Ethnic Discrimation Still a Problem?

[AzureWolf]

[FONT=book antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=blue]In the lab I work at, there's this new Chinese person. He's been here for six months now, and he has terrible english speaking skills. He approached me the other day and just started chatting. To my surprise, he's only been learning english for six months! That explains why it was so hard for him to find the words for meanings he was trying to convey. It was amusing to hear so many politically incorrect things stated so bluntly, haha...

Anyway, he hates it here in the US, and wants to go back as soon as possible ([i]side note: apparently, you aren't allowed to be paid for working towards a Ph.D in China[/i]). I asked him why, and he said that there's just too much discrimination. I told him that's just not true, as I've lived here for almost all my life, and have experienced little to no discrimination (ethnic, at least). His response: "You are Asian? You are lucky, because you look like white people." -_- Irony...

So, anyway, I'm wondering if ethnic discrimation is still a problem. If it is, why isn't it so... apparent these days? Is it simply being overshadowed by the whole homosexuality thing? Or is Communism in China too indiscriminating?[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Gravy Train]

I think that it is really only apparent to the people being discriminated against. While the majority of us live in our sheltered worlds. If we look really closely it's easy to see everything that is still unfair in this country. The government can't control everything and even the stuff it can control, they manage to scre up sometimes. (Not trying to be unpatriotic, it's just true..true.)

[Morpheus]

China's too indiscriminating. For the most part, there is only one ethnic group in china, So there is no discussion of race. He probably thought someone reffering to him as an asian was discriminating just because you don't hear that in china. Everyone's asian. There is no, "That's an asian thing" there because it's a steriotype that would apply to 100% of the people.

[Xander Harris]

I don't think that ethnic discrimination will ever be completely eradicated. It's one of the bad things that are part of fallen human nature.

I don't know about China, but I know racial discrimination most certainly is still an issue in America. Only naive people think otherwise. For instance, I am a white caucasian. When we moved out to Iowa, I was discriminated against and harrassed because I was not dutch. Even here on a Christian campus that prides itself on diversity and open-mindedness, a friend of mine from India says she encountered a fair amount of racial intolerance during her first few years here. The older dutch people in the Iowan small towns propogate racial stereotypes against the incoming Hispanic population, and feel threatened by them. (and I'm sure I will carry some nasty stereotypes about small Dutch towns for the rest of my life) A couple years back, a couple kids in our town attempted robbery by shooting themselves and claiming the store was robbed. They said that it was "Two Mexicans" who did the shooting. The next day, my friend Angela (who is hispanic) felt overwhelmed by people whose anti-hispanic sentiment had been stirred up by the incident. To the disgrace of our entire community, I don't think there was anyone who didn't buy the "Two Mexicans" story hook line and sinker, until the forensics investigators proved it wrong.

Racial discrimination is one of the most disgusting things in the world, but I don't think it will ever completely cease to be an issue. It is one of those social ills we will always have to strive against.

Grace and peace,

James Bierly

[future girl]

[size=1]You don't see discrimination unless you're being discriminated and as a Hispanic person that looks Hispanic, I've seen discrimination. I live in Miami which I think most people think is this wonderful racial utopea because it's so culturally diverse. But it's not. I've been talked down to by a million people of a million different ethnicities. In Elementary I was constanly beat up and picked on by students 10x my size because I was the minority. Something like this never stops existing because there will always be someone not willing to accept the difference in cultures, skin tones, languages etc. etc. I think it really depends on where you live as to how often you see it, but in big cities it's where it's most evident in my oppinion. I seriously don't understand how someone could miss that just because I see it all the time.[/size]

[Manic Webb]

Like Morpheus said, there's only one ethnic group in China, for the most part. When you live in an area with a limited ethnic spectrum, you won't have ethnic discrimination because, well, what other ethnicity is there? The United States is a country founded and supported by immigrants, so you can find every major ethnic group on Earth here. When that happens, you get some culture-clash, stereotypes form, and you're gonna get your typical discrimination problems.

