Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site kontron.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!pesnta!pertec!kontron!cramer From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics Subject: Re: Discrimination and Affirmative Action Message-ID: <246@kontron.UUCP> Date: Mon, 17-Jun-85 15:19:04 EDT Article-I.D.: kontron.246 Posted: Mon Jun 17 15:19:04 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 19-Jun-85 04:23:33 EDT References: <338@unc.UUCP> <> <475@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <220@kontron.UUCP> <669@fisher.UUCP> Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA Lines: 41 Xref: watmath net.women:5921 net.politics:9464 > > > In my everyday encounters with people, I treat women and blacks > > > somewhat differently from white males, that is, my knowledge of a > > > person's race or sex can and usually does affect my actions in some > > > way. Part of the reason for this difference is my knowledge that > > > both groups suffer from deep-rooted and tenacious prejudices in our > > > society, and that this is an important factor in the life of each > > > individual woman or black. This does not mean that I have judged the > > > individual to be better or worse merely because he or she is black or > > > female, and I don't see how it makes me a racist or sexist. > > > > > > Richard Carnes, ihnp4!gargoyle!carnes > > > > This used to be called "patronizing". *I* treat everyone as an individual; > > if I don't know someone, I treat them dependent on the circumstances. In > > a dark alley, everyone, regardless of race or national origin, is a potential > > danger. > > Congratulations! You ARE the perfect person. Now, us mere mortals > who are honest enough to admit it realize that we are all prejudiced. > We may rationalize our biases (as a racist does), pretend our biases > don't exist (the "who, me?" bigot), or try to correct or surpress > them. Pretending they don't exist makes them more potent. > A frightening thought: maybe I really don't have racism built in to me. Why do you assume that everyone is racially prejudiced? Is it because *you* have a problem with racial prejudice? > Now maybe you do treat EVERYONE as an individual ALL the time; for me > (and those such as Carnes who are honest enough to understand their own > feelings), justness is something that must be striven for. Frankly, > those who err and atone are far more credible than those who claim > never to have erred at all. > > Now if you only would treat Carnes as an individual and stop rushing > to apply a label to him so you can treat him as part of some group... > > David Rubin > {allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david Mr. Carnes applied the label to himself by admitting that he treats blacks differently from whites.