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Identifying the racist

By on September 30, 2009 2:00 am in Letters / 20 comments

 
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Black men die an average of seven years earlier than white men. Native Americans are five times more likely to contract diabetes than the rest of the U.S. population. Fifty-five percent of blacks live 5 years after diagnosed with cancer compared to 65 percent of whites. Black infant mortality is three times greater than that for whites.

African American girls are more than three times more likely than white girls to show signs of puberty by age 8. Almost 900,000 African Americans would not have died during the 1990s if they received the same treatment as whites.

None of these inequities are due to genetic factors – they are the effects of disparities in income, access to medical care, residential segregation and discrimination.

In light of these inequities, which are evidence of racism, who are the racists? In order to answer this, we have to define which actions are racist. When we determine this, we should have a better idea of who the culprit is.

I think we can agree that a racist is someone who supports racism. Since racism is so engrained in this society, anything we do that does not actively fight it is maintaining the status quo and supporting racism. Racism has to be actively fought because inaction will not save the lives of those who die unjustly because of differential treatment.

You may be thinking, that would mean that everyone’s racist because the majority of our actions aren’t going
against racism. I am saying that everyone is racist, but only to the extent that we are not actively fighting the status quo. If the aggregate of all our actions best explains to current condition, then it is more accurate.

But it’s not accurate because it groups everyone with the prejudiced bigots and there are important differences. There may be differences between those who actively try to increase the inequalities and those who allow them to persist, and we may want to change what we call ourselves to a less direct term, but the fact remains that we are perpetuating racism. This fact makes it more likely to get us to stand up and do something about it.

If you claim you are not responsible for the racial inequities that exist, instead saying we need to find the “real racists” that we can point our fingers to and who are responsible for the current realities, you need look no longer. You don’t even have to leave your home. Just head to the mirror and point away. If you feel as uncomfortable with calling yourself racist as I do, it’s about time you take a stand.

Cyrus Azizi
President, Alpha Kappa Delta: International Sociology Honor Society, CMU Chapter

 

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  • Steve Redder

    Cyrus Azizi:

    My personal opinion of a man, woman or child is based upon their public and personal behavior, not by their skin color or gender. Further more my opinion is constructed by vetting observable behavior through an orthodox Christian moral system. I.E nine of the ten commandments are my guide to judgment. (Although I can not speak for other orthodox Christians I would hope their judgments are formulated in the same manner.) Consequently, when I considered the political behavior of our mixed race President I juxtapose his administrative behavior against God’s rule book. In so doing I was quickly able to deduce the following three contradictions: 1.) He is not a Christian. 2.) He is a contemptible liar. and 3.) He is covetous. Race has noting to do with how I assess a persons behavior. You on the other hand apparently judge all human activity based on the color of a persons skin–white skin that is. In closing, I as a white male am sick and tired of being called a racist or hater by folks like you. Cyrus Azizi, I strongly suggest you look in the mirror and see what a bigot and racist you are. What did Jesus say about folks like you? Oh yes, now I remember ” You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

  • Geroge

    My personal opinion of a man, woman or child is based upon their public and personal behavior, not by their skin color or gender. Further more my opinion is constructed by vetting observable behavior through an orthodox Christian moral system. I.E nine of the ten commandments are my guide to judgment. (Although I can not speak for other orthodox Christians I would hope their judgments are formulated in the same manner.) Consequently, when I considered the political behavior of our white former President I juxtapose his administrative behavior against God’s rule book. In so doing I was quickly able to deduce the following three contradictions: 1.) He is not a Christian and many of his constituents are white skin worshipping pagans. 2.) He is a contemptible liar…lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and sent our kids to die in battle without any rhyme or reaosn and 3.) He is a communist masquerading as a supporter of freedom adopting all KGB tactics. Race has noting to do with how I assess a persons behavior. You on the other hand apparently judge all human activity based on the color of a persons skin–white skin that is. In closing, I as a white male am sick and tired of white people like you, Stever Redder. I strongly suggest you look in the mirror and see what a bigot and racist you are. What did Jesus say about folks like you? Oh yes, now I remember ” You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” What would I say to you, “first take the plank out of your own eye and those who follow your so-called conservative political philosopy such as Mark Sanford and David Vitter, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother, Obama’s eye.”

  • Mark

    I am eating a potato chip and that action is not actively fighting racism… Am I a racist?

  • logic

    Tacitly being part of a sometimes institutionally racist society does not entail one tacitly being racist. All you are doing is relying on sophistry to guilt-trip people and have them join your frat.

  • Kyle

    Cyrus- good job man. I found the article profound and challenging.

