h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does being a member or even just a supporter of The BNP make some one a racist?
Is it enough for some one simply to consider themselves superior to certain other races for them to be called a racist?

Yes.

I don't know what BNP is, so can't answer to that question, but if it's similar to the NPD (Germany), my answer is YES.
>>Is it enough for some one simply to consider themselves superior to certain other races for them to be called a racist?<< YES -how can anybody living in the 21st century still consider himself superior to other races ?????

This post has been removed.

for explaining.

I guessed that much. What makes me wonder, though, is that the questions have been asked in the first place, I thought the answers should be clear to everybody

Yeh, I was just starting to wonder that actually. I mean, I'm normally pretty good at seeing both sides of an arguement, but when it comes to the BNP and the like, no matter how they lie about their intentions, theey are a bunch of r Racist white trash, I don't think there is another side.

I read the BNP's manifesto last night, and I have to say it was a little confused in places. Though it did have one rather intriguing policy.

This was that they would bring back National Service, and that all people after completing their service would be compelled to keep an assault rifle at home. A rife that could be used in defence of whatever is attacking them ie muggers, burglars, and the State.

In other words the BNP in government would be advocating arming the British public so that it can shoot the BNP government

"In other words the BNP in government would be advocating arming the British public so that it can shoot the BNP government"

Definitely one of their less objectionable policies.

But we all know that it wouldn't work - US population IS armed, and yet ...

My definition is any one who thinks some from another race is inferior to them

If I disapprove of the way woman are treated in many Islamic countries, does that make me a racist?

I think there might be a difference between being racist and being prejudiced. Being a racist would be deliberate and conscious, while being prejudiced is more subtle and subconscious. I'm not a racist, but if I'm being honest I am prone to certain prejudices in my assumptions which I'm not proud of, but which it can be hard to do much about.

>>If I disapprove of the way woman are treated in many Islamic countries, does that make me a racist?<<

I wouldn't have thought so, because there are people in those countries - as well as people with ancestry in those countries but now living elsewhere - who may share your views and therefore race wouldn't seem to have much to do with it. There's a cultural dominant and correspondingly the possibility for dissent, independently arrived at, with people of the same race occupying both sides of the divide: the proportions would be irrelevant (as would race - an anglo-saxon convert to Islam might beat his wife, while Benazir Bhutto gets elected Prime Minister of Pakistan).

>>Racist white trash

Not that I'm defending the BNP here, but isn't that (above) an example of racist language? If I said racist black trash, racist jewish trash etc etc wouldn't I get jumped on like a ton o'bricks?

When acts or beliefs hurt people and taunt when it related to something they can't help then that is racist. The BNP say they are legit but you look in the background at the people who support them and the flags and banners. Thugs is the right word for them. They should not be able to have a point of view as it is a slur on other people. They are basically the political wing of racist thugs. They only win votes by praying on peoples fears.

Racist.

One very big minefield and a term bandied about with gay abandon.

Example - used to work with an Indian lady who was moody, late into work, went home early, spent half the day on the phone and/or internet and generally believed the world owed her a living.

I went on holiday once for a week, came back and for god knows what reason, she blanked me for three months. It was as if I simply did not exist, which is difficult when you are supposed to be a team and work together.

Anyway, long story shortened considerably, we both ended up in the managers office for me to explain why I was having difficulties with her. Tactfully, I was trying to explain what she was getting away with while we were monitored to within an inch of our lives. Her response to this? She said, and I quote : "You are a racist, arent you. Thats why you dont like me"
At that point, I put my hands up, said I no longer wished to participate in the conversation and I left the office. Found another job within a couple of months and left that department. She is still there, apparently bullet proof because when anyone mentions her bad attendance, her apalling manner and her lack of output, they are immediately branded a "Racist" and everyone (scared witless at taking her on) runs for cover.
Is that fair? ARE we being racist?

Another thing - the term "Racist" in my experience seems to be normally applied to white people. I have yet (and I say again in my eperience) to see a non white accused of the same crime.

Funny old world, isnt it?

>>My definition is any one who thinks some from another race is inferior to them<<

Well if you mean that you think that you're superior to a single person from another race, then no, that's not racism. But if you think that you're superior to an entire race, then yes, that is racism. A certain man from Austria once thought that.

I agree! It does seem to be used as a card to play to get out of situations. These are just quirks of racism and should not detract from the true meaning of the word. I think organised religon is racist. Jews can only marry jews, Muslims marrying out of the faith is frowned upon, catholism snears at other beliefs (example follows)

I am fairly open to other peoples beliefs even though I class my self as an atheist. I went with my wife to a spiritralist church just to become educated about something I knew little about. They are sneared at by the catholic church as being witches. Hang on one sec! Don't catholics believe in the holy spirit, visions of angels and pilgramidges to pass over the bones of a dead saint?

Jewish politics often plays the card. If Israel does something to the Palestinians it is classed as necessary. If the west intervenes they very quickly play the second world war card, then the west backs down. Yes, terrible thing but other people suffered at the hand of the nazis, not just the jews.

Sorry if it appears I am picking on one or two faiths but they are the ones that sprung to mind. I could go on about my travels in West Africa etc etc.

>>I am fairly open to other peoples beliefs even though I class my self as an atheist. I went with my wife to a spiritralist church just to become educated about something I knew little about. They are sneared at by the catholic church as being witches. Hang on one sec! Don't catholics believe in the holy spirit, visions of angels and pilgramidges to pass over the bones of a dead saint?<<

I know how you feel. When I was in school I had a religion teacher who didn't like me because I was an atheist. One day she asked me "Don't you find it silly to not believe in a god?" So I responded "Don't you find it silly to believe in a magical super-being in the sky."

She didn't like me even more after that.

I've made this comment before in another thread but it still interests me. Despite having lived, worked, played, partied, laughed and cried with people from all over this globe including Africa, Asia, North and South America, FSU and Scotland, where BTW there is a nasty anti English streak, I still have to be conciously anti racist.

I was brought up on Merseyside which has a long multi racial, multi religious heritage so it isn't nuture so maybe it's genetics. But we are a mongrel race genetically so I struggle to analyse my xenophobic feelings.