The Liberal Politics & Current Events Book Club discussion

Just more proof just how terrible it still is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbP6dI...

I have seen so much racism in my life of all sorts all over the world that I don't think it will ever die.

I think we may be hardwired through evolution to fear strangers, those who look different than we do. There must be some logical explanation for it.

Many people are afraid of that which is different or unknown. We'll never be able to get rid of those feelings among people but we can get governments to outlaw people acting on them.

I agree with that, Lisa. We seem to be finding more people nowadays who don't agree with government interference though I'm afraid.

Maybe some of you have a solution to that. I don't know what it is.

I don't believe people are born racist. People may feel nervous when meeting strangers but they wouldn't automatically treat them as inferior unless they're taught so by the society. Racism is in a sense the result of centuries of colonialism, plus, in the US context, about 100 year of slavery plus about 100 year of segregation, during which racism was perpetuated by the ruling elites to serve their interests and institutionalized by the state.