In recent months, it seems everyone is using the words "racism" or "racist". So much so, those words no longer have any real meaning. Racism is having "colored" and "white" drinking fountains, it is having "colored" and "white" restrooms, it is having one school for the "coloreds" and another school for the whites. Racism is having one small section of a movie theater on the second story and a separate entrance for the "coloreds". Racism is making the "coloreds" sit in the back of a bus. Racism is refusing to serve "people of color" at all! Racism is making a person of color wait in line until every white person in that line has been served.
Do we see that kind of racism today? No, we don't. When I hear accusations of racism, that is what I think about, not some sound bite taken out of context. Today, when a person doesn't like another person's opinion, instead of having a discussion, that person calls the other names like "racist", "homophobe", "xenophobe", "white supremacist" (even if that person is black!).
What happened to peaceful arguments and discussions? What happened to critical thinking? Instead of providing facts to support one's position, we get "offended" and we feel "threatened" and "unsafe". We resort to name-calling. That is most ridiculous line of thinking I have ever seen in my life!
First, facts have no feelings. They are simply facts. If you try hard enough, you can find "facts" to support your position instead of ending the conversation with name-calling. Second, feelings are NOT facts! My feelings change like lightening -- most of us are the same way. One minute I might be feeling happy because my cats are getting along and then the next minute, I am upset because one of the cats has turned over the trash and scattered paper all over. (Sorry to use the cat analogy) Feelings change with our circumstances and so often they are not based on any facts at all. It is just how we feel at the moment.
When did we become so afraid to have honest debate rather than angry name-calling sessions? I don't like the fact that I feel like I walk on egg shells around people who don't share my political view points and I am talking about my own family and some friends! I have decided to educate myself about the facts now rather then being fearful of getting into an argument or having a family member or friend decide I am racist, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynist, etc. I am none of those things but in order to stand for things I believe in, I better have some facts on hand rather than succumbing to name-calling myself!
It is just too easy to react with name-calling these days. It's like it has become the meme of the day or something. I have written here before that we choose to be offended. It is more true now than when I first wrote that. Being "offended" is once again a "feeling". We can choose to give others the benefit of doubt that their viewpoint is not intended to "hurt" our feelings. It is simply their opinion, their viewpoint. It has nothing to do with me unless I choose to make it so. For example, if someone cuts me off changing lanes on the street, does that person intentionally do that to hurt me personally? Of course not! That person is in a hurry, not paying attention to me at all. It has to do with them not me. I can choose to get all upset and angry, yell and use vulgar hand signs, right? But again, what good does that do except get me all upset and stressed out.
The point is we choose how we feel. However, the facts don't change. If I see a news item that purports that a politician said something racist or any of the other "ists" things, I take the time to find the facts rather than get all upset and self-righteously angry. Facts are not feelings and just because we call each other names does not make those names so.
Let's have meaningful debates and conversations. Let's not be so "sensitive" that we can't talk to one another. Let's stop using the accusations of being a racist, white supremacist, homophobic, xenophobic, et al. as a way to stop meaningful debates and conversations. I am in, are you?
