racism n. - The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

Race is definetly one of the factors that divides the nation right now. I don't think there's anyone on here who can't say they've never said a racial comment or have never racially profiled another race. With the 62 % of America being White, the other 38 % represents Black, Hispanic, and Asian people (in that order). By 2025, Spanish is expected to be very close to the White race and Hispanics are going to be the main language of the country.

I won't lie, a lot of Hispanic people at my school really piss me off. They usually frustrate me so much that I usually do say some hatred about them, some of which I've even talked to people on this board about. I think the problem with this sudden rush of all ethnicities being brought together could be a huge problem. Obviously, some people understand and learn things better then others. I hate to say that minorities don't care about school work, but that seems to be the case. Don't get me wrong, a lot of my White friends don't care either, but my White friends aren't getting this 'extra help.'

A lot of people on here and people all around the political spectrum seem to be complaining about Affirmative Action and minorities getting more benefits in school. I have no problem with a minority getting extra help or maybe a slight extra bump to get into college, but minorities aren't the only people struggling right now. As I said earlier today, my school ranks 4th from last in state testing.

I don't think that giving extra SAT points to minorities will help the sitation. To me, that's like cheating. I think their education would need to be inspected. If someone really tries hard, but just can't get that great score on the SAT, then I think it'd be right for them to get some extra points, but that's not the case. There's an option on the SATs to check off a box for benefits if you're a minority. It doesn't matter if you're failing all of your classes in school and don't care. You can actally get benefits.

To me, this isn't helping anyone. This is telling people that they are going to be given things all through life and can't fail.

The problem is this: When a White speaks out against minorities getting extra help, they're labeled racist. If they agree that minorities need extra help (which I agree), they're pretty much saying that minorities don't have the mind of that of a White person, and then they're labeled racist. I think that all minorities can do whatever a White person can do, but I do think that most times they do need to work a bit more harder.

I think that the difference between Whites and minorities is definetly a problem and will be a huge one if we don't address it in a more well mannered way. It's time for the education system to recheck itself. -Pat

In regards to racism against blacks, the first place to start is with the black community itself. As long as people are going around calling each other the "n word" it will always be around. I don't agree with that "it's alright for us to use it but not you" crap. I know MANY college educated and/or doctorate level black people who will not talk to another black person if they use that word.

I worked with a guy who was black and called EVERYONE the "n word"- one of the guys I worked with called him that one day and the guy punched him.

The black community has to stop using words like that and then you will see how "alive racism is"


one more thing: is it right for a construction company that is building new homes to HAVE TO turn white people away ONLY because they NEED to hire a certain percentage of other races. There was a construction project in my town that took over 2 months to start because they didn't have any black people signing up to work. The guy said it was illegal to start the project because the numbers weren't right and even though no black person signed up, the minute they started working one could come down and potentially file a lawsuit.

Ugh. I was hoping I wouldn't have to address this, but I guess I have to. Black people don't go around and say, "Yo n-gger." They say, "nigga," which means Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished. Please don't turn this into a whole Black thread or start bashing rappers. I am talking about all minorities here and BTW, a lot of Hispanics at my school call each other 'niggas' too. -Pat

Racism will always exist and there really isn't anything that can be done to stop it. This isn't some new revelation that racism is still alive. It has been, still is, and always will be alive.

And please tell me what percentage of CEO's in America know the difference? There is no difference to people just hearing the word.

I have not bashed a single rapper but if you want to talk about racism then you need to address the problem where it starts.

If you want to change the "world" then you need to change yourself. You can't go around calling each other "nigga" or the "nword" and expect people to know the difference. CUT BOTH WORDS out of the vocabulary and how about just saying HEY. It seems a lot more professional than yelling something like "yo nigga" out.

I agree with DMC, its pretty hard to tell the difference between the two versions of the word and even tho you may think it means that acronym, most people arent going to think thats what it means. A lot of white kids or hispanics will use it because they hear in rap songs or on TV. They never say it around a black person tho unless theyre trying to piss them off.

I agree that racism will never go away. I myself am not racist per se, but I tend to find myself using racist remarks when I'm insanly pissed, i.e "You Jew prick" or Goddamn n-iggers" When i am myself, I would never hold it against anyone if they were black or a Jew, or any other race/whathaveyou. Its only when someone really gets to me that I use terms like that.

Actually, Whites are about 75% of the population, 12.3% Black and 12.5% Hispanic. The hispanics are probably much more though, here illegally. Source: Time Almanac.

The Hispanics better not take over this country and turn the main language into Spanish. America is an English-speaking language, and English is probably going to be made the official language in the near future. We need to totally shut down the Mexican border, and put the National Guard down there to back up Border Patrol. Mexicans trying to illegally enter the US should be sniped. That'll really unencourage terrorists to use that border, too.

But I believe this nation will always remain in majority comprised of people of English, German, Italian, and Irish descent as it always has been.

