Words have been on my mind lately. I’ve noticed, and wonder if anyone else has noticed how words lose their original usefulness after they’ve been used a gazillion times.
Take for instance, “racism.” The definition is:”
1.a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
But, if you talk to someone perceived to be racist, they will almost always tell you they have “black” friends, and have even gone out in public with them; therefore, they are not racist. And they will also tell you Blacks are genetically better equipped for sports, ignoring that they also have smart and hard working genes. It’s become a convenience to change the actual definition of racism to an act of discrimination that’s clearly against the law and to take a leap to only the act itself qualifies for a racist definition. Read the definition above again, if you will…and note what the word really means, and how we’ve moved from that position to the current manufactured definition.
Stereotyping is another one of those words: Definition:
1.a process, now often replaced by more advanced methods, for making metal printing plates by taking a mold of composed type or the like in papier-mâché or other material and then taking from this mold a cast in type metal.
2.a plate made by this process.
3.a set form; convention.
4.Sociology . a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group: The cowboy and Indian are American stereotypes.
–verb (used with object)
5.to make a stereotype of.
6.to characterize or regard as a stereotype: The actor has been stereotyped as a villain.
7.to give a fixed form to.
As it is used now, stereotyping is an activity that smacks of racial overtones. It therefore becomes easy to say that one does not stereotype because it is now viewed mostly as a racist activity which racists do not participate in.
These are just a couple, and I wonder if anyone knows of more…profiling, for instance.
