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Is the U.S. an apartheid state?

By apartheid, I am referring to the socioeconomic divisions that separate the rich from the poor, the privileged from the underprivileged, and, in some cases, women from men and black people from white people. What are your thoughts?
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
If you mean, does the United States of America practice apartheid by Federal law... No it does not, though some states maintained lingering racial-segregation laws and ignored racism until the middle of the last Century.

However, social attitidues take far longer to fade, because you cannot force people to drop particular antisocial beliefs such as mysogyny, racism, homophobia, fear of the mentally-ill or physically-disabled, religious bigotry and financial-snobbery, if their beliefs stem from dogma entrenched for generations in their own communities.

Countries can use Law to stop prejudice against people in seeking employment, etc, and many do; but erasing those dogmas at heart takes education, time and individuals' own courage and self-respect.


A PM correspondent on here illustrates the problem of ignorance, although obviously one young Utah resident does not represent all Americans! Challenging his despising of Jews in some of his messages, I ask him his evidence: none. He can offer only "It's what my Dad says", and being impressed by Adolf Hitler's oratory skill shown in old newsreels. So does not question it.

It is also clear he has very little understanding of the outside world and its 20C history (I am not sure if he was taught it at school, but is certainly indoctrinated by Hollywood); he cannot or will not question his elders' ignorance; he seems to think such naivety normal.

Which brings us back to "education" and "courage".
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
I can see why you might be tempted to see a similarity, but at the moment the Law is not segregating people and the State at least pays lip service to equality. In SA the segregation was formally enshrined in the State structures and there was no recourse to the Law for redress, even if you had the money.

What might be round the corner, who knows?
@FreddieUK I'd be awfully surprised if the US reverted to a lawful apartheid system, just like I was at the Trump victory in 2016
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP Yep. A lot of us never thought we'd see the US revert to the bad old days of prejudice based on physical or psychological attributes which people are born with. Neither did we see the Russian state try to recreate the USSR by waging war. We certainly live in uncertain times.
KingofBones1 · 46-50, M
It's getting to be that way
WintaTheAngle · 41-45, M
No. Not yet.

I think to say otherwise is to mock actual apartheid.
FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M
Yeah and its getting much worse in the coming years
hunkalove · 61-69, M
@FeetAreFantastic I done heared down in Texas they's a law that you gotta wear socks under your cowboy boots or they will lynch your horse!

 
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