Very well put, and I think the best post on this thread. Clear written communication, that actually successfully transmits the meaning of the writer is difficult, accordingly I think we would do well to give posters the "benefit of the doubt" regarding their intentions and motives for what they write and not dump such a load of vitriol. From my read of this thread, unwarranted assumptions and overly personal attacks were made. Perhaps a request for clarification rather than and accusation of the OP would have been more in order. Just my $.02<br>
<br>GC<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 26, 2010 at 8:33 PM, Richard Bronosky <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Richard@bronosky.com">Richard@bronosky.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="im">On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 9:21 AM, Lightner, Jeff <<a href="mailto:jlightner@water.com">jlightner@water.com</a>> wrote:<br>
> If you look at all the definitions there as well as the synonyms shown in the Thesaurus entry at the bottom you'll understand Mike's use of the word was correct.<br>
><br>
> To those who tried to distinguish between words I'd invite you to look at definition 2 that clearly ties them together:<br>
> "2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race."<br>
<br>
</div>Jeff, most modern dictionaries shift to stay relevant to modern<br>
vernacular. There is a good and bad side to this:<br>
Good - You hear a word used and look it up for clarity. You find a<br>
definition that expresses the speaker's intent.<br>
Bad - You are trying to communicate a very specific concept, but<br>
changes in the meaning of words makes it difficult to do so.<br>
<br>
In this case it is particularly bad because for the sake of humanity<br>
we need to be able to communicate these differences with clarity.<br>
Genocide is a modern reality. There are people in this world who are<br>
actually working to solve social problems like genocide. It is<br>
imperative that they be able to communicate with clarity toward that<br>
end. If the differences between the words I mentioned earlier (to<br>
which I should have added bigotry) are unknown, blurred, or ignored it<br>
makes resolving these social problems impossible. The way you address<br>
a group of people who are slaughtering another may vary based on the<br>
offender's rationale. If they believe that they are exterminating a<br>
genetically inferior group, that is different than if they are<br>
vindicating an offense on their ancestors. I truly hope no one here is<br>
childish enough to accuse me of being pro-genocide.<br>
<br>
I hope I'm starting to make this complicated point clear. I'm trying<br>
to get you to understand why it is important to use proper terms. Even<br>
that single definition 2 that you quoted is flawed! For "prejudice<br>
based on race" use "racial prejudice". For "discrimination based on<br>
race" use "racial discrimination". There is a difference between<br>
prejudice and discrimination. That difference is very important and<br>
should be understood. Race is sometimes applied to culture, but it<br>
should be reserved for matters of genealogy. That would allow a<br>
clarity of "racial prejudice" vs. "cultural prejudice". An example of<br>
the former would be having a preformed opinion about people with dark<br>
skin regardless of their attire or demeanor. An example of the latter<br>
would be having a preformed opinion about a person who wears sagging<br>
pants regardless of skin color. Is this making any sense at all.<br>
<br>
I've not tried justifying any behavior. I feel very strongly about<br>
racial sensitivity. I believe that racism must be eradicated from the<br>
modern world. Racists believe they are justified in their abuses<br>
because their victims are below them in the way a dog is below them.<br>
You can't negotiate with a person like that. However, a person who<br>
holds an entire race or culture accountable for the actions of a few<br>
(aka: stereotyping) can be convinced to change. That requires<br>
excellent communication skills, patience, and the humility to surpress<br>
your own emotions.<br>
<br>
(not directed at Jeff...)<br>
Many of the members of this list have failed at this. You can see that<br>
in Scott Castaline's reaction. If your agenda was to pontificate<br>
angrily and arrogantly you have succeeded. If your agenda was to have<br>
a positive impact on the community (which is the reason why many of us<br>
are involved in software freedom), then you would have been better<br>
served by showing some tact.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
--<br>
.!# RichardBronosky #!.<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Ale mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org">Ale@ale.org</a><br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>
See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>