Is racism a scam?

We all know that the US out of all countries has the most laws against racism but is it really to protect the minority? Think about it. The words: 'n-word's, spic, chink, jap, kike was never made, or intended to be racist. So there was no problem. Then all of the sudden, our government deem these terms to be derogative and never be used. Yeah right. Now, the next time some chinese guy cuts you off the highway or driving too slow, you now have a derogative term to use to degrade them. WTF???? I don't see how that protects the minority at all, just further resentment

[edit on 31-12-2006 by NegativeBeef]

Originally posted by NegativeBeef
We all know that the US out of all countries has the most laws against racism but is it really to protect the minority? Think about it. The words: 'n-word's, spic, chink, jap, kike was never made, or intended to be racist.

Words are as offensive as people think they are, and most people find the words above offensive. Are you seriously telling me that when a white person calls a black person a "n*gger" they don't mean to offend them??

So there was no problem. Then all of the sudden, our government deem these terms to be derogative and never be used.

The government didn't - society found them offensive and laws were changed to reflect that. These words are considered offensive all over the world, not just in the US.

Yeah right. Now, the next time some chinese guy cuts you off the highway or driving too slow, you now have a derogative term to use to degrade them.

Well I don't, as I'm not a racist. Only racists use the terms you have listed to describe people.

Well I don't, as I'm not a racist. Only racists use the terms you have listed to describe people

Uhh, that seems pretty damned biased there to me. Can you prove that by any chance?

[edit on 31-12-2006 by NegativeBeef]

Why not just call the chinese guy an arsehole, wont that make you feel better too, using a derogatory term specifically targeted at his race or culture takes it from being a criticism of his bad driving to an attack on his ethnicity, and quiet rightly that is offensive.

I'm not saying I've never made a racist remark in anger, I think most people of ALL races are racist to some extent but when we lapse we should at least recognise it as a fault and not rationalise it as ok.

While I do think that racism exists, I think that it is something that is used entirely too much. It is so easy to say, "Well, you feel such and such way so you must be racist." However, there is a difference between being racist and looking out for the common good.

As far as your assertion that the words that you mention are not derogatory, that is just ludicrous. I suggest that you look up the definition of the "N word." It basically means "dummy" or "idiot." If that's not derogatory then I don't know what is.

[edit on 31-12-2006 by SpeakerofTruth]

Originally posted by NegativeBeef The words: 'n-word's, spic, chink, jap, kike was never made, or intended to be racist.
[edit on 31-12-2006 by NegativeBeef]

I have a few choice words to describe people that think like you. None of them are racist but if I used them here at ATS, I would be banned in a heartbeat. You have no Idea the selfrestraint I am using here. It's almost painful.

Growing up in the South, I've experienced every kind of racism known on this planet. The terminology used to define another person solely on the basis of physical characteristics and/or ethnic origin never ceases to amaze me.

Granted, there are members of the older generation who will use these terms without malice - there is no hatred in their voice - it was just a common slang word they were accustomed to using in their day and age.

But inflection has a lot to do with it - the cutting, biting and rude way the majority of people will spew out a racial term as a way of trying to psychologically attack another person makes it offensive.

I have friends from across the globe, and I've never used racial slurs in my life - but after returning to the South from living elsewhere in the country for several years - the severity of the racial slur has really hit home for me.

Words are weapons, and when any descriptive term is used with a negative inflection or intent, it can become a racial taunt.

Where I am living now, the word "'n-word'" (I hate even typing it) does not denote one of black skin or racial characteristics - it's a word used to define a person who does not have anything positive to contribute to society and who is a rude, callous, uneducated and/or dangerous person.

Whites as well as blacks use this word frequently in the area, and to an outsider to this small community - it can be disturbing at first - until you come to understand the colloquial use of the word in this part of the Deep South.

I've asked several members of the older generations about their use of the word, and they tell me that the word "'n-word'" originally meant a small, destructive bug that would eat a tree from the inside out, killing it. Hence, it got transfered over to the the sorts of people who degrade the community.

