and the biggest racists

Racism only seems to lie within one specific group of people. You don't see the other ones get up in arms and cry racism when we're called names, now do you? I can't respect people who cluck their tongues about wrongs done to them, and then turn around and do the exact same thing back to the offending group - and nothing is thought of it. I also can't respect people who make it a personal agenda to live up to the stereotype that is set against them in the first place. They have no right getting pissed off when the things being said about them are 100% true.... that's just called denial. Sorry, Lenny, struck a longstanding nerve with this one - loved it all the same, though. :~) ~Jess K. ---------------------------------------------------- - "Does Rudolph fail the safety inspection if his nose is burnt out? And where does he go? I don't think he'd fit in the bay at the Jiffy Lube." Happy holidays, y'all!

are there special excuses for being racist/sexist/culturally intolerant? No excuses, not any more more. Any -ist person has no excuse. It's just hatred, fear and blaming. Cowardice and bullying, which you must admit you USA people are taught to accept as a way of life, in a dog eat dog world, just don''t be a dog. We are not dogs. cheers, Jess "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, wonder what he would think of the Patriot Act.

Unfortunately, there is no country in the world without racism, be it Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, France, Australia, Britain, the USA or any other country. Each has it's own group of racists. Also, I get tired of being grouped in with them. When I dislike someone it is not because of their skin color, religion, lack of or National origin. It is purely and simply because of personality and rudeness. Respectfully, Rett: "Each man is good in the sight of the Great Spirit.." (Sitting Bull)

I call each -ist to task individually, its a lot of work. I have been an -ist in blaming America. I say again, its not the people it's the nation. cheers, Jess "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" Benjamin Franklin, wonder what he would think of the Patriot Act.

briefed rant here. Makes it all the more potent. Thanx, Chuck PS: One caveat, though: It'd gain substance for me with the addition of more detail. And less of the labeling. And I know I'm assuming it's possible to write a piece like this with such caveat. Sorry for that. Another point: It seems to me that Americans by and large are way too tolerant of intolerance. Being so physically isolated from most of the world, being bounded by oceans on both sides, we tend to have less regard for folks of other lands than they in the main deserve. But see, here I force a blunder so easy to make, that in my comment discourse here I fall so quickly---'tis a slippery slope indeed---into categorizing, into labeling, into stereotyping. Oops! As they say in volleyball, my bad.

is racist in some way or fashion; it's simply undeniable. not just the people in America, either. that's absurdly at odds with reality. racism becomes alarming when it reaches the kind of pitch it did in Nazi *Germany* or other horrendous events in our nation's history. people who strive for absolute political correctness without first divulging themselves of all culture in a spiritual manner are akin to mannequins trying to avoid the rudely apparent fact that they are made of wax. just that this poem evokes such a passionate response says a lot about it positively. gb

an important subject astutely phrased. Incidentally, I´ve read R.M. Shanmugam´s "Racial supremacy" only today. Have you read it yet? On Chuck´s comment: I feel that we are all a little prejudiced against at least one group of persons. Personally, I prefer people who are on their guard when it comes to politicians to racially prejudiced people, but I do hope it´s not every politician, reporter or policeman who harbours racist thoughts...I think a little exaggeration (with or without details) is allowed to drive your point home. On the subject of sheep: There should still be one of my own poems around, "Solitude", which many people didn´t like because it was about sheep... Respectfully, Ink Dragon