I have never seen any DUer claim otherwise.

As of the end of 2010, 53% of the entire 34,526-member police force were white and 47% were members of minority groups. Of 22,199 officers on patrol, 53% (11,717) were black, Latino (of any race), or Asian or Asian-American, and 47% (10,482) were non-Hispanic white. Of 5,177 detectives, 57% (2,953) were white and 43% (2,224) were people of color. Of 4,639 sergeants, 61% (2,841) were white and 39% (1,798) were minorities. Of 1,742 lieutenants, 76% (1,323) were white and 24% (419) were people of color. Of 432 captains, 82% (356) were white and 18% (76) were minorities. Of 10 chiefs, 7 were white and 3 were people of color. In 2002, whites accounted for 60% of members in the rank of police officer. Between 2002 and 2010, the number of minorities in top-tier positions in the force increased by about 4.5%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Police_Department#Demographics

actually enforce the 2nd amendment the way it is written, removing ALL guns to regulated militias, then the cops wont have the excuse they now have to be armed to the teeth.

Would go a long way resolving the issues we have with them

On a roll today are we?

But I do vehemently disagree with the OP that only whites can be racists, IMO, anyone can be a racist, white, black, Hispanic, Asian, etc.
Racism is not confined exclusively to white people.

There are many forms of bigotry.

I focus on the power differential a bit more than you, but I agree on the vileness point. Very disordered thinking.

But anybody can be racist. It is a general term.

However, it must be difficult, among minority groups, to distinguish racism from the anger, hurt and resentment that arises from being the target of racism.

But the word could be applied to any situation in which people of one race makes negative assumptions about another, and weave them into their culture so as to discriminate against that race.

For example, are blacks racist toward whites in South Africa? (I don't know, but it seems possible). How about Jews against Muslims - or vice versa?

to distinguish racism and bigotry ... institutional/cultural power.

So ...

Sure you can find individual examples of "racism" from others, but the problem of racism is much larger than individual actions. There is no systemic racism against whites. It does not exist.

can be a victim of racism. Clearly the power differential makes a huge difference in terms of victimization.

But simply saying that one can not be racist if one is not white in the us makes no sense at all.

If racism is power based victimization, who could a PoC, possibly victimize?

You have made it into a verb, an action, not just a state. That flies in the face of ordinary usage. It doesn't matter what academics say if the general population is using the word in it's traditional sense. Perhaps we need a new word for the victimization part.

Who could a PoC possible victimize? Well, people of another color when they have the privilege, for example.

Black people can exercise?

But there are other people of color. Asian-americans may have some institutional privilege in some communities. Surely you don't think that whites are the only group that ever has or exercises privilege.

and YES White Male privilege exists...

and I've never denied white male privilege exists.

it's failing miserably.

We weren't referring to you

since about the beginning of the 21st century, they have reported that the term (racism) has a specific meaning, that describes a specific form of bigotry.

It's not confined exclusively to just one race and should be aggressively called out and shamed.

the opinion of social scientists that conduct and publish peer reviewed research versus the opinion of an anonymous poster to a political message board.

they disagree...

For a very important reason, which may elude some

which may elude some?

in America and who doesnt and how important it is to understand that?

Really?


And why the distinction is SO important to NON white people?

And how racism effects their life all day every day and NEVER effects a white person at all?

Really?

You dont know how redlining was used against minorities and still is?

It isnt just the history of racism but the specifics of who is the victim and who is the perpetrator, you mean you/we still cant agree on who is the victim of racism in America and which race is the perpetrator?

Really?

anyone.
And don't give me that bullshit that white people don't experience racism, white people do experience racism, same as Asians, Hispanics, etc.

but not racism...

Racism is institutional, it is redlining, it is a history of lynching, not being allowed to vote, etc.

I am truly sorry that anyone is still confused about who has the power and who doesnt, truly saddened to hear that here of all places.

What are you basing your opinion on? It clearly is not supported by 21st century academia.

Why should any place any more credence/validity in your opinion than we do in that of your average climate-change denier?

There are more informed opinions, and less informed opinions.

Your opinion is less informed because you are uninformed on the major discussions on this very topic over the last 30 years. The dictionaries lag behind the discussion, and to quote them is to be also be behind the discussion.

Sorry.

attitude continue

one might even examine one's attitude in the face of so many disagreeing with them

You don't know what you don't know.

Study the literature.

(This will not happen, of course.)

doesn't mean you have won.
But I'll read the literature and go from there.

I'm still trying to understand why Stephen Hawkings won't discuss/debate my opinions on Theoretical Physics ... After all, all opinions are equally informed and I've watched 1,000s of episodes of Star Trek.

study the phenomena and publish their observations to peer-reviewed journal ... and bing dictionary is NOT a peer-reviewed journal.

In case you missed this, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11879749

and "debates" about trickle down ... too many think their opinion (or those of journalists) should carry the same weight as the opinion of the scientists that study the topic.

for being white.

I am tired of talking to them..

Ask them if they have any clue what that is versus something else...

What impresses the hell out of me is YOUR patience in dealing with this bullshit, and I am just making it worse by pointing out I think.

your definition of most liberals.

I said most, so 51% of DU would agree with my characterization for me to win


Care to wager?

Playing word games may be costly

I mean, after all, isn't that what most true liberals would do?

it, ignore it, or make fun of it, you have chosen the last one i see.

Didn't you get the memo?

