...discrimination? Yeah, sure. That very well may happen or has happened.
But that's not racism. Racism requires power of one group over another.
Well, at least this explains the crux of our misunderstanding, disagreement even. You are pursuing what you think is some textbook definition no one understands. I am sorry to be so dismissive with what you are telling me, but this lesson has been beat into us our entire lives.
- Discrimination IS Racism. Full stop.
- Not pursuing equality is racism, do you deny that?
- Hell, describing racial things the wrong way is racism.
There was quite a stern response when I once used African instead of African-American. I mean, white people are all European ancestry. Take a wild guess where Asians are from. But try that standard use for Africa? Holy hell if it wasn't bloody murder for that one.
But do you know how we apply those lessons? Via equality. Something that is wrong... is wrong for everyone. That is how we unite as one people, by all living under the same standards, the same rules. By treating each other fairly. By pursuing equality. That is our moral compass. And moving off that compass is racism.
Heck, how would you describe collective guilt and punishment regarding terrorism and Muslims? Discrimination of some sort. It's just as vile as racism, is it not? I see such discrimination treated just as harshly, and I have come to judge it as such. So what practical purpose does your restrictive definition of racism serve? This notion that discrimination and racism are somehow separable is foreign.
And the consequences of treating them as separable, to people who've never heard of that, and never agreed to that... is basically telling them that discrimination... harming them is somehow... permissible? Or not as bad? This circumstance conjures one hell of an "other" identity between you and whoever is hearing it. Moreover, it creates a sense of injustice... of evil intent. The same one our moral compass is built to guard against.
I am willing to hear you out if there is some explanation behind your concept. However...
No one is going to have the patience for that when it comes to public policy, and public debate. We need to signal to people that we are FOR them. That we will help them. The rust belt and other trickle down victims are not going to wait for an education. That could take generations. We need their votes now, and if we have to simplify things to meet their understanding... to balm wounded perceptions that Democrats are neglecting or attacking them... Then I believe Dr. King had the correct message all along. And that is something we should stand by on the subject of race in America.
E Pluribus Unum, the True American Dream.