The Race Card
It's disappointing that many Republican politicians and pundits have opted to play the race card regarding the nomination of Judge Sotomayor, particularly since they themselves have unceasingly decried such tactics from Democrats for decades.
We all lose when cavalier accusations of racism are made; because nothing stifles debate quicker than shifting the focus to the purported bigotry of the debater and away from the actual issue. As a result, we never get to thoughtfully examine whether or not affirmative action has run its course, or what's wrong with requiring identification to vote, or the many other things to which racial undertones are often ascribed. And, of course, the constant charges of racism just reinforce stereotypes, perpetuating whatever feelings of prejudice may still exist.
Can we also stop saying nonsense such as, "...well, if a white person said that, there would be hell to pay?" Although the legal definition of what constitutes racist speech or behavior may be one thing, there is another, simpler and more practical definition. To me, racism is very insidious. It is about believing that a particular class of people is inferior. That kind of belief has extremely damaging and persistent social and economic consequences for the affected class. It is very different, in my view, from a preference, especially when the preference is for a non-white. Such a preference may be quite illegal, but it does not carry with it the same debilitating implications. When a white person is subjected to such discrimination, all white people are not suddenly viewed as incapable. They do not slide down the social ladder as a result.
Let me be clear. I am not condoning or excusing the potential illegality of reverse discrimination, just putting it in its proper context. It is something very different from classic racism, even though it may feel identical to the impacted party. We should not trivialize the term by using it in a fashion that dilutes its real meaning. Discrimination can be transitory. Racism has a persistent and deleterious effect on entire classes of people.
We all lose when cavalier accusations of racism are made; because nothing stifles debate quicker than shifting the focus to the purported bigotry of the debater and away from the actual issue. As a result, we never get to thoughtfully examine whether or not affirmative action has run its course, or what's wrong with requiring identification to vote, or the many other things to which racial undertones are often ascribed. And, of course, the constant charges of racism just reinforce stereotypes, perpetuating whatever feelings of prejudice may still exist.
Can we also stop saying nonsense such as, "...well, if a white person said that, there would be hell to pay?" Although the legal definition of what constitutes racist speech or behavior may be one thing, there is another, simpler and more practical definition. To me, racism is very insidious. It is about believing that a particular class of people is inferior. That kind of belief has extremely damaging and persistent social and economic consequences for the affected class. It is very different, in my view, from a preference, especially when the preference is for a non-white. Such a preference may be quite illegal, but it does not carry with it the same debilitating implications. When a white person is subjected to such discrimination, all white people are not suddenly viewed as incapable. They do not slide down the social ladder as a result.
Let me be clear. I am not condoning or excusing the potential illegality of reverse discrimination, just putting it in its proper context. It is something very different from classic racism, even though it may feel identical to the impacted party. We should not trivialize the term by using it in a fashion that dilutes its real meaning. Discrimination can be transitory. Racism has a persistent and deleterious effect on entire classes of people.
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