Racial Diversity Question

[jwsiii]

I am white and I live around some people of other races. They say things about white people that make me angry. I don't have anything against other races, but I'm proud of my own heritage and when people say disrespectful things about it, I get angry. I don't want to get angry over race, but I can't really help it. According to Matthew 5:29-30, we should get rid of things that cause us to sin. If racial diversity causes me to sin, should I move somewhere where there is little or no diversity ( i.e. Iceland, Scotland, etc )?

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

The cause of your sin is your own anger. They're not forcing you to sin but they are tempting you. Jesus also said if somebody smacks you, you should turn the other cheek and let them slap it too. So you can either listen to matthew or Jesus.

I live with two of the most rednecked fools I've evern met, luckily we all have seperate rooms. One of them has a confederate flag in his room, above his real stuffed hunting dog, that reads "If the south had won we'd have it made". They constantly complain about black people, with words that would get modded here. Then 5 minutes later they come and ask me "2,4, and **** are odd numbers right?" I kid you not, they seriously asked me that. My nickname is also Moses since I have a beard, I'm a mexican/white/indian mutt btw. I'm still nice to them, not outgoing or talkative but I politely tolerate them. Maybe because I don't have a race I'm not offended by anything /shrug

 

[feral]

I wouldn't take to heart the things they say about other races. Don't let their discrimination get to you. People discriminate because they are afraid, or because they opinion they have of themselves is so low they need to boost it with something else. Just ignore the rude comments and try to prove that you don't fit into a racial stereotype. I happen to be proud of my various heritages as well (russian/aleut/fin on one side and brit on the other) and don't like to be lumped as "white" or presumed that because i'm mostly caucasian that i'm racist or something. I've found the best thing is to have friends of different cultures, so you learn more about why some might judge you in such ways. Definately don't close yourself off, however, or retreat from those of different races.

 

[Icystwolf]

You have to note, some people haven't gotten over their history with the past. Some chinese people still hate the japanese.
I was bullied back in primary school for being chinese, but I've gotten over that.

But the most obvious would be the jews. In whatever argument they raise, they always refer back to the holocaust. Shame on them, seriously... chinese people have been through heaps more than what they went through, and we've gotten over it.

Its like, oh the terrorists is restricting our way of life just like the holocaust...or Government making synogogues pay for such and such is like hitler taking away our loved ones....or whatever........far out, can't the jews for one minute not refer to the holocause?

But as for the different races, accept it as a joke, get along with them, and maybe if you are offended, speak to them and ask them what they really think...

 

[jwsiii]

The cause of your sin is your own anger. They're not forcing you to sin but they are tempting you.

Referring to Mat 5:29-30, your right eye and right hand aren't causing you to sin either, just tempting you.

So you can either listen to matthew or Jesus.

It's not Matthew who said it. It's Matthew quoting Jesus.

But as for the different races, accept it as a joke, get along with them, and maybe if you are offended, speak to them and ask them what they really think...

It's not just individuals. The American media seems very biased against whites. I also find the media very biased against the Jews in Israel in favor of the Palestinians. I'm not even going to start on affirmative action ( which discriminates not only against whites, but also against Asians).

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

Then it's up to how you look at the passages. I can justify mine with scripture and you can justify your opposite view with scripture. Hate when the bible does that >_<

Matthew 5: 39"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."


As for the media being biased, minorities would say the same thing. In general I'd have to say it's fairly balanced. Same with the Israel Palestine conflict, both of their governments are being rather foolish.

As for affirmitive action I agree, that's wrong and discriminates. I can see in some instances how race would be important. Such as worker in a hostile foriegn country. I'd send hire an arabic translator and send them to Iraq rather than white person simply for security issues even if the white guy scored 3% better on a test. However for jobs like firemen race doesn't mean anything.

