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Jun 28, 06
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Could my dad be racist?
Listen.
My dad has said alot lately to make me mad. He talks about how multiculturalism has faded canada's image as a patriotic country. He thinks the united states is a great place to live where if you're an american you're and american, a mexican a mexican I totally disagree with this type of thinking but also find it really difficult to educate him. He can be really open to listening sometimes but Its kind of difficult to brake it down to him in conversation. Rather then read out of textbooks do you guys have any good articles on this kind of thing. Anything in semi lehmans terms that he would be able to digest with no problem? One person I know who has alot of knowledge on educating people on this kind of thing is Fable so im looking towards his way. Thnx in advance. Websites, Journals, anything will do. thnx. 
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Jun 28, 06
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism
sounds like your dad is just really nationalistic, not necessarily racist.
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Jun 28, 06
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The World seems to have become pretty soft. If it offends you, just shake your head; realize that they are wrong and you are right, and walk away.
Freedom of Speech also means Freedom of Opinion. Chances are you won't be able to change your Fathers' mind this late in the Game. My Parents have some pretty crazy ideas, and I accept them for what they are. Ideas from a Generation before mine.
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Jun 28, 06
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Well said Eric. I totally agree with you but at the same time hes willing to listen and debate. His views are crazy to me and I think he knows it. Its just that he doesn't know any other way. What I need is literature. Good things I can pass on to him.
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Jun 28, 06
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Hey mateo, without knowing your pops, or anything about his own history, I wouldn’t be able to make an assessment. But I think its pretty safe to say that if you are between the ages of 25-35, your parents probably have a handful of entrenched prejudices. I know my parents do, and they've spent over three quarters of their lives being involved in humanitarian aid. It is just the sign of the times, but I would think its a far cry from full on racism. Im pretty sure you would know without much indecision if it was in fact the case. Now im not making allowances for racial prejudices, but as Im sure you know, its much easier changing yourself than your elders!
Perhaps it would be good to get some perspective on my beliefs on racism and its roots, before deciding if what little Im able to put forth is relevant for you or not. I believe that racism is very alive and well, and has been the source of incalculable human suffering, violence and death BUT I believe it to be mainly synthetic. That being, it is introduced as a means to carry out a separate agenda. This belief is nothing new, and finds roots in dialectical materialism – as in there is material agenda at the core of racism. In a nutshell racism was bred by ruling elite as a means to sow dissention and division amongst the masses, towards a specific ethnic group as a means to garner support for attacks on said ethnic group for the purpose of acquiring goods, services, or land that was owned by said ethnic group at the time. Now this isn’t to shift accountability for each of our individual actions to an outside force. We all have a great responsibility and stake in the way we behave towards other ethnic groups, but we are creatures of our conditions. We more often than none, do not create these conditions, rather we react to them. Hence why education, experience, integration (not assimilation!) and participation is so important. At the grassroots community level, these qualities mentioned, increase the chances that outside corrupt/capitalist in nature, (for the intent of greater profit) have less effect. But if you understand that racism is synthetic in its nature, than we have to understand that education and such at a grassroots level is not enough to eliminate racist tendencies all together. Firstly perhaps their are in fact really fucked up people who are truly racist on their own, but I think the larger population is made up of people susceptible to outside influence on their perceptions of why their respective quality of life isn’t what they believe it should be. Poverty, violence, lack of security, and health concerns have all been pegged on various ethnic groups by ruling elite/capitalist class/government. Some examples include: Immigrants take all the good jobs, Immigrants drop the minimum wage, Aboriginals are lazy and drunk, and as a consequence are poor. These are only a few amongst a million, but if one traces these racist beliefs back to the root, it always involves a foreign insertion of fucked up ideology. Contemporary racism includes the fear mongering campaign revolving around those of the Muslim faith, or Middle Eastern decent. As well as all immigrants. There as been a compression of the State/Religion(religious identity) and or State/Culture(nationalism) Nationalism in itself isn’t a bad thing - a unification of peoples within a nation is great! But under whose banner? Who calls the shots? Does democracy grow from the ground up, or indoctrinate from the top down? In the end, "racism" as we know it, more often than none, has to do with economic reasons(or scapegoat) rather than