racists - and starving african children...

[joko]

PLEASE - THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK OR AN EXCUSE TO RANT AT RACISTS... I AM GENUINELY CURIOUS ABOUT THIS...SO PLEASE STICK TO THE QUESTION AND TRY NOT TO START A ROW.

My question - we all see those ads on tv of tiny starving and ill children - and its hard not to be moved by that... but i just wondered how racists feel about it ?

Do you/they see a poor sick child and feel pity, or just a black person who you/they dont care about...?

i can see how seeing a sick grown man may not tug at the heartstrings, regardless of colour, and i know how people develop deepseated hatreds and pass them on, for whatever reasons...
but these babies are so vulnerable and innocent and cannot be blamed or accused of anything - so as a mother, father, human, do they/you feel nothing?
or do you/they just see a child?

i know how some can watch animals suffering and feel nothing because they dont care for animals...and hear of many instances of druelty to children her in this country so its not unheard of to feel nothing for children.

As i said i am not looking to attack anyone for their views here, rather just wondered whether colour matters one bit when it comes to sick babies.... or whether an instinct of protection takes over all prejudices.

i dont expect many to admit they dont care here for fear of attack, but if you know someone else who feels this way, feel free to speak for them.

(i overheard someone in a pub say "let the little rats die, less of them the better" an then laugh, which is what made me wonder...would he really be able to walk past an injured black child and not help purely because of his prejudice, but would help a white child?...or was he just being controversial in front of his mates?)

thanks

[ummmm]

I think many of the racists are just racist against non whites in their own country. Lot's of them forget they are racist when they go on holiday..!!

[EvianBaby]

Was just about to say the same sort of thing Ummmm. Most of the racist remarks I hear are not because they don't like the colour of someones skin, they just don't want them living in this country.

[joko]

interesting point.
so its not so much skin colour for some, but more the situation....?
would a racist who visited africa walk the streets hating everyone they meet, or just accept that it is their land and they are just like them inside?

[EvianBaby]

Well a racist to the bone probably wouldn't go to Africa in the first place. But most people who make racist comments would go and interact with them as they would anybody else I should think.

[Old_Geezer]

There may be many different answers to your question depending on what racist responds here. Some folk are only interested in helping themselves and maybe their family/firends and so have no wish to spend on strangers regardless. Other folk may just not like those they see as different growing in numbers and influence in their own country and be prepared to send a certain amount of aid elsewhere. I think you may be looking for a simple answer when none really covers it.

[joko]

no, i know theres no simple answer...no simple yes or no.

[jackthehat]

For reasons it would take too long to explain, I once found myself reading the contents of an horrifically unpleasant web-forum.

The part I read was about the holocaust; the contributors were able to add comments and pictures, and comments about pictures.

The glee with which some of them posted about the heaps of (Jewish) childrens bodies made me feel physically sick.......a phrase much used but absolutely true, in this case.

So, in answer, "yes" there will be some people who seem to have no humanity, even where children are concerned.

[ummmm]

The Jews get it a lot. Something I've never understood. In the pub one day someone mentioned how many Jews had been killed in the holocaust. To which someone responded 'Not half enough'

Not that I understand racism aimed at any race/religion, but with the Jews plight being so well documented, and taught in schools, you'd think people couldn't feel anything but sympathy.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Sadly I know someone who is racist, but when he sees the pictures of these innocent little children, he gets upset. Maybe he only hates them when they grow up - how sad.

[Craftypig]

Why would not having sympathy for the plight of Africans, automatically make you a racist?

[ummmm]

It doesn't.

Read the question again.

[Craftypig]

"but i just wondered how racists feel about it"

[Gavmacp]

Dear Joko,
Very interesting question.
Years ago it was suggested that we in the west seemed to accept black people dying more than white people. It was suggested that this was because there are more news stories about people dying in Africa etc which would appear to desensitize us to such stories.

[joko]

yes crafty pig, read the question again.

your quote from my post actually makes no sense to your post - it just proves you have misunderstood, rather than makes your point...

[Craftypig]

I'll get my coat......

[Gavmacp]

Sorry Joko,
"yes crafty pig, read the question again."
I thought you were not going to attack me.
What I was trying to say is that I do not consider myself a racist but when I read things like this it makes me wonder about what I feel about what I see.

[Gavmacp]

Sorry re read now I understand!!

[Cowtipper]

I like a lot Africans but not many African-Americans. I'm not racist but I have a strong cultural bias against ghetto of any color. I see the commercials on tv and I don't think about the kids really. I think "What a scam".

My granddad was about as prejudiced as they come and I doubt that he wouldn't hesitate to drop a couple of bucks to feed a kid he saw in person no matter what color. His comments after probably wouldn't have been kind.

[karenmac60]

Sorry - off topic - but, hey! Cowtipper's back! I've not seen you since you went to Utah! How are you doing? :)

[Cowtipper]

Hi Karen! Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio came after Utah. I spent two weeks in DC but didn't do anything but work. I think I'm pretty much done for the year though. Its good to be remembered :)