Re: Subject: supposed ethnic humor

[P3D Lew Clayman/K Szafran <kandlew@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Consider that Earl's remark is really an observation of the kind of cultures
>that these people come from, cultures where bargaining skills are held in
>esteem and relied upon.  Stereotypes do not arise on a whim; they have basis
>in fact.  Everyone has prejudices, which may be strengthened by personal
>experience.  Many are not at all negative.  Prejudice is not racism, or
>ethnicism.

Sorry, gang.  I let the first crack slide by about Jews, Arabs, and
Scandinavians not because it was acceptable behaviour (it is not) but
because it did not reach my reaction threshhold.  Also, this discussion
really isn't the role of this list.  Nevertheless, this posting fairly well
blows the threshhold through the cieling.  

Sorry to be the one to clue you in, but all prejudice is unacceptable -
racist, ethnist, culturalist, or whatever other little predefined
definitions anyone applies to individuals on the basis of attributing a
percieved group characteristic.  

You're technically correct that factors other than race and ethnicity are
used by bigots to group people - religions, for example (Jews), or language
groups (Arabs), or geographic region (Scandinavians).  Yes, everyone has
prejudices - we also have many other character flaws which we should not
advertise.

>Legions of citizens seem to be standing around waiting for the opportunity
>to jump all over the slightest possible transgression of "political
>correctness."  They're perched on their high horses, watching all media for
>words like "Jew", "Hispanic" or "Black".  I guess we can no longer refer to
>a person's ancestry at all.  

Guess again.  What you can do (evidently) - but shouldn't - is make
assumptions about them on the basis of ancestry.

>A few misguided people won't even say "black",
>but instead use "African-American", overlooking the fact that some
>"African-Americans" are WHITE.  Dave Matthews, for example.

>Included in our world are white people, black people, secretaries,
>stewardesses, pro-abortion people, anti-abortion people, manhole covers,
>used cars and a whole lot of other things that have had their names changed
>because someone was afraid to call something what it is.  These people are
>HIDING from the truth and attempting to hide the truth, and you know what?
>It doesn't work.  Give it a rest.

>Gavin Stokes
>Simian-American, just like everyone else in this country.

-Lew Clayman
 Sapient-American


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