Racing Toward Racism in America

      Al Sharpton is a racist. Rush Limbaugh is a racist. President Obama...racist. Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, John Boehner? All racists. Your neighbor down the street? Racist. The milkman, mail carrier, cashier at the grocery store - probably all racists. As a matter of fact, for many people now days, just about everyone and every action is racist. The word racist is fast becoming a word used to describe everything, as well as becoming a word that due to over use, will soon mean absolutely nothing.

     The most basic definition of racism that I've come across is found in the American Heritage College Dictionary. It defines racism as "the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others." I'll be the first to admit that I can can become overly obsessive about the meaning of words and statements. I'm sometimes accused of dabbling compulsively in semantics. Nevertheless, I do believe that it is extremely important to remain careful and diligent in making sure what we're saying is what we mean. It's equally important that we do not assume more than what is written, or said, or done. 

     As I understand it (and I'm open to the possibility that I could be wrong), racism is the belief that a certain race is superior (or, inversely, inferior) to another. More specifically, a person must believe that their race or ethnicity is superior to another's race or ethnicity to truly be a racist. The person may be a jerk. The person may be profiting from needlessly and deliberately stirring up racial discord. The person may exhibit anger or overly aggressive actions toward other races, but the person is not a racist unless that person believes that their race is superior other races.

     So...semantics? Maybe, but semantics are important. Racism is a much too serious issue to allow it's meaning to be diluted and defined as almost anything and everything we dislike about a person or a group of people. Does racism exist? It most certainly does and it is sad and terrible, based on the insecure, angry, mean-spirited views of those who refuse to do the hard work of looking within, doing the hard work of self-reflection, and truly knowing themselves.

     Your thoughts, comments, rants are welcome.