Is there really racism in America?

[tctatheel7]

Joke:

Little girl is watching TV preacher. TV preacher says "God is not black or white. God is not Gay or straight."

Little girl turns around and asks her mom "Mommy, is Michael Jackson God?"

 

[Sims2789]

it is true that there is a difference and that being gay does affect a person, but i still say that homophobia is as bad as rasism.

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by sims2789
it is true that there is a difference and that being gay does affect a person, but i still say that homophobia is as bad as rasism.

How is it?!

There's nothing wrong with disliking gay people. Being gay does affect people. It does change their personality and lifestyle to varying degrees. But what's wrong with disliking somebody because of their personality? What's wrong with disliking somebody because of the way they act?

There is more of a problem with disliking (or even hating) people because of their race. It's like disliking all people with blonde hair...madness.

Of course, while the reasoning may be mad, who am I to say who they should and shouldn't like? At the end of the day, if people want to dislike people of a certain sexual orientation or race, regardless of how backward they may be, who am I to stop them?

The problem comes when people begin to act on their opinions, thoughts and feelings. But even when this is to happen, to hate and act upon this hate is a lot worse when it is simply a question of race or skin colour.

 

[Sims2789]

it affects them because they are discriminated against by a lot of people. there are a lot more homophobes than there are rasists.

 

[Mr Black]

Hating gays is discriminating, hating. It's not racism, because GAY is not a race. Hence the term racism.

But it's still HATE. THe semantics' makes them different, but really they are the same.

 

[Sims2789]

Hating gays is discriminating, hating. It's not racism, because GAY is not a race. Hence the term racism.

But it's still HATE. THe semantics' makes them different, but really they are the same.

completely true.

 

[sysyphus]

Originally posted by phoenix_night
There's nothing wrong with disliking gay people. Being gay does affect people. It does change their personality and lifestyle to varying degrees. But what's wrong with disliking somebody because of their personality? What's wrong with disliking somebody because of the way they act?

Complete rubbish.

Gay people do not necessarily act "a certain way". Some may act stereotypical because they've been brainwashed to think that if they are gay then they have to fit in, but I know many gay people and unless they told you they were gay you'd have no idea.

You can dislike someone for how they treat other people, but for how they live their own lives is none of your business and inappropriate to judge them by.

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by sysyphus
Complete rubbish.

Gay people do not necessarily act "a certain way". Some may act stereotypical because they've been brainwashed to think that if they are gay then they have to fit in, but I know many gay people and unless they told you they were gay you'd have no idea.

You can dislike someone for how they treat other people, but for how they live their own lives is none of your business and inappropriate to judge them by.

Of course people can dislike people for how they live their own lives. There's nothing wrong with that. People make such decisions every day. And I can't tell people who they can and can't like. It just doesn't work like that.

Homosexuality is part of a persons character; it doesn't necessarily change the way they act in making them the stereotypical gay person as on television but it does change.

But people will like and dislike people for all sorts of reasons, including how they live their life. You can say it's complete rubbish if you like, but it's clearly not. If it were, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

But the fact remains, gay is a part of the persons personality/lifestyle. Nobody says anything about stereotypes here, but some people will not like that in a person. It's as simple as that and that's how it is.

Fact is, some people aren't now and never will be comfortable in the company of homosexuals. They won't like them. It's a bit harsh to criticise anybody because of this. You can't force people to like others and to get on, minority or not.

 

[sysyphus]

Originally posted by phoenix_night
Of course people can dislike people for how they live their own lives. There's nothing wrong with that. People make such decisions every day. And I can't tell people who they can and can't like. It just doesn't work like that.

I have no idea how one can think we have the right to judge people by their own personal lives. That's basically against what western civilisation is supposed to be all about.

Originally posted by phoenix_night
Fact is, some people aren't now and never will be comfortable in the company of homosexuals. They won't like them. It's a bit harsh to criticise anybody because of this. You can't force people to like others and to get on, minority or not.

I don't see why we should give in to the fact that some have hang-ups about homosexuality.

S0 what if someone is gay, what are you going to do next, judge people based on what they like to eat?

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by sysyphus
I have no idea how one can think we have the right to judge people by their own personal lives. That's basically against what western civilisation is supposed to be all about.

It's not judging, but many factors influence people's opinions of each other. When people look at another's personality or attributes, if homosexual is one of them; due to either lifestyle, personality, or homosexuality itself, some people may not like that. But it's just another factor, just another attribute or part of a personality. If people choose to dislike, or not to like, based on that then that's that. Whatever people may think of it, it's hardly as bad as racism.

And who am I to order anybody to befriend homosexuals or anybody else? If people have their opinions then they have their opinions. I can't force them to change. And what harm does it cause if somebody doens't socialise with homosexuals? The only problem arises when people act upon a dislike or hate. I can't really lambast them for their behaviour until then.

And I thought western civilisation was supposed to have freedom?

