Xref: utzoo news.misc:2114 soc.culture.jewish:8390
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!unh!pas
From: pas@unh.UUCP (Paul A. Sand)
Newsgroups: news.misc,soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: Racist jokes
Message-ID: <785@unh.UUCP>
Date: 28 Nov 88 17:44:20 GMT
References: <8030@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <1058@osupyr.mast.ohio-state.edu> <447@mccc.UUCP>
Organization: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Lines: 34

In article <423@mccc.UUCP>, pjh@mccc.UUCP (Pete Holsberg) wrote:
     Maybe Templeton isn't a racist, per se, but if he encourages the posting
     of material that could influence people to have negative feelings about
     any group by reinforcing the stereotype, then he is contributing to the 
     problem.

In article <779@unh.UUCP> I responded:
     Maybe Holsberg isn't a fascist, per se, but if he encourages the supression
     of material on the grounds that it causes "negative feelings" in some
     groups or another, then he is contributing to the problem.

In article <447@mccc.UUCP>, pjh@mccc.UUCP (Pete Holsberg) writes:
> That's interesting, Paul.  Perhaps you didn't get that what I was
> implying by "negative feelings" was direct physical action, such as
> burning crosses, torching churches and synagogues, beating people up,
> discriminating against them in school and work, lynching them, etc.

> I don't think we're talking about the same problem.

Observations: (1) Holsberg's right: the problem I am talking about is
his use of slur and innuendo typified in the phrase: "Maybe Templeton
isn't a racist, per se, but...". It's a nasty form of argument, used
by cowards who want to avoid making a direct accusation, but still want
to wield the tarbrush. My effort above to bring this to his attention was
apparently too subtle for him; sorry.

(2) Holsberg now reveals that when he talks about "negative feelings"
he really means "direct physical action." An interesting definition,
not shared by most, I think. Obviously, it's hard to deal with anyone
who can't, or won't, say what he means in the first place.
-- 
-- Paul A. Sand           | Disclaimer:
-- Univ. of New Hampshire |     I'm not the funny-looking actor.
-- UUCP: uunet!unh!pas    |     I'm the funny-looking teacher.