prejudice in America

[bigdude39]

What do you guys think of this quote?



<< &quot;Prejudice is alive and well in America, and until it is thoroughly eradicated, the country cannot move forward&quot; >>



I think it is sort of naive, but it seems I'm alone to a point, so I thought it might be an neat discussion.

 

[toph99]

well i'm in canada(and in high school) and i can say that amongst the younger people, there definatly is, not so much for race, but discrimination of sexual orientation and beliefs

 

[JellyBaby]

So long as you &quot;thoroughly eradicate&quot; it via education, I'm all for that quote.

 

[Regine]

I don't think that it is possible to eradicate prejudice completely. There will always be people discriminating and stereotyping, no matter how much you try to educate them or whatever.

 

[Windogg]

I'm not prejudiced, I hate everyone equally.

windogg

 

[Rand7263]

I have nothing against anybody no matter what their race,color,religion or beliefs. But in my opinion prejudice will always lurk in society.

 

[KidViciou$]

i belive prejudice is a part of society, at least society as we know it. there will always be a feeling that someone is better than somoene else due to false facts.

 

[desy]

Predjudice means to &quot;pre-judge&quot; which means everbody does it. IE you have evaluations when you meet somebody in a hard hat or a suit. You make a determination of income or education without ever having spoken a word to them. Its called judging a book by its cover.
It is a tool we use to asess situations which in mans long history of violence and subsistance living helped us survive.
Your aren't going to de-program that out of us any time soon. All we can do is try to do is create a society of tolerance but as soon as push comes to shove humans will be humans.
So I wouldn't get my hopes up.
You can't wipe out homosexuality, prostitution, crime, mental disease, birth defects or racism.

 

[woodie1]

Sounds like a self serving quote to me.

 

[ElFenix]

1. we've come this far with it and show no signs of a dead halt
2. the US isn't the only country that suffers.

 

[Miklozz]

On boards like this, where you can't see the color of another's skin is the only place where prejudice is at its weakest. What I want to say is, it doesn't matter if you believe that you prejudice or not. Actions speak louder than words.

I'm an Asian-American male, 6'1&quot; 225lbs; my first day of work, almost everyone tried to avoid me. The reason I say this is because on the same day of my hiring two of my friends, who are white, were hired also. They were &quot;accepted&quot; quicker than I was. Both of my friends are somewhat like me, laid back, don't speak much, observant, and just chillin out. I've been at my work place for over a year now and I've finally felt like I've begun to fit in. Now employees joke around about how intimidating I looked the first time they met me, and how they did not know how to approach me.

My point is this, even though you say you are not prejudice, your actions can be. I felt unwelcomed my first few weeks at work. Why that was I can't truly say, except that maybe it was because I'm Asian. We pass judgment all the time, I think that prejudice will never die, it keeps the competition high, it fuels the motivation to succeed, and it is part of human nature...

Just my .02 on this subject...

 

[Bakwetu]

Prejudice's occur in all societies, it's perfectly natural to be somewhat suspicoius towards any group outside your own. Luckily, most people get over it after a while, at least once they get to know a person from that outside group.

 

[Ornery]

Prejudice this: We live in a 98% white city. Not by choice, but because I was born here. I consider myself to be open minded and always give EVERYBODY the benefit of a doubt.

On a recent visit to &quot;Chuck E Cheese&quot; we were playing air hockey and a minority kid came over and leaned all over the table like a little pain in the ass. We shrugged it off and joked around till he left. You've probably already guessed that his little JD friend was stealing our cup of tokens while he distracted us. Was it a coincidence that he was a minority? Maybe. Think I'll be a little more careful when &quot;his people&quot; are around me? I'm afraid so. My boys were right there. What do you think they'll learn from this? It ain't my fault...

 

[bigvince]

<<and a minority kid>>

oh ya your just a bastion of equality...

 

[thebestMAX]

WINNDOG

You have stolen my copyright protected quote!!! It also got me my definite Bast**d rating in my beloved and now gone Bast**d Poll. Its OK, join the group of us who feel that way.

Prejudice is alive, well and probably never will go away. Just think if we ever encounter Aliens (from space) what will happen then.

When I lived in Kansas City People there thought there was a high rate of prejudice. They should compare it to Florida.

Its all relative.

 

[Ornery]

&quot;...oh ya your just a bastion of equality...&quot;

So how would you have worded it Bigmouth? At this moment, neither you nor anybody else know what minority they were. And we don't have a lot of minorities, but we have a diversity of minorities...


