Misusing "Racism"

So many people toss out labels like "racism" and "racist" when racial issues come up. But the free use of those terms cause problems.

Yes, real racism does exist. Yes, there are people who are racists. But the terms have very specific meanings, and extremely negative connotations. There are words and actions and attitudes that show prejudice, but don't rise to the level of racism. There are people who do have some prejudice,  but don't harbor hatred of a particular group, and would not commit violence or intentionally attack others in some ways associated with the kind of racism that led to segregation or the KKK.

Consider an analogy. If someone shoplifts, he has stolen. If someone else rips off the retirement funds of the elderly, leaving them destitute, he has stolen. Both instances are examples of stealing,  but any rational person would admit the severity of the offenses is very different.

So while there are out-and out racists, but there are far more people who are prejudiced or ignorant. They may say and do things that are not acceptable, that need correction, but don't rise to the level of racism. 

When these terms are used again and again, their meanings start to get watered down. That is a disservice to those who are victims of real racism.

The words are used to attack actions or people - in many cases actions or people who don't rise to the level of evil implied by those words. But when people are hit with those extreme terms, it tends to put the people on the defensive, and to reduce or end opportunities for education or discussion.

And let's keep in mind that prejudice is not based just on race. There are people who are prejudiced against others because those others happen to be, to cite some religious examples, Muslim or Jewish or Catholic. Or they happen to be poor or below average in intelligence and who are, as Margaret Sanger said, "human weeds." There are people who are prejudiced against others because of class - like those who disparage "Walmart shoppers." There are some who are prejudiced against others because of their political beliefs or the candidates they support. Think of Clinton's comment about "deplorables," the progressives who are labeled "socialists" because they call for certain programs, or the number of people are denied service or are even physically attacked because they wear MAGA hats.

Racism, real racism needs to battled. So do the various forms of prejudice.

People should be treated as individuals - not simply as members of groups. When we toss out labels, when we make assumptions about others, we are ourselves displaying prejudice.

Thus we need to look at how we act and what we say.

As Jesus told us, "Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother's eye." (Mt, 7: 5)

Pax et bonum