It's even worse for the smallest minority, because they have less of a voice. Up until recently, African-Americans were the largest minority (oxymoron, anyone?) in the US, so we worked for years (see: 1865-1965, give or take) to get the rights we deserved as American citizens. We and Latinos are the larger minorities, so issues of civil rights typically come back to us. Asians, on the other hand, are a scattered minority whose voice is rarely heard. That's why you can say "ch!nk" on television, but you can't say "n!gger." We, the public, rarely ever hear the voices of other minority groups. Thus, ethnic discrimination is probably more common with Asians. Everyone's afraid of offending the beaners and blackies, but it takes a lot more effort to stop labeling Asian groups.

Of course, it doesn't help that Asians have some of the least negative ethnic stereotypes. They're, supposedly, the ones who are good at math, know how to fight, close to finding inner peace, and dry clean one hell of a t-shirt. See the "Average Asian" sketches on MadTV. He's stereotyped by everyone turning to him for help. So because Asians have this stereotype of "the helpful, wise masters of everything but the English language," people assume it's okay to hold onto those ideals, because it's not like you're seeing them as gang members or hollering alcoholics. It's still discriminatory, and it's still wrong.

[W00t,iM uNbAnNd]

Sadly, I find myself hearing discrimination everyday. For you see, I play an online game on Playstation 2 everyday for many hours. The "clan" (group) I have been in for over 2 years is mostly black. Out of 20 of us, about 16-17 of us are black or mexican and I'm one of the 3 white people. I am only 15, and the rest of my clan is between 22 and the oldest is 33. Everyday we play, many different people pass through our room that we play in. If we win (we usually do), many racial slurs are thrown at us for no reason. Words such as N***er and S**c are just thrown about like it doesn't make the people saying them feel bad. Then they will say many things bad about blacks and hispanics. Things such as that they make our society dirty and unclean. It truely hurts me, and I feel horrible when these people say these things. So, that is why I hate discrimation so much, and I can't stand people who even joke around about stuff like that.

[Panda]

No matter what there will always be people who feel they are better than other just because of their race/nationality/gender/creed. I just think in some places it has gone under the radar. Back when my dad was younger he actually had a guy tell him he was a stupid *derogatory name for Japanese* because it was his fault that the war happened. My dad was in grade school. I think we can all agree that a grade school age little boy who is working on a farm isn't the cause of the second world war.

While going to school I was one of two Asians in my grade. Once in a few years we would get a new student when their dad would transfer into the Japan Airlines training facility. Otherwise you could count all the Asians on one hand. We didn't feel like a minority since our friends never made us feel that way. No one, at least that I have noticed, has even batted an eye that I am in an interracial relationship. It's weird to think about but I am. My husband is of German decent and I am Japanese. I guess I don't feel like it is an interracial relationship since my peers have always been non-Asians.

It would be nice to get rid of discrimination, but that will probably never happen.

[Baron Samedi]

[size=1]As a member of a majority, it is easy enough for me to say "discrimination is here, and sadly won't be leaving any time soon". For minorities, those are hard words to hear. I am in no way refuting the fact that public acceptance of racial differences has come in leaps and bounds over the last few decades. But, it seems that there are still a large number of intolerant people around, and the thing is, they're the vocal minority. Because, really, you don't ever [b]hear[/b] a non-racist person. But, all too often, you [b]hear[/b] a racist person. Regardless of the proportions, their volume is too loud to be ignored.

It's easy for me to say that people should just try and ignore those kinds of people, but I've never had to deal with race-based discrimination. I don't think it's fair, and I don't think it is acceptable, but the thing is, whilst most people have moved along with the times, there are those who still cling to racist ideals, or perhaps more uncomfortably, have merely gone underground.[/size]

[Shinmaru]

Honestly, I've never really faced very much discrimination in my life, at least not that I've noticed (and discrimination is something that you'd have to work really hard at not to notice lol). I've lived in the same town for most of my life now, and most of the town is made up of Latinos, which is where I get most of my heritage from. Just about every school I've gone to has been about 90% Latino, and most of the remaining 10% were Asians and African-Americans. I don't think I met a single white kid until middle school lol.

