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Author Topic:   Your prediction about outcome of Super Tuesday
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 53 of 109 (454132)
02-05-2008 5:33 PM


Racism or sexism: the dilemma of Afro-American women
Today, I saw a news item about Super Tuesday on television, in which the dilemma of Afro-American Democrat women was explained: should they stay true to their race and choose Barack Obama, or should they let their sex decide and choose Hillary Clinton?
Frankly, I was appalled by this so-called dilemma. After all, their choice, if made for the motives mentioned, would amount to either racism or sexism. It should be clear that neither of these should inform their choice in the first place. What happened to "may the best candidate win"? Don't the policies the candidates announce count for anything?
Does anyone else see the strangeness of this situation?
Edited by Parasomnium, : changed a repetitive phrase into something else

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.
Did you know that most of the time your computer is doing nothing? What if you could make it do something really useful? Like helping scientists understand diseases? Your computer could even be instrumental in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Wouldn't that be something? If you agree, then join World Community Grid now and download a simple, free tool that lets you and your computer do your share in helping humanity. After all, you are part of it, so why not take part in it?

Replies to this message:
 Message 54 by Hyroglyphx, posted 02-05-2008 5:55 PM Parasomnium has not replied
 Message 59 by Chiroptera, posted 02-06-2008 1:01 PM Parasomnium has not replied
 Message 63 by Taz, posted 02-07-2008 1:54 AM Parasomnium has replied

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 64 of 109 (454449)
02-07-2008 3:40 AM
Reply to: Message 63 by Taz
02-07-2008 1:54 AM


Re: Racism or sexism: the dilemma of Afro-American women
Taz writes:
Frankly, I'm appalled that you actually thought this single woman actually represented the view of more than a few people.
What single woman? In the news item several woman were interviewed, and mention was made of the dilemma of the group of Afro-American Democrat women.
Sure, there are people that will vote against Obama solely because he's black. Sure, there are people that will vote against Hillary just because she's a woman.
I think the words 'racism' and 'sexism' triggered too hasty a reaction in you, and you glossed over what I said.
I'm not talking about people who vote against Obama because he's black, I'm talking about Afro-Americans who vote for him because he's black. Likewise, I'm talking about women who vote for Clinton, because she's a woman. And I'm talking about Afro-American women, who, according to the news item, are facing a dilemma because they find themselves in both groups.
My argument is that if you vote for Obama, solely because his skin is roughly as dark as yours (which is about all there is to race), then, even though it could be seen as a positive action, it still amounts to racism: you are making a judgment about a person solely on the basis of his race. And the same argument, mutatis mutandis, can be made about sexist voting. Racism and sexism, whether positive or negative, should have no place in the determination of who is going to be in charge of your country, because they are going to have to deal with a lot more issues that just those two. A much broader view of their promised policies is what should inform your choice.
I understand and agree with arguments about equal opportunities and all that, and that it would be good if a black person or a woman would become president for a change, but the first thing I thought when I saw the news item was that it is ridiculous to choose a president on the basis of the colour of his skin, just as you would not choose a president on the basis of the size of, say, his ears.
Edited by Parasomnium, : No reason given.
Edited by Parasomnium, : No reason given.
Edited by Parasomnium, : No reason given.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.
Did you know that most of the time your computer is doing nothing? What if you could make it do something really useful? Like helping scientists understand diseases? Your computer could even be instrumental in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Wouldn't that be something? If you agree, then join World Community Grid now and download a simple, free tool that lets you and your computer do your share in helping humanity. After all, you are part of it, so why not take part in it?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 63 by Taz, posted 02-07-2008 1:54 AM Taz has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 65 by skepticfaith, posted 02-07-2008 2:40 PM Parasomnium has replied

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 66 of 109 (454564)
02-07-2008 4:52 PM
Reply to: Message 65 by skepticfaith
02-07-2008 2:40 PM


Re: Racism or sexism: the dilemma of Afro-American women
skepticfaith writes:
Since this is an evolution forum - I believe there was a study conducted that showed EVEN white people tend to feel more comfortable around those of their own kind. [...] So this kind of 'racism' is actually a natural response.
I have no problem with this, I tend to agree that this response has evolved in us, like many other aspects of our behaviour have done. But I also agree with Richard Dawkins that we are now at a crossroads in our development. We, as the first species in the history of life on earth, understand how we came to be, that we are the result of a nearly endless chain of selfish genes. And we are also the first species who can actively fight some of our baser instincts, because we have found out, on a rational level, that there is no longer any real basis, or any real need for those ancient responses, now that we've evolved into a world-building social species. In other words: in the 21st century you shouldn't choose your president by the colour of his skin, or by the shape of her sexual organs.
Black people just feel far more comfortable expressing this consciously.
Just like black people also have more sense of rhythm, right? You probably don't want to, but you are using a broad brush here. It's probably one of those old natural responses. (Please don't take offense at the way I express myself here, I just want to make a point, not aggravate you.)
I would also debate that there is far more to race than skin color but I prefer not to - the notion of absolute equality is rooted in ideology and best left alone.
On the contrary, that would be an interesting topic worth debating. But not in this thread.

"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.
Did you know that most of the time your computer is doing nothing? What if you could make it do something really useful? Like helping scientists understand diseases? Your computer could even be instrumental in finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Wouldn't that be something? If you agree, then join World Community Grid now and download a simple, free tool that lets you and your computer do your share in helping humanity. After all, you are part of it, so why not take part in it?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 65 by skepticfaith, posted 02-07-2008 2:40 PM skepticfaith has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 73 by molbiogirl, posted 02-07-2008 6:38 PM Parasomnium has not replied

  
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