    Steve- I’m hurt that you would twist the words of Jesus in attempt to condemn someone… I mean c’mon we can all find common ground against racism. It would be more correct to say you use an orthodox Jewish moral system. The ten commandments were given to Moses to make the people aware of all the inequity between them and their relation to God. Christ came and declared he was the fufillment of the law, we’re to live like him now… Like Romans 3:20 says…
    “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin”
    I would argue this article is an attempt to do that very same thing… make us concious of what is really going on.
    Also we are not the ones to judge. As 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 says
    “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts”
    It upsets me that an article that should have been a call to defeat an obvious evil was followed up by such negative, useless, unproductive comments.
    I’m not a guy that goes on comment boards and posts bible verses all day, I’d much rather this be an actual conversation. This article is saying apathy is not an excuse, you are part of the problem or part of the solution.
    Luke 11:23 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters”
    That sounds like Cyrus wasn’t the first person to say you have to pick a side.
    If anyone wants to talk about anything get at me.
    One more thing….Jesus wasn’t white…stick that on your facepage and poke it.

  • Kyle Eveleth

    @ “logic”: I highly doubt that Mr. Azizi is “relying on sophistry to guilt-trip people and have them join [his] frat.” What I would say, however, is that he is making a point that many find uncomfortably true.

    @ Mark: I think you have missed the point of the article entirely. I’m watching Food Network, which is not actively combating racism, but the average of my actions in life is.

    I will be the first here to swallow my pride and say that I have been a tacit racist because I have not actively striven for social change. When my actions changed, so did my title.

  • pmgcaut

    This whole taking the plank out of your eye thing only has the effect of inhibiting discourse about immoral actions. When people are afraid of being hypocrites they will be unable to improve.

  • Steve Redder

    Kyle, I thank you for your thoughtful response. Albeit they were at times petulant. The following Bible verses are my Lord and Saviors comments regarding the Ten Commandments and a saints authority to make judgments:

    Matthew chapter 5: verses 17-20 ” Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven…” Now as to whether or not I am permitted to judge: 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 2-4 ” Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!”

    In the aforementioned quotes from the new testament I have substantiated my right to measure any ones behavior against the Ten Commandment. I have also substantiated my right to make judgments.

    In conclusion Mr Azizi called me a racist. I took exception to his unfounded accusation. And you Kyle are a new age Christian who if he does not repent of his sin heresy and accept and apply an orthodox understanding of scripture to his life is bound for hell.

  • Steve Redder

    George I was delighted to see that you internalized my response to Mr. Azizi! I am sorry to break this news to you George, but I am not a member of the Republican party nor am I a conservative. I am a servant of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only to Him have i sworn my allegiance. If you will take the time to review my response to Kyles comments you will understand why I believe I was justified to renounce Mr Azizi’s comments. And George, if you claim to be a Christian? You to are bound for hell, if you do not live you life in a manner that is pleasing to the lord.

  • Linus

    I love articles like this because they bring the crazies out. First post reminds me of that woman on Wife Swap blubbering “NOT CHRISTIAN SHES NOT CHRISTIAN”.

  • D

    Cyrus:

    I think I understand what you are trying to say here, but what exactly do you mean by “actively fighting” racism?

    Would you say that actively living as an example–treating others in a way that promotes love toward all people (and thus all races) through our behavior and making personal daily choices that reflect this–would be actively fighting racism? Or are you trying to say that only political or publicly demonstrative actions would be actively fighting against racism?

    I’m just trying to understand your point a little better.

    Steve R: Telling others that being “bound for hell” if they don’t follow the Christian lifestyle is the number one way to discourage potential believers. Hell is nothing but eternal separation from God. Only those who reflect God’s character and actually want to live forever with him will do so, not those who simply follow outwardly because of fear.

    Kyle: Christ was the living fulfillment of the law because he followed it in precisely the right way. He didn’t replace or obliterate the law. The laws were given to Jews, but they were relevant for all; God considered murder, lying, and adultery to be sins long before Moses.

  • Cyrus

    D:

    Let me give an analogy: think about Wal-Mart. Most of us should be aware of the conditions of sweatshops — adolescent girls working for pennies an hour for maybe 90 hours a week under the supervision of armed guards. Wal-Mart supports these conditions of semi-slavery (indeed, they caused it). Merely by buying your underwear (or potato chips), you’re supporting an institution that supports semi-slavery; you are supporting semi-slavery. You’re allowing it to continue; you’re perpetuating it.

    This is the situation we’re in. Except, while we can choose to not participate with Wal-Mart, it’s not nearly that easy with the institutions in our country.

    By “actively fighting,” I mean simply through our actions we fight racism. This could mean many things such as saying you don’t appreciate racist jokes, becomming aware of your prejudices and trying to change them, joining an organization that fights racism, voting for proposals designed to ameliorate inequities, or writing a letter to start a converation of what our duty is in light of our current realities.