Affirmative action is flat wrong. That's racism in minorities favor.

And you know, the majority of racism is against Whites today. Truth is, minorities have waaaaaay higher percentage rates of crime, lower scores in education. Many think because they are minoirty they can cheat their way through everything. They should just be happy they're here and get the freedoms that the majorities get and be thankful we aren't like Hitler.

I want to know why us white people don't have any good acronyms. Seriously.

I mean, blacks have "THUGLIFE" and, apparently, "NIGGA" and "NAACP" and all this other good stuff.

What do we get? ACLU? That's gay.

[/politically_incorrect]

---

Anyways, as far as racism goes, we've hit the pinnacle in our country, where the minority is given special priviledge over the majority. It's essentially discrimination against whites.

For instance, my university is ranked #2 in the nation for foreign enrollment. We are funded by the taxpayers of the state of New York. Yet these foreign students, who are now the majority of students, for the most part, don't pay tuition...yet I see my tuition increase every year.

Our Vice President had a quote in the Buffalo News recently because we "don't have enough foreign students." I'm sorry. When it's like a 8-to-1 ratio of Asian to American, and the taxpayers are paying for not only their kids, but foreigners, who get their education and then go home and support their countries economies...that's wrong.

In my opinion, at least.

And I don't care what color you are, we've got people from everywhere...India, Pakistan, Asia, Africa, Scandinavia, Australia, etc. But the sad fact is that our (NYS residents and taxpayers) rates keep going up, while the number of foreign students, who don't pay, increases. And the standards for international students is far lower than it is for American students, which is also interesting. They continue to make it harder for Americans and residents of the United States to get in, yet foreign students are accepted with a stamp of approval that requires little more than the press of a wrist.

Regards,
Double-J

Actually, Whites are about 75% of the population, 12.3% Black and 12.5% Hispanic. The hispanics are probably much more though, here illegally. Source: Time Almanac.

The Hispanics better not take over this country and turn the main language into Spanish. America is an English-speaking language, and English is probably going to be made the official language in the near future. We need to totally shut down the Mexican border, and put the National Guard down there to back up Border Patrol. Mexicans trying to illegally enter the US should be sniped. That'll really unencourage terrorists to use that border, too.

But I believe this nation will always remain in majority comprised of people of English, German, Italian, and Irish descent as it always has been.

Affirmative action is flat wrong. That's racism in minorities favor.

And you know, the majority of racism is against Whites today. Truth is, minorities have waaaaaay higher percentage rates of crime, lower scores in education. Many think because they are minoirty they can cheat their way through everything. They should just be happy they're here and get the freedoms that the majorities get and be thankful we aren't like Hitler. [/quote]The white race is at 62.5 % if we're going to be technical about it. I got news for you. The Hispanics are taking over this country and the main language WILL be Spanish by 2025 (that is a researched fact).

Because their education is too difficult. They need more help, which is what affirmative action and these benefits do for them. I think it's clear that the Black race definetly is cornered by the courts in the US. There's definetly racism in our courts today.

----------
Posted by DJ:
We have to remember everything that Blacks went through in this country. They were traded from country to country like animals. They've only been free from slavey for 134 years in the US. The Civil Rights Act was only passed in 1964. Also, not all Blacks support THUG LIFE or 'nigga.' Pretty much every single Black person who is over 50 is against them. Look at Bill Cosby. He's literally blaming rap music and the use of the word 'nigga' for Black kids not being able to read.

I don't think this should be a money issue though. I think that if someone comes here from another country or if a minority gets some kind've bonus, it's their responsibility to pay for college like every White person, whether it be a loan or whatever. -Pat

Agreed. I wholly disagree for this gladhanded support because someone is of a different ethnic descent.

I don't see any special "white kid" scholarships coming my way.

Agreed. I wholly disagree for this gladhanded support because someone is of a different ethnic descent.

I don't see any special "white kid" scholarships coming my way. [/b][/quote]Well, I think they should be able to get extra help and some bonus points on entrance into college if they have obviously tried, but no monetary prizes. -Pat

And that's where we disagree.

You're telling me an "underprivileged" black kid should get points because he's black, yet an "underprivileged" white kid gets none?

How is that fair?

wouldn't that just promote MORE racism; some kids will say:

why does that black kid get a higher score than me for doing less work? I don't like black kids for that.

THAT IS A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!

underprivleged black kids that do well may be better because they can overcome hardships such as poverty.

underprivileged white kids that do well may be better becasue they can overcome hardships such as poverty.


nothing to do with race there.

its harder for a black kid, ya gotta admit.

You're mixing up the terms "Spanish" and "Hispanics".

I'm not sure where you get your information from, but its just plain wrong. Black youth have used the term "n*gger" when talking among themselves for many years... long before the term "nigga" became fashionable.

well said SC.

Oh, that's where it is!!

Finally, we find a point of disagreement between you two. All this getting along was giving me a headache.