I remember seeing this definition in an older dictionary from the 1920's - but be damned if I can find it in any modern references or online.

I know it's a small example in a much greater problem, but I've always thought to ask people why they use the words they do - especially racial slurs.

The majority of the time, I get a biased and uneducated answer from someone who obviously just has a hatred towards others, but getting to know the genial use of a rude word in this area has colored my experience a bit.

People are just brainwashed nowadays into the whole race games. Hence most people are afraid to actually say the word 'n-word' and just call it the "N"word.

Why are there laws on hate? Makes no sense at all, all that matters is that you did the crime...not why you did it.

Originally posted by NegativeBeef The words: 'n-word's, spic, chink, jap, kike was never made, or intended to be racist.
[edit on 31-12-2006 by NegativeBeef]

Originally posted by whaaa
I have a few choice words to describe people that think like you. None of them are racist but if I used them here at ATS, I would be banned in a heartbeat. You have no Idea the selfrestraint I am using here. It's almost painful.

Why?

He's not lying.

The term "'n-word'" for example, comes from the term "negro" Spanish which in term comes from the word "niger" from Latin. It actually refered to the "Black Legion", of Roman Soliders from Africa in the early years. It was never a racist term - it became one. It's very much like the word "gay" which used to mean; "happy, jolly" et al words but is now a term used against homosexuals. :-)

The rest of those words, if you go back and check the route origin were not racist words. They became them through social norms and values changing.

Why is honky and cracker never included when referring to racist terms? I mean why are those more acceptable than any of the others?

I'll be honest as a person and say that I am a bit racist, I can't help but be at times... its not like I think all the time how much I hate a race or anything like that, but I've referred to someone with a racially slanderous word or two in my day, not because I hate them, but because I was raised in a racist family... Like I said though I don't hate anyone... just raised to have it in my vocabulary...

I've made a conscious effort to not pass this on to my children. And have told him time and again that color doesn't matter, so I feel I'm doing my part in not passing on the problem.

Originally posted by Odium

Originally posted by NegativeBeef The words: 'n-word's, spic, chink, jap, kike was never made, or intended to be racist.
[edit on 31-12-2006 by NegativeBeef]

Originally posted by whaaa
I have a few choice words to describe people that think like you. None of them are racist but if I used them here at ATS, I would be banned in a heartbeat. You have no Idea the selfrestraint I am using here. It's almost painful.

Why?

He's not lying.

The term "'n-word'" for example, comes from the term "negro" Spanish which in term comes from the word "niger" from Latin. It actually refered to the "Black Legion", of Roman Soliders from Africa in the early years. It was never a racist term - it became one. It's very much like the word "gay" which used to mean; "happy, jolly" et al words but is now a term used against homosexuals. :-)

The rest of those words, if you go back and check the route origin were not racist words. They became them through social norms and values changing.

I know exactly what you are saying here but where I grew up in Texas the words 'n-word', kike, spic, jap, and chink, gook, queer, fag, homo etc, were never just used as a discriptive term. They were said in a hateful derogatory way ment to inflict emotional pain on the ones the words were directed to.

Trying to excuse the use of these words as just descriptive is a poor transparent way to try and excuse racisism.

Originally posted by whaaa
I know exactly what you are saying here but where I grew up in Texas the words 'n-word', kike, spic, jap, and chink, gook, queer, fag, homo etc, were never just used as a discriptive term. They were said in a hateful derogatory way ment to inflict emotional pain on the ones the words were directed to.

Trying to excuse the use of these words as just descriptive is a poor transparent way to try and excuse racisism.

That's intent though.

I have Black friends, in fact members of my own family, who would not be offended by me calling them a 'n-word'. They know I have no malice in the words. This however goes with every word that we can speak. If I call someone an idiot - they can take offence or not, depending on the malice of the word.

