Is this site Racist?

samhill wrote:it's just that a persons race or position in life makes no difference of who they are or how they may effect you, at least that's my outlook on things..

franco b wrote:We are all racists and we are all not racists because what we are talking about is only an aspect of human behavior called the enmity amity complex.

We feel amity towards members of our own group and hostility towards those not of our group. This was fixed in our behavioral genes many thousands of years ago as a means of bettering our chances of survival. Outsiders bring discord and possibly disease and tend to destroy the cohesiveness of the group or tribe. Studies of animal societies where it very much exists as well as primitive human and modern societies have proven this.

This behavior is a good thing, and in addition to our survival in the past it is what has fostered pride in a community, the social pressure to conform to acceptable behavior by its members, and also competition with neighboring communities to better themselves. It's our town. Our neighborhood. Our school. Our team. Our country. Always the feeling that it is ours and better than what others do or have and stay the hell out. Often it is true.

The bad part is that it excludes groups that might very well fit in and benefit the whole; Irishmen,Jews, blacks. The behavior is not going to change; what can change is the perception towards the excluded group. Maybe they really are "one of us". Education and familiarity with the excluded group as well as opportunity for members of that group to distinguish themselves all work to gradually dissipate feelings of hostility. When you read G. B. Shaw and Oscar Wilde then maybe Irish men are not so dumb. Read the autobiography of Frederick Douglas and it is impossible not to like the man as a person. Washington Carver is rightly called the savior of Southern agriculture. Interviews with black athletes reveal that most are not the step and fetchit of caricature.

Understanding human nature and working with it is the only way socially desirable goals can be achieved. The absolutely wrong way is programs like school busing that only destroy successful communities and create more hostility as well as foster crime and destroy the very things that made the community desirable. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

The problem is that politicians have no education in the science of man. Once in a great while we have a Jefferson or Franklin who seem to have an intuitive understanding of man and his nature. The spiritual trust neither emotion nor logic believing both are flawed through incomplete knowledge.

wsherrick wrote:Yes, I have been aware of this Human trait for years and been the target of it for years also. I have called it the, "Herd Mentality." You notice it in children after they begin to associate outside of the family unit. Have you ever noticed that little children are excited about everything and interested in everything? By the time they are approaching adolescence this grows less and less as they become institutionalized. They have to fit in and be, "cool," like the rest of their peers. I find this process quite sad. Those that resist or don't bend to the mass will are picked on and shunned. I know this well. This behavior carries on into adulthood as the average person loses much of his ability to define himself as himself and not be a reflection of what society wants him to be. He looks at others to find his own self definition. In my view all of the great men of history have escaped this process in a large part and these are the ones who have and will move Human Kind forward.

Dann757 wrote:What a lot of honest, serious, intelligent talk that has been mixed in with the noticable animosity.
Any racism that I allow in myself is honestly based in fear. I hope to be able to be a better man. It's not easy in hectic crowded, diverse NJ. I was out and about today and saw all kinds of races. I was not impolite to anyone, except the illegal lady who cut me off on Rte 22, I flipped her the bird I would have flipped anybody the bird except any larger burly dudes So it takes composure and being centered in yourself to get through a day without putting out bad vibes.
On the rare occaisions when I go to NYC, my racism dissolves inthe immense overwhelming magnificence of the city. There is an exitement and kind of underlying commaraderie there, it's like everybody is feeling like a cool cat to be there. But I'm usually glad to get back to the burbs. I have a neice that lives on the upper east side, I don't know how she does it. she commutes on a train and works for The City of New York.
So thanks for helping me consider a lot of ideas rather than just remain stagnant in repetitive thinking. Franco B's post about adapting to change hit a nerve. I desperately want the USA to be like it used to be. That's probably not gonna happen, and I may have to move much farther away from NYC to find the peace I desire. If I don't relish so much diversity, I have to take responsibility for making a change, which in itself seems overwhelming. I think Christianity is one of the hardest religions to embrace. Jesus said something like, "However you treat even the biggest dirtbag, that's how you're treating me." Man , is that a tough one!
I got more work lined up for next week today. I got a deal on a couple of small tools to fix up. Can't complain.

samhill wrote:I got to say that was very well stated.

homecomfort wrote:some of the biggest dirtbags and the ones to fear most are the power hungry liars in politics, both parties. same way you would CAREFULLY size up a potential threat in public, voters need to CAREFULLY listen to the facts, and recognize the un truths that will hurt you,, being spouted in washington.

samhill wrote:puppet Gov. had never worked well

samhill wrote:It's the same with you & I & everyone else that pays their taxes honestly, our % goes up to make up for what is hidden.