Race...why is this word still used?

[Oh_My_Goth]

Happy, that word is pretty old too, lets change that one too! Hey while we're at it isn't "the" a pretty old word? lets change it too! Hey Changing words just because they are old is fun!

Ok, so what can "the" be? hrm... How 'bout "fleorg"

From now on "the" is no longer used, it's to old, fleorg has taken it's place, please update your spell checkers.

eg.. OMFG! This is seriously fleorg best idea ever!

or

Fleorg cat ran right in to fleorg door!

Do I smell sarcasm?????

[odims_sphere]

I don't honestly see where 'the' or 'happy' caused a city to burn.

I don't think I'm being absurd here.

Don't think race did either, Pretty sure it was the people holding the torches.

[phee]

Don't think race did either, Pretty sure it was the people holding the torches.

Exactly.... changing the word race to something else won't make the KKK any less a bunch of dickheads.....

[Rev.Reverence]

Exactly.... changing the word race to something else won't make the KKK any less a bunch of dickheads.....

..using a different word doesn't change the way we look at something?

..A Buddhist Monk told me to re-read the Bible and substitute Love every time it said God...

...it's a different book to me now..

.....so I beg to differ.....

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

"A Rose is a Rose..."

[Msterbeau]

"A Rose is a Rose..."

Actually: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.."

Unless you mean this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_is_a_ros..._rose_is_a_rose

[odims_sphere]

..using a different word doesn't change the way we look at something?

..A Buddhist Monk told me to re-read the Bible and substitute Love every time it said God...

...it's a different book to me now..

.....so I beg to differ.....

Ok lets run with that..

Substitute God for race..

hrmm...

*thinking*

*pondering*

Nope I still think the KKK is a bunch of dickheads.

[phee]

..using a different word doesn't change the way we look at something?

..A Buddhist Monk told me to re-read the Bible and substitute Love every time it said God...

...it's a different book to me now..

.....so I beg to differ.....

The prophet Ezekiel said that because Jerusalem had not followed Love's ways, it would be consumed "without pity" and a third of the people "shall die by pestilence."[42]

I am sorry... but changing the word "Racial Tensions" to "Tribal Disagreements" almost does injustice to the people involved.

Cultures get the words they deserve.... not the other way around.... Inuets have several words for snow, not becuase they sat down and decided to make up more words, but because there culture has a lot of friggen snow in it!

As the culture does become less racist, the language will change.... changing the language before the culture just makes it more difficult for others to understand what you are saying....

[Msterbeau]

Ok lets run with that..

Substitute God for race..

hrmm...

*thinking*

*pondering*

Nope I still think the KKK is a bunch of dickheads.

I think both you and Rev have reasonable points although I'm far more inclined to agree with you on this one. The word race and the types of races are useful both as descriptive adjectives and for scientific categorization. That said, words can take on meanings or connotations over time that are different then originally intended and if the associations are highly negative, finding an alternate, might be desirable. I don't think that's the case here...

[phee]

I guess we could start calling the KKK the Kool Kids Klub....

[odims_sphere]

I guess we could start calling the KKK the Kool Kids Klub....

You know what? It works, I don't think they're that bad anymore, Hell I'm thinking of runnin' right out and joinin'!

[phee]

You know what? It works, I don't think they're that bad anymore, Hell I'm thinking of runnin' right out and joinin'!

We digress of course...

But my firm point here is the culture determines its language for the most part.... the key is not to change certain words.... just to treat others with respect...

[Oh_My_Goth]

I am discovering more and more why the world can not change.....

Stubborn people.....

[Rev.Reverence]

I am sorry... but changing the word "Racial Tensions" to "Tribal Disagreements" almost does injustice to the people involved.

Maybe if we did make people LESS... they would perceive things from a more humble point of view...

Cultures get the words they deserve.... not the other way around.... Inuets have several words for snow, not becuase they sat down and decided to make up more words, but because there culture has a lot of friggen snow in it!

As the culture does become less racist, the language will change.... changing the language before the culture just makes it more difficult for others to understand what you are saying....

I see this...but it does seem a bit of a catch 22 situation to me...if we look at it from that point of view...

I would rather find a way to help push it along a bit than to watch the years tick by...

If people think I'm talking giberish...perhaps it was not their ear my words were meant to fall upon.

