TOPIC:

An egoless wise man would easily know how ridiculous the thought that non-whites are intellectually inferior, except in the fact that education stimulates brain activity and increases intelligence. The brain is a muscle. Non-whites were prohibited from proper education due to one reason or another.
However this is absent today due to rights for all. So if idiots want to feel hurt from what other idiots have to say, I mean idiots as only at that point in time as we are a myriad of people, then let them. So be it.
We are only as strong as that which makes us angry.

For those wondering why 'ape' is considered racist-it's the context and the intent of the use of the word, same as the word 'black'-it's not racist until you use it in the context of being racist with the intent of being racist.

Let me share a part of an article from Luke Pearson who is a qualified teacher and creator and administrator of Social Media project @IndigenousX.

"there is a big difference between telling people that racism is not ok, and teaching people why it is not.

Most people would agree that racism is unacceptable. But if you ask them to explain what racism is, how it manifests itself and how it impacts on others, the lack of clear answers gives you a better understanding of how people can say something racist, and then turn around and claim “I’m not racist, but …”.

If you don’t understand racism – both its history and ongoing reality – or the relationship between “jokes” and systematic discrimination, then of course you wouldn’t bat an eyelid at McGuire’s comment. Like most things in life, if you haven’t experienced them or haven’t been taught about them, then you probably won’t know why such a comment was offensive. This is why ignorance is such a popular excuse: because it is one that many people can relate to and sympathise with. It is why so many people think others just “cry racism” for no reason.

But as long as ignorance is allowed to remain, people will think it’s a fair excuse. They will apologise without knowing why, only to do it again. The wheel of racism will keep on spinning.

Anti-racism is not a stop sign. It is a learned skill. It benefits
those who understand it by broadening their perspective, and it benefits those negatively impacted by reducing how often the encounter it from people who too often claim they “don’t mean to cause any offence”.

I hope we can raise the bar much higher in the future, and set the minimum standard from "not racist" to “anti-racist”, including support for strengthening the racial vilification laws that exist in Australia. Politicians, executives, leaders, and those who talk or write about Indigenous people in the media should be educated to meet this standard.

After all, how can our leaders and representatives be effective role models for anti-racism if they do not even know what it means? Racism either stops with all of us, or it doesn't stop at all."

1986 wrote: For those wondering why 'ape' is considered racist-it's the context and the intent of the use of the word, same as the word 'black'-it's not racist until you use it in the context of being racist with the intent of being racist.

Let me share a part of an article from Luke Pearson who is a qualified teacher and creator and administrator of Social Media project @IndigenousX.

"there is a big difference between telling people that racism is not ok, and teaching people why it is not.

Most people would agree that racism is unacceptable. But if you ask them to explain what racism is, how it manifests itself and how it impacts on others, the lack of clear answers gives you a better understanding of how people can say something racist, and then turn around and claim “I’m not racist, but …”.

If you don’t understand racism – both its history and ongoing reality – or the relationship between “jokes” and systematic discrimination, then of course you wouldn’t bat an eyelid at McGuire’s comment. Like most things in life, if you haven’t experienced them or haven’t been taught about them, then you probably won’t know why such a comment was offensive. This is why ignorance is such a popular excuse: because it is one that many people can relate to and sympathise with. It is why so many people think others just “cry racism” for no reason.

But as long as ignorance is allowed to remain, people will think it’s a fair excuse. They will apologise without knowing why, only to do it again. The wheel of racism will keep on spinning.

Anti-racism is not a stop sign. It is a learned skill. It benefits
those who understand it by broadening their perspective, and it benefits those negatively impacted by reducing how often the encounter it from people who too often claim they “don’t mean to cause any offence”.

I hope we can raise the bar much higher in the future, and set the minimum standard from "not racist" to “anti-racist”, including support for strengthening the racial vilification laws that exist in Australia. Politicians, executives, leaders, and those who talk or write about Indigenous people in the media should be educated to meet this standard.

After all, how can our leaders and representatives be effective role models for anti-racism if they do not even know what it means? Racism either stops with all of us, or it doesn't stop at all."

Exactly, its like telling a little child that they shouldn't hit another child saying that this is unacceptable, smacking them, but not telling the child why what they have done is wrong. Education is the key here and I am not talking just about classroom learning. It is about people coming to an understanding about why Aboriginal and other dark skinned people feel so dehumanised when they are called such terms as 'ape'. It is walking a mile in others shoes. I was fortunate to work with a wonderful guy who was part of the stolen generation. He was the one of the most calm and balanced individuals I have ever met and yet I saw him react emotionally when he saw the some of the discrimination and injustice his people endured. When he told me his story I was able to come to an understanding of why this happened. I think we all need to take responsibility here to educate ourselves and isn't that what reconciliation is about?