Thursday, September 23, 2004

Types of racism

There should be a word to describe the sort of casual racism that is defined by a lack of empathy and a tendency to stereotype, as opposed to the really virulent hatred of the committed bigot. It is a different kind of thing, and it's also much more common.

I don't think that all Republicans are racists, by any means. But it amazes me what a totally tin ear the official Republican organization has on the subject of race. They really just don't get it at all. They actually thought "Vote for Keyes - he's black, too!" would show those black people how diverse they were instead of being perceived as the condescending insult it obviously is. And they actually don't see it. It confuses Republicans that that's perceived as an insult.

Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia's Delegate to the House of Representatives once said: "If you listen carefully they (the Republicans) will tell you what they really think."

This is one of those instances.

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