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Remark: "I have read so much here about racism and while reading the board today I remembered about a situation that happened at my work three days ago. We have a black female in a high level position and she frequently discusses how racist people are against blacks. The subject of discussion was that there are some Israelis moving into our city. She became so upset that they were moving in and voiced her opinion that we had to do something to stop them moving in. She did not want them living in her city.
Now, is that not racisms on her part? She automatically thought of them as trouble just because of where they are from. I strongly feel that there are as many black people as there are white that keep racism alive."
Response:
Personal or Cultural Bias is not Necessarly Racial Prejudice
I agree with you in principle, there is racial prejudice on both sides, but not necessarily racism. Racism requires power and structure. Racism is organized racial prejudice that becomes part of our institutions, systems, governments and government agencies. Being bias against the Jews is not racial prejudice or racism for that matter. Judaism is a culture, a religion, and a way of life.
Prejudice against the Jews could be anti-Semitism. And in the above case, that you describe, it could be close-mindedness, rooted in ethnocentrism: the desire to hold on to ones culture or way of life, to maintain ones cultural identity without transvaluation: without blending or integration.
Another thing that I find disturbing is the mis-conception that I see on this board and elsewhere about the Asian people. The majority of Asians are not from East Asia. The majority of Asians are not Chinese, Japanese or people of similar genetic make up. The majority of Asian is from south and South West Asia, mainly from the Indian sub-continent and surrounding areas. These people's skin could be from fair to black. They are not in general, prejudice against blacks. Their regional bias stem from religious differences and territorial integrity. And this business about East Asian, on a whole, being prejudice is utter nonsense! In my experience, I have never met anyone as friendly and accepting of blacks than the people of Eastern Asia. They have their tendency towards ethnocentrism, yes, but racial prejudice is nowhere near the levels that whites display against blacks or blacks display against whites.
Donald S. Stewart
"I strongly feel that there are as many black people as there are white that keep racism alive."
I agree in principle, there is racial prejudice on both sides, but not necessarily racism. Racism is organized racial prejudice that becomes a part of our systems, governments, government agencies and institutions.
Also bias against the Jews is not racism or racial prejudice. Judaism is not a race but a religion, a culture, a way of life. There are black Jews, white Jews and Indo looking Jews.
What we are dealing with could be anti-Semitism but not necessarily so. It could also be ethnocentrism: the desire to hold on to ones culture and way of life without interference mainly to avoid cultural trans-valuation.
If I was a judge in the contest, I would give contestants more difficult songs to test their overall resourcefulness, voices range, pitches etc. Last night (May 18, 2004), I think that Fantasia got the most difficult songs. They looked easy because she made them seem easy by putting her heart and feelings into them. Almost everything seems easy when one is committed to excellence.
If the judges were bias in favor of Tasia, blame her for once again turning up the heat a notch. Don't blame them for knowing a star when they see one. I felt the same way too. And I am not bias. I tell it like it is!
"I really dont get all the raving about Fantasia from both the judges and the media."
It is not just the judges and media that are raving about Fantasia. Her admirers hail from almost every facets of society: industry analysts, producers, managers, artists, and musicians. Admirers are from big business and small business. Blue color workers and white color executives are raving too. Students think that she is terrific and teachers too. And so do preachers and their congregations.
If you don’t get it, that's fine but why bother with this repeated attempts to convince the inconvincible that they too don’t get it?
Danny Stewie
It is time that one gets over this nonsense about personality and the personality ethic! That's the 1920s-1950s mentality. In today's world, it's character that counts: boldness, courage, strength and determination, integrity and a sense of purpose.
Fantasia is an excellent role model to the poor and beaten down. A life lesson to those who falter; exemplifying that with strength of character they too can raise, as sure she will, as raise she must, above the poverty of mind: the arrows of insults; the poison of jealousy and the insanity of hate.
Fantasia, you are on way to succeed, they cannot take away your dignity. Let no one rain on your parade.
Donald S. Stewart
Montreal, Canada
With regards to Fantasia's first performance on Tuesday May 26, 2004:
That was a bad arrangement. Maybe it was a test to see how well she would do when these things happen, as happen they must, from time to time. Actually, that's where she got my highest marks for maintaining poise under pressure and not falling apart in such trying uncontrollable circumstances. The arrangement was a complete mess but her delivery was superb. I don't think that any other performer in the competition could bounce back from that mess but Fantasia did.
And that is why Simon had to say what he said at the end after ripping her apart for something that was beyond her control.
Fantasia is definitely without equaled in any Idol contest that I have seen.
Danny Stewie
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