it.

Permalink Reply by Mark Viles Kingsley on April 14, 2012 at 3:07pm

Is it truly racist to say that the differences between skin color make you superior to those of other colors? In my definition, racism has to have some kind of malice or hatred behind it, but saying that a race is superior to others is more arrogant and ignorant than actually racist. I don't agree with the people that call almost everyone a racist who are not actually being hateful towards other races and ethnic backgrounds, so I try to reserve the title for people who are actually racist.

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on April 14, 2012 at 5:00pm

rac·ism

   [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA

noun

1.

a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races  determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race  is superior and has the right to rule others.

2.

a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3.

hatred or intolerance of another race  or other races.

So.......yes

Permalink Reply by Mark Viles Kingsley on April 14, 2012 at 5:33pm

Point taken. I hear a lot of people overuse the term 'racist' to the point where I get annoyed when I hear it used and there there is no real hate being expressed by the accused 'racist'. Didn't mean to annoy you, just thought I'd see if you had a reason for defining racism that way.

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on April 14, 2012 at 10:16pm

You are right, a lot of people use racist when they actually mean bigoted

I actually learned to look for the very real difference from a conservative blogger who ad one damn good point

Permalink Reply by Mark Viles Kingsley on April 14, 2012 at 10:39pm

Who's the blogger?

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on April 14, 2012 at 10:54pm

Would you accept the apology of not remembering?  I do know it was when reading a blog/newspaper/radio or when one of my liberal shows had on opposition and the statement that we have to recognize the difference between bigotry and racism really stuck with me.  Was one damn good point and a reason I at least try to read different sources

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on April 12, 2012 at 4:02pm

Ethnic & racial diversity is a political concern. It does not belong in colleges. The only diversity that matters in college is diversity of thought.

It seems to be liberals' fault: they politicize the university & have replaced reflection by activism. They no longer burn buildings or brandish firearms, presumably because they now control the establishment.

But even if conservative hatred of liberals - justified, often enough - were not a reaction to this; even if conservatives would not politicize the university to defend themselves; the question would still arise, What is the purpose of the university? The '60s seem to have destroyed most of what was left of the understanding of the importance of that question. That is why diversity of thought is important & why it has become impossible for institutions to foster.

Permalink Reply by D.J. on April 12, 2012 at 4:15pm

All good and well, and I certainly agree, but what do you think about my original post and LShields' thoughts?

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on April 12, 2012 at 4:34pm

I think Shields makes the usual mindlessness seem even more boring than usual. Everybody everywhere is different from everybody else. This is individualism at its flabbiest; it is meaningless.

Now, modern American racism claimed science as the ground of the superiority of the white race. That assumed there is one correct, scientific answer to the question: What life is worth living? This was when History was considered to be the fundamental experience. It was a third-rate Hegelianism. (See Calhoun.)

The diversity crowd is a third-rate Nietzscheanism. Culture is the key concept; anthropologists like it; it is used to blur the distinction between civilization & savagery, arguing that no reasonable judgment can be made about how to live one's life. In short, the distinctively human being is not really human. The accidents of culture determine & damn humans.

Both doctrines are destructive. America depends on everyone being transformed by the constitutional order. Americans are not born American & the habits of the country are worthless when it comes to producing the political order. You could not trust the American people even to preserve the order bequeathed to them, because they are supremely ignorant of the precariousness of their achievements. This order has few theoretical defendants & many things going against it, especially the endless intellectual fashions imported from Europe in the last two centuries... They make stupid people think they are profound; they make important political problems seem obsolete.

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on April 12, 2012 at 4:55pm

Once again, brilliant synopsis of points I never made

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on April 12, 2012 at 4:59pm

Shields, the main points have nothing to do with you & I think they're way above your head.

The point that concerns you is named for you, just the first paragraph, so you don't have to bother with the serious stuff - the part about everybody's different - that cupful of nothingness.

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