My Dad frustrates me lately because although I know he can be pretty open-minded, one thing that he'll get snippy about is a "hate crime" since he doesn't see why we've made it important to have that extra bit.
People too easily turn a blind eye to the motivation behind a crime like this and WHY it's important to call racism (or religious bias, etc.) when it's a key part of the crime. Even more important now with the internet and instant news how easy it is for people that hate to join together with similar people or to inspire copycat crimes.
It is directly analogous to Islamic terrorism. Liberals have a hard time wrapping their heads around this one, too.
Not all whites are racist. There are, however, enough white racists out there that it IS a real problem and ignoring the racist ideology or denying that there are whites doing this will not help combat the problem.
Not all Muslims are terrorists. There are, however, enough Muslim terrorists out there that it IS a real problem and ignoring terrorist ideology or denying that there are Muslims doing this will not help combat the problem.
Racists are Bad People, I am not a bad person, therefore I cannot possibly do anything that is racist, because that would make me a Racist and therefore Bad.
Same logic, to an extent, applies to sexism, men don't want to think of themselves as sexist, that's Mad Men era, we're past that, ergo they can't possibly have done something, even inadvertently, that was sexist.
It's the need to split up doing or thinking something without realising the implications with the idea that it automatically makes you one of the Bad People.
The real distinction is between those prepared to apologise and try to make amends/get better, and those who get all offended that they could possibly have ever done anything Bad and Wrong.
It's why I find Privilege analysis so compelling, even if I do really wish they'd chosen a better term for it (especially in the UK context where class privilege is an ongoing issue separate from all others).
Cognitive disonance is alive and well. Admitting our own failings is hard to do. I have a tendency to value the opinions of educated people more highly than those of uneducated ones. Sometimes, that can make me miss the wisdom of someone who is highly intelligent, but for whatever reason did not get higher education. I am aware of this prejudice, but it is hard for me to overcome. I like to think the fact that I have identified it and am working on it is a good first step.
I agree completely. I especially see this in the tendency to find a way to vilify the victim. "The Black Man who was killed was a thug." "He brought it on himself . . . If he hadn't resisted, he wouldn't be dead."
No one is perfect, but those imperfections shouldn't carry the death penalty.
Or, as Mat noted, "poor people are lazy takers and giving them any help is just enabling them." "Women say they want equality, but what they really want is to emasculate men." Name any prejudice and someone out there is finding a way to blame the victim.
Comments 6
My Dad frustrates me lately because although I know he can be pretty open-minded, one thing that he'll get snippy about is a "hate crime" since he doesn't see why we've made it important to have that extra bit.
People too easily turn a blind eye to the motivation behind a crime like this and WHY it's important to call racism (or religious bias, etc.) when it's a key part of the crime. Even more important now with the internet and instant news how easy it is for people that hate to join together with similar people or to inspire copycat crimes.
Reply
Not all whites are racist. There are, however, enough white racists out there that it IS a real problem and ignoring the racist ideology or denying that there are whites doing this will not help combat the problem.
Not all Muslims are terrorists. There are, however, enough Muslim terrorists out there that it IS a real problem and ignoring terrorist ideology or denying that there are Muslims doing this will not help combat the problem.
Reply
Same logic, to an extent, applies to sexism, men don't want to think of themselves as sexist, that's Mad Men era, we're past that, ergo they can't possibly have done something, even inadvertently, that was sexist.
It's the need to split up doing or thinking something without realising the implications with the idea that it automatically makes you one of the Bad People.
The real distinction is between those prepared to apologise and try to make amends/get better, and those who get all offended that they could possibly have ever done anything Bad and Wrong.
It's why I find Privilege analysis so compelling, even if I do really wish they'd chosen a better term for it (especially in the UK context where class privilege is an ongoing issue separate from all others).
Reply
Reply
"The Black Man who was killed was a thug."
"He brought it on himself . . . If he hadn't resisted, he wouldn't be dead."
No one is perfect, but those imperfections shouldn't carry the death penalty.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment