In Russia we see a form of racism, or at leas prejudice occurring between ethnic Russians and immigrants from the Caucasus region. In 'Merica we like to often think of segregation as our example of racism. Or in Africa you often find racism between groups along cultural or ancestral lines. But where does this unprovoked hatred come from?
One idea that I've always had on this is just human competition. You see, as we compete with one another we like to think in our heads of ways of getting ahead of one another. We often do this by grouping ourselves by similarities and like to exclude those who think differently as a means of using teamwork to gain the upper hand against those that we marginalize or other competing groups. So therefore people often try to look for differences among one another.
However bad this may sound, I'd like to give a high five to society for teaching us to be able to look beyond surface things (like skin color), or at least starting to. Granted we have a long way to go before we eradicate racism but I think we have the ball rolling at least.
It is a great connection you made between the racism and violence that is occurring in Russia to competition. I agree with you on how as humans we love to compete and in order to be successful, it is easiest to compete as a group and to build up a team of similar characteristics. If there is competition occurring, then like you said, the opposite team is always going to be looking to put down their opponent, with words actions and evidence. In this case it is hard to understand fully who is not only winning but who is right. I don't think it is fair for the native Russians to be fighting and pushing Russian immigrants out, because they are accepting them when they need them, such as taking up jobs that native Russians do not want, but pushing them out when there is no necessity for them. I think there should be a deeper question to be looked at then just assuming with the evidence that we have at this point.
ReplyDeleteJose, I think you make a good point when you note that racism comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes. For us, the notion that region could be a determinant of racism seems strange and unusual. It's always less rational in the case of another group.
ReplyDeleteJJ, do you think that the question of who is right has an answer here, or is it rather that it can help to fuel the problem?