Edit: Are you assuming it was a particular minority? Guess that would make you PREJUDICE wouldn't it!

 

[bigvince]

i didn't specify any race. the fact that you are trying to validate a sterotype is cause enough for my comment. if your a bigit just say your a bigit and stop trying to pretend your not.

 

[pugh]

Bigvince,
i agree with you on your last post.Sad to sterotype all based on one person's actions....

 

[pugh]

Miklozz,
Your situation is similar to mine. I'am African-American ,6'1 1/2 around 170 when soaking wet(lol). Heres my story. This monday i started a job at a independent computer company. Well as you know I'am the only African-American working there. The business is owned by a married palestinian couple . And all of the other workers are caucasians . Well i noticed myself that most of them would'nt and and still don't talk to me. I have tried my best to come across freindly to all. I guess some people are not used to working around different races. While i do believe prejudice exists today. I still think that it wrong. I notice some of the white customers that come in and stare at me too. I bet there thinking where i came from. But besides all of that, I'am there to do a job and learn the PC world. We should judge people on their character,not their skin color. Maybe like your situation they will warm up to me after a few weeks (lol).Hey I'am just a man trying to make it in this world.

 

[Ornery]

&quot;...trying to validate a sterotype...&quot;

Sad to sterotype all based on one person's actions....

Well, I got a news flash. It's this kind of crap that causes stereotyping! Once bitten, you know? I'd be a GD chump to let my guard down again.

You want to know why prejudice still exists? That's one reason. I said initially that I'm &quot;open minded and always give EVERYBODY the benefit of a doubt.&quot; That's probably no longer the case since this unfortunate &quot;coincidence&quot;. Is this my fault? And that makes me a bigot (a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices)? Fvck you! I got burned once and will be more careful in the future. Will I be a little more wary of this particular &quot;stereotype&quot; of person? Sadly yes, but I don't see that as being MY fault!

 

[pugh]

Scary thing about this guy is that on his web site he has a bible link and he lives in my state..boy i hope there is not more people like you up north..lol sad sad sad.....clean your mouth with soap ..!!!

 

[Ornery]

I'm waiting for an apology for calling me a bigot, spelled wrong or not...

 

[desy]

That is precisely what makes you a bigot your are condemning a race for the actions of one member, one instance of wrongdoing.
I highly doubt you live in a town that is 98% white I doubt the most northern town in Norway could make that claim sounds like you got blinders on.
It could be argued that you as a white person made this person a crimianl through generations of discrimination and subserviant behavior. Good enough to do your laundry , clean, cook for you . Never good enough to vote into power or even give the vote etc. So by denying them an equal playing ground white culture has created economic desparity and those who have been marginalized and repressed are left with crime as a legitimate option.
Without looking at the whole systemic problems of history and culture your 'prejudice' will perpetuate the status quo. Granted I also am prejudiced and can wholeheartedly admit it I hear a certain name on TV or hear of crime in a certain area and I immediatlely will come to certain conlusions about who commited the crime.
So where can you draw the line? Do certain races commit more crimes? probably, Is it because of history and culture and crimes of the white race, probably.
You don't see this as your fault? When are we going to step up and make right what our ancestors did? Other races responsibility is to let go of the past blaming us for past wrongs and continuing the cycle of poverty is wrong too, probably more difficult for them though.

 

[Ornery]

Here's the scenario. I take my family to Chuck E Cheese right behind our home. The patron diversity is made up of about the same mix ratio as the city. OK, maybe not 98%, more likely 95% non minority.

At this point, I'm not expecting to get ripped off. My wife watches her purse and we lock our car doors. I'm generally careful about that. But anyway, what are the chances that a minority will steel our tokens? As far as my math goes I'd figure 5%, right?

Hey, being prejudice and stereotyping are about the same to me, and I'll cop to leaning that way, but I ain't a bigot. And if it weren't for incidences like this, I might not be leaning that way as much right now.

And who was it that said they got nervous when a black man followed him down a lonely street? He was a black man himself, but I can't remember who. He was just being honest. Didn't make him a fvckin bigot though! And I still ain't saying exactly what minority that JD was either. :|

 

[Moonbeam]

Ornery, if somebody from the 95% group steels yur tokens next time, you's gonna wind up prejudiced against everbody. Course, I'll still love ya.