[smartalec2718]

Originally Posted by lostalex

Well i think we disagree about the definition of racism, which is fine, because like i said, it's turned into more of a political catch-all term, and it's confusing for a lot of people.

I think i've put more thought into it than you have though.

i really appreciate the fact that we've been able to have such a mature conversation about it though. A Lot of people on this forum are not able to have such a respectful conversation about such a controversial issue,. So i praise and appreciate you for that.

Lostalex, I have never really agreed with you on much, and I have to disagree with you again here. "Racism" means discrimination or prejudice on the basis of race, and "race" refers to common descent, ancestry, or heredity. The classification system used to subdivide people into races depends on observable characteristics like heritable phenotypes (basic physical variations like eye color, etc.), geographic ancestry, physical appearance, and ethnicity. Race does NOT have to do with culture and nationality, as you claim. An American of Polish descent and a Polish national have different cultures and nationalities, but they're of the same race because they're from a common ancestry.

If I were to ask you what the typical "American" looks like, you'd probably tell me that's a dumb question, right? America is an incredibly diverse place founded and populated by immigrants from the world over, representing tons of different ethnic groups. Everyone in America certainly doesn't come from the same origin, so it would be erroneous to say there is an "American race". An American culture, identity, nationality, sure - but not a race. Racism, then, is a feeling of superiority or a tendency to persecute based on differences in origin/ancestry. So it's impossible to be racist against Americans as a whole - maybe you meant prejudiced or discriminatory towards.

Just there are two differing opinions on an issue doesn't mean one is objectively right. And though it wasn't directed at me, I was struck by the presumptuousness of your claim that "I think I've put more thought into it than you." That seems needlessly arrogant, even for you.