White people--do you actually realize that you are part of a racial group? (controversial, racism)

[diva360]

I am posting this thread, which I expect to be controversial, because I realized yesterday that someone, as a fellow white person, was thoroughly convinced that whiteness wasn't a racial category, and therefore he had been arguing against hate crime legislation because he thought it only applied to what he called "special groups," which, by his definition, only included people who were either homosexual or people who weren't white. I pointed out that the category "white people" was itself a special group, so it wasn't necessarily excluded from hate crimes legislation. In other words, he was making the argument that straight white men weren't a "protected group" under such legislation, and that made him feel excluded. I was making the argument that yes, in fact, he was. White males are among the groups--which include us all--that hate crime legislation protects. If someone was killed specifically because they were white, they could be prosecuted under hate crimes legislation. Likewise, if someone were killed because they were straight, their killers could also be prosecuted under such legislation. This concept seemed to be either so revelatory or so basic that he never responded back.

That's why I decided to post that concept here because it might prove to be equally instructive. Straight and white people, I'd like you to know from a fellow straight and white person that you also belong to a group that is marked by its racial and sexual orientation characteristics, and when you get mad about how hate crimes protect "special groups of people," you reveal your ignorance of the fact that you are also a member of a "special group of people." It's possible that you might be a victim of a hate crime, just like someone else might. The most important point I'm trying to make is that being white and straight is not the normal, unmarked state of being against which every other state of being should be measured. If you really think it is, then you really should try to get over the special status you think your state of being confers. You are not that special--every other member of every other group has just as legitimate a claim to feel safe as you do. I think if we all admitted that, the world would be a better place. If you, straight and white people, were victimized because of who you are, wouldn't you want that context to be taken into account? I think you would, and quiet as it's kept, I'm just sayin' that that is the case, and for the past several hundred years, it always has been.

[Mr. Joshua]

White people will not be afforded protection under this soon to be law. At least not in practice they won't. When I hear about a group of blacks attacking a white person using racial slurs and they are prosecuted using hate crimes laws, then I'll admit you were right.

[diva360]

Originally Posted by Mr. Joshua

White people will not be afforded protection under this soon to be law. At least not in practice they won't. When I hear about a group of blacks attacking a white person using racial slurs and they are presecuted using hate crimes laws, then I'll admit you were right.

Maybe you're right, maybe you're not. The law exists, and if you don't like how it is applied, why don't you talk to your local D.A.'s office? In many states, these are elected positions, so go after them if you don't like it. There is nothing in the legislation itself that precludes it being used in the ways I'm talking about. It is your job, as a citizen, to put pressure on local D.A.'s. Prosecutors already use a number of contextual cues when they prosecute crimes, such as the level of premeditation or whatever, and they use these when determining plea bargains as well. All this federal legislation is doing is adding a very minuscule layer of complexity atop the prosecutorial tool box that is already available in determining manners of criminal prosecution.

[rory00]

it's common sense why the minority groups would be seen as 'special' groups etc and that they were often targets of oppression whether intentional or unintentional.

as whites become more equal in demographics, they can also be seen as needing more focus for the type of attention and focus on rights as others have. it's just that in the past it was a given that they didn't need it.

[CASActuary]

While that may be the letter of the law, I don't foresee many cases where a crime against a heterosexual white person by a minority is labeled as a hate crime. Al Sharpton would go ballistic.

[LookinForMayberry]

From what my experience gleens, none of us are aware we are part of any group. We are each shining stars amongst a back drop of secondary characters.

[TKramar]

Racism is racism--no matter who it's applied against.

[Moth]

White people--do you actually realize that you are part of a racial group?

Why yes, I do. I also realize I need to breathe in order to survivie.

As for hate crimes, were I to be beaten by a group who did not like my race and made that clear during the assault, I would fine with them being prosecuted for assault and battery. Its perfectly fine to introduce their motives during the trial. But I would want them punished for assault, not for their racist mindset.

[GOPATTA2D]

White males are actually a minority globally, but we are easy to hate and blame because collectively we still control the world's wealth.

[Joe_Ryder]

On paper it looks equitable but in reality the straight white male is protected from nothing and blamed for everything.