Left & Right "Racism"

[buddhist]

One definition of "racism" is: a "preconceived judgment or opinion" of "a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics" (expanded from MW, definition #2)

Most might probably understand "racism" to mean preconceptions or pre-judgments resulting in unwarranted hatred towards specific classes of people (e.g. xenophobia), as opposed to a careful, rational evaluation of the individuals belonging to the class.

However, wouldn't you also agree that "racism" can also be understood as preconceptions or pre-judgments resulting in unwarranted love or acceptance towards classes of people (e.g. xenophilia), also in opposition to a careful, rational evaluation of the individuals in the class?

I was thinking about this in light of how many leaders are condemning hatred towards migrants (a class of people); however, I also see that many of those same leaders are guilty of racism themselves, having welcomed those same migrants with open arms, labeling that whole class in a specific way (e.g. as peaceful).

Would you agree that xenophilia is just as racist as xenophobia?

 

[Revoltingest]

I voted <yes> because I agree, & because it has more potential for fun discussion.

 

[buddhist]

I voted <yes> because I agree, & because it has more potential for fun discussion.

Thanks for voting, and that makes two of us

Why do I get the feeling that this thread won't get too many responses?

 

[Laika]

Voted "yes" as it is still racism. what comes to mind is the way the far east was mythologised as exotic or "oriental", or perhaps views that emphasis "Whiteness" as a charateristic of the "civilised" european. I think it boils to down what is "unwarrented" though.

 

[buddhist]

Voted "yes" as it is still racism. what comes to mind is the way the far east was mythologised as exotic or "oriental", or perhaps views that emphasis "Whiteness" as a charateristic of the "civilised" european. I think it boils to down what is "unwarrented" though.

I would suggest that "unwarranted hatred or love" is based on the belief that general observations (whether valid or not) regarding characteristics of a class are always applicable to every individual within the class.

 

[buddhist]

Thinking that one race deserves unwarranted love by default and another doesn't is basically still what xenophobes do, just worded differently.

"phobe" would imply fear, wheras "philia" would imply love, which is why I used the word "xenophilia".

 

[George-ananda]

I don't think society has a good working definition of the word 'racism' at this time. I would like to see the word used less and people describe their own feelings and opinions about others and situations in more than this one word.

 

[McBell]

One definition of "racism" is: a "preconceived judgment or opinion" of "a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics" (expanded from MW, definition #2)

Most might probably understand "racism" to mean preconceptions or pre-judgments resulting in unwarranted hatred towards specific classes of people (e.g. xenophobia), as opposed to a careful, rational evaluation of the individuals belonging to the class.

However, wouldn't you also agree that "racism" can also be understood as preconceptions or pre-judgments resulting in unwarranted love or acceptance towards classes of people (e.g. xenophilia), also in opposition to a careful, rational evaluation of the individuals in the class?

I was thinking about this in light of how many leaders are condemning hatred towards migrants (a class of people); however, I also see that many of those same leaders are guilty of racism themselves, having welcomed those same migrants with open arms, labeling that whole class in a specific way (e.g. as peaceful).

Would you agree that xenophilia is just as racist as xenophobia?

"the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races."​

Not sure how to vote....

 

[gsa]

A white xenophobe who hates blacks is somewhat xenophillic to white people.
A white xenophile who unwarrantedly loves blacks is somewhat xenophobic to non blacks.
I would say it is racism.

I do not see why unwarranted love of one group of strangers/foreigners necessarily implies hatred, dislike or phobia of the groups that do not fit that group, though. It can, of course, but what about the feeling itself, however irrational, produces some amount of irrational prejudice, hatred or dislike of another group?

 

[buddhist]

I don't think society has a good working definition of the word 'racism' at this time. I would like to see the word used less and people describe their own feelings and opinions about others in more than this one word.

I agree. It's overused, to the point where IMO most people don't really know what it means. So, this thread

 

[McBell]

I agree. It's overused, to the point where IMO most people don't really know what it means. So, this thread

So when are you going to define it?
What do you think of the definition in post #10?

 

[buddhist]

So when are you going to define it?
What do you think of the definition in post #10?

I thought I defined "racism" in my original post. The definition you provided (superiority or inferiority) is one way of understanding "racism", another way (as I presented it) is viewing it as "labeling a whole group (whether in a positive or negative way)"

 

[McBell]

I thought I defined "racism" in my original post. The definition you provided (superiority or inferiority) is one way of understanding "racism", another way (as I presented it) is viewing it as "labeling a whole group (whether in a positive or negative way)"

Then to answer the poll, yes, it can be considered racism

 

[JRMcC]

Certain types of liberals have gone insane with the whole race and diversity thing. I mean INSANE.

 

[buddhist]

Certain types of liberals have gone insane with the whole race and diversity thing. I mean INSANE.

It is unfortunate that many have become xenophilic racists themselves, in their quest to stamp out xenophobic racism.

 

[Nietzsche]

Here's the thing; a xenophile is never going to put "others" in camps and eventually make soap out of "others" for the sole crime of being an "other".

 

[buddhist]

Here's the thing; a xenophile is never going to put "others" in camps and eventually make soap out of "others" for the sole crime of being an "other".

In other, equally negative ways, I think we're seeing the effects of xenophilic philosophy today.

 

[Nietzsche]

In other, equally negative ways, I think we're seeing the effects of xenophilic philosophy today.

I really want to know what could be as "equally negative" as concentration camps and gas chambers. I'm all ears. I'm sure Bosnians, Gypsies, Homosexuals, Leftists, Slavs, Albanians, Turks and Jews are listening equally intently.

 

[buddhist]

I really want to know what could be as "equally negative" ...

For example, rapes and murders are equally negative, in my eyes. Deprivation of one's life's savings for not practicing xenophilia is also reprehensible to me.

 

[Nietzsche]

For example, rapes and murders are equally negative, in my eyes. Deprivation of one's life's savings for not practicing xenophilia is also reprehensible to me.

I'll take this seriously the moment you show me how an entire culture is irrevocably traumatized, scarred and in many cases utterly annihilated by a handful of ******** losing some money.