a genuine hate/distrust of another race. Lack of education/experience/integration/participation/understanding that real oppression is administered through class disparity + an ongoing aggressive campaign/s orchestrated by ruling elite/capitalist class/government along with their tools of rule i.e. police/national military = an environment perfect for the cultivation of real, genuine, long lasting racism All this aside, I do not believe in "Multiculturalism" I think it is a catch phrase was/is for the intent of pacifying the sensitive predisposition of status quo leftist, social progressives, and supporters of the NDP. This ideology is based in the stereotypical train of though that says "we are all the same," and "we are all human" or my personal favorite "we are all the same color inside!" WE ARE NOT! WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME! But this isn’t the problem - the problem (at a grassroots/community level) is that we are failing at respecting diversity across the spectrum, and seeing that significant differences across ethnic groups as a strength and not a weakness or something to be afraid of. MOST IMPORTANTLY most people do not understand or choose to ignore the massive and consistent disparity economically across ethnic groups. In simple terms we cannot have unity without equality, and we can’t work towards equality without challenging our own beliefs consistently and dissecting precedent. How? Get involved. Get active. And be patient. Id say your pops is probably a genuine loving human being. I bet he isn’t nearly racist as he is confused, and perhaps just ignorant of the respective nature of things. As for articles, and essays, Id say really the best solution is to get acquainted with the struggles, and triumphs of other cultures. Books can give you guidance, but ultimately dealing with human conditions, means actual interaction with humans. But it’s always good to read up on economics, grassroots movements for social change, revolutionary works, and follow up on independent or grassroots news sources Indigenous to their respective community. Most of my reading includes philosophers, revolutionaries, leaders, and lots and lots and lots and lost of historical accounts! Lastly remember it’s a process. The fact that you are thinking about this, means that there is an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings with your pops, and perhaps build stronger relationships in the course of learning. Relationships are integral. hope this mass of chaos helps you out. Im really scatter brained at the moment, but feel free to hit me up whenever. ez shak
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Jun 28, 06
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Jun 28, 06
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is your dad a wop?
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Jun 28, 06
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I'm pretty sure most of our parents are at least a little bit racist. I know mine are.
Multiculturalism and anti-racist views are farely new concepts considering how long people have been on this planet. Its going to take awhile before people get over alot of the more animalistic tendencies that have been passed on from generations and in some cases are just human nature. Its not going to happen in our lifetimes, maybe our grandchildrens children? ha ha. who knows Last edited by -evil-duerr-; Jun 28, 06 at 04:19 PM.
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Jun 28, 06
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Jun 28, 06
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Is it unusual that my parents aren't racist?
As for people being against the concept or reality of multiculturalism. I guess there's a few ways of looking at it. First off it's a reality, there is no us and them, only us. By that I mean that this is all in our constitution. Discrimination based on race is not permitted. Secondly we need multiculturalism. Why? Because for a multitude of reasons Canadians are not reproducing at nearly the rate needed to sustain our population and haven't been for some time. Without new immigrants our population will basically implode on it's self as the baby boomers retire. Beyond that there are many other arguments in favor of multiculturalism but they go a little further in depth. I could recommend some great books that present broad based World views along those lines. Quote:
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Jun 28, 06
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also dont know about the scientology thing...
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Jun 28, 06
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im not sure i would go as far as say its unusual, i dont know maybe it is? I just wanted to make the point that it isnt unusual for most the people from our parents generation to be racist. I mean, the whole anti-racism movement only came about the last century right?
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Jun 28, 06
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Jun 28, 06
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sure none of our parents admit they are racist.... but you can tell by things they say. Maybe its not racism. Just the older generations are way less accepting of differences period. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have parents that are completely not racist. but i doubt it. Im just trying to be truthful here. Even people my age are racist. Dont make like its some archaic thing. Last edited by -evil-duerr-; Jun 28, 06 at 05:15 PM.
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Jun 28, 06
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