The Racial Adventure

Right after I had posted the question about if we feel everyone is a little bit racist the adventure began. In a matter of about 45 seconds I already had comments for some feeling yes and others saying no. Then the real fun began. It soon came apparent to me that racism was a subject that almost everyone had some strong feelings about if they just let themselves think and feel the subject out. While reading the responses I noticed two big themes that were throughout them. First that the majority of people felt they had some small racist thoughts for a group of people that they grew up around and second that racism is a subject that could bring the extreme out of someone.

As people thought about the question honestly, which I did ask them to in my status, most of them felt they did have some racial thoughts. Some included examples of simply seeing a Mexican and feeling they were illegal or seeing a Muslim and thinking terrorist. People mentioned that these thoughts seemed to come immediately and they would than feel bad or even wonder why they had such thoughts. A lot of answers though explained that they would have these immediate thoughts and than know that they would never actually purposely do something bad against the people.

The much more interesting thing that I noticed is how strongly some people had thoughts on the subject. Many people got extremely passionate about their feelings and making personal attacks on other responders. For some this subject really brought the extreme thoughts out of them. For example here is a response from June a lady who I met in England on my mission and is talking about the Muslims moving into England and responding to a girl named Kim who had made a comment. June said...

"Kim needs to grow up and live in the real world you haven't seen what it's doing to our country we are can't speak. I see you was probably bullied at school that's why you are crying so much about people getting offended. You need to grow up .why can't i call a person from pakistan a paki i can go to jail for saying that but not for calling you a yank. And i wouldn't cry if someone called me a brit. Whats that about and they wouldnt go to jail our country has never been full of murderers till these people spilled into our country and for your information my friend was half african half irish no american about it. And she was murdered by a black person so where is the respect due there i would be disrespectful if i liked scum like that after what they did to her get your facts straight before attacking people this makes you a racist Kim !!!"

I wondered if Kim and June would have been so strongly vocal if they knew each other. They seemed to have such extreme thoughts on the subject and also were not afraid to be vocal knowing they did not know this person. On the other hand though their was one comment that I really felt summed up what this conversation did to those involved. Clive another man I had met in England actually works with the police force in helping them understand other races and he said...

"I think this question has brought out and highlighted, Hatred of others, not racism, many people seem to have strong & extreme feelings to other humans, is would seem. I wish them all Peace and Compassion and hope they find space in their hearts to Forgive this inhumanity."

I agree that the question did bring out some hatred and wish that others would just understand more the other side of the question. All in all I was glad that so many people responded to my question as for a few days it was one crazy adventure keeping up to peoples responses for either yes or no.