Did someone say otherwise, or are you just curious? Of course racist cops would target people of the race they don't like. Who do the non-racist cops target? Or are you saying that all cops are racists? Your question isn't clear, really.

across the board. I think that is all the OP was saying.


Off duty, black cops in New York feel threat from fellow police (they experience racial profiling when they're off-duty)

Reuters interviewed 25 African American male officers on the NYPD, 15 of whom are retired and 10 of whom are still serving. All but one said that, when off duty and out of uniform, they had been victims of racial profiling, which refers to using race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed a crime.

The officers said this included being pulled over for no reason, having their heads slammed against their cars, getting guns brandished in their faces, being thrown into prison vans and experiencing stop and frisks while shopping. The majority of the officers said they had been pulled over multiple times while driving. Five had had guns pulled on them.

Desmond Blaize, who retired two years ago as a sergeant in the 41st Precinct in the Bronx, said he once got stopped while taking a jog through Brooklyn’s upmarket Prospect Park. "I had my ID on me so it didn’t escalate," said Blaize, who has sued the department alleging he was racially harassed on the job. "But what’s suspicious about a jogger? In jogging clothes?"
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/23/us-usa-police-nypd-race-insight-idUSKBN0K11EV20141223

why did I ask, I believe there are those here who dont believe that racism, whether by cops or not, is that big of a problem or not as big as some make it out to be.

I want them to come out in the open and say that so we can have that discussion.

can and can not be called a racist in America could be easily circumvented by simply saying that the cops who can not be called bigots are too few and far between no matter what race that cop might be. Homophobic Cops are so common the word for 'cop' could just be 'homophobe'. And just so you know, sociologists say any old fucker can be a homophobe in America. Everybody qualifies.

and you're flat out wrong, anyone can be a racist, it's not confined exclusively to the white race.

can be racist in America?

That's a pretty extraordinary statement. On what do you base that?

white males can be racist in the US.

There is plenty of racism to go around. The intense hostility between latinos and blacks in some communities is entirely racist.

Racism plays a role in privilege, but it also exists outside it.

To claim that white people are the only race capable of hating another race is, in itself, a racist claim. On DU, of all places!

to be racist....you have to be in the position of power....

you are conflating prejudice with racism...

and are you trying to say I am racist towards White people?



"on DU of all places" indeed!

Noun

racism (countable and uncountable, plural racisms)

The belief that each race has distinct and intrinsic attributes.
The belief that one race is superior to all others.
Prejudice or discrimination based upon race. ?[quotations ▼]

Malcolm X and Martin Luther King both spoke out against racism.


http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/racism

Now, if you want to argue nonsense, take it up with the dictionary.

omg!


Let me guess....White male?

But please, attack me personally for calling out your bullshit. So clever.

I think you are a bit confused about who dropped the bullshit in the room...

again...let me guess...White male amirite?

You're really going down swinging, aren't you?

Much as you might like to, you don't get to make up your own definitions for words, and your claim that only whites can be racist in America would be laughable if it weren't so pitiful.

as easy as shooting fish in a barrel!

Please enlighten us fellows and explain how "oppressed" you have been by other races and genders....

because THAT is the difference between YOU and those that have been....and who HAVE suffered because of racism. You are diminishing that suffering with this bullshit stance. There are none so blind....

If you have a certificate in mindreading, you need to seek a refund immediately.

duh....you guys need every thing spelled out...see how that word victim goes with the term racism?

Nor did JohnGG, at least as far as I can tell. What I did say is that you're 100% wrong when you say only whites can be racists in America.

That's simply ludicrous.

...to know what racism is, or be the victim of it.

There are many different levels of racism. Sociologists only deal with institutions and groups, so their various definitions only apply to institutional racism. The 'only whites' definition is used by some sociologists when talking about institutional racism.

Psychology deals with individual racism, which many folks here pretend does not exist.

If there IS racism...there ARE victims of it....those who are oppressed by racism...

Therefore, please explain to us how YOU are victimized and oppressed. Because I can guarantee...nearly EVERY woman...nearly EVERY Gay person...nearly EVERY person of color....can sure tell you about theirs..

but please continue Mr American....

(meanwhile none of you that responded seem to notice that it is predominantly,... by a longshot, White males that hold on to this position)

...and has almost nothing to do with what I said. Try again.

someone who is victimized by it. Its a very simple concept.....only someone who is or has NOT been effected by racism, sexism, or homophobia, would call it nonsense so.... why don't YOU try again?

Oh and YOU jumped into this conversation.....that is what WE were talking about...or are you admitting your only reason to post was to disrupt. If so that is kind of trollish....

...one doesn't have to be 'oppressed', just victimized.

For example, if a white or black person calls a Hispanic person a 'spic' they are being racist and the person is a victim of their racism.

Hope that clears it up for you.

how are YOU a victim? Please enlighten us...You seem to be arguing with the person who KNOWS it exists...it just doesn't exist for everyone....

In psychology, racism, sexism and other prejudices are often studied as individual beliefs which, although not necessarily oppressive in themselves, can lead to oppression if they are codified in law or become parts of a culture. By comparison, in sociology, these prejudices are often studied as being institutionalized systems of oppression in some societies. In sociology, the tools of oppression include a progression of denigration, dehumanization, and demonization; which often generate scapegoating, which is used to justify aggression against targeted groups and individuals.

...which is either beyond your comprehension, or you have an agenda.

See post #186 and have a good day!