Re: Definition of Racism (without rent-a-riot)

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Fri Aug 10 2001 - 08:29:04 MDT


Jerry Mitchell wrote:
>
> > My usage of the term needs criticism: "A racist is someone who is
> > automatically antagonistic towards someone else just because of
> > that person's race."
>
> You asked for it ;) I think it could be argued that someone could in fact
> believe that a particular race is inherently superior without taking any
> action based on that. There may even be a large segment of the population
> that fits in this corner. I think its the philosophy itself that is the
> problem. Actions are predated by thoughts, thoughts are framed within a
> philosophy.

Yes. How about "a racist is someone who believes in the inherent
superiority of one's own race over others outside of merely social or
cultural phenomena, and/or is dependent on the belief that there are
genetic differences between races that cause those phenomena". A racist
may or may not act on that opinion, that merely determines whether the
racist is polite or not. My definition does exclude social phenomena,
like the trust issues I've been illustrating, which are not genetically
based, so far as I can tell.



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