However, that doesn't mean that I haven't [i]seen[/i] discrimination with my own eyes, because I have. There were some white kids that I knew in middle school, I was friends with some of them. They were cool guys, really, unlike me; I was a jackass in middle school, to tell the truth. But with race relations running a rocky path, well, those poor guys faced their fair share of discrimination. A lot of it was just poking fun, but sometimes it grew really serious and hurtful. Nothing violent, thankfully, but it got close a couple of times.

So, yeah. It isn't just the minorities who are being discriminated against. I know that nobody here is assuming that, by any means, but I just like to point that out so everyone's on the same page. I was born of a interracial relationship (my dad is Mexican, and my mom is of mixed-European heritage), so I have really strong feelings about that sort of thing.

[Heaven's Cloud]

Growing up in DC I went to a public school where I was one of four white kids in my grade. I never really noticed it until I moved to a school in North Carolina where there really was nothing but a bunch of white kids. Oddly enough I felt more bigotry directed towards me in North Carolina than I ever did in DC.

Sure, when I grew up in DC there were the occasional Indian/Asian versus American football games (10 on 4) but that is about as bad as the discrimination got. In North Carolina there was a lot of bigotry directed at me because quite a few people thought I was rich. Now I never really wanted for anything, but my family was far from rich and I always found it odd that it was the kids with nice new cars that were hassling me about my folk?s (apparent) wealth when I drove around in a beat up gray Oldsmobile.

If people decide that they want to hate a person, they?ll find an outlet to direct that hatred towards.

[James]

[color=#334366]Ethnic discrimination is still a huge problem around the world, just as much as sexual/gender/religious discrimination. America has seemingly become very politically correct within the last few years, but in doing so, I think it's almost reinforced inequality.

It reminds me of a South Park episode that dealt with the nurse who has a fetus on the side of her head. lol

The town held a giant festival and everyone wore fetuses on their heads. They thought that it was a sign of solidarity and that they were pleasing her -- by going to the extreme.

Instead, they were just calling more attention to the fact that she was different. She didn't even notice any difference when things were "normal" -- when people just treated her like a human being, first and foremost. But when they got ridiculously politically correct, it seemed as though they were taking what made her different and making it the focus, rather than emphasizing the similarities between themselves and her.

Maybe that's not the best example, but...I seem to see that now and again, especially on U.S. television. lol

Actually, this reminds me of something.

There is a teacher/doctor in the United States and I'm forgetting her name right now, but she has been running a program for many years, which is based on teaching about racism.

I can't even remember the name of the course (it was so long ago that I saw the documentary about her), but I'll try to describe what it's like.

In the documentary, she held a class as a teacher. In the middle of the class, sitting on the floor, were all the people with blue eyes.

Surrounding them, sitting on chairs, were people with brown eyes and brown skin.

The entire "lesson" was somewhat like a lecture, with occasional class participation -- the class being the people sitting on the floor.

The teacher would then interact with the class as a racist person might interact with someone of another race -- the blue eyed adults were belittled and treated as though they were unintelligent. It wasn't particularly harsh, it was more of a subtle psychological thing.

But by the end, just about all of the blue-eyed students were in tears. They had [i]never[/i] experienced such treatment, based on their eye colour.

In the 1960's and 70's, this teacher did the same thing with young students in her elementary school classes. Some days, she would put preference on the brown-eyed students. All blue-eyed students were not allowed to do certain fun activities, or they were given certain restrictions and differing treatments.

In this documentary, she held up drawings from those children. On the "blue-eyed days", those kids' drawings reflected their sadness and pain. On the "brown-eyed days", they were happy and bright once again.

So, this is the type of experience that those in the majority (who have never experienced prejudice based on their race/gender/sexuality/etc) really should have. I think it would be a huge eye-opener.

I just wish that for one day, everyone in the "majority" were able to experience a dose of this. I think that would change many attitudes.[/color]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=darkviolet]Ethnic discrimintation is definately still a probelm along with religious discrimination and age discrimination.

I'm an Irish amaerican, I've never been discrimated against by my ethnicity-probably because by the time I came into existance discriminating against the Irish was out and discriminating against some other race or ethnicity was in.

