Am I a "liberal"?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

People not getting jobs because of their ethnicity is racism.

Just so. As is positive discrimination,for which they invented the coy euphemism "affirmative action". I'm not judging,merely making an observation of meaning.

Here we have 'multi culturalism'. A good idea on the face it,being another word for tolerance. In practice it is often intolerant and divisive,and has become another of those mindless,politically correct cliches.

[dry land fish]

Racism doesn't just "happen". It's taught. Education is the best way to beat ignorant thought patterns. It's the best way to beat brainwashing. I think we all know that. It goes both ways. It's not racist for me to say that there are more blacks in jail than whites. It's a fact. I'ts not racist for me to say affirmative action is a bad idea. Some people would call me racist for saying that. So it really comes down to how someone personally defines racism. Some of those same people say there are more blacks in jail because of racism. Because the "system" or "the man" is racist. I find it funny if you take those same inmates that say they are in jail because of the "system" and check their record you will find that they did something to be in jail. NO ONE puts people in jail for no reason.

I'll agree that the death penalty is a form of extinction. Take a child molester for example. They will always be sick. You can't reform sexual predators. We've tried and we fail every time. How is it just to keep them alive and pay to feed them? Are they anyone that is even worth our time? Just kill them and be rid of someone that is a cancer to society. As fare as I know molesting children will not land you in the electric chair. It should...but it doesn't. That was just an example.

[fr0d0]

I think racism can just happen.. as a natural result of a collection of individuals 'grouping'. Cross cultural mixing helps break it down.

[Darwinian]

I suspect that racism has its roots in our evolutionary past where it was a survival instinct to be very suspicious of rival tribes and those who look and act differently from your own tribe.

Unfortunately it doesn't work too well in the modern world.

[dry land fish]

I suspect that racism has its roots in our evolutionary past where it was a survival instinct to be very suspicious of rival tribes and those who look and act differently from your own tribe.

Unfortunately it doesn't work too well in the modern world.

It sounds probable. I think it also comes from a fear of the unknown. Someone may have customs or traditions that seem to be taboo to another coulture so they completely reject it. I don't have a problem with Black people but I really wish they would give up this urban gangsta crap. It gets really old. It's one thing to dress that way or talk that way but I mean gangs are just stupid. Inner city kids need to be able to go to school and get out of that cycle of ignorance they project onto their own communities. Instead they end up quitting school at 16 and gang banging, selling crack, stealing crap, killing eachother, and end up costing taxpayers money. I have wished for a long time that our government would make being affiliated with a "gang" is the same as being a terrorist. Just being in a violent gang should be a crime.

[binny]

I......I.......I just don't know what to say. Death penalties, affirmative action, racism? Can't we all just get along?

[Kyuuketsuki]

Kyu/Adrian, people " make a fuss " when a white person gets a job for being preferred to a black person similarly qualified. That's racism in action.

Um, you're going to have to clarify that as I'm not sure what you mean? Based on your last post I am assuming you still think it racist that when an equally qualified white and non-white compete for a role and the white gets it it is racism ... it isn't (or rather probably isn't ... it might be but you can't assume it is) and even when the lesser qualified white gets the role it might not be racism because there are ALWAYS other factors to take into account.

We boast about our education system in this country, about how good it is. Year-on-year cse and a -level results suggest our young people are doing better than ever before. More people go to university.

Yes ... it's called declining educational standards!

Despite all this education,racism persists. Legislation is needed....you can't wish equality into being.

It is already against the law to act in a racist, sexist or (for want of a better word) orientatist fashion ... whilst I accept that the practice of it may not be perfect what more legislation is needed?

People not getting jobs because of their ethnicity is racism. It's not about anything more sophisticated.

Indeed but employing a lesser qualified white over a non-white is not necessarily about ethnicity, it might be about one of the many other factors considered in an interview. OTOH, affirmative action IS racist.

Kyu

[bozo]

Kyu,
I hold that black people still encounter racism in the workplace ( and outside ).
Racism is entrenched and will be nigh impossible to eliminate.Simply asserting that education is the answer is no answer.
Re. affirmative action, let's take an occupation like the police. A very small percentage indeed of the police is anything other than British white. Considering our multi-cultural society, don't you think there should me more differently-coloured coppers? Why aren't there? How can we ensure there are?

---

Dlf,
You dodged my question. How do you view White racists?

[Kyuuketsuki]

I hold that black people still encounter racism in the workplace ( and outside ). Racism is entrenched and will be nigh impossible to eliminate. Simply asserting that education is the answer is no answer.

I agree with everything except the last ... education is very much the answer.

Re. affirmative action, let's take an occupation like the police. A very small percentage indeed of the police is anything other than British white. Considering our multi-cultural society, don't you think there should me more differently-coloured coppers? Why aren't there? How can we ensure there are?

Two wrongs don't make a right and, as I said earlier, affirmative action is just another form of racism.

Not saying I disagree but I would like to see data supporting your assertion that non-whites are underrepresented in the police.

Kyu

[Tiberius]

Re. affirmative action, let's take an occupation like the police. A very small percentage indeed of the police is anything other than British white. Considering our multi-cultural society, don't you think there should me more differently-coloured coppers? Why aren't there? How can we ensure there are?

Our census of 2001 says that 85.67% of the population are White (British), and a further 5.27% are White (Other). Given this information, I would expect a "very small" percentage of the police to have "coloured coppers".

As to your question "don't you think there should be more?", I say no; I don't think we should hire on the basis of race. As for why there aren't more, I think the demographics of the country possibly come into consideration, but there may be other reasons. Perhaps there are a higher number of black people who don't want to work in law enforcement. I also see no reason why we should ensure that there are more. If black people aren't coming to a police job interview, that is their own business. If black people are coming to a police job interview and are being outdone by a white candidate, give the job to the white candidate (the more qualified). I want my police force to be the best, not a shambles of people from different ethnic cultures that are only there because of affirmative action.

Hire the best candidate, regardless of skin colour.