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Several people have said that discriminating against Americans isn't racism. Which seems reasonable in some ways, because Americans aren't a race. But in that case, what is it? Nationalism doesn't seem right, because nationalism is usually being proud of your own country, not against a specific other one. Anyone?
[Poll #161402]
[Poll #161402]
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 11:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 11:40 am (UTC)If I said all black people were stupid (which, by the way I'd never say outside of an example), would that not be discriminatory?
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 11:49 am (UTC)heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:12 pm (UTC)Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:15 pm (UTC)Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:42 pm (UTC)I think you can quite easily verbally discriminate against someone, or a group of someones. Your argument seems to be that to discriminate, there has to be an action. I don't think that's factually correct.
Regardless, you're arguing semantics.
Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:54 pm (UTC)The dictionary definition you give (and I hate arguing from dictionaries, because they don't tell you about actual usage, which is always the relevant thing) is a bit ambiguous, I admit. However it still seems like "show preference or prejudice" means "act in a way that reveals ones prejudice," especially given the examples they then give.
Regardless, you're arguing semantics.
I also hate it when people say that. Semantics means "meaning". When someone says "it's pointless to argue semantics," they really mean, "it's pointless to try to come to an agreement on words mean, because a word means whatever I decide it means."
Whereas (yeah, I'm anal-retentive, so what?)
Date: 2003-07-27 03:47 pm (UTC)1)
a) To reduce to a general form, class, or law.
b) To render indefinite or unspecific.
2)
a) To infer from many particulars.
b) To draw inferences or a general conclusion from.
3)
a) To make generally or universally applicable.
b) To popularize.
Which might fit, but doesn't seem entirely appropriate.
Re: Whereas (yeah, I'm anal-retentive, so what?)
Date: 2003-07-27 03:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 11:48 am (UTC)I know, or have known, a bunch of Americans and as individuals they've had a spread of intellectual ability tending towards the smarter end. But as a mob they are responsible for Jerry Springer and ad breaks every five seconds and poor health care.
Of course we are just as bad, and by we I mean every possible group that includes me. But then no group that includes me has any real power on a global stage.
Canadians, of course, are universally intelligent, fun, and pretty :)
heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:19 pm (UTC)But that's all the credit I'll give you, you suburb of America! ;)
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 11:50 am (UTC)Of course these days chauvanism is used to mean different stuff.
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Date: 2003-07-27 11:53 am (UTC)I agree that it's definitely not racism.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 02:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 04:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 12:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 02:08 pm (UTC)Ha!
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 02:21 pm (UTC)Where's the incorrect apostrophe?
There's three in there, all used in contractions, which is a perfectly valid place for them.
And it's easy for you to look down your nose at me, so long as you're standing on a chair. Or two.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 02:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 02:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 03:49 pm (UTC)HAHAHA I WIN!
no subject
Date: 2003-07-28 02:03 am (UTC)heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:22 pm (UTC)Maybe that gives the portion of critics who really are bigoted, more leeway than they deserve.
Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:23 pm (UTC)They're a populace, I suppose. Or something else technical. But races are genetically similar (in at least some respects).
Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 04:51 pm (UTC)I'm just saying that the fact they aren't lets critics sidestep accusations of racism, a type of bigotry that is almost universally seen as illegitimate.
heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:26 pm (UTC)xenophobia, except when it's your own country
And when it's your own country, it's ...?
* revolutionary
* reactionary
* progressive
* elitist
* hypocritical
* credible
* ???
Re: heh
Date: 2003-07-27 03:49 pm (UTC)Sorry, couldn't resist....
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 03:51 pm (UTC)And yeah, I'm bored, and can't be arsed writing in my own journal. Andy's is far more interesting anyway.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-27 03:51 pm (UTC)