Is this racist?

[Observer]

Not sure if this is the right category, I wasn't sure where to ask this.

My husband and I were walking our dog and 2 men were walking towards us. Our dog started pulling and my husband then said "Leave that Asian alone!" to the dog, LOUDLY, so the men (who looked Asian) heard!!! I felt humiliated and loudly told my husband not to say that. The men looked shocked and offended as they walked off.

I tried to explain to my husband that what he did was dehumanizing, calling the man "an Asian" instead of "a PERSON". His race and/or appearance had nothing to do with the situation and my husband would not have said "leave that white alone!" if it was 2 white guys walking past. I found his comment so derogatory and am so disappointed because it reflects on me and I want to be married to someone I can respect.

I know some people can get extremely politically correct, to the point of saying someone's race shouldn't be mentioned when identifying people in crimes and things like that. I don't feel I am being too PC here, I feel what he said was so wrong and inappropriate.

I'm so upset that I can't convince him it's wrong, do I have a right to be upset? Is this wrong?

Thanks..

 

[softart]

You have every right to be upset, and you did the right thing trying to educate him. But some people don't learn - such is life. Don't sweat it. Yes, referring to someone as a member of an ethnic group or religion is dehumanizing ... these are just labels which we must use when the occasion demands, such as filling out forms or whatever. But in everyday, social situations, it is better to treat people as people and not as 'races', 'nations' etc. So your reasoning is correct. But like I said, some people won't change.

 

[GoingByzantine]

What your husband said was not right, but at the same time it was likely a result of the way he was raised (no insult meant towards your husband). Here in the States, I work in the tourism industry and many of my co-workers will call Asian tourists "Orientals" if they are East or Southeast Asian or "Arabs" if they are of Indian descent. Occasionally they do this in front of the tourists, which then reflects badly on me as well. They see no problem with it, because the town where I work is literally 99% white...and most of my co-workers grew up without ever spending any time around non White people.

So when the time is right, I do try to correct them and if I were in your shoes, I would make sure my spouse is on the same page as me when it comes to labeling people as humans rather then races.

 

[TPeterY]

Not sure if this is the right category, I wasn't sure where to ask this.

My husband and I were walking our dog and 2 men were walking towards us. Our dog started pulling and my husband then said "Leave that Asian alone!" to the dog, LOUDLY, so the men (who looked Asian) heard!!! I felt humiliated and loudly told my husband not to say that. The men looked shocked and offended as they walked off.

I tried to explain to my husband that what he did was dehumanizing, calling the man "an Asian" instead of "a PERSON". His race and/or appearance had nothing to do with the situation and my husband would not have said "leave that white alone!" if it was 2 white guys walking past. I found his comment so derogatory and am so disappointed because it reflects on me and I want to be married to someone I can respect.

I know some people can get extremely politically correct, to the point of saying someone's race shouldn't be mentioned when identifying people in crimes and things like that. I don't feel I am being too PC here, I feel what he said was so wrong and inappropriate.

I'm so upset that I can't convince him it's wrong, do I have a right to be upset? Is this wrong?

Thanks..

To answer your question, no he's not right and it's good you're letting him know.

However, is he not a christian? This is vital because Jesus will be returning soon and will be giving out rewards to all faithful Christians, and the most common reward will likely be the Crown of Life. If he's not a Christian, he might end up here during the tribulation. If he survives into the Millennium, he might live to the average age of most people nowadays of 50-70 while you live forever.

Don't mean to hit you with an off topic but it's better to know now then find out later. If he is a christian, get him to pursue an intimate relationship with God, not an acquaintance. It's because not all Christians will be caught up in the rapture.

Be Bless!

 

[saffron park]

It does seem racist, but it isn't particularly malignant.

 

[Kurama]

It's certainly racist (addressing anyone pertaining to their race is racist), but definitely not hateful.

 

[terryjohn]

I would be embarrassed and offended to have said such a thing and I can see myself saying something so stupid. Please forgive us. Nevertheless, I have had a dear friend of mine who is not the same race as me when he came to my house the first time ask if my dogs liked people of his race. I was as shocked that he would say such a thing, however, it is quite common for those of some culturers to be derogatory about themselves but no one else should be.