Daniel J. Pipes

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in my opinion

Reader comment on item: Anti-Muslim Racism?
in response to reader comment: Racism vs Cultural Prejudice

Submitted by Francesca (United Kingdom), Apr 26, 2008 at 15:59

I believe if there are any recurring (non-physical) differences between races then they are a matter of culture, not anything inherent. The problem with racial discrimination is that there is no proven (non-physical) racial differences - only deep-rooted tribal thinking (sticking with your own kind for safety) and misconceptions based on a complex array of actual and perceived cultural/social differences - it's confusing sociology with biology. So I agree with you there.

And there's nothing wrong with some form of cultural prejudice insomuch as discussion and pointing out advantages and disadvantages between cultures as long as you take time to understand the culture as, BY THEIR NATURE, cultures are different. It's ok to prefer a culture. It's ok to think one culture is better or worse than another, if you have some reasoning behind your thought not just because you don't understand. That would be the ignorant kind of cultural prejudice.

However, culture can also be something one cannot help - you don't choose which country or city you were born in, the family you grow up with, the culture of the schools you're sent to (even if you choose them). Sure you can fight convention and go against your culture - I respect people who can do this - but in most cases at least some of your culture will rub off on you.

Saying all that... beyond race, culture, religion, hair colour, whatever, if you scratch the surface deep enough I think you will find that people are people it's our souls that really can make us different; that can make us the same.


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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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