Rational Discrimination

The_Minister

http://www.nationalreview.com/09oct95/feature.html

I'm not sure if I ever posted this, and search is down.

It gives an alternative way to view modern racism, as risk minimisation, practised by people of all races, often against their own race.

My own opinion is that it is an interesting viewpoint, and it explains a good deal of racism, but seems to minimise actual racism.

vangoz

Just finished reading there.... interesting stuff

callig

NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday.

Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites

...

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/15/interracial-couple-denied_n_322784.html

Is that rational discrimination?

The_Minister

I think that is just plain old racism.

callig

In the article "Myth of the Racist Cabbie" the author asks

Might prejudices reflect not ignorant predisposition but prudent judgment?

How can you say for certain the judge is a racist?

He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

He has a point.

Studies show that mixed race children, in particular those with one black and one white parent, are over-represented in the care system and school exclusions, under-achieving at school and more likely to become drug users and have suicidal thoughts.

But where in the past the finger of blame has been pointed at the families, with mutterings of the failures of inter-racial relationships, new research suggests the problem is in attitudes of society and professionals who make unfair assumptions about inter-racial families.

'The bottom line is that many mixed race people have poor social experiences. Quite often the broader family rejects a couple who have married and reject the children, or then you get perhaps street abuse or the loss of friends. Instead of being supported, a couple can be attacked and undermined.'

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jul/11/race.world

One of the most terrifying assaults took place on cousins Lee and Kasim Evans, both mixed race, on 2 July this year. Lee, a 24 year old systems analyst for an investment bank, was wary about drinking in Eltham pubs because of a hostile atmosphere.

But on that day he went to play a couple of games of pool at his local. He and Kasim were attacked as they walked home by men who had been following them in a car. "One guy had a bottle of drink and was pouring out the alcohol so he could use the bottle as a weapon," says Lee. "Another lunged at me with a knife. I managed to twist it out of his hand, but I was smacked with a bottle and my jaw was broken." After the attack Lee had the mark of a footprint on his neck.

The men chased after Kasim, 23, and attacked him, leaving him with a serious head injury. Kasim now says, "I avoid going to Eltham. Every other day someone is attacked. You feel you can't walk the street without someone trying to stab you or kill you. Nothing has really improved after what happened to Stephen Lawrence."

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=4357

Whosbetter?

Intreresting stuff there lads.
Shows that there's 2 sides to every story.

The 'Rational Discrimination' thing seems to me to be just people using their Commonsence in situations.

Mahatma coat

How do we define 'Mixed Race' if your mam is Irish and yer Da is French, then technicaly you are of Mixed race.

but I dont think thats what the issue is here, the issue that the judge raised is that Mixed raqce children suffer the most, this needs to be clarified a bit further, I have some friends of mixed race, One girl is Half German half Vietnamese, dosent cause her any problems in life with either community, I have another friend he's half Irish half Chinese, so yellow skin and red hair, again dosent seem to be treated any differently, I know a girl whose motther is Venezuelan and father is Italian, again not an issue.

The problem seems to Arise when I talk to or end up in a social situation with a few aquaintences who are of black descent, these guys do get the shiitty end of the stick on most occasions, they are the ones who get ID checked at bars, they are the ones that spend inordinate amounts of time in ques, they are teh ones that the girls are afraid to be alone with etc....

So the cold hard truth is that its not an indiscriminate logical thing its a dislike for BLACKS plain and simple.

Mahatma coat

on the other hand tho


They do also seem the be the ones with the biggest chips on their shoulders, and the least desire to do anything about it

Gary L

Mahatma coat wrote: »

I have another friend he's half Irish half Chinese, so yellow skin and red hair .

Is that a lie? It's not important. What is important is that racism always has an element of logic to it, always some rationale so that the racist can justify it at least to themselves if not to others. It's still wrong. Trying to find a deeper understanding of the causes and proffered justifications is applaud-able but to see it as an issue that has two equal viewpoints is to diminish its evil implications.

The idea that racial discrimination is acceptable now that even other black people are accepting the stereotype of the young African American thug is appalling. It just goes to show how illogical and ill-considered such views are. To look at a man and have a strong preconception of his character based on skin colour, ethnic background or nationality is a disgrace, no matter how you spin it.

P.s. It's Hardly surprising that money helps to shake the xenophobia off ( Black businessmen acceptable)

Prof.Badass

The_Minister wrote: »

http://www.nationalreview.com/09oct95/feature.html

I always thought most discrimination had some sort of rational basis.
Doesn't make it right though.