 

[Fiendishjester]

Race can be a very sensitive issue for some. I agree with what was said earlier about Jews referring to the holocaust. Many people use their race to gain unfair advantages in society. However, I'm not sure about the Chinese enduring more than the Jews (not to trivialize Chinese history by any means.) Jews have been persecuted since the time of Moses, at least the Chinese had Empires to call their own, and weren't invaded/ persecuted as many times as the Jews. In Asia, I'd have to say that India is that country that has been invaded the most. This is just my opinion, though, so please don't take it the wrong way. But forgive me, I'm straying far off-topic.
I also agree that Affirmative Action is not a good thing, because it entrenches the racist status quo. However, I believe that until the government stops being covertly racist (through its housing and welfare policies) Aff. Action is a necessary evil. If it could be said that all people have the same potential to a good education and a good life in America, then Affirmative Action would no longer be necessary.
As for the original post, I say brush it off. The ol' sticks and stones saying would apply here. You yourself know that what they say is not true, and so do they. They are just trying to humiliate you or make you feel inferior. Be proud of your race(s) and don't let what anyone says make you feel any different!

 

[royboy]

There are a lot of double standards like that.

Like why is it alright for black people to make fun of white guys but not the other way around.

I think after people realised that black people were equal, they felt guilty for the things in the past and so they accepted that black people were allowed to poke a little fun becase of that.

Maybe sometime in the future when minorities are even more established in all fields, this double standard will be less and less obvious.

 

[Rae]

One of the few areas in which people are allowed to discriminate is in acting and modeling. It is reasonable, for example, for a director casting "Cry, the Beloved Country," a musical with specific races playing specific roles, to refuse to let a white actor portray the black characters, etc.

 

[royboy]

One of the few areas in which people are allowed to discriminate is in acting and modeling. It is reasonable, for example, for a director casting "Cry, the Beloved Country," a musical with specific races playing specific roles, to refuse to let a white actor portray the black characters, etc.

Doesn't the double standard apply to this to?

Aren't ethnic minorities allowed to play white characters? Like in shakespeare. Demzel Washington in 'much ado about nothing'(?).

 

[Rae]

There is nothing about that particular character which required that he be played by a white person, if I recall correctly, hon.

 

[royboy]

There is nothing about that particular character which required that he be played by a white person, if I recall correctly, hon.

Historical accuracy for one. Not that I had a problem with it. Hey, I don't even like shakespeare that much.

What makes the black character in 'Cry, the Beloved Country' impossible for a white actor to play?

 

[Rae]

"Cry, the Beloved Country" is about a black South African minister, Absalom Kumalo, and (in part) his meeting with and relationship with the white father of the white kid that Absalom's black child killed. I don't think a white actor would be appropriate in this role.

 

[yen]

American media is biased towards those who aren't white. Reading any number of books about the media and how it works will give you plenty of examples to go by. The decision for some stories to go on the air comes down to a single question of, is the person in the situation black or white? I however am not just making this up from anywhere. Books on American media industries will give plenty of accounts.

To the original poster, instead of getting angry, why not be kind to them and show them, through your actions, that not all white people are bad and maybe that would make a difference. In my opinion that would be the correct thing to do. Anger and moving elsewhere is not the answer.

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

I see Rae's point, it would be a very silly choice to have a white guy portray a slave picking cotton. As for Shakespeare the story works no matter what the races are, they had men play females in the original versions.

 

[royboy]

I see Rae's point, it would be a very silly choice to have a white guy portray a slave picking cotton. As for Shakespeare the story works no matter what the races are, they had men play females in the original versions.

white guy portray a slave picking cotton...

I'm all for it ofcourse. I was just wondering if it counted as a double standard. Like when black comedians get to make fun of white people (which I have no problem with).

 

[Lion of Narnia]

Doesn't the double standard apply to this to?

Aren't ethnic minorities allowed to play white characters? Like in shakespeare. Demzel Washington in 'much ado about nothing'(?).

Those are essentially color-blind roles.

 

[Diatrive]

I'm all for it ofcourse. I was just wondering if it counted as a double standard. Like when black comedians get to make fun of white people (which I have no problem with).

Have you ever watched Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn?

EVERY race on there is mocking each other. Nick DaPaulo is making fun of black people left and right and Patrice Oneal is dishing it right back.
Its good to see.

 

[tcampen]

Hey,

remember those couple of hundred years when white people could mock black people, but not the other way around? Do Minstral shows ring a bell with anyone?

I'm not for any perceived double standard, but I could really care less.

 

[royboy]

"remember those couple of hundred years when white people could mock black people, but not the other way around? Do Minstral shows ring a bell with anyone?"

Wasn't there some guy al jolson or something who would paint his face black? Not sure if he actually looked down at black people, but I understand how it is offensive.

I don't actually have a stance on double standards. I understand that they are in place for a reason.