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AvGeek · 31-35, M
In my opinion it's racist/racism. They've been watered down and applied to any and everything. Used in place of racial prejudice and bigotry mostly and incorrectly. Our society had chanced the meanings on recent times by this misuse. The events and times help dictate this and it's not unprecedented that social climate and events bring changes to words. Webster's and other well know dictionaries have changed the definitions of these words in the last 5 years also, but that's dictated by the change in its use.
These changes have sort of "leveled the playing field" so to speak so that now any one that dislikes or says anything negative or unpopular for example, about snyone of a different race, ethnic, culture, nationality, skin color - is labeled "racist". As distasteful as the words or actions may be they are not necessarily racist by original definition. "Prejudiced" racially or otherwise is a more fitting term as would "bigot" bf in other situations of disliking or judging based on characteristics of others who are different. Racism goes much deeper and racists have power to effect oppression abc injustice effectively on large groups of minorities.
Now anyone can be racist. Even Joe Blow down the road who doesn't have a pot to piss in and couldn't oppress a chipmunk or render and injustice on anyone or anything. But if his worthless ass doesn't like the Mexicans next door, he's a racist. Smh. It's sad because it waters down and takes the spotlight off of what true racism is and who the real racists are. Not just anyone can be an effective racist and not just any/everything can be deemed as racism.
But the ship has sailed now and these two terms have been warred down to mean basically prejudice and bigotry which anyone can be, lack of power and authority notwithstanding.
These changes have sort of "leveled the playing field" so to speak so that now any one that dislikes or says anything negative or unpopular for example, about snyone of a different race, ethnic, culture, nationality, skin color - is labeled "racist". As distasteful as the words or actions may be they are not necessarily racist by original definition. "Prejudiced" racially or otherwise is a more fitting term as would "bigot" bf in other situations of disliking or judging based on characteristics of others who are different. Racism goes much deeper and racists have power to effect oppression abc injustice effectively on large groups of minorities.
Now anyone can be racist. Even Joe Blow down the road who doesn't have a pot to piss in and couldn't oppress a chipmunk or render and injustice on anyone or anything. But if his worthless ass doesn't like the Mexicans next door, he's a racist. Smh. It's sad because it waters down and takes the spotlight off of what true racism is and who the real racists are. Not just anyone can be an effective racist and not just any/everything can be deemed as racism.
But the ship has sailed now and these two terms have been warred down to mean basically prejudice and bigotry which anyone can be, lack of power and authority notwithstanding.