Well, racism is alive and kicking in Europe. Last night, the England football team played a "friendly" match against Spain, and our black players were targeted by the Spanish fans, who continuously taunted them and made monkey noises whenever they got the ball. And this wasn't just a few of the fans, the noise was deafening. The report by the BBC is here .

This kind of abuse makes me sick. I'm against "political correctness" and giving minorities preference for things, but this is treating blacks as if they aren't even human, and that's disgusting.

Right two points to make. First up:

I totally agree. No matter what, the best person for the job should be chosen, it doesn't matter what colour, gender, sexual orientation is. It doesn't even matter what work it is. But some work has worse implications. Say the fire force. Imagine if a new recruit was hired to fill a quota and wasn't the best at the job. This is a serious position and a dangerous line of work.

The next point I wish to make refers to Pat's opening title: 'Racism -- It's still alive'.

I saw and heard some pretty disgusting things in last nights international football friendly game between Spain and England. Each time a black English player got the ball there were hurls and chants of monkey sounds from the Spanish croud. Absolutely disgusting. I'm sure the majority of Spaniards are ashamed of the fans behaviour, there's no excuse for this.

You beat me to it Bella M. I shouldn't really be posting and cooking at the same time.

Yes Pat, racism is still alive in this very day and age. Just look at the Condoleezza Rice situation that has developed. It makes me sick that a well refined woman of her stature, self made with a top notch education, who overcame racial segragation in the south as a child, has been made fun of in a racial manner over last several days. What makes me even more disgusted is the way that she is being treated by many people of her own race!
Here's a perfect example of a double standard. If a black person struggles and does not overcome the barriers that they may face through thier journey in life, it is said, by many of their own people, that the person has been discriminated against, and held down because of thier color. And on many occasions it may be true. But at the same time, if that same person fights thier way through those barriers, self acheives and rises to a prominant postion within the world, those same people who yelled discrimination the first time now accuse this successful person of "selling out" becoming an "uncle Tom" or a "servant mammy" and of compromising with the powers that be! Such has been the case with Condoleezza Rice! It's really a shame that these kinds of names are used against successful minorities by thier own race of people!

So basically Pat, the problem not only exists between whites and minorities, the problem also exists right within the race itself!


Don Cardi

Of course, the trouble with "positive discrimination" is that it denigrates the achievments of those minorities who have actually worked hard to get to where they are in life - people assume that they've got their status as a token gesture rather than on merit.

It can also be very patronising. I've been reading in the papers recently how many institutions in the UK are banning the word "Christmas" and banning Santa Claus/Christmas trees etc as it supposedly offends non-Christians....how ridiculous. If I lived in, say, a Muslim country, I wouldn't be offended by them celebrating Ramadan and so on. Its all part of the culture of the country that you've made the decision to go and live in.

I agree with turi that this should never happen, but your press, and your players behaviour in the match promoted it. Because the spanish trainer didnt refer to henry in a racist way like your press said.

Racism is never going a way. I from Newark nj it
most black and my family is the alone Itaians
still here so I have a lot of black friends and
this guys will never stop saying the n word they
never stop saleing drugs but there just a handful
black want to do good in life but not alot. so
frist they have to help them selfs before anybody
else help them.

BMUK, I agree 100%. We are on the way to a society where everyone has to be the same. Blandness and mediocrity are celebrated and the only thing worse than being an under achiever is being an over achiever.

As regards last night's match, in Ireland (and I suspect Spain, though Nicolas will know best) multi-culturalism is a fairly new phenomenon. Go outside Dublin or Belfast and you won't see many faces that aren't white Caucasian. In terms of society dealing with this we are probably where the UK was 20-25 years ago. At this time banana throwing and monkey chants were fairly common in the UK (at football matches). Now it has been virtually eradicated. It will take countries that are not naturally multi-cultural more time to conform with what Brits regard as "normal" behaviour. While I cannot condone the behaviour of some Spanish football fans last night, the amount of media hand-wringing has been a bit over the top. Especially hard to take was that pompous blowhard Alan Green pontificating a few weeks after he was censured by Ofcom for making a racist remark.

I have to disagree with you guys saying that 'nigga' shouldn't be said. Well, until 1865, they were referred to as n-ggers. That's one word that could sum up America and show how far we have come. I also disagree with Turi and DMC about the hiring of Black people and other minorities. I think that they should be looked at first in SOME cases. In most cases, the White race is ALWAYS better for the job. If we don't give Blacks an extra boost, then they will go right on welfare. If you guys think that SOME minorities aren't as smart as the White race (which I agree, don't bombard me), then does that mean you want to segregate everything again? Whites and Whites? Blacks and Blacks? Hispanics and Hispanics? I do believe that Whites hold an advantage, though some of the White race could use some benefits too, but we must remember that Whites were never used as slaves and didn't have to experience the struggle of the 1800's and most of the 1900's. -Pat