Withholding criticism and ignoring differences are racism in its purest form?

Question

How much or not do you agree with this quote by Ayaan Hirshi Ali and why?

Answer 1

I disagree that it is racism in its purest form - that would be violence done against a person because of racial hatred. That's pretty darn pure. However, I agree that ignoring differences perpetuates racism. About 15 years ago, political correctness first took hold. I believe that it has harmed advances in race relations because it encouraged people to ignore differences instead of understand and even celebrate them. I attended a seminar where we were instructed to never identify a person by their difference, whether it be race, physical handicap, weight, etc. I questioned the speaker, and she confirmed that it was not "acceptable" to point out (for identification) a person in a group as "the black woman" even if she's the only person in the room of African descent, and the only other way of identifying her was to say "the tall woman in the blue dress standing next to the punch bowl with the blond man."

By ignoring a person's differences, you're saying that this difference has no value, no meaning. If a person's difference has affected the way he lives his life, either positively or negatively, it should have meaning and should be acknowledged.

Withholding criticism is more subtle, but again, if you change your behavior because of a person's difference from you, that is prejudice.

Answer 2

I don't know about its purest form, but it is a form.  There is no progression made if differences are not discussed.

Answer 3

I agree. It is more like undercover racism. Racism like any other problem should be addressed in the open and or it will never go away. It will always be the elephant in the room that nobody discusses. By being open then you allow others to share their views candidly also. It could change your perspective. That is a good thing. Or perhaps you are able to change others perspective or just see things another way. There is value in being more open as opposed to being closed. There are differences. Why do we assume that differences are negative? Isn't that what is being done? I think differences are a form of beauty.

edit: The only way it can work is if people are open to alternative points of view. It won't work if people are rigid and stubborn then it's best to just not talk about it.

Answer 4

I disagree, the term racism is defiantly the wrong word to use.

LOL- a racist ignoring differences, they dwell on differences.

I tried to think of the proper term to use, but drawing a blank.

Indifference?.

Answer 5

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/r...

I think Wendy got underneath the meaning of the statement better than anybody else has so far but I can't agree with the statement entirely.  I'm really careful about the way I throw around the word racism.   We have really handicapped Caucasians of the ability to feel comfortable to talk about these differences.  It seems they are damned if they do, damned if they don't.  Meanwhile, a minority can get away with any type of white joke, criticism or broad sweeping indictment of  members of the majority.  Reverse racism is at the heart of a lot of current problems and I feel the author is over-simplifying when he/she says, "  in it's purest form".

Answer 6

I suppose this quote refers to those who claim to "not see" color or race, "only people." I think it can be a form of racism.

The quote is interesting because the only real differences that exist are physical (skin color) and cultural. There is often more genetic diversity AMONG ethnic groups than across ethnic groups. And ignoring cultural diversity, treating everyone as if they have, or should have, the same beliefs, practices, and culture is insulting, and definitely racist, since only ONE culture can be the "accepted" culture, in that scenario. Perhaps this is what he was talking about.

EDIT-Master-I know, I thought you were just being facetious, anyway.  ; )

Answer 7

I disagree simply because races aren't by any means homogeneous groups, there are differences within the group between the individuals and the nations they're from (like anyone from any other "race").

In fact the question comes down to a more fundamental problem. What is a race?

I hear many people saying black people but what if you're mixed with half european blood which race do you associate with? Maybe black?

This point wasn't to encourage us to arbitrarily list all the different racial possibilities but rather to show that race in of itself is a difficult concept to define in this age.

At worst ignoring differences makes you negligent which could be a problem when rectifying past wrongs against ethnic minorities which could even make you insensitive. But it isn't racist per se

@ wendy, this is against guidelines but just to clear it up I do think Rio is cool, I just overdid that comment.. so yea.. :)

Answer 8

if youre withholding criticism and ignoring differences it means youre at least trying to avoid being a racist so why it be racism in its purest form

Answer 9

To me this is like saying "Oh, I can't criticize that guy because he is black and I'm white..... he might be offended." or "Well, black people's hair is different textured than the asians, but we can't point that out because its racist."

When comments are withheld specifically because of the other person's race.... that is blatant racism. It is saying, "I can't make that comment because that guy is black, or asian, or mexican." It is viewing the individual as a race and not a person.