    I argued that the idea of what a racist is isn’t an all or nothing thing. People aren’t either racist or not racist. Rather, we are all racist, but the extent depends on how much we fight racism. Steve Redder, I have acknowledged that many of my actions aren’t actively fighting racism and have already admitted I am also racist.

    It’s important to say that I could have made similar arguments with sexism, heterosexism, and poverty. I picked race because I think it’s one of the better conversation starters, but we should be aware how our actions affect everyone.

  • George

    “George I was delighted to see that you internalized my response to Mr. Azizi! I am sorry to break this news to you George, but I am not a member of the Republican party nor am I a conservative. I am a servant of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only to Him have i sworn my allegiance. If you will take the time to review my response to Kyles comments you will understand why I believe I was justified to renounce Mr Azizi’s comments. And George, if you claim to be a Christian? You to are bound for hell, if you do not live you life in a manner that is pleasing to the lord.”

    I will strongly suggest that you live by the teachings of Christ…

    http://bible.cc/matthew/7-1.htm

    “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Otherwise you are bound for hell as well.

  • http://aol Truther

    Cyrus, wake up, man! Those who treat others EQUALLY, showing love and compassion, along with true friendship…are NOT RACISTS! That’s like saying that anyone tying to be “green” (to use a stupid catch-phrase) CAN’T be…if they’re stuck renting an old apartment! Come on, man. Wal-Mart didn’t start that “slave labor” in the other countries…YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN did! They allow this to go on…bringing HUGE profits to the companies that BOUGHT THEM! Are you following this? It’s the same group of useless “representatives” of the PEOPLE who FAILED US in getting to the bottom of what REALLY happened on 9/11. These are thje same people who will fund WARS anywhere, FOREVER, and leave their countrymen to suffer….blac, white, Native, or whoever. Notice the huge push to VACCINATE??? I’m not going to…and I sincerely hope noone reading this does. I CARE about my fellow citizens…and, sorry to tell you, am NOT racist.

  • dran

    Truther, that comment was really funny. You can’t be serious though! Too much internet crazy talk in one paragraph, caps and all.

    I hate to ask, but … how could there be anything wrong with vaccines, which are proven (by studies which aren’t payed off by the government or drug companies) to help people? I sure hope you don’t say they cause autism. I can’t see how anything a vaccine does might be part of a government or corporate conspiracy.

    Moreover the whole 9/11 conspiracy thing is just a huge conspiracy to get liberals to look like crazy conspiracy theorists. Google is even in on it.

  • The Debs

    I don’t think Cyrus’ intentions are to have everyone admit they are a racist, but rather to get everyone to realize that racism won’t end by itself. People need to begin to actively fight racism; by not doing so, it will continue to be an issue.

    The definition of a lie is not telling the truth, or leaving out parts of the truth. Why should the definition of a racist be any different? A racist is someone who discriminates upon certain races, or does nothing to stop the discrimination. The point of this is to eliminate racism, and without every person being involved, it will not happen.

    (And the Wal-Mart thing was just an analogy…)

  • Iris Cyzizi

    I’m pretty sure that Cyrus is the devil. Nonetheless, I see what he is getting at.

    Racism is embedded in our society. It’s systemic (ie. the reason why the “ism” is included)! In some cases, racism is so embedded in our operations that we perpetuate it because it is in our economic interest. Housing discrimination is a perfect example of this. When a neighborhood begins to become more racially integrated, the housing appraiser depreciates housing values which gives whites even more incentive to move to predominately white areas where there is less likelihood of this happening. This, among other things, stimulates racial segregation that is associated with economic division. Young children are then provided with an inequitable chance.

    P.S. DEVIL!

    P.P.S. Definitely the devil.

  • Greg Merle

    Racism Schmacism………..it’s boring and pretty much non-existent nowadays. Have you been to Wayside? Well, I take that back. If you want to see real racism, see affirmative action policies or a university lowering their admission requirements because they think minorities are too dumb to compete with everyone else. AA is an insult to any proud black man.

    BTW When your grandmother is going in for heart surgery and you find out that the heart surgeon is black are you quietly wondering if this guy was just pushed along through med school because of his color or is he really good? Fair or not, this is the damage that stupid liberal policies do.

  • Craig Merlot

    I agree with Greg… I mean rabble rabble rabble dey took er jobs!!!

  • http://BMATCHPENALTY10@EMBARQMAIL.COM ALUM92

    DONT YOU SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANT US CITIZENS TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF EACH OTHER AND CALL EACH OTHER RACIST, BIGOT, OPPRESSIVE. THESE THINGS KEEP THE SPOTLIGHT OFF OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO US. IF THEY KEEP THE PEOPLE IN TURMOIL WE CANNOT FOCUS AGAINST WHAT D.C. IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE!