Are we ALL Racist?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Culture and religion can be useful to some people though.

Some people will find music and art of no use or geography or history etc etc

Got to cover all the subjects and religion is a big part of the world we live in

I think it is essential that all young people have at least a basic understanding of all faiths and religions - and the best (only?) place for that to happen is in school. However having been brought up in Glasgow I have a particular view on the benefits or otherwise of 'faith' schools. And given my albeit rather dated experience from back then - I have concerns when I hear of calls for, or the establishment by stealth as alleged, of faith schools today. And I fear that separation through schooling will beget misunderstanding and suspicion - the bedrocks of racist thinking if not racism.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I have concerns about parents who are agnostics but will attend church and say that they are believers just to get their children into a better school.

Re Hogans Glasgow and of that period. One of the first questions asked in many a job interview was 'what school did you go to'.
You had a 50/50 chance of getting a job on your reply.
Thankfully those days are past now.

 

[CMAC]

I have concerns about parents who are agnostics but will attend church and say that they are believers just to get their children into a better school.

Re Hogans Glasgow and of that period. One of the first questions asked in many a job interview was 'what school did you go to'.
You had a 50/50 chance of getting a job on your reply.
Thankfully those days are past now.

agreed, it's nearer 70/30 now

 

[c1973]

Would this discussion not be better off in the Trojan School thread?

 

[c1973]

agreed, it's nearer 70/30 now

Nearer 90% / 10% if you get an interview for Glasgow coonsil.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Would this discussion not be better off in the Trojan School thread?

Sorry - I never spotted that threads and you are correct.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Nearer 90% / 10% if you get an interview for Glasgow coonsil.

I was going to mention building contracts let by Glasgow council and where they seemed to go - but thought that might be as it was back in the 70s and 80s - and not today.

 

[c1973]

Sorry - I never spotted that threads and you are correct.

It wasn't a dig btw, just an observation.

I was going to mention building contracts let by Glasgow council and where they seemed to go - but thought that might be as it was back in the 70s and 80s - and not today.

Well, I've heard from more than one person that 'I went to the wrong school' and not to bother applying for a job there. It was said in a jocular way, but many a true word is spoken in jest.....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It wasn't a dig btw, just an observation.



Well, I've heard from more than one person that 'I went to the wrong school' and not to bother applying for a job there. It was said in a jocular way, but many a true word is spoken in jest.....

I am the same age as Jim Kerr and we were brought up less than a mile apart (he in Toryglen - me in Mount Florida). But we went to 'different' school so we never met. Ah well. Maybe no bad thing as in his school days as lead singer of Johnny and the Self-Abusers he was probably not the sort of kid my mum would have liked me hanging about with

 

[londonlewis]

And I'll add an example of thinking

I recently found myself driving through the Roundhay district of Leeds. My instinct and gut feeling thought was 'blimey - not much of a white population around here' -and for a moment I felt a little uncomfortable. But I can immediately dismiss these thoughts and feelings as thoughts that have no place or relevance to me today - and I was then just driving through Roundhay in Leeds.

Hardly racist is it? That's merely pointing out an observations.

Definition of Racism is;
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Hardly racist is it? That's merely pointing out an observations.

Definition of Racism is;
the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

I agree - my point was simply that my immediate feeling was one of some mild discomfort - a feeling that vanished as quickly as it arose. But I was simply asking myself why the feeling arose - whilst being grateful that it went - I cannot deny the feeling.

I can rationalise that it arose out of my upbringing and cultural background. And though it was there albeit very fleetingly I was wondering if we all from time to time have such unwanted and unwelcome thoughts and feelings.

Because my thinking is that unless we understand and accept that we can have such feelings, and then learn how to dismiss them as irrational and wrong - we cannot debate with those who also have the feelings but have NOT been able to dismiss them - instead they voice them and act upon them. From whence does come problems.