Comments on: Am I a bigot? (rhetorical question) http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2007/09/27/am-i-a-bigot-rhetorical-question/ English, Rationalist and Liberal Conservative Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:42:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: MJW http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2007/09/27/am-i-a-bigot-rhetorical-question/#comment-24122 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:01:14 +0000 http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2007/09/27/am-i-a-bigot-rhetorical-question/#comment-24122 I refer to the situation you describe as paternalistic racism, the only people who really benefit from it are the apologists who propagate it. At it’s root is a soft social-liberal mentality that refuses to allow people to be responsible for themselves, so whenever there is a social problem there has to be an excuse to make it either the fault of a convenient scapegoat or failing that the nobody’s fault. So where a grouping may exclude themselves from opportunities because of their own choices, the shifting of responsibility required by the paternalists/apologists means that they are excluded by some form of “oppression”. This isn’t to say that there aren’t real forms of oppression, more that much of what is lumped in this category is imagined oppression created out of expediency. The negative effect of this approach is that the underlying problems are never addressed, because that would require an acceptance of responsibility and that’s just not acceptable to the paternalists. Of course there is a positive side effect for the paternalists, because by not addressing the real problem it perpetuates and they maintain their positions, it’s a vicious cycle but one that suits those who claim to care most about stopping it. I suppose, in a rather ironic way, the paternalists are more than anybody else “the oppressors”! I refer to the situation you describe as paternalistic racism, the only people who really benefit from it are the apologists who propagate it. At it’s root is a soft social-liberal mentality that refuses to allow people to be responsible for themselves, so whenever there is a social problem there has to be an excuse to make it either the fault of a convenient scapegoat or failing that the nobody’s fault. So where a grouping may exclude themselves from opportunities because of their own choices, the shifting of responsibility required by the paternalists/apologists means that they are excluded by some form of “oppression”. This isn’t to say that there aren’t real forms of oppression, more that much of what is lumped in this category is imagined oppression created out of expediency. The negative effect of this approach is that the underlying problems are never addressed, because that would require an acceptance of responsibility and that’s just not acceptable to the paternalists. Of course there is a positive side effect for the paternalists, because by not addressing the real problem it perpetuates and they maintain their positions, it’s a vicious cycle but one that suits those who claim to care most about stopping it. I suppose, in a rather ironic way, the paternalists are more than anybody else “the oppressors”!

]]> by: Alexander Fear http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2007/09/27/am-i-a-bigot-rhetorical-question/#comment-24012 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:38:36 +0000 http://www.gavpolitics.co.uk/blog/2007/09/27/am-i-a-bigot-rhetorical-question/#comment-24012 No, not racist at all. I think it's about time that we realised skin colour has nothing to do with your vulnerability or ability to get a job. I dare say there are some from ethnic minorities who feel patronised, and others who are intelligent and able, quick to take advantage of these special privileges. I think as long as you recognise race positively, there is always going to be racism. 30-40 years ago maybe it was needed, but only as a temporary measure. If skin colour really doesn't matter, why all these forms and surveys? On the other hand, perhaps they need to take a look at their own government contractors before telling the rest of us how we should go about business- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-65BuRY4Sp4 No, not racist at all.

I think it’s about time that we realised skin colour has nothing to do with your vulnerability or ability to get a job.

I dare say there are some from ethnic minorities who feel patronised, and others who are intelligent and able, quick to take advantage of these special privileges.

I think as long as you recognise race positively, there is always going to be racism. 30-40 years ago maybe it was needed, but only as a temporary measure.

If skin colour really doesn’t matter, why all these forms and surveys?

On the other hand, perhaps they need to take a look at their own government contractors before telling the rest of us how we should go about business- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-65BuRY4Sp4

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