Do Americans and Canadians Have Different Ideas on Racism?

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crazyheart

crazyheart

Rest In Peace: tomorrow,tomorrow
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How can they post things like the above?
 
I call this racism and the Americans that I know(not many) but they
don't post things like this.
 
I'm not sure who 'goat humpers' are. Sounds like it very well might be racist. As for your title - lots of different ideas out there!
 
Generally, the biggest difference I see that is fairly broad is that in America, race discussions often come down to black vs. white. I don't see the same being true in Canada.
 
Also, it seems to me that our racism, while clearly there, is often hidden under a veneer of politeness.
 
I hear terrible, prejudicial things said against first nations peoples.
And more and more often I also hear prejudicial remarks against muslim people who are presumed to be terrorists or terrorist supporters. I hear this from my Baptist neighbour but unfortunately I have recently heard it in my own UCC.
 
Yes, unfortunately, my guy's niece lives in Fort McMurray, and is very pejorative about First Nations people.

I'm running a new LTQ series starting in January - The Jesus Fatwah. Sort of a progressive Islam 101. Hoping to advertise it and maybe get a little outside interest. Even now, my little City is almost resolutely white, although we do have an active mosque.
 
We recently (within the last year) had a Muslim leader speak to our Presbytery. Unfortunately I don't know how much of what he shared found its way back to the local congregations through either their minister or their lay rep. I know as one of the Reps for my church, I was never given an opportunity to share this (or anything else from Presbytery other than the mere fact that I attended the most recent meeting) with the congregation. Except for occasionally mentioning it on a one-on-one informal basis, I haven't mentioned anything from what I learned, or the impressions I got.
 
Our youth group went to the mosque last year and found it very informative. Unfortunately, it was scheduled on a night I couldn't attend (I do the adult ed at our church, not the children or youth).
 
It seems obvious to me that racism (in particular, anti-black) is woven into the US public's opinions. On a lesser scale they seem prejudiced against people with brown or Asian colouring. Canada isn't free of this, but doesn't seem as openly antagonistic- like shooting someone here because they are of a different colour would bring the law down on the shooter.

Unfortunately, endless snide remarks are sent towards local 1st nations members. Aboriginal girls really are viewed as 'sex providers' by a segment of the population. Nationally too we discriminate against aboriginal people by allowing less money for education to Reserve Schools than white kids' schools. This unfortunately, peppered conversations in at least one group of people at the UCCan I attended some time back. In social situations I frequently heard "A bunch of Aboriginal boys were being noisy" (or whatever) and the ethnic origin had nothing much to do with the behaviour. White, church attending Boy Scouts are sometimes noisy too but they are usually referred to as boys - not identified by skin colour, ethnic origin etc.
 
KayTheCurler said:
It seems obvious to me that racism (in particular, anti-black) is woven into the US public's opinions. On a lesser scale they seem prejudiced against people with brown or Asian colouring. Canada isn't free of this, but doesn't seem as openly antagonistic- like shooting someone here because they are of a different colour would bring the law down on the shooter.

Unfortunately, endless snide remarks are sent towards local 1st nations members. Aboriginal girls really are viewed as 'sex providers' by a segment of the population. Nationally too we discriminate against aboriginal people by allowing less money for education to Reserve Schools than white kids' schools. This unfortunately, peppered conversations in at least one group of people at the UCCan I attended some time back. In social situations I frequently heard "A bunch of Aboriginal boys were being noisy" (or whatever) and the ethnic origin had nothing much to do with the behaviour. White, church attending Boy Scouts are sometimes noisy too but they are usually referred to as boys - not identified by skin colour, ethnic origin etc.
Click to expand...

Perhaps time for a testimonial:

On our first trip west Seelerman and I miscalculated when we should stop and try to find accommodation for the night, so it was getting past dinnertime and we were tired when we pulled into a prairie town to find the first motel was full. They checked for us and directed us to a hotel nearby. We probably got the last available room. And then learned that the Aboriginal games were happening in that town and the hotel was full of young teenagers. Oh dear - how would we get any sleep!
Just walking past the pool on our way to our room, I noticed it was full of active kids - splashing and laughing and noisy! I decided to skip my relaxing swim. Throughout the evening we heard voices and the sounds of feet going up and down the corridor, and then about ten o'clock we heard an adult voice "Shhhh, there are people trying to sleep." Immediately things quieted down. Within minutes it seemed everone was in their room and settling down. Not another sound through the night.
I hesitate to think what it might have been like if the same number of teenagers from my son's sports teams had landed in the hotel -- or even a group of business men at an annual gathering.
 
crazyheart said:
How can they post things like the above?
Click to expand...

How? I expect they use cut and paste.

Why? I expect that ignorance and fear are the most likely motivators.

I also think that the question "How can they" functions as part of the problem. The proper question is probably "How can we"

Why we? Well, you posted it here not some nebulous "they." You may not share the sentiment, you haven't really opposed it in fact, you've spread it.

Canadians are, on average, as racist as any other group of individuals. Our prejudices may be different. They are not non-existent. Talk with any visible minority group and ask them how they feel about racism in Canada.
 
I think, and of course I have been known to be wrong many times in my life,
that posting a racist picture or comment, to generate conversation is different than posting
it because this is how you really feel.

If we hide these things(like the opening post) how can we ever stop things like racism and other isms.

Hide it and there are more of these things posted and they are posted without conversation.

Conversation leads to education.
 
Is there a difference .... hmmmmmm......
We are polite racists???? ....... a bit tongue in cheek perhaps .... but worth discussing.....
Sometimes I wonder what is more cruel .... blatant racism ... or the more insidious polite version....
 
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