Racial Hatred What To Say?

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Question:

I was in the car with my two "friends" who are sisters aged 45, and 43, and Nancy brought up so much racism against a certain race, it made me cringe and feel so bad for her hatred toward this race!. The other sister, Ruth said: " Nancy, be careful because Sheila will tell her mother how we really are and how we really act!."

I said nothing in reply!. I was just astounded at the hatred!.

Would you think this was so dumb of Ruth to say this to me when her sister Nancy's racial hatred was so obvious, or was she really trying to say this is the way they are, and I didn't really know them that well!?!?!?!?

Please give details!?!?!?!?

I am 40, but no longer hang around with them!.
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Let it roll off your shoulder!.!. her burden to carry not yours!. Just stay away from them and make some new friends that aren't hateful!.
I've had experience much the same so I know how akward and uncomfortable it can be to hold yourself back from saying something to them about it!. I don't say anything because no matter what I say it can't change the fact that they are racist and I'd rather pick my battles!Www@QuestionHome@Com

we really wouldn't know what ruth is trying to say unless you ask her yourself what exactly she was trying to imply!.

racists cannot be avoided!. we're all racists in our own little ways!. yes all of us!.!.!.no exception!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

why dun u dog say u abuse your power to play indian with chinese and this is Lee Kuan Yew hates the most!? I should report doggies 2 him and my richful prospective like u doggies!. I learn from the dog!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well if Ruth said "or she will tell her how we really feel" and you don't know how she really feels, then who is being dumb!. Racists throw out hints, to test the waters with people who don't know they are racist!. You must have let alot of test balloons float by unheeded to get to the point where such an extreme level of hateful expression could catch you off guard!. I would suggest that your "feelers" are broken and you don't know where people are coming from till they beat you over the head with it!. Given what Ruth said and your confusion, maybe beating over the head isn't working either!.

I would avoid these people and sharpen your listening skills!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Racism need not be about hate!. Racism can also be about pride!. Like when blacks or hispanics back and support one another against the illusion of oppression!. The whole concept of a "gang" is about supporting ones own ethnicity, to give power where there was none!. Pride, or even love, favoring a group that one belongs to is racism in itself!. I call it "positive prejudice", as opposed to reverse prejudice!.!.!. because reverse prejudice is more about compensation for prejudices, as though one were "owed"!. Whereas positive prejudice is a prejudice, a bias, stemming from an undue positive emotional affiliation!.!.!. even if negative prejudices against alternative groups are lacking!.

Tell me!.!.!. if you were walking down a city street at 2AM, and a black man came out of nowhere a walked 30 feet behind you!.!.!. would your heart race!? Would you worry in the slightest!? How is the perfectly reasonable sense of self-preservation any different than an irrational fear!? And where do you draw the line between a reasonable inference about circumstance and fear-based prejudices!? If he were a rapist, you wouldnt second guess your instincts!.!.!. and rightfully so!. But, hypocritically, if he were to catch up to you and say, "hey miss, you dropped this twenty-dollar bill", would you then feel like the shittiest bigot ever!?

There is nothing wrong with prejudice in and of itself!. I have used this example many times!.!.!.
When a statistician does it, its called statistics, or inference!.
When a logician does it, its called logic!.
When a psychologist does it, its called a study
When an empiricist does it, its called science!.
And when a layperson does it, its called a prejudice!.

If youre right, its sloughed off as intuition or instinct!.
And if youre wrong, once again its prejudice!.

If it wasnt for the human capacity for prejudice, we would still be swinging from trees!. Inference, the ability to see patterns, to learn, to form generalities, and then to apply them!.!.!. this is what makes our species great!. The ability to generalize is the basis for science, every hypothesis is a prejudice!.

One long stick can be used as a spear against a grisly bear!. Is it a leap to think that another long stick can be used as a spear, too!? So why is it that if hundreds upon hundreds of black men enjoy fried chicken, why is it so horrid to think most of them do!? Just accept that there are exceptions, and you are fine!.

The real issue is this!.!.!.
Can you learn!?
Can your prejudices change!? Are you willing to see their failings!?
Do you test your prejudices, or just use them!?
Do you recognize that they are prejudices!? Or do you see them as truths without question!?
!.!.!. That is what makes a prejudice wrong!. That is what makes the difference from unbiased inference and bigotry!.

Let me leave you with these last points to ponder!.!.!.
Most prejudices have some hint of statistical truth to them!. Would it be intelligent to ignore the statistics!? Even at the cost of being wrong!? Is it ethical to sacrifice probabilistic truths for a greater sense of social obligation!? What if those statistics could help!?

Let me also ask this!.!.!. the minorities that refuse to accept prejudices as statistical truths!.!.!. are they in the right for not questioning it about themselves!? Are they in the right for rejecting it as insulting, no matter how true they are!?

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Luger!.!.!. you are more than welcome to quote me!.

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If anyone is interested, I have six blog entries at blogger!.com that are about prejudices and the like!.!.!.
http://cogitoswords!.blogspot!.com/search/!.!.!.
http://cogitoswords!.blogspot!.com/2008/08!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Cogito Sir, Congrats, You Are Win

thank you, and i hope may people read what you have said here, because you have said what i have been trying to tell everyone around me who keeps saying this and that is racist and not looking at themselvs like i try to, i do make mistakes too, but i at least try,

its like its not helping though cuz people dont listen, I gues its because of the bad representaiton of black culture that was and still is around while we were growing up and still areby the way im 13

anyhow, i just wanted to say thanks, and if i can, get your permissian, to quote you sometimes!. thanks, and sorry i vented on you, if i can quote you, please edit your question and tell me so!. well, thanks again
thats it!. im done typing!. bye!. bye!.Www@QuestionHome@Com