But I have been discriminated against or just plain treated rudely because of my age. Last year I was out with Lincoln looking for this pizza shop a few towns over We pulled into this one gas station because we got lost and couldn't figure out where to go. I went in to go ask for directions and the lady was just plain rude. I asked if she had a phonebook so I could look up the address and she told me it was locked up. I asked her if she could get it for me and she said it's locked up. I just told her that maybe she should be nicer to her customers and walked back out.

Lincoln asked what happened I told him how rude the lady was and he went in to see if he could get directions. The lady was just as rude to him and said 'I already told your friend that I didn't klnow where it was and she couldn't use the phone book. Didn't she understand?' he said 'No she doesn't understand rude people' and left.

So there are all type of discrimination and none of it is very fun. and all types of discrimination are still a problem.[/color]

[elfpirate]

To be blunt, discrimination abounds in every culture, and if you're not seeing it, your eyes aren't open.

It may not be as publically tolerated as it was before people pretended to care about being politically correct, but it's still there... a looming cloud of ignorance hanging over our heads like the sword of Damacles...

[Drix D'Zanth]

Racism? Cry me a river. We?ve got legally enforced anti-discrimination laws. The world would be a perfect place if there were thought-crimes right? I mean, there should be a limit, yes, but let?s take the typical hiring policy of Abercrombie and Fitch: walk into a store, look at the beautiful (thin) employees meandering amongst the floor, their faces glistening with just enough makeup to hide the vomit from their last trip to the bathroom. A careful analysis of my last point could indicate one of two things depending on what category of weight you fit in:
-A&F obviously discriminates against fat, ugly people? go get ?em Drix!
-Hey, I like A&F why are you calling people at my store bulimic?

Why am I implying bulimia? The figurative implication would stem from a direct desire for me to somehow elevate myself above another human being. This is the exact same urge that has driven Bill Gates? Windows empire to crush any operating system before it.
Racism makes people feel good just as any sort of social competition would. Hell, I was teased for years. Why? Because until my Freshman year of high school I was under 5? and it took me a year until I wasn?t singing soprano. I figure, that as long as we don?t have established discrimination within our government? I don?t see anything that we can change. I couldn?t change the bullies? opinion of my height any more than I could change a racist person?s opinion of their hated ethnicity. I hate to sound insensitive, but it?s up to the person to change.

I love the way we have changed, though, I think for the most part the world has gotten far more neutral when it comes to racism. Unfortunately this has almost developed into a hypersensitivity of race. Affirmative action comes to mind, and so does the current media-influenced ?gangsta? culture. Did I miss the email from the NAACP claiming that it was ok for black people to call each other ?******?? And why is it suddenly an issue if I don?t refer to them as ?African Americans?? (yes, it is an issue to some people? like reporters, and liberals ;) ) Want to know who my favorite African American is? Charlize Theron. And the ultimate Orwellian lead today most often overlooked is the idea of a ?hate crime?. Honestly people, since when wasn?t a murder hate inspired? Since when wasn?t arson, robbery, or rape hateful? As James has said, the actual attempt to enforce a colorblind view of society only increases the rift between races.

So what?s the solution? I say, give it a rest, live your life, and raise your kids to be decent human beings.

[Manic Webb]

[quote name='Drix D'Zanth']Did I miss the email from the NAACP claiming that it was ok for black people to call each other ?******??[/quote]
You know, I missed that same email.

[quote]And why is it suddenly an issue if I don?t refer to them as ?African Americans?? (yes, it is an issue to some people? like reporters, and liberals ;) )[/quote]
That reminds me. You said "black people" in that last quote! Just kidding. Speaking as both a [moderate] liberal and a black guy, I don't like lecturing people on being called an African-American, and I don't like [i]being[/i] lectured on the subject. "African-American" is a mouth full (the longest ethnicity name I've ever said, I think), and I think it's a little ridiculous to say it [i]every single time[/i], especially when people say "white" more than they said "Caucasion."

[quote]Want to know who my favorite African American is? Charlize Theron.[/quote]
Actually, is she an American citizen? I always thought she stayed in American on the infamous entertainment visa.

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Drix D'Zanth]Racism? Cry me a river. We?ve got legally enforced anti-discrimination laws. The world would be a perfect place if there were thought-crimes right?

