A Quote from Noam Chomsky on Racism

[Orwellian_Ghost]

"There has always been racism. But it developed as a leading principle of thought and perception in the context of colonialism. That's understandable. When you have your boot on someone's neck, you have to justify it. The justification has to be their depravity. It's very striking to see this in the case of people who aren't very different from one another. Take a look at the British conquest of Ireland, the earliest of the Western colonial conquests. It was described in the same terms as the conquest of Africa. The Irish were a different race. They weren't human. They weren't like us. We had to crush and destroy them. No. It has to do with conquest, with oppression. If you're robbing somebody, oppressing them, dictating their lives, it's a very rare person who can say: "Look, I'm a monster. I'm doing this for my own good." Even Himmler didn't say that. A standard technique of belief formation goes along with oppression, whether it's throwing them in gas chambers or charging them too much at a corner store, or anything in between. The standard reaction is to say: 'It's their depravity. That's why I'm doing it. Maybe I'm even doing them good.' If it's their depravity, there's got to be something about them that makes them different from me. What's different about them will be whatever you can find."

- Noam Chomsky

[BlooInBloo]

1. Good, except for the implication that black folks are "very different" from white folks...

The Fundamental Tenet Of Racism.

[Selatius]

2. You could use the same thought process to justify vulgar wealth inequality.

"They are not like us, so unrefined and crude and so base. They deserved to be ripped off and trampled upon for their collective stupidity and laziness. Maybe a bitter lesson is the only way they will come around to us. If they were any smarter, we wouldn't be allowed to rule because they wouldn't need us, want us, or worship us and our wealth and power, but they aren't, so now we have to show them the hard way because they left us no other choice."

[lunatica]

3. It looks like we're finally talking about racism in this country

So I say let them keep spewing their hate because it has to come out so we can see it for what it is and then do something about it that counts. I'm a believer in bringing the darkness out into the light of day and taking a good look at it. Monsters don't thrive in daylight.

[maglatinavi]

5. monsters

they do masquarade ... beware ...

[lunatica]

7. What are you talking about?

masquerade as what? New DUers?

[maglatinavi]

4. racism

differences do scare us generally ...

[lunatica]

6. Speak for yourself

I find differences to be quite compelling and attractive in many ways. From cultural to ethnic the differences are what makes life colorful. It would be a deadly bore for everything to be the same.

[Kurovski]

8. I think as children, we're naturally intrigued by differences

I remember being constantly amazed and excited by the different ways people around the world lived. I couldn't get enough about it from books, films, encyclopedias.

Now...I'm really just into all the different food. :D

[BlooInBloo]

10. "I'm really just into all the different food" - except duck eggs! That shit's just grooosss!

:rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXucin9iIaE

[Kurovski]

12. And live, beating frog hearts.

Sorry, no link. :D

[BlooInBloo]

13. Eeew!

[BlooInBloo]

9. Jeebus. It's like whack-a-mole in here lately.

:rofl:

[lunatica]

11. Promoting racism no less

Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid! They Masquerade! They'll Fool You!