Apology to the community
in re:https://steemit.com/steem/@william-noe/im-going-to-down-vote-any-racist-propaganda
I would like to offer an apology to the community for any name calling I have done it does not support any argument I may have had. Also I may have been a bit over sensitive to some posts I saw before I started this thread. That being said I was disturbed by a theme I saw emerging, I really love this site. I'm very sensitive to issues involving bigotry. I feel that it starts innocently enough as xenophobia then grows to discrimination and ultimately genocide. I made this post as a stand against the early stages of xenophobia I saw emerging to protect something that I hold dear. I'll admit I was a bit immature and inarticulate in voicing my disapproval. I vow that in the future I will refrain from personal attacks and name calling; also I will take the time to prepare a well versed argument which articulates my opinions. Honestly I hope that I never get involved in another political dispute because emotions can run so high. I will honestly try to keep things more light hearted and informative
You know what I love? Dave Chappel. You know why? Because he made jokes specifically with the most painful and edgy racial overtones...and he did it to make fun of and take power away from the divisive message that permeates everything in our media these days. At the highest echelons of our governments, corporations, media...etc is the constant message of how white people are at fault for everything. There is a message that if you are white you are given everything and have to work for nothing. Yet there are also lies about black people, muslims, etc...you name it there are racially based lies and propaganda about them. And have you ever wondered why the media doesn't downplay these issues? Instead they choose to push precisely the buttons that go perfectly with diminishing economic opportunities for people of every walk of life (save for that very very few at the very very top) to increase the chances of violent clashes.
Have you ever noticed the only time they talk about unity is when they want to take rights away? Have you ever noticed they do not talk about unity and helping one another and using our Constitutional Rights to protect one another? It is so plainly obvious that those in power are using propaganda to divide us based on foe rights like "Mommy why is that guy dressed like a girl and peeing in the girls bathroom?" instead of us focusing on the truly important ones...
Love is very important, but we must never forget that some people do not respond to love. And sadly those people also have similar traits to serial killers in that they have little empathy for others. However, those people sure to tend to find their way into high echelons of power...
I have friends who are Muslims (actually one of my favorite friends of all time was a muslim from Egypt), but I have also seen a terrible side to Islam that needs dealt with (preferably by the muslim community). To say this is not true would be a dangerous oversight.
It takes courage to admit fault. We are all likely to make mistakes that the blockchain will remember for us. I certainly have. Hopefully we'll find that reputations, in some ways, can be strengthened by the mistakes we make, the way we handle them and what is hopefully a general growth as we try to develop ourselves. It is very easy to rile oneself up and to create an argument from misinterpretation or misrepresentation. What is harder but of greater potential value, is being able to discuss an emotive subject, with people who have different opinions, without allowing emotions to dominate so you can actually hear them. All the best.
Nice.
Respect for the vulnerability & humility to acknowledge where you were out of integrity and have taken the action to restore it.
👊🏽
I appreciate your honesty. I personally have issues with words such as "racist" and any buzz words finishing with "-phobia". Its hard for me not to react since those words are often use to shut down a debate about very important issues where there need to be a conversation going on.
I have issues with Islam, not because I have a phobia (which is an irrational fear) but because Ive read the qu'ran. I know how their values are diametrically opposite to western culture and it has no historical precedent for assimilation(in aggregate...exceptions applies). I was called racist about that one too...even thou Islam is not a race.
I have issues with multiculturalism not because I dont enjoy some of my black and asians friends but because on aggregate it breaks down social trust and creates a situation where the unique flavor of a culture is diluted. I like culture and I like diversity...but a big mushy soup of all culture simultaneously...not so much. I love the fact that for the foreseeable future, Japan will be Japanese for example.
Again, thank you for your honesty and courage to admit your fault and I hope we can keep the lines of communication opened to discuss what can be controversial and politically incorrect. Those discussions are what free speech and the open market of ideas is all about.
I choose to disagree with you what breaks down social trust is when communities live in isolation from one another. Trust is formed though positive interaction. No one is saying they want you to be a Muslim or make you eat hummus. I don't know much about Japan, but I have heard xenophobia is a big issue there as well. I have not read the Koran nor do I intend to; what I will say is there are several things in the Bible I find offensive as a Christian genocides and the like. This is not a us against them thing my beliefs or yours. I don't mean to persuade you I just wanted to clarify my stance. Thank you for your input.
The multicultural social trust issue ia not a matter of opinion, its a fact that has been established again and again by scientific studies. It fairly obvious that we tend to trust people like ourselves more than someone who has no cultural similarities with us. Xenophobia is not an issue and again the word "phobia" is at play. You could also call their behaviour "social conservatism". They've been around a long time and they know what happen when you fragment society into groups with different cultural agenda.
From your comment on the bible, I know you probably didn't read it also. All acts of violence in the bible are related to the past and the context of when that is called for is very specific and too long to explain here. In the Qu'ran they are call to actions in the future. VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. You may not like christians but what they've got right is the seperation of church and state... its the complete opposite in the Qu'ran. The goal is a one world theocracy under the law of Allah (sharia law). Islam literally mean "submission"...by force if necessary. (Note that I am not talking individual muslims but of ideology)
The bible says that if you preach the gospel and a village doesnt accept it to "dust the sole of your feet on the way out". In the Qu'ran...I'll let you do the research so you can know it for yourself.
Actually I am a Christian and have take religious education for more than 12 years. Separation of church and state is an American tradition not a Christian tradition. Please end this debate because neither you nor I is convincing anyone.