Suppose, instead, you want to say to me “stop looking at me with those beady eyes.” Then you notice that I’m of Asian heritage. What substitution for beady comes to mind? Would using it be racist, or not?
Suppose you want to say to me “you really need to have thicker skin.” Then you notice that my skin is quite brown. What substitutions for thicker come to mind? Would using them be racist, or not?
Suppose you want to say to me “I can’t listen to any more of this sing-song gibberish.” Then you notice that I’m ethnic Han. What substitutions for sing-song come to mind?
It’s inevitable. You seem quite blind to racism, or strangely eager to defend it.
draxen
7131
deep and weary sigh
We have had this discussion before. What you are missing is context and intent.
context and intent
CONTEXT AND INTENT
If I crack a joke and you appear offended and I say to you, “man, you need to have thicker skin” then regardless if your skin color is black, brown, green or blue this is not racist because “thick skin” is an idiom and when used in this context it means “you need to learn to ignore verbal insults and criticism”. Your skin color is irrelevant. It has no bearing whatsoever in this exchange. Even if you personally feel that I’m being racist by using the idiom “thick skin” I am not responsible for your negative feelings because there was no intent of racism and it wasn’t used in a context related to race.
If I wear pink t-shirts because I enjoy the color pink yet you feel wearing the color pink is racist at what point does your individual right not to feel discriminated against interfere with my personal liberty of choosing to wear pink t-shirts.
I tell you one thing. Before Brexit I never realized that the definition of racism could be so… mangled.
I’m really going to bow out this time… we just go around in circles. I’m getting dizzy.
Neither is the exact sort of head covering I’m wearing. That’s the point.
draxen
7133
That’s my point too. It doesn’t matter. If the guy was wearing a baseball cap and the remark was “you’re talking out of your baseball cap” it would have the same meaning. It was being used as an idiom. The type of hat is irrelevant.
spiffy
7134
oh come on, man. As a politician who represents a nation of purported values which include being inclusive and respectful of individuals’ rights of religions and self expression, it’s his job to make sure he isn’t conveying a complete lack of awareness with his expressed words that say the opposite. It’s his job! And if he’s inept at that, he should at least have the awareness to recognize when his mouth got ahead of his judgement post fact (that part is easy for most) and fix it. That’s the difference between what you and I feel after an exchange and what he should be doing. But his massive ego and can-do-no-wrong swagger sabotage any possibility of that.
Menzo
7135
LOL, so you’re going with the “look what you made me do” defense. That’s a super popular one with wife beaters and criminals alike.
Maybe you should be clear who you think has provoked these nationalists this time.
draxen
7136
I don’t disagree. You are right.
I’m not so sure of this part though - but you are most likely correct on this too.
EDIT: To clarify I believe we’re talking about Boris
jpinard
7137
Bullshit. The Germans weren’t threatened, became hyper nationalists, and slaughtered millions. Manufactured feelings of being threatened via propaganda… kinda like what you & draxen do sometimes? That does contribute.
“provoked” = made to see a non-white face or hearing a foreign language when walking down the high street.
(2min12 if it doesnt start from there)
The Germans weren’t threatened
JPinard
The treaty of Versailles imposed crippling sanctions on Germany. It would have taken a century, if I remember correctly, to pay off those fines.
Germany also lost territory, and parts of Western Germany were occupied (and looted) by the French.
There were also strict, and punative, limits on the armed forces.
The French wanted to cripple Germany.
All they did was create the conditions for a second war.
Maybe you should be clear who you think has provoked these nationalists this time.
The left has treated these people with nothing but contempt. They have mocked them, and ridiculed them. They have been told that they are history, and that they should stop complaining as their lives are dismantled in front of them.
They do not think they are history.
It also takes remarkable Chutzpah to complain when they punch back.
What do you expect them to do. Roll over and die?
Timex
7141
I don’t expect them to roll over.
Things we werent doing because of the EU: Starving, jobless and buying a loaf of bread with a wheelbarrow of notes.
provoked” = made to see a non-white face or hearing a foreign language when walking down the high street.
All of your enemies are fascists, racists, misogynists, and bigots.
You use those words like cudgels, to pummel the people who make the simple mistake of disagreeing with you.
And in doing so, you completely deny their humanity. It is questionable if they even have the right to exist.
That’s shameful.
Menzo
7144
Yep, we’ve already been informed that calling Nazis Nazis turns them into Nazis. Keep up.
Also, Republicans freed the slaves, war is peace, and antifa creates fascists.
Ive already shown the stats long ago, and you’re defending and apologising for far right ultranationalism and scapegoating of immigrants and non-whites, because opposing that will be to oppose the siloviki and their criminal state. Duginist Shill.
Timex
7146
Yes, those groups are all my enemies.
They should be your enemies, too.
Yes, those groups are all my enemies.
They should be your enemies, too.
The words are being used, not because the individuals are fascists or racists, but because those words are powerful emotional tools to shutdown debate, and deny the other side a voice.
I don’t have to understand or compromise with my opponents - because they’re just a bunch of [fill in the blank].
Long term, these words will cease to have any meaning because of the way they’re being abused.
Timex
7148
No, that’s why the words are being used.
jpinard
7149
Hitler negated all the sanctions way before war broke out. War wasn’t necessary, neither was the holocaust. Furthermore, you conveniently left out the fact Britain sold out Czechoslovakia to the Germans. You mention German territory losses in the wake of WWI, but not what happened via British appeasement in 1938? Pathetic.
