Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful discussion.
--
At 05:39 PM 09/25/2001 -0500, Tom Borrup wrote:
>Remember: our rules allow pointed disagreement, but require respectful
discussion.
>--
>
>What I find really fascinating about this list is that whenever someone
brings up issues of race or racism, there is a harsh reaction from two or
three people "shouting" that person down, sometimes calling for their
expulsion from the list. And I must say that there is often an irrational
"tone" in their "voice", such as in the message below.
==============================================
Since I often respond to these posts, this is my feeling. I think racism
is a serious charge -- and so I'd like to evidence of it when it is leveled
at someone. I've seen racism, homophobia and sexism all leveled at people
as a weapon -- and when that's not the real issue.
>What I see is an unwillingness to acknowledge (at least by this small
sample) that racism in its
>many forms does exist all around us every day in this community and in
probably all American
>communities.
>These harsh reactions probably tend to stifle much serious conversation
about issues of race on this list -- and in general in this community.
Personally, I think racism is typically very subtle and often
unintentional, but it is a HUGE factor in political and economic
institutions.
=============================================
It's important to describe subtle racism then -- in a way that people can
understand it. I think what happens too much is many people are
intimidated about talking about the subject at all because they are afraid
of getting called racist. This means that there is less open communication
and less learning from each other. Saying that conservatives are likely to
be racist and liberals are not -- which is how I read Kushner's comments --
just suggests an "anti-conservative" bigotry if you will.
I do not know either of the writers below, but I do find merit in what Mr.
Kushner
>has to say and I hope he is not discouraged to pursue his thoughts on this
list, or in any other
>forum.
I hope he isn't either. I respect alot of what he says on this forum.
What I get tired of, is hearing conservatives labeled with the racist label
with no evidence to show that.
I'm sure Rich Chandler can respond more on this subject. But this is what
I understood of his critique of Kushner's comments.
Eva
Eva Young
Central
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