From: sasha@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (alexander.kostomaroff)
Subject: Re: Does Hollywood support black racism?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:19:58 GMT

didinsky@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (didinsky garry) writes:
ikg1591@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Irina Kosinovsky ) writes:

>>I am not disagreeing with your point of view about how White America should
>>act or should't act here -- I just don't understant why every person who
>>doesnt have the same views as you do on interracial relations becomes a "racist"
>>Ira

>Ira,
> ... I feel that he is racist.  By the way, in my dictionary, word
> racist is not as terrible as it might be in your dictionary. 	If a person
> was brought up in environment where there are almost no blacks and where 
> blacks are considered as some strange creatures, then that person will most 
> probably become racist. By the way, same thing can be said about blacks, many
> of whom are also racists, although they claim otherwise by using alternative
> definition of 'racism', which includes word "power' in it.  
> ---Garik.

>> I agree that there is a lot of racism in XUSSR, but in my dictionary racist is
>> still a terrible word to call a person, so I just thought you at least owed
>> Vadim an explanation of why you think he is a racist (which you never gave)
>> I don't agree that his comment was a racist one but maybe if you can provide
>> a good argument, I'll agree with you.
>> I just want to understand what you consider to be racist -- after all, maybe
>> I should be careful saying what I think around you -- or you'll consider me
>> racist? Or maybe you already do? :)
>> Ira

Lady and Gentleman,

Let us put Political Correctness aside and start with definitions:

	Racism - 1. The notion that one's own ethnic stock is superior.
	^^^^^^
		 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on R. - racist
                                                              ^^^^^^ 
	(The American Heritage Dictionary)

The definitions may vary in flavor from one source to another but,
in general, I buy this one. If you agree, we could continue. Otherwise,
hit <n>.

There could be nothing defamatory in Def.1. Plenty of folks think this way about
themselves. The trick is in the sense of proportion.

It starts from the cradle:
	- You have the best mom/dad/family in the Universe.

It continues through kindergarten, school, street gang, U, army, etc.:
	- Our Nation!
	- Our Religion!!
	- Our Gang Colors!!!
	- The Few! The Proud! The Marines!!!!
	....................
	- I'm The Greatest!!!!!! (Cassius Clay a.k.a. Mohammed Ali)


You see, the dialectic leap from Def.1 to Def.2 has been made.

A 'normal/decent/good' human being understands (consciously or subconsciously)
that the interhuman relationships a built not on the basis of superiority
vs. inferiority of individuals/groups but on the foundation of equal rights
of all + uniqueness of the each one of us. Please note, I say 'rights' not
'values'. You could stone me to death with the volumes of Malcolm X selected
works - values are scalable. There are superior and inferior ones.

Nobody should be judged by the colour of his/her/its skin.  Race could not
be disapproved. Values could be judged, accepted, rejected, etc. Errors in
the judgement are inevitable. But, in general, there is always the right side
and the wrong side, high values and low values, London "Times" and
"Folkischer Beobachter", Scarlatti and Ice-T ....

Individuals and groups that adhere to the low values doom themselves.

Mass media in our country is driven today by the $ sign only. PC sells.
Therefore, long live PC! Hate rap sells - roll the tape!

Big money is in styrofoam cups, plastic straws, D-grade movies,
pop pseudomusic. T.S. Elliot doesn't bring revenue. 

Today will pass. There is always tomorrow. BTW, yesterday was great!

Have fun, boys and girls. Regards,

Alexander Kostomaroff
Observer Of Passing Events, Falling Empires, and Human Follies.