[hunhee]

I am discovering more and more why the world can not change.....

Stubborn people.....

I think it's more .. why reinvent the wheel?? Why spend our valuable time on one word when there are things like world hunger, or disease or other problems of the world we could harbor our energies on.

To make this such an issue, makes me feel more stereotyped/uncomfortable than if this weren't even a topic at all. I'm not saying it's an invalid topic, but if you have problems with this one word, believe me, there are problems with MANY words that we could take them one by one and reinvent them if you like.

I really think that if you want to bother, try with words that are constantly being invented like pwned or kthnx (what the fuck are these words?? or LOL or ROFL or I think you understand where I'm going with this).

I really think what Phee and Odims are trying to get at, words are words there to define. People use them as an excuse to stereotype..it's the THINKING behind the word that you guys would like to change, but instead of attacking the word itself, you should attack the people (in my saying attacking I don't mean physical attack, I mean address the issue with those at hand).

I don't believe you guys share a different opinion, I think it's more you share a difference of the inflection of use. Where phee and odims are more technical Rev and OMG are more spiritual.

[Rev.Reverence]

I think it's more .. why reinvent the wheel?? Why spend our valuable time on one word when there are things like world hunger, or disease or other problems of the world we could harbor our energies on.

Because it runs on gas <---{I'm silly}

I don't believe you guys share a different opinion, I think it's more you share a difference of the inflection of use. Where phee and odims are more technical Rev and OMG are more spiritual.

I understand what they are saying and what you are saying...YES...I want to create a wide spread use of the altered grammar (aforementioned).....we'll call the program "lead by example"

PHEEE&ODIMS are backing a "change the mentality & the grammar will work itself out" kinda' program.....

?How would we change the mentality??

As a poet...in Detroit...with pale skin...

I have had to combat the racial sterio-type bequeathed me by my skin.

It is really fuckin' dumb.

..as are the people who use them...sheeple...they learn this behavior...

[phee]

If we were to officially change the word Race to C-back (Color background) or something.... the racists would destroy the meaning of that word too! So we change it again to S-tint (Skin Tint) and presto.... they have corrupted that word too....

Now a different approach, get rid of the racism that causes the negative conotations.... Language has as much power as those who use it give to it. So by running away from the word "Race" you are giving the negative aspects of the word more power.... but by solving underlying issues.... it becomes just a word, like any another.

In other words.... the answer is not to add to the already horribly long list of taboo language... but to take the steam out of what is already there.

[phee]

?How would we change the mentality??

Education....

[Rev.Reverence]

If we were to officially change the word Race to C-back (Color background) or something.... the racists would destroy the meaning of that word too! So we change it again to S-tint (Skin Tint) and presto.... they have corrupted that word too....

Now a different approach, get rid of the racism that causes the negative conotations.... Language has as much power as those who use it give to it. So by running away from the word "Race" you are giving the negative aspects of the word more power.... but by solving underlying issues.... it becomes just a word, like any another.

In other words.... the answer is not to add to the already horribly long list of taboo language... but to take the steam out of what is already there.

How do we get rid of racism?

How do we convince people that things that their mother & father taught them were wrong?

[Oh_My_Goth]

I think it's more .. why reinvent the wheel?? Why spend our valuable time on one word when there are things like world hunger, or disease or other problems of the world we could harbor our energies on.

To make this such an issue, makes me feel more stereotyped/uncomfortable than if this weren't even a topic at all. I'm not saying it's an invalid topic, but if you have problems with this one word, believe me, there are problems with MANY words that we could take them one by one and reinvent them if you like.

I really think that if you want to bother, try with words that are constantly being invented like pwned or kthnx (what the fuck are these words?? or LOL or ROFL or I think you understand where I'm going with this).

I really think what Phee and Odims are trying to get at, words are words there to define. People use them as an excuse to stereotype..it's the THINKING behind the word that you guys would like to change, but instead of attacking the word itself, you should attack the people (in my saying attacking I don't mean physical attack, I mean address the issue with those at hand).

I don't believe you guys share a different opinion, I think it's more you share a difference of the inflection of use. Where phee and odims are more technical Rev and OMG are more spiritual.

I can facts.....

Personally, in my life, I am NOT trying to change a word.....

I am trying to change minds......

