Most words we us are not “scientific”. We don’t attempt to make a precise description of a thing when merely using a word to refer to it. Why is it called a smartphone when it’s much more than a phone? How imprecise! Why do we call something a shoe and something a boot? How high around the ankle should the shoe be to become a boot? No one knows exactly, so it’s unscientific! Yet, we are quite comfortable with using those words.unscientific to describe these physical characteristics using terms like
"black" "white" — dazed
IN REALITY some people look like their ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa, some seem to be of European descent and some of East-Asian. Is that relevant for anything? Probably not, but there are those who think it is, and they are the ones who are called racists. They would keep noticing it even if they had no word for it. They see that those people have an origin different from themselves, and they don’t like what seems foreign. The problem is not really the black hair, for some of their own have black hair, and it’s not really the dark skin, for they admire a nice tan, but the totality tells them they are dealing with something foreign.you are also pretty much arguing that there is something that actually exists "race" that we still need to refer to, the approach I am advocating for here is for those of use who see that there is no such thing in our reality just as we know the world is not flat — dazed
You and other well-meaning anti-racists (or whatever it should be called) may perhaps stop using words that refer to race, but the racists will sure find a term to designate what they consider significant. By taking away the word you just reduce your own ability to talk to them and explain their error. — Congau
That is a good point actually, but the argument works in my favor. There are no words for the subdivisions of the white race, but there is certainly racism among whites. In Northern Europe, Southern Europeans are being looked down upon as they tend to have darker hair and skin. There is no doubt that the Turks are discriminated against in Germany even when they are completely assimilated and speak perfect German. Even though they belong to the white race and there is no particular racial term to denote them, their racial difference works against them.case in point look at all the physical differences between people who are currently placed in the category of "white"
there are a variety of skin tones, hair textures and colours and yet those people are all seen as the same "white" — dazed
People tend to dislike those who look different from themselves. Kids bully other kids for their looks and grown-ups are skeptical towards people whose appearance indicate that they belong to another group. No particular word is needed in each case for this lamentable but quite universal phenomenon to exist. — Congau
Even though they belong to the white race — Congau
A friend and I claimed to be Ferengi from the Star Trek show on a census because we object to the race questions. However it is not as easy as just not using those racially identifying terms because people in different classifications get special benefits and perhaps they should. Native Americans and people of color deserve those benefits. — Athena
you can retain benefits for certain historically disadvantaged groups through cultural identification. Clearly people belong to distinct cultures, but people do not belong to distinct races as there is no such thing as race in our reality.
It's really just a matter of getting more sophisticated in our language. Describe people's physical attributes, dark skin, dark hair, brown eyes. Then describe their cultural ties, he was born and raised in Jamaica. This more accurately describes someone as the complex individual they are, instead of the harmful, unscientific and imprecise label "black" — dazed
you can retain benefits for certain historically disadvantaged groups through cultural identification. Clearly people belong to distinct cultures, but people do not belong to distinct races as there is no such thing as race in our reality.
It's really just a matter of getting more sophisticated in our language. Describe people's physical attributes, dark skin, dark hair, brown eyes. Then describe their cultural ties, he was born and raised in Jamaica. This more accurately describes someone as the complex individual they are, instead of the harmful, unscientific and imprecise label "black" — dazed
If we all stop using words like "black" "white" etc and teach our children that those are bad words then racism will end in a few generations. — dazed
If there are no categories, there can be no opportunity for differential treatment based on those categories — dazed
then if you really want to end racism then simply stop using words like black white etc. — dazed
Recent horrible events have brought to the forefront the issue of racism, and if you are truly concerned, start with your language, and teach others to move this way. Just stop using colour words you will soon see how your own conceptual framework leaves no room to be racist. — dazed
you won't need equal opportunity for "races" if there are no "races" — dazed
Can you please explain to me why people of Middle Eastern origin often face discrimination (racism) in the West even though there is no racial term to signify that group? — Congau
Wrong. Kids need to know they are different. Kids need to know their ethnic background. I agree that terms like "black" and "white" are social constructs and aren't scientifically accurate to describe human groups however there is essentially nothing wrong with being black and white, and because we don't live in a society where humanity is primary and all others are secondary it is good for kids to know their distinctive qualities. — Anaxagoras
but they are not different — dazed
and the language you use highlights that that's where it all begins — dazed
if we truly teach them the reality that there are no racial categories of humans then racism would end eventually as children would grow into adults who did not see races but only saw faces — dazed
but I suspect you actually believe in racial categories (but use more palatable language like ethnicity instead of race) so again my suggestion wouldn't make sense to you — dazed
I’m again trying to make you answer my question. People from the Middle East suffer from racism in Europe and North America. Or do you deny that? If so why?Can you please explain to me why people of Middle Eastern origin often face discrimination (racism) in the West even though there is no racial term to signify that group?
— Congau
the fact of non-race based discrimination does not mean we should not make efforts to eliminate race based discrimination. — dazed
According to your theory racism against people from the Middle East wouldn’t be possible since a racial term is lacking, but as far as I can see, it is clearly happening. Please explain! — Congau
We can talk about Martin Luther King's dream for decades, as we have done, but the key is to restructure our brains so that there is no room for racial discrimination. The only way to do this is to actually change our language to reflect the reality of our existence. — dazed
Getting to a point where human brains no longer place people in different categories of human existence based on skin colour is the true path to the end of racism. — dazed
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