[PEN-L:8340] Re: Re: racism

[Rob Schaap <carob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

G'day Chas,

Well, at least we've taken to agreeing elsewhere (mebbe 'coz I paraphrased
Lenin, eh?).

>The irony comes in with the post-Reagan ,liberal-" lefts" who turn the new
gravity of the charge of racism into a basis for suppressing most charges of
racism. In effect they say, "I am so respectful of the importance of the
problem of racism that I think to say someone or action is racist is a very
serious charge, so you , Black person or other person of color, are
irresponsible in making the charge so much." In practice, including a lot on
these "left" lists, the main thing that happens is criticism of misuse of
the serious charge of racism, and almost no criticism of racism.

But do you really think that's what's happening here on pen-l, Chas?  We all
agree the charge of racism is a serious charge.  And that does mean it
should not be lightly levelled.  I am, perhaps, bound to understand racism
differently from you (I experience it very differently, obviously, so it's
worth taking the possibility into account) - but are we being racist here by
rejecting charges that it has happened here of late?  At the moment. I don't
think it has happened here, you see.

>The white "left"-racists have decided that they understand the theory of
racism and the facts of racism better than leftists of color.

Who here is a white 'left' racist, and why?  Let's get specific and sort
this thing now (sorry to Michael the moderator, but a quick honest wash-up
might clarify things once and for all - which would suit this lister, at
least).  We either have to learn where we're going wrong or we gotta move
on, eh?  Well, I do, anyway.

Cheers,
Rob.