@mrmhead Said 
OK Yes -
Right or wrong, I view racism as a vehement hatred.
Your definition is a little wider than mine
In the case of slave owners that felt superior, yet were kind or compassionate - or at least fair - I don't view them racist. They are just products of their society. Not sure what derogatory label I would use for them. I suppose it would come down to "Why". Cheap labor? - Opportunists. Believing they are biologically superior? - Ignorant.
I think I am superior to dogs. I own dogs, and I "love" them. Though, I don't feel I am species-ist.
If I were Jewish and I hated all Germans from the get-go because of the Holocaust - close minded and ignorant.
Hate has many faces
Back to Trump.
I think a lot of what he says is to get his base excited, who are racist, white supremacists, homophobes, xenophobes, ethno-bigots, and ... I'm sure there are some good people too.
A basket of deplorables, with a few good potatoes.
I understand where you are coming from. Thanks.
It may be my experience with racism that influences my definitions. I don’t care so much about how a person thinks or feels, but their actions (which are tangible) is what can be judged as racist.
Speech is a little bit of a grey area, as it both expresses thought and incites others. The thought expression without action should be allowed, the inciting others to action is not. Much like yelling fire in a theater.
I also think that actions that make the other, dehumanized should be addressed appropriately. So even if you are nice and kind to slave it’s still ownership and that is dehumanizing. We own animals not other people. Owning another human can be a racist act, especially if the only reason you own them is the pigment of their skin. Kindness doesn’t make it better. Or at least not enough to get over the owning.
In the case of the avoidance of persons altogether. I would actually be ok with a white person that quietly moved out of or selected a line without a black cashier, if they did so without comment or complaints. People should be free to think what they want and avoidance would not “hurt” the target of their “hate”. Where as being in a position to provide service (like an apartment managers) using your feelings (to avoid black people) to take action and deny black applicants so they can’t live in your building is a racist act. The black persons are “hurt” and there should be consequences for those actions. It doesn’t make it better to smile kindly while denying access.
Even with consequences I do think people should be given the opportunity to grow or learn. I do agree with you, especially looking back at the past, ignorance was a huge part. Tokenism is the modern equivalent of the Jefferson sitch , as saying I have a black (friend,lover) I can’t be racist- like that one sports team owner. He was down to work with them if they made him money and down to f*** the pretty women, but still recorded saying a lot of racist and hateful s***.
Jul 24, 2019 @ 19:55:41
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