General Chat

Oh yes -- we all know what witch rhymes with!

Words have great power.

Well, Sue ... years ago, I used to say that the first time I asked a 5-yr-old to draw me a picture of a fireman and s/he drew a woman, that would be the day I said that words didn't matter.

Strange man holds a door open for me, unless I'm carrying something or in the way or I just held the other door in the set open for him, and he'll be standing there a loooong time. I don't take well to being herded.

Here in the bestest place on earth, parliamentary committees have chairs (not my personal favourite compromise, but it beats exclusionary language), and both coasts are heavily inhabited by fishers.

(Really. Would you call Eldrick a hunterman?)

Once JC many centuries ago women were held in high esteem. However men in high positions didn't like this so there arose a theory that any woman who got too big for her boots must be a witch and killed. We were then kept out of the church and other positions of power.
Sue

Ophelia -- Tom Lehrer, more from my idiosyncratic 1960s record collection. ;)

National Brotherhood Week was a 1960s innovation in the US. Don't know how it's getting on these days. Fun that it was to combat prejudice, and used sexist language ...

Another video now on display in new thread.

Lol, Eldrick. I think sexism goes far deeper than holding the door open for a woman. Obviously an insecure person. We had a lady politician here in Oz who is a strong feminist. She was made chairman of a committee and when asked if she objected to being called a chairman instead of woman she laughed and said she had more important things to concern herself about including doing a good job on the committee.
Sue

She was obviously..not used to it Elderick..I think its a gentlemanly thing to do..

LOL..J.C....
and this is something that occurs?..
We would have riots in this country if we did anything like that..
Mind you...we do have Gay Pride..And Nottingham Carnival..where everyone gets together..and harmony on most part occurs

I got accused of being a sexist male chauvinist when I held a door open for a woman senior officer.

I feigned a heart attack and that was the end of that.

Nah, Sue, saying men are victims of sexism is like saying whites (in our societies) are victims of racism. Bunk.

The systems are built on institutionalized oppression of blacks and women (and others), and every once in a while that doesn't work out to whites' and men's advantage.

When a man couldn't get a job as a secretary, that wasn't reverse-sexism. It was the result of a system in which low-paying, low-status jobs were assigned to women.

and while we are on the subject...what about male chauvanists?...I do have a problem with them..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlJ8ZCs4jY

I do love youtube. And no, that isn't Freddie Garrety.


One week of every year is designated National Brotherhood Week. This is just one of many such weeks honoring various worthy causes. One of my favorites is National Make-fun-of-the-handicapped Week which Frank Fontaine and Jerry Lewis are in charge of as you know. During National Brotherhood Week various special events are arranged to drive home the message of brotherhood. This year, for example, on the first day of the week Malcolm X was killed which gives you an idea of how effective the whole thing is. I'm sure we all agree that we ought to love one another and I know there are people in the world that do not love their fellow human beings and I hate people like that. Here's a song about National Brotherhood Week.

Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Muslims,
And everybody hates the Jews.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

There's none so blind as those that cannot see, Colin, as the saying goes.

Surely, JC, sexism is prejudice against men as well as women. I find sexism against men is rampant these days and is leading to a new problem in society - a generation of young men who are having identity crises because they no longer know where they stand in society. A generalisation of course and my view.
Ophelia we always call Aimee our little wonder woman because she has an extra chromosome.
Sue

well im taking my "bonkers" or " normal" self to bed,goodnight all,very interesting thread!

Sue...I think its a case of people seeing phisical characteristics..that are different..and drawing up conclusions before getting to know that individual..(a lot of people have predudices due to ignorance..and being scared)..I always say Downs Syndrome children are extra special..as they have an extra Chromosome..They are so lovable!

Well yes, E2, I was going to consider that problem.

"Is it possible for a thief to also be a good person in other ways?"

Certainly we all know it is. In fact, who among us has not stolen something sometime? Yes, well, I'm sure you haven't.

If your prejudice against thieves prompts you to refuse to treat a thief equitably in some matter having nothing to do with thievery, then he or you or both of you might lose out on something.

Prejudice itself is just a matter of personal disposition. I could be prejudiced against all people with purple skin -- I could harbour the firm belief that they are all born horse thieves of subnormal intelligence prone to spitting in public. But as long as I *treat* them the same as everybody else, individually, and based only on the individual performance of each one, then my prejudice is nobody's business, or problem, but my own.

That's why I distinguish, as do many, between misogyny and sexism, for example.

Misogyny is hatred of women. Sexism is the practice of discriminating against women on the basis of sex.

You can be prejudiced against the whole class of thieves, but still be a perfect gentleman if you don't discriminate against them.

But is that prejudice because what you feel is distaste for a certain person because of the way they behave. JC's defination seems to infer that prejudice is generalised prejudging unless I read that wrong.
Sue

ophelia,thats not prejudice,thats just Brititsh,we are brought up to be expected to be mannerly and polite

I am open minded..would not consider myself predudice to the extreme..but would admit..I have certain problems with certain members of people in society..Rude Ignorant people mostly..those without manners and courtesy..

Pippi most of the people on here are bonkers so you're in good company. Possibly even "normal" lol
Sue