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[Charles]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I'm not sure that I will, but I think my sons might sometime live in post-racial America. Race relations are a matter that should be discussed, but sometimes it is difficult to get past the talking points. I'm not even sure what I mean by a post-racial America. I don't think any of us want a homogenous society. But sometimes it's hard to draw the line between celebrating diversity and denigrating differences. I wish I had more answers.

Regards,

D-Ray

A post-racial America? Is that when the spooks get cracker cab drivers to take them to Chinatown to eat tacos???

Or would that be a homogenous society?

Race will always be an issue. A post-racial America will be when whites no longer hold the balance of power.

Could be good, could be bad, but it'll be different for sure. And if nothing else, the whites will finally be free of their guilt complex.

Chas

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by Charles

A post-racial America? Is that when the spooks get cracker cab drivers to take them to Chinatown to eat tacos???

Or would that be a homogenous society?

Race will always be an issue. A post-racial America will be when whites no longer hold the balance of power.

Could be good, could be bad, but it'll be different for sure. And if nothing else, the whites will finally be free of their guilt complex.

Chas

I don't think it will be "post-racial" just because whites lose the balance of power. It's already happened in South Africa, and there's still plenty of racism to go around there.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Well, I think you're off to a good start with the 40 days of being nice. Might consider extending that to infinity. If we can't at least be civil with each other, there's fat chance of tolerating, much less celebrating our differences.

You're right. Sometimes, Lent resolutions provide a way of picking up good habits. We can express ideas without personally attacking one another. I am a firm believer, however, in the free marketplace of ideas. In other words, ideas with greater merit should prevail over other ideas. One need not be angry with another to demonstrate the logical failings of other ideas. The manner of delivery is also fair game, IMHO.

As far a religious diversity - the best way to protect it is to maintain a strict separation between church and state. The power of the state should not be used to impose the tenets of one faith on another, nor should it be used to preclude free exercise of other faiths or lack therof. Insofar as churches operate as worldly institutions, however, they should have to follow the same rules as other institutions.

Regards,

D-Ray

[Charles]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I'm afraid I'm going to have to bore you all to tears for the next 40 days of being nice.

Reason shall prevail!!

Regards,

D-Ray

Yew ain't gonna be a damn bit different than you already is.

But don't take my comments personal. I have a long history of giving a blast of shit to lawyers. I can even think of one in particular who hates my guts for it.

Funny thing is, I didn't mean to give HIM a blast of shit. I was drunk at a party (like he, or anyone else wasn't) and got his name mixed up with a movie star. I was just trying to be friendly.

Apparently I damaged his delicate psyche.

Chas

[Wasillaguy]

Let's do a for instance.
Let's say an Asian co-worker is eating their kimchi. I think we can agree it would not be tolerant or in the spirit of diversity to openly spout off about how disgusting you think it smells, or how gross it is to eat something that's rotted. It's what you may think, but you keep it to yourself so as not to offend your co-worker and his cultural identity.

So if you have another co-worker who has different views politically that you find repulsive, think about it like the kimchi. You think it stinks, but have enough respect for your fellow citizen to remain respectful of his beliefs. The manner of delivery is NOT fair game, if you have any real desire for tolerance and diversity.
How much merit an idea has, much like art, is in the eye of the beholder. Just because you determine an idea or belief has no merit, doesn't make it the case. It's like the T-shirt the guy wears on Mythbusters- "I reject your version of reality and replace it with my own"

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

Let's do a for instance.
Let's say an Asian co-worker is eating their kimchi. I think we can agree it would not be tolerant or in the spirit of diversity to openly spout off about how disgusting you think it smells, or how gross it is to eat something that's rotted. It's what you may think, but you keep it to yourself so as not to offend your co-worker and his cultural identity.

So if you have another co-worker who has different views politically that you find repulsive, think about it like the kimchi. You think it stinks, but have enough respect for your fellow citizen to remain respectful of his beliefs. The manner of delivery is NOT fair game, if you have any real desire for tolerance and diversity.
How much merit an idea has, much like art, is in the eye of the beholder. Just because you determine an idea or belief has no merit, doesn't make it the case. It's like the T-shirt the guy wears on Mythbusters- "I reject your reality and replace it with my own"

I respectfully disagree. If people share a small space in the lunch room, and one brings in something that smells so bad that others can't stand to eat, he should be aware of it. More than likely, he doesn't want to run everyone else out of the room, so if he knows that the aroma is offensive, he can exercise his conscience about the effect his choice has on others. It's better to communicate than to suffer in silence.

If an individual chooses to publicly express an odious idea, it is not being intolerant to disagree, and to disagree publicly. If one's method of delivery is to yell down everyone who disagrees, it's not being intolerant to point out the rudeness of such conduct. We're not likely to find common ground yelling at each other, but we're not likely to find any common ground listening to a monologue either. Disagreement is a healthy form of communication.

Regards,

D-Ray

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by Charles

Yew ain't gonna be a damn bit different than you already is.

Chas

Boring. Yeah, I didn't promise to quit pontificating.

Regards,

D-Ray

[finnbow]

I like kimchi.

[Oerets]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I like kimchi.

I do to as long as it not to hot!



Barney

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I like kimchi.

I think it stinks and the idea of eating something rotten repulses me, but I'd let you sit next to me and eat it. We could have a friendly and disagreeable political conversation while I ate my avocado & bacon sandwich.