SamiraAnima In reply to Hotaru-chan6666 [2012-10-19 07:37:38 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you!

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SamiraAnima In reply to Hotaru-chan6666 [2011-10-20 07:41:11 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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SamiraAnima In reply to CosplayCousins [2011-05-04 19:34:08 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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SamiraAnima In reply to kain-hallis [2011-02-13 08:40:52 +0000 UTC]

Yes, you're right, you can be racist without ever taking direct action against someone of another race. But being aware of racial differences is not being racist, not unless that awareness leads to you thinking poorly of the other person or thinking that you're superior to them. That is what I was trying to point out. Racial awareness does not equal racism. Racial awareness also does not equal considering anyone different or acting differently around a person. Racial awareness does not equal thinking of anyone as not a person.

Now, let me explain what I mean by racial awareness. It is simply being aware that a group of people have been discriminated against because of their physical appearance or other SUPPOSED characteristics (for example, laziness or lesser intelligence, traits that are not physical and have been ascribed to a group by stereotypes, NOT traits that have any basis in fact or are in any way true) and may still be discriminated against. There is nothing wrong with being aware. In fact, awareness is what helps you fight against racism.

This is analogy that I think you and will agree on. Racism is like a motorized walkway. You don't have to exert any effort to get where the walkway takes you. You can walk towards your goal or simply stand there, either will get you to the same place. That's what racism is like. You can actively be racist, or you can do nothing, and that lack of action can make you racist as well. The only way to stop racism is to walk in the other direction, to actively push back against racism, to be active in showing that people are people.

Racial awareness is part of that pushing back. By being aware, you can recognize racist thinking when you see it being used to hurt people, and call it out as being unfair and wrong, therefore moving us towards seeing all people as just people. But if you aren't aware, you're very likely to be stuck just standing still.

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kain-hallis In reply to SamiraAnima [2011-02-13 12:24:29 +0000 UTC]

I prefer to call it cultural awareness, as races do not exist. However, I never said that being aware was being racist.

"Now, let me explain what I mean by racial awareness. It is simply being aware that a group of people have been discriminated against because of their physical appearance or other SUPPOSED characteristics (for example, laziness or lesser intelligence, traits that are not physical and have been ascribed to a group by stereotypes, NOT traits that have any basis in fact or are in any way true) and may still be discriminated against. There is nothing wrong with being aware. In fact, awareness is what helps you fight against racism. " I agree with this one hundred percent, and yet I choose to apply it to everyone - as every social group is subject to discrimination, not just those from "different races".
Racism is just another term for discrimination - and discrimination doesn't make racial differentiation. Humans naturally (wrongly) discriminate anyone who's different. If you're taller than average, if you have a different skin color, if you are smarter than most, if you're better at sports, if you don't fit into the accepted stereotypes, regardless of anything else, you will be discriminated. What I propose is that we stop labeling people whatsoever. Stereotypes will always exist, the question is whether we will or not be able to treat everyone equally, regardless of any trait they may possess.
I know that by saying there are no races and blablabla many people just stand by and think that's enough. That's not my position, though, I believe in no races, and in equality, and that the first step to a discrimination free world (whether that is a utopia or not, is another debate) is to stop labeling and differentiating altogether. I call Yamino a racist because she defends people based on their differences, instead of based on the fact they are people, individuals. The fact that I believe in no races never led me to dismiss racism - it led me to actively fight it, along with any other type of discrimination. The other problem is that many times words are what you make of them. If you keep wondering what is racist or not, you will eventually start seeing racism in everything, that has actually nothing to do with it - see the story that user told about the black boy in the play being Judas, on Yamino's journal. Awareness is one thing. To push back based on differences is another, that encourages other forms of racist thinking. Don't defend them because they're different - defend them because they're people, and must never be discriminated!

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SamiraAnima In reply to animaeprincess [2010-09-29 07:02:07 +0000 UTC]

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SamiraAnima In reply to jrenee07 [2010-07-27 18:49:20 +0000 UTC]

I'd bury you in llamas if I could!

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jrenee07 In reply to SamiraAnima [2010-07-28 14:47:39 +0000 UTC]

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SamiraAnima In reply to glitchb0t [2010-07-17 06:22:40 +0000 UTC]

No need to thank me, I feel all special and stuff. XD

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SamiraAnima In reply to glitchb0t [2010-07-17 06:22:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for giving one back!

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SamiraAnima In reply to glitchb0t [2010-06-21 11:09:24 +0000 UTC]

Nooo, no nomming on! *distracts you with a cookie*

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glitchb0t In reply to SamiraAnima [2010-06-21 18:25:41 +0000 UTC]

Ooh a cookie!! owo

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