If you need to say "I am not a racist", you are

chewy14 said :

poetix said :

Well done ED.

Hope the fastidiousness extends to sexism too…

And vegetarianism too.

As long as it’s not extended to cyclists as well. That’s a bridge too far for RA…

chewy14 said :

poetix said :

Well done ED.

Hope the fastidiousness extends to sexism too…

And vegetarianism too.

….and I’m left handed….

Hey JB, righteous stuff.

Still, like Ben_Dover and a couple of others, I think you’re right on 2 and 3, but number 1 is a little contentious.

As I mentioned in another thread recently, I don’t care about skin colour, height, weight, sexual preferences, religion, or any other damn thing. It’s what you say and what you do that matters. Despite that, I’ve been told that I’m a racist because I’ve been critical of arsehats who are black. I wasn’t critical of the arsehat because they had black skin, I criticised what they did. If they had been white, brown or any other colour, I still would’ve criticised what they did. I felt a little aggrieved at being told I was a racist, but what the hell. We live in an imperfect world and there are foolish people everywhere.

The other day my 12 year old son said “Dad, I hate two things: people who make sweeping generalisations about others based on their nationality, and the Dutch”. We grinned at each other. 🙂

Proboscus said :

you’ll get 72 virgins if you commit a terrorist act –

but they don’t say what sex these virgins will be might some very dissapointed terrorists in paradise

I’m with deref on this.

I believe that religion is either a mental health issue or just a weekly gathering for suckers.

Any person who hears, sees or feels God, Jesus, Allah, Ginesh or Yoda – is a raving loony or an idiot.

Any person that believes you’ll get 72 virgins if you commit a terrorist act – is a raving loony or an idiot.

Any person who dresses in clothing to appease their religion – is a raving loony or an idiot.

There are many more examples but I’m sure you see my point.

p1 said :

I pass an Islamic school every day on the way to and from work. I have yet to notice the world (or even a small part of it) end due to said schools existence. Although I did hit and kill a cockatoo on the road outside it one day which was very sad. Perhaps god hates native birds?

Maybe it was a suicide cockatoo?

cross said :

Baggy said :

I know of no religion which excludes based on race,

Mormons and 7th day adventist do not allow black people into heaven

Mormons changed their mind about that in the 70s. They let black people into Heaven now. I’m not sure how they feel about other racial groups though.

watto23 said :

I think like many others government funding of religious schools is the main issue. I couldn’t care less for what religion it is or how many get built or where they get built.

.

Why is that watto? They have to meet curriculum measures to get funding and they are open to everyone like other non-government schools and many are even low fee. Surely it just gives choice and diversity to people rather than an homogeneous mediocre education?

I think like many others government funding of religious schools is the main issue. I couldn’t care less for what religion it is or how many get built or where they get built.

However if i someone started the sentence i’m not racist/sexist/bigotted then they feel they will be called out on it, which in reality happens because they are. Just like the concerned citizens of Canberra failed to come up with any factual reason to not build a mosque or that political party run by a Sri Lankan immigrant who happens to be of a certain faith and feels threatened by islam.

An apt saying is actions speak louder than words.

i am not racist, i hate everyone equally

Skidd Marx said :

But Muslims are scary!

Islam is not a race. It’s still scary nevertheless.

Good call JB.

But Muslims are scary!

1. If you already know you’ll need to defend yourself against charges of racism that’s a handy clue you’re being racist.

Disagree.

The term “racism” is thrown about frequently in situations where no racism occurs. To some on the left, mention of Islam, the Koran, the origins of a person, or that someone is non-white are all grounds for accusations of racism.

Without seeing the item which was not posted we cannot be sure if any racism occurred.

rac·ism

noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Baggy said :

I know of no religion which excludes based on race,

Mormons and 7th day adventist do not allow black people into heaven

poetix said :

Well done ED.

Hope the fastidiousness extends to sexism too…

And vegetarianism too.

I’m not a racist. In fact I find the whole concept of “race” idiotic – we’re all the same race and, like many animals of the same race, we have different physical attributes including skin, eye and hair colour. None of those things has any effect whatsoever on the way we behave.

I am, however, strongly opposed to religiously-based schools and, particularly, government support for them. I believe that the religious indoctrination of children is a form of child abuse and, while we can’t stop it in the short term, using our taxes to support it is a disgrace.

Church is the place for religion (if there is a place for it), not school. The basis for school education in Australia is that it is free, secular and compulsory. It should stay that way.

thebrownstreak69 said :

I’m really not sure why we get so worried about religious schools at all. They’re a strong part of many peoples’ cultures and traditions, and don’t cause any problems for anyone.

Because they are government-funded, i.e. I’m paying for kids to be educated in all kinds of things that probably aren’t true (only one of the religions can be right, maximum). If religions were secure in their beliefs, they would be happy for kids to have a secular education and choose their own religion when old enough to do so.

Take away all the government funding (including indirect through charitable status) and I’ll stop complaining. Maybe.

IP

If an Islamic school results in a bit less of this:

http://images.watoday.com.au/2010/09/19/1935826/article-binge-420×0.jpg

without causing any more unreasonable disruption and inconvenience for nearby residents than any other unwanted development/redevelopment, and without encouraging radical thoughts which might poison young minds (I assume “the authorities” keep a fairly close eye on that) then it may not be such a bad thing.

On the broader issue raised by this thread, I think that, by the usual standards of Australian, and particularly, Canberran, media this site generally has a refreshingly forthright approach, and does not suffer from political correctness – it simply has an understandably healthy awareness of the litigious nature of the society in which we live.

political correctness gone mad

Well done ED.

Hope the fastidiousness extends to sexism too…

Thanks JB, much appreciated, especially point 2.

Meanwhile:

I am racist. Because I know we all are.

Point 1: disagree. Everything is deemed racist these days, comments about religion are a perfect example – I know of no religion which excludes based on race, and yet bigotry is condemned as racism. There are differences.

Point 2: Agree perfectly, as long as the same degree of oversight is proscribed in terms of the subject matter, ie the three Rs.

Point 3: Again, comments about religion are rarely race-based. If someone wants to out themselves as an ignorant bigot, my opinion is to let them and let the world know their stupidity. However, being your website, you may do as you please – dare I say it, around here, you are god!

I’m really not sure why we get so worried about religious schools at all. They’re a strong part of many peoples’ cultures and traditions, and don’t cause any problems for anyone.

I pass an Islamic school every day on the way to and from work. I have yet to notice the world (or even a small part of it) end due to said schools existence. Although I did hit and kill a cockatoo on the road outside it one day which was very sad. Perhaps god hates native birds?

HerCanberra said :

*loud applause*

what she said

*loud applause*