BS: Are we all bigots?

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Jul 16 - 07:53 PM

If for 'bigotry' one should substitute 'bias', I would agree immediately. Sometimes I am not happy about that- I distrust knee-jerk reactions- however, I suspect that a person without bias is a sociopath.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Jul 16 - 06:41 PM

Amos, it is very important to recognise that bigotry is not a synonym of ignorance or inability to achieve perspective. Bigotry requires a degree of deliberateness in ignoring half the evidence within an argument. It requires determination to be unbending in the light of rational opposition to your cause. It requires a degree of malevolence and bloodymindedness. Finally, it requires a degree of hatred of a section of humanity who have done nothing to deserve your bile. "Done nothing" is quite an important codicil.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jul 16 - 02:32 PM

We have not all met at the fifty yard line and made equal concessions to one another regarding equality. If not having an experience can make you a bigot about something Dr. Farmer was right fifty years ago when he said everyone has the seeds of bigotry. Not everyone plants and waters them.

Bigotry is a loaded word but it can stand for something as small as an undeserved uneasiness to murderous intent.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Jul 16 - 01:22 AM

To a point. Is assuming that someone who disagrees with your points is less intelligent, bigotry?
All too easy to fall into that trap. Sort of comes with the territory of discussion.
Call me a bigot, but if someone starts shouting (ie in Capitals) .......... it starts to look like it.

AND ANOTHER THING ............

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Amos
Date: 10 Jul 16 - 01:07 AM

No, we are not all bigots. Human minds lie on a spectrum of different abiltiies to recognize similarities, differences, and identities. This means a spectrum of different degrees of rationality. Some people are rational enough to recognize the difference between past ideas or pictures and present perception. Some not. But the point is that it is a continuous gradation or spectrum, not a blanket or a Manichean binary condition.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 08:40 PM

I very much doubt if the Inquisition would have been too interested, on the basis of that quote.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 06:09 PM

No sign of improvement in recorded history. Beg to differ there.
My favorite is Dr. Karl Jung, late in his career. He was interviewed and asked if he believed in G * D. His reply was: I don't believe, I know. It is recorded that people took a lively interest in Jung's reply, wanting to know what he knew.

But do you realize how lamentably recently, in recorded history, a statement like that from an eminent scientist would have gotten him handed over to the Holy Office of the Inquisition, as a threat to the church? Even today there are countries with state religions, and you don't have to look very far back to the time when most nations had no separation between church and state.

I will concede that we are sadly slow and stubborn about maturing.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 12:58 PM

If Newt Gingrich can publicly admit his institutional and cultural racism there is hope for all.
Our leaders have said all the right things beginning with the Dallas Police Chief who spoke in Hemmingway length sentences succinctly and eloquently.

Racism should no longer be defined by poverty or criminality but by a psychological bigotry as basic as a feared stereotype.

Comparing statistics reveals a horrendous life taking preference to kill innocent black people and ask questions later.

I would love to see all professional athletes and hedge fund CEO's take a ten percent pay cut and fund the pay of teachers and police salaries. attracting better talent to these careers would help everyone more than extra yachts and mansions. This need not be defined as communism but more of a civic duty.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 09:26 AM

I think Steve's singular defense that we are not all bigots is a good one. I think the word bigot is safe from being neutralized or turned into a compliment. As evil as bigotry is the toleration of bigotry.

The hour long documentary 'Are we all Bigots' is intriguing with many scientific experiments which some cases support michaelr.

Over here the loss of humanity comes in a death from 1000 cuts.
This week the Dallas Police used a Robo Cop C-4 bomb to blow up a criminal cop killer. As if we could not have deployed non lethal means.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: mkebenn
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 08:41 AM

Must say, I don't find myself solidly in Steve's corner all that often, but he's spot on. DO Not trivialize the word bigot or identify with it 'cause you don't like French cars. I can honestly say I don't hate or even dislike any swatch of people because of race, creed, sex , religion or what ever. Do I dislike certain blacks, Italians, Muslams Christians, etc? Of course. Now sports and arts are a different matter. I don't care for most rap and hate and resent the Chicago Cubs, but that doesn't make me a bigot. Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 07:02 AM

No we are not all bigots and we must be wary of degrading the usefulness of a word by allowing it to encompass too wide a spectrum. If you want "bigot" to mean any person who makes judgements based on anything less than one hundred percent of good, full, honest information, then yes we are all bigots and you've completely destroyed the usefulness of the word. Bigotry has certain attributes beyond just that. It involves malevolence, it involves refusing to see any side of an argument, along with the evidence that goes with it, that you've decided in advance doesn't fit your cause, and it involves a loss of love for distinct sections of humanity who have done nothing to deserve your excoriations.

And I know what a risk I'm taking with this post, in light of some of the recent idiocies on this board that sully its reputation. I care not a jot. We are not all bigots but we are all imperfect human beings. The imperfections, paradoxically, are what make humanity so diverse and so amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: michaelr
Date: 09 Jul 16 - 02:27 AM

The motivation is clear and present.

So is the danger. In spite of all our higher aspirations, the reptilian brain at the base of our skulls keeps dragging us down. I see no signs of improvement over the course of recorded history.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Jul 16 - 09:30 AM

There has to be an oddball out there who is not a bigot in the ultimate 'Rap' sense and in reality there are many who wish to do the right thing as senoufou says, but are not motivated to do so.

The motivation is clear and present.

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Senoufou
Date: 08 Jul 16 - 09:13 AM

Well, (as your video expresses) in a sense we are all bigots in that we have allegiances, race, religion, sports interests, ethical stances and even just opinions. But we are also all human beings, and the similarities between us may be stronger than the differences. Most ordinary people have an innate humanity and fellow-feeling for others. Things such as compassion, fair-mindedness, sympathy, understanding and care are still in us.

The events in Dallas are dreadful. Hopefully this will stimulate a turning point, as people say "Enough!" and look for ways to heal society. This happened (eventually!) in Northern Ireland and South Africa.
I'm sorry you're feeling dark today Donuel. But there may yet be hope ahead...

Subject: RE: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Jul 16 - 09:06 AM

Of course we are. We all have our irrational dislikes. One chap I know wouldn't eat poached or hard boiled eggs if he were starving. Another doesn't like a fella because the fella is Thai-American; no matter that the fella served with the 2nd Special Forces in Vietnam or that his daughter and now granddaughter attended West Point.

Bigotry is inherent in everyone: your mother was more loving than mine, my choice of cars is better than yours, my candidate for PM is outstanding.

We probably can't live without some sort of bigotry.

Subject: BS: Are we all bigots?
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Jul 16 - 08:53 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndmHxtBPLfY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndmHxtBPLfY



YES

whites agree, blacks agree, clergy agrees, politicians agree, Neanderthals would have agreed.


Terrorists who play chess would foresee a racial shooting war in the USA sparked by internal realities. The enemy is of course us.

Conventional wisdom says good guys with guns don't kill people, they neutralize them. Bad guys with guns are good for business.

Are the seeds of our destruction now beginning to sprout and hatch out? Yes, it does so seasonably like locusts. They only need gunpowder, lead and bigotry. Guns are everywhere.

Dear 2nd amendment, as long as you are applied racially you will inspire killing us without justice by guns and IED's just like the Taliban and ISIS.

Dear NRA, if Republican congressmen see your efforts as diminishing the Democratic Party you will indeed succeed.

Our hearts go out to ibid. etc. infinitum.








I am feeling dark today.