Imaginary Racism
The recent furor over the Governator’s “racist” remarks is an example of a problem that has grown rampant in America: imaginary racism. I have, on more than one occasion, ranted on this blog about the prevalence of racism in the Republican party. But that doesn’t mean that I accuse someone of racism every time a Republican mentions race in a comment. Arnold may very well be a racist, I haven’t any idea, but the comments that have caused so much controversy were in no means racist.
If Arnold is guilty of anything, it is confusing culture with race. But that is a mistake many people make. My experience with latinos is that they are, indeed, passionate. I’ve even heard latinos use the term “hot-blooded” to describe themselves. Obviously, not all latinos would describe themselves that way, but does it mean that it’s racist for someone else to? African Americans, in my experience, are very outgoing. They tend to have less restraint on showing their emotions in public. Whites, again in my experience, tend to be quieter and more reserved (myself included). So does saying all of this make me a racist? Of course not.
I have grown up hearing the phrase “Irish temper” used in reference to my mother. Now there’s a phrase that has no connection to race, but instead to nationality. Saying my mother is hot-tempered because she has Irish blood is no different than saying that someone is hot because they have latino blood — they both are cultural references. What’s unfortunate is that some people see the latter instead as a racial reference and immediately cry, “Racist!” Part of this stems from the fact that some races are inexorably linked to the cultures which they spawned.
We can look at Senator George Allen and, with some confidence, call him a racist. I’m quite sure that there was derogatory intent behind his little nickname for S.R. Sidarth. But we can’t go around accusing people of racism every time someone makes comments that distinguish between races. America has turned into a culture of blame and accusation. The idea of ‘political correctness’ is a symbol of just how ridiculous it has become.
So the next time someone says, “she’s a hot-blooded latina” to indicate that someone is passionate, try not to get your panties in a wad (uh-oh, I must be a sexist). I don’t enjoy defending a Republican, but something as wrong as accusations of imaginary racism can’t go uncommented.
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