To make people realize the power words have.....

We as a whole have the power to change things.....Even if it is just one word at a time.....

I think arguing over the subject of the post is petty and breeds negativity.....

Yes, the word has valid uses.....

The point is we need to give that word, and others less power.....

WE NEED A CHANGE PEOPLE.....WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.....

?????CAN NOBODY SEE THIS?????

*It makes Me for us all*

[hunhee]

How do we get rid of racism?

How do we convince people that things that their mother & father taught them were wrong?

How do any of us change anything? we start by changing ourselves.. this change will show to those around us, and those people will notice and those people will change. Change is contagious, but the problem is, people see negativity as contagious, but positivity is also contagious! So spread the word!!!! and hugs .. cause I like them.

[Rev.Reverence]

How do any of us change anything? we start by changing ourselves.. this change will show to those around us, and those people will notice and those people will change. Change is contagious, but the problem is, people see negativity as contagious, but positivity is also contagious! So spread the word!!!! and hugs .. cause I like them.

I have changed me...I'm talking about taking it to another level all together...

So if I am changed...what is so ludicrous about me trying to now change the word...as I see it as an unfit word..

[phee]

WE NEED A CHANGE PEOPLE.....WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.....

?????CAN NOBODY SEE THIS?????

As I said education.... People need to change themselves....

Do we teach people that what there mom and dad told them was wrong? No we simply teach, I am not the kind of person who would want to "Change Peoples Minds" that is not my style. More I would like to make available more of the information in the hopes that they would make up there own minds....

Making "Race" into a bad word only strengthens the old racist connotations of the word... it makes it forbidden and taboo... which if you have any sense at all (or kids), gives the term a lot of power that you can't control. Making something taboo makes it more desirable.

In fact.... not using the word race is sort of like anti education, by not using it, it creates more ignorance then it gets rid of. On the other hand, you teach your kids and your teachers teaching the children say the history of the word, the science of the word, as well as the backgrounds about the culture around the word... There is your starting point... instead of making pushing the word back into ignorance only to be misused again. Think about it, a child who is brought up seeing and experiencing the proper respect for another human, hears the word "Race" being yelled by some rightwing wackjob, knows already what the word means, and how this person is using(misusing) the word. But if you have not expossed the child to the word, you say... we can't talk that way in this house... the child will either find out on there own perhaps from the wrong people, or they will ask you why... and boom there you are explaining it anyway, or doing something I hate saying "Because I said so."

Don't not use the word... make it into a "not bad" word

[phee]

Like banning a book.... banning a word does the same thing

[Rev.Reverence]

As I said education.... People need to change themselves....

Do we teach people that what there mom and dad told them was wrong? No we simply teach, I am not the kind of person who would want to "Change Peoples Minds" that is not my style. More I would like to make available more of the information in the hopes that they would make up there own minds....

Making "Race" into a bad word only strengthens the old racist connotations of the word... it makes it forbidden and taboo... which if you have any sense at all (or kids), gives the term a lot of power that you can't control. Making something taboo makes it more desirable.

In fact.... not using the word race is sort of like anti education, by not using it, it creates more ignorance then it gets rid of. On the other hand, you teach your kids and your teachers teaching the children say the history of the word, the science of the word, as well as the backgrounds about the culture around the word... There is your starting point... instead of making pushing the word back into ignorance only to be misused again. Think about it, a child who is brought up seeing and experiencing the proper respect for another human, hears the word "Race" being yelled by some rightwing wackjob, knows already what the word means, and how this person is using(misusing) the word. But if you have not expossed the child to the word, you say... we can't talk that way in this house... the child will either find out on there own perhaps from the wrong people, or they will ask you why... and boom there you are explaining it anyway, or doing something I hate saying "Because I said so."

Don't not use the word... make it into a "not bad" word

I had to explain skin tones to my 5 year old...& he understood the differences when explained within the context of my "Dog Analogy"...

..because of the differences of the breeds of humans; the world is splendorous and beautiful...they are all still human....{we all cook very different food to eat...but it is all vegetable & OR animal parts}...

...Humans are kinda' like Dogs..many breeds..all dogs......some are cool...some are not...we don't talk to Dogs we do not know...nor Humans we do not know...

..................Dogs by the way are far more loyal & trustworthy.....