As a Finn, it's been somewhat difficult/different to grasp the history side of oppression. I usually think that racism is always just as bad, be it from white to black or black to white. It's unreasonable to judge people by something like the color of their skin or what they have in their pants.
But this got me thinking about discrimination against Sami people in the close history of Nordic countries, and I get it. If there were a derogatory name for them, and there probably is, I'd never use it as I really am sorry that my culture did what they did to them. Racism from me to them would be worse.
Using the Finnish version of the n-word, "neekeri", doesn't carry the same load, but it usually does mean that you're either over 80 years old, or a finnish version of a redneck, "juntti".
All in all, I think it has everything to do with cultures, and nothing to do with colors.
Also, it's pretty great that you got only 1 downvote (while that too is just wrong by sites rules). Looks like Snapzu is the place you can have a real discussion ;)
I just addressed the issue of context elsewhere in this thread. Reiterating:
Thank you for raising the question of context. Since my remarks were born out of a discussion specific to a U.S.-specific contexts, I was referring to the structure of the U.S. (and similar societies) in the OP specifically. I agree that who is the minority depends on the context of culture, history and geography. But I stand by what you refer to as "some kind of flowchart hierarchy" because there always is one. The players might change based on context, but there is always a specific group in possession of power. The subversive group is almost always oppressed in some fashion. Might I suggest reading some Foucault on power?
Also, agreed about Snapzu completely! It's a great community. Not everyone agrees with me but I haven't been viciously attacked or down-voted into oblivion; everyone is respectful!
As a Finn, it's been somewhat difficult/different to grasp the history side of oppression. I usually think that racism is always just as bad, be it from white to black or black to white. It's unreasonable to judge people by something like the color of their skin or what they have in their pants.
But this got me thinking about discrimination against Sami people in the close history of Nordic countries, and I get it. If there were a derogatory name for them, and there probably is, I'd never use it as I really am sorry that my culture did what they did to them. Racism from me to them would be worse.
Using the Finnish version of the n-word, "neekeri", doesn't carry the same load, but it usually does mean that you're either over 80 years old, or a finnish version of a redneck, "juntti".
All in all, I think it has everything to do with cultures, and nothing to do with colors.
Also, it's pretty great that you got only 1 downvote (while that too is just wrong by sites rules). Looks like Snapzu is the place you can have a real discussion ;)
I just addressed the issue of context elsewhere in this thread. Reiterating:
Also, agreed about Snapzu completely! It's a great community. Not everyone agrees with me but I haven't been viciously attacked or down-voted into oblivion; everyone is respectful!