Um... just because there are laws doesn't mean that they're enforced... but the point of this thread was to ask whether or not discrimination still existed and why it wasn't as obvious as it once was.

I do agree with you, however, that the PC movement is a ridiculous farce, and I also agree with you on the hate crimes issue... anyone that says that rape is not a hate crime should be bludgeoned with the club of reality...

You make some legitimate points, but you didn't really answer the specific question.

[M.Ali]

[quote name='Manic Webb']Actually, is she an American citizen? I always thought she stayed in America on the infamous entertainment visa.[/quote]
[font=trebuchet ms]She was born and raised in Africa, then came to New-York to dance. It's wierd when you think about it, but she's African-American.

But anyway, I think that ethnic descrimination is still an occuring problem too, of course it's not as strong as it used to be, but it's still there. Some of us may catch it more than others, and that's mainly because of where we live. I say that because I live in the south-eastern part of the U.S. where racism was in it's prime. I can honestly say that I 've had my fair share of encounters, being though I 'm black/puerto-rican. I've caught it from both ends too, (other people, and puerto-ricans as well), mainly because people look at me and think that I'm the stereotypical "black" male, whos a gangsta and walks around raping all day.

But to me, the most important thing isn't the descrimination, it's how you would react to this type of situation. I say this because I have a few friends who are catagorized as the stereotypical "black" male, that have paid the consequences for handleing racial descrimination the wrong way. I'm sure that everyone already knows this, but if this situation did arise, the best thing to do is just try your best to just walk away.[/font]

[eleanor]

[color=darkslateblue] Ethnic discrimination will always be a problem as long as there are different races. All sorts of discrimination will always exist. Until the end of the world, I say. Quote me, if you want. Anybody who thinks it's not a problem 1) Is dumb/ignorant or 2) Comatose on a bed since birth.

[or if you want to hear my mean and biased side, they're white and have never been the minority wherever they live.]





[please note that what I just said wasn't serious.]

Although it's awesome to see how far we've come. I'm just saying...there will always be discrimination. Maybe even 100 years from now, people will accept gay people as perfectly fine (they already are, mind you) but they'll still be discriminatory against, say, incestuous person. Bad example, but whatever. You guys should get my point.[/color]

[Juke Box Hero]

I faced racism everyday of my life. As a middle class white male, I have no problems right? Obviously the black man, the Asian man, and the Hispanic man (as inferior as they are), need more aide and assistance, right?

In my school district they provide free lunches for minority students, including some of the wealthier African families around, but us whities have to pay 1.87!! Obviously I am rich because I am white, right? My dad is a pastor, and if the church members were not generous at times, we would be... well its tight at times anyway (thank God for grandpa; and mom's genius at money managing).

Racism against whites is built into the culture. It sounds absurd, because one cannot be racist against whities, right? White women do OK, but us white guys... whoa! Everyone and their brother hates us, distrusts us, and uses us for money! It is o so sad...

AND WHITE GUYS CAN'T WIN!!

I am have dated Hispanic and Asian girls in the past, and RECIEVED RIDICULE FROM OTHER WHITIES!! Minorities don't trust me because my skin is white, and other whities don't like me because I am not against minorities...

GEEZ.

FIRST PARAGRAPH IS SARCASM!!! PLEASE DO NOT MISREAD

[James]

[QUOTE=elfpirate]
Um... just because there are laws doesn't mean that they're enforced... but the point of this thread was to ask whether or not discrimination still existed and why it wasn't as obvious as it once was.

[/QUOTE]

[color=#334366]Absolutely. You can have laws on the books (which help), but ultimately it comes down to attitudes changing over a period of time.

I think racism and prejudice are still huge problems in the world, but I do agree that things can also go the other way -- the whole racial hypersensitivity thing. Unfortunately some people respond to one type of extremism with another. And it doesn't help.

Having said that, some political correctness is not a bad thing at all. In that case it's just about being reasonable and having respect for others.

However, taking it to the extreme (not being able to say "black or white" for instance) is only rolling the ball to the far end of the spectrum the other way. It's just as bad, in a sense.

