Re: Racism and ancient history
q314159265@aol.com
19 Jan 1997 13:28:19 GMT
> It's natural for people to be suspicious of strangers and if that
>stranger is identifide by skin colour or other features the strangeness
>becomes even more apparent. This is a human condition that is
>manipulated by all kinds of media to create what we call racism.
I don't believe "suspicious" would properly describe what actually[and
naturally] occurs when one encounters "differences". Survival instinct
within every species shows the reluctance to blindly walk into unfamiliar
territories. Any noted differences would actuate this defensive response,
but only until familiarity is achieved. An average sized dog of average
character, which is actually 'good' with people, will show a fine display
of this hesitency. Once familiar with the stranger, if the stranger
proposes no threatening characteristics, the dog becomes accepting. All
species have this. Those who are unable to be accepting of unthreatening
people are themselves more afraid than they ought to be. I am not saying
that some fears are not justified, I am saying if there is no threat in a
particular situation - the fear is unjustified.
> Scientificly, the concept of race cannot be defined. However the
media
>use the term "race" to describe religious groups like the Jews, for
>cultural groups like the French as well as for people who simply look
>like some accepted stereotype.
>
Anything different can be viewed as a threat to one's personal, and
grouped existance. Once society is able to understand the implications
within the individual which irrefutably exist, then it can be dealt with.
One thing slowing this process down is that when anyone openly realizes
they had an apprehension, but are not sure why yet - then someone jumps at
them shouting "See! See! I told you they were....!!" That doesn't help
the process of self awareness fulfill itself. It actually impedes the
potential understanding which would have occurred without such an
outburst.
This was my comment and it isn't directed at anybody, just shared as I
pondered. This would suggest that many posts were intriguing enough to
facillitate contemplation... for this I thank you.
Bill F
Bill F
Q314159265@AOL.com
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