Originally posted by sysyphus
I don't see why we should give in to the fact that some have hang-ups about homosexuality.

Give in? Remember people have a right to their opinions. Leaving the whole personality thing behind, and now moving on to homosexuality itself. Not everybody approves, especially in religious groups, don't they have the right to their opinion? Why are you on a quest to change everybody's opinion to suit your own?

Originally posted by sysyphus
S0 what if someone is gay, what are you going to do next, judge people based on what they like to eat?

Me? What has this got to do with me? When have I judged people?

 

[Ian Beale]

To the original question i think racism exists in every country with people of different nationalities/religions etc...

 

[Bamspeedy]

I have no idea how one can think we have the right to judge people by their own personal lives. That's basically against what western civilisation is supposed to be all about.

Are you saying that nobody dislikes somebody because they are a smoker? Heavy drinker? Drug user? Cross-dresser?

What people do in their personal lives makes them who they are, and forms part of their personality. Some things are illegal to judge a person on when deciding whether to give them a job, but you can't possibly suggest that people can't consider those things when deciding who they want to have as friends.

 

[Sims2789]

to phoenix_night: replace the word 'gay' with the word 'black' in every post that bashes gays/says it is ok to discriminate against gays and see what happens.

homophobia isn't rasism...
...but it is just as bad.

 

[phoenix_night]

Originally posted by sims2789
to phoenix_night: replace the word 'gay' with the word 'black' in every post that bashes gays/says it is ok to discriminate against gays and see what happens.

homophobia isn't rasism...
...but it is just as bad.

There are no posts bashing gays...

I did not say once that it's okay to discriminate against gays...

[Do you read my posts? Do you just sit there thinking of a nice, sharp reply and then working out the best way to include the words "my mother's a lesbian"? Don't accuse me of being racist or homophobic without reason, that's not on.]

And no, homophobia isn't racism. No, it's not as bad.

 

[Benderino]

Originally posted by phoenix_night


Could you elaborate?

Many in Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, etc. are very xenophobic and anti-Semitic. If you aren't blonde, blue-eyed, then you don't belong there. I've heard of special zones or "Aryan only" areas in parts of East Germany. France gave 10% of it's votes to a known racist/near-neo nazi during the last election. Nationalism runs strong in most European countries, and there are still animosities against Jews, Muslims (though not so much), blacks, and Asians.

 

[phoenix_night]

You know when it says "Moderated by" at the top of the thread list page, does that mean those moderators are online? I want a reply from lefty.

@Benderino,
I will discuss your point in further detail tomorrow (it is 12:30 here).

Edit: Since it's 12:30, maybe I should say this morning. Or later this morning.

 

[Sims2789]

Originally posted by phoenix_night


There are no posts bashing gays...

I did not say once that it's okay to discriminate against gays...

[Do you read my posts? Do you just sit there thinking of a nice, sharp reply and then working out the best way to include the words "my mother's a lesbian"? Don't accuse me of being racist or homophobic without reason, that's not on.]

And no, homophobia isn't racism. No, it's not as bad.

but you said this:

Originally posted by phoenix_night


How is it?!

There's nothing wrong with disliking gay people. Being gay does affect people. It does change their personality and lifestyle to varying degrees. But what's wrong with disliking somebody because of their personality? What's wrong with disliking somebody because of the way they act?

There is more of a problem with disliking (or even hating) people because of their race. It's like disliking all people with blonde hair...madness.

Of course, while the reasoning may be mad, who am I to say who they should and shouldn't like? At the end of the day, if people want to dislike people of a certain sexual orientation or race, regardless of how backward they may be, who am I to stop them?

The problem comes when people begin to act on their opinions, thoughts and feelings. But even when this is to happen, to hate and act upon this hate is a lot worse when it is simply a question of race or skin colour.

if you dislike someone for being gay, then that's discrimination!!

 

[Benderino]

Originally posted by phoenix_night
You know when it says "Moderated by" at the top of the thread list page, does that mean those moderators are online? I want a reply from lefty.

@Benderino,
I will discuss your point in further detail tomorrow (it is 12:30 here).

Edit: Since it's 12:30, maybe I should say this morning. Or later this morning.

Oh, well, if we have to make it this BIG thing...



I only mean to say not that Europe is more racist than anywhere else, just that Europe isn't excused of racism. I hope I didn't offend you or anything, I just see it as a very arrogant thing when someone says "Europe is the only place where racism doesn't exist" because that's simply not true.

 

[Immortal]

Is there really racism in the Middle east....

 

[DvR]

Originally posted by phoenix_night

Homosexuality is part of a persons character; it doesn't necessarily change the way they act in making them the stereotypical gay person as on television but it does change.

How do you know it 'does change' ???
One does not hang a sign around his neck saying: I'M GAY! after which you can judge wether he acts normal or not..
For all I care even your closest friend could be gay without you knowing about it..