[b]Edit:[/b] Even though the free lunch point is questionable (although if it were only given to poor kids or something that'd be different), I would [i]hope[/i] that all of Raid3r's post is sarcasm.[/color]

[Guest Alchemist]

[QUOTE=Raid3r]I faced racism everyday of my life. As a middle class white male, I have no problems right? Obviously the black man, the Asian man, and the Hispanic man (as inferior as they are), need more aide and assistance, right?

In my school district they provide free lunches for minority students, including some of the wealthier African families around, but us whities have to pay 1.87!! Obviously I am rich because I am white, right? My dad is a pastor, and if the church members were not generous at times, we would be... well its tight at times anyway (thank God for grandpa; and mom's genius at money managing).

Racism against whites is built into the culture. It sounds absurd, because one cannot be racist against whities, right? White women do OK, but us white guys... whoa! Everyone and their brother hates us, distrusts us, and uses us for money! It is o so sad...

AND WHITE GUYS CAN'T WIN!!

I am have dated Hispanic and Asian girls in the past, and RECIEVED RIDICULE FROM OTHER WHITIES!! Minorities don't trust me because my skin is white, and other whities don't like me because I am not against minorities...

GEEZ.

FIRST PARAGRAPH IS SARCASM!!! PLEASE DO NOT MISREAD[/QUOTE]

Man Raid3r, where do u live. Giving free lunch to minorities just cause there minorities. I am black and I would be very offended to get free lunch just cause im black you should write your school system and demand that they change.

Also i trust white people, so your cool with me
I dont see race when i see people. People should be more like me.

[Juke Box Hero]

[QUOTE=Sepiroth]Man Raid3r, where do u live. Giving free lunch to minorities just cause there minorities. I am black and I would be very offended to get free lunch just cause im black you should write your school system and demand that they change.

Also i trust white people, so your cool with me
I dont see race when i see people. People should be more like me.[/QUOTE]

Ya I know, its insulting to be given handouts for no reason other than skin color. And as to your second paragraphthingey, I am the same way. I don't see an "African", "European", "Hispanic", or "Asian" American, I see an American. I am prejudiced against losers, not races, you know?

[elfpirate]

Hmmm... I grew up in places where if you were white, you were the minority and I experienced the "anti-white" discrimination in many forms- from my fellow students and peers to my teachers and administrators. It isn't a fun situation, but I think I always perceived it as the backlash that occurs because of the oppression that white people subjected other cultures to.

I never really took it very seriously, in other words... not even when my girl scout leader tried to kill me by forcing me to eat raw squid (knowing that I was allergic to seafood) simply because I was white and I was "insulting her culture" by not eating it... I got really sick... and she thought it was funny, because it served me right...

"Hauli" and "gringa" were used so often to insult me that the words lost their meaning and their derrogatory effect...

Right now, I'm in a position in which I have had to tolerate discriminatory attitudes because my friend isn't white and I am (well- I look pretty white, anyway). When we're at the bar together, Native women come up to me and tell me that if he mistreats me in any way, they'll take him down, etc... because he's Native and is automatically assumed to be an alcoholic and an abuser.
I simply say "thanks" and leave it at that...

But these attitudes can be found even within the group being discriminated against- as is the case with my friend- his fellow Natives stereotype him into being a drunken, woman-beating jerk... it's not just one ethnicity against another...stereotypes cross all lines, borders, and societies.

[Godelsensei]

Being acquainted with many a fellow and lady newly from China, I am not able to sympethize with your amazement at how short a time your friend has been speaking English.

Anyway, living in a remarkably cosmopolitan place, I have neither witnessed, nor experienced, very much in the way of racial discrimination.

The US seems more uptight about the theory behind equality of race, but you hear alot of talk to do with racism occuring there.

I think the best way to avoid racism is to get to a point where people simply fail to notice differences in race. I live in a place where you are as likely to see an Asian, black, or Indian dude walking down the street as a white one--and nobody cares.

Simply making a big deal out of providing compensation or sympathy towards minority groups has no bearing on how people actually feel about each other. And if it does, it only makes them bitter.

Racism is something that can, in fact, become a relative non-issue, when it comes to school and work life. People like to say we are incapable of getting along, but I see that as an excuse to shrug and continue to...give black kids free lunch.



It really depends on how ignorant the people in question are.