The fact is, these are words. Words should not harm or upset anyone in reality. If someone says something about you, you do not have to react. You should be the adult and just shrug it off - there are so many worse things going on in the world, that a few words are nothing.

Originally posted by Odium

The fact is, these are words. Words should not harm or upset anyone in reality. If someone says something about you, you do not have to react. You should be the adult and just shrug it off - there are so many worse things going on in the world, that a few words are nothing.

What BS rhetoric! Just try it in real life Odium and you might find your arse handed back to you in a paper sack. Or worse, shot dead!

You are a fool if you don't think that people die everyday over "words" and being adult has nothing what so ever to do with it. Here in the states a side ways glance or smirk can get you killed with never a word uttered.
And the INTENT may have been innocent as you seem to be.

[edit on 31-12-2006 by whaaa]

Umm, actually, US doesn't have the most laws against racism. In some European countries being openly racist is illegal, due to the fact that they do not have freedom of speech in their constitution.

In many European countries, it would actually be illegal to have an organization such as the KKK.

Originally posted by Odium
The fact is, these are words. Words should not harm or upset anyone in reality. If someone says something about you, you do not have to react. You should be the adult and just shrug it off - there are so many worse things going on in the world, that a few words are nothing.

I agree that we should try not to react to offensive statements directed at us. Or more appropriately not to show a reaction. After all people who direct rude, offensive comments at others are wanting to see that reaction and to be calm and unaffected is a very good way to get them upset at your lack of reaction.

But you can't honestly expect people to not react when someone directs an offensive word or slew of words at them with the intention of disrespecting them. The person(s) spewing those words know they are trying to upset them so they should expect to deal with such.

Originally posted by mnmcandiez
People are just brainwashed nowadays into the whole race games. Hence most people are afraid to actually say the word 'n-word' and just call it the "N"word.

Why are there laws on hate? Makes no sense at all, all that matters is that you did the crime...not why you did it.

There are laws on hate to discourage people from commiting crimes based on ignorance (ie dislike of specific race or religion).

A couple windows smashed out on a house and some spray paint (no burglary) would typically be a minor crime. Typically random, typically either someone who has a grudge against someone at the house or kids with nothing better to do with their time.

But when this is done because of a racial or religious motivation ... it's not something that's going to happen once or twice. It will continue until the person committing the crime is caught. Plus their crime identifies the victim to the community at large ... so other bigots now know where they live. So now there victims have to move or worry what other wack jobs out there know where they live and what they may be planning to do.

I've seen this in my community with an inter-racial marriage that someone in their neighborhood didn't approve of. They started breaking windows on their vehicles and spraying racial slurs on their house. It went on for quite awhile until the folks moved ... I don't believe any one was ever caught in that case.

Originally posted by MasterJedi
Why is honky and cracker never included when referring to racist terms? I mean why are those more acceptable than any of the others?

That is a legitimate question, and one that I cannot say that I have a good answer for.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Originally posted by MasterJedi
Why is honky and cracker never included when referring to racist terms? I mean why are those more acceptable than any of the others?

That is a legitimate question, and one that I cannot say that I have a good answer for.

From my perspective honky and cracker should be included as racist terms.
Could you show me where honky and cracker are deemed more acceptable than any of the other racist terms we have been discussing?

As Odium pointed out; it's about intent.

Originally posted by whaaa

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Originally posted by MasterJedi
Why is honky and cracker never included when referring to racist terms? I mean why are those more acceptable than any of the others?

That is a legitimate question, and one that I cannot say that I have a good answer for.

From my perspective honky and cracker should be included as racist terms.
Could you show me where honky and cracker are deemed more acceptable than any of the other racist terms we have been discussing?

As Odium pointed out; it's about intent.

Society seems to sure deem it as less.

Originally posted by MasterJedi
Why is honky and cracker never included when referring to racist terms? I mean why are those more acceptable than any of the others?

Exactly. Why do you think Michael Richards went over the top using the word "'n-word'" during his comedy club rant?

He was being heckled with racial terms. But you don't see that on the videos of the event.