> Well I apologize for having to answer this to the entire list, but anyone
> who thinks my message was racist is simpleminded. Reread my post. I
> argued that to believe that torture in Latin America by the military is a
> problem of Latin behavior patterns is to entertain a racist belief! I
> pointed out that massacre of Indians by Chivington in Colorado in 1864
> was NOT a result of ANGLO racial behavior. My message argued that
> torture by the military is NOT a behavior problem that is psychological
> in nature, but that the torture by the military in LA is determined by
> political and economic problems and interests. Now how in the devil
> someone decided to turn that statement into me saying something racist
> about Latinos is beyond me. Call me a passionate fool, tell me to quit
> clogging up the list with my comments, censure me for being a nincompoop,
> but call me a racist, and, well, @#$% you buddy!
>
> On Fri, 24 Feb 1995 edwin.tobar@support.com wrote:
>
> >
> > Dear Friends,
> > It seems that we have foolish people writing messages. This "Person"?, says
> > that Due to "Racially Inferior Latin Americans". I have to make a point that
> > this Gentlemen, (he wishes) name is Victor O. Story. Victor's claims are not
> > only foolish but racist, and his comments should not be accepted here. Victor,
> > I am sure dresses up in his white sheet, and goes cross burning on the
> > weekends. I don't like officers who kill, or racist who speak out of emotion
> > and not reallity. Friends I like to invite comments from all of you. Lets talk
> > now, and shut such racism up. I would also ask those who are in the military
> > that are reading this, to present their point. If they believe that Latin
> > Americans are inferior, like Bubba Victor said. Speak now, and we all are
> > taking notes, Latin America has changed, and this time we are not the little
> > brothers any more. We are adults with a long history, and proof of better
> > school systems then the ones in the USA. Latin Americans have one of the
> > highest math, science, and languages scores in multination testing. The USA is
> > in the bottom. So David, open your eyes, if you don't like Latin Americans, go
> > to your mountain hide out, and prepare for the end of the world, and keep away
> > from all of us.
> > Edwin Tobar
> > Political Scientist
> >
Excuse me for asking what may seem like simple-minded questions.
I have two points to make. Why do people seem to get so irate about being
called a racist? That is, to call someone a racist clearly pisses people
off, which means that the term carries a fairly deep emotional meaning for
people. So, to dismantle the politically nefarious movements attempting to
spread their racist doctrines - like Prop 187 in California - we have to
make an attempt to understand the people supporting these movements. To
call them racist solves nothing but serve to entrench people even
deeper in their hole of prejudice. And who does not have some shred of
racism in them, when push comes to shove? Being called a racist has
become a 'dirty' word, as it should, but for precisely that reason it is
counter-productive to call someone a racist, for marking someone racist
alienates them. And that puts them outside the reach of persuasion.