"I'm not racist but..."

[TessTickular]

There seems to be a lot of people on here who don't seem to realise that racism is a crime. They justify it by saying they know someone who is [insert whatever] or by claiming that they are pointing out differences not being prejudiced.

Over the last week I have been horrified by a number of diverse threads where casual racism is hardly even noted.

African midwives, Americans, Australians, Gypsies... IT IS NOT OK PEOPLE.

Please, Mumsnetters, enough is enough.

AIBU to request that we should ALL be standing up to racists and stop apologising for and accepting casual racism?

I WILL SHOUT NOW AND LEAE THE THREAD:
I SAID I FOUND THE PEOPLE I KNOW IN MY AREA WHO MAKE RACIST COMMENTS HAPPEN TO BE CATHOLICS AND SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS/ I ASKED IF WAS LIKE THIS IN OTHER AREAS AND I ALSO SAID I HAD NO PREJUDICE TOWARDS CATHOLIC PEOPLE NOR CHRISTIANS...
WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS SEEM TO BE READY TO PICK A FIGHT??

Where I live the most frustrating thing when contending with 'the professionally offended' is the double standards. How one race can comment on another but not the other way round. When you feel like a minority with no voice versus a majority with a loud forceful voice. When you feel inferior for being British born because apparently its only thinkable that you're the racist one. So much for level playing field, other cultures firmly have the advantage and use it.

sississy's being ironic, no?

Elegant demo of the subtler version of "I'm not a blah-bigot but...", where you say that you just happened to have noticed, and you're sure it's just individuals, but why does Group Name do X?

From my experience, I would say that sississy has a point.

The racist parents who send their children to Catholic/CofE schools are utterly hypocritical. Which is what I think she meant?

Oh, OK, maybe not...

sississy BECAUSE YOU ARE LINKING CATHOLICISM AND RACISM. THAT WILL OFFEND PEOPLE. PEOPLE WILL OBJECT. Thank you.

EXACTLY popoozle.

I don't get why anyone would bother putting the energy into being racist when at least 90% of people will give you a reason to think they're an asshole given enough time. Take people on their own merits, why the hell should skin colour or religion matter?

I'm becoming worryingly misanthropic.

OK
SO >>>
I have noticed that in my area, few parents from a particular religion have some views that come across to me as racist and prejudice, please read the example below:

blblblblblablablaabablablabla

So would have been better if I had put it that way??

They also say that they don't like the polish people from the same religion but at least they are white....

not kidding, just remembered that one

Racism isn't a crime. In some circumstances it is, but not all. And it certainly isn't a crime to be racist, or express racist views.

Obviously I'm not saying racism is a good thing. But you said it was a crime, and I'm pretty sure that's not right.

Ooh tethers what did I get a point for?

But those examples are examples of people who are ignorant. They may be catholic but they may have also been white, black, fat, thin, ford drivers etc. would you say 'hey look at what these fat people are saying in my village?'

You are trying to say to us 'hey look at these racist Catholics in my village!'... Why? And you are being less than subtle by posting on this thread.

sississy, I am not offended my your comments about the Catholic FAITH, because I realise you are ignorant about the Catholic FAITH.

I don't doubt there are some racist parents with children at Catholic schools. Just like there are some racist parents with children at private schools. This doesn't mean private school parents tend to be racist.

ok I understand.
I guess I am shocked as a Christian whenever I see another 'christian' making the comments I posted here so that is why I mixed religion in this thread.
I didn't know either I was ignorant about the catholic faith because I was raised catholic. But since I am not one, yes maye I am ignorant on catholicism.

I find the biggest problem with God is that he is pretend.

Way to hijack a thread.hmm

Half of the kids at our local catholic school are Asian Hindus/Muslims.

No single group has a monopoly on bigotry.

Everything before the but is bullshit.

i hate that "im not ...ist but..." turn of phrase/mentality

i work for a company with offshore call centres and i hear this 10 times a day, every day! it is infuriating!!

i am sick of answering back to the racist comments! it shouldnt happen...end of story!!

i have a stock response to "im not a raciallist but them indians are so stupid...none of them can speak english/understand why im calling/accept being called a p&%i" i either answer with "please refrain from making derogatory comments about my colleagues" or launch into a rant about how well trained they are and how difficult it must be to work doing an IT based fault fixing job, in another language and on top of all that, having to defend themselves against pointless racism. it shuts them there "raciallists" up good and proper and i ALWAYS get an apology (or a shame-heavy hang up

its not acceptable no matter whether it is in person, on the phone or on t'internet.

I have an uncle who does this. I always cut him off mid sentence with: "right so you're not a racist/misogynist/sectarian (delete as applicable) but now you are going to say something that proves you are a twat".

I'm a catholic, my children attend a catholic school. The area up until 5-8 years ago was predominantly white. In my sons class now approx 8 black catholic children. The local church and school were haPpy to have new young members. I have not seen any racism. Any racist white people would be disappointed at the school. The other schools in area have mostly white pupils.

On a different point, we sold our house to a black guy approx 6 years ago. Felt surprised when he commented that he would be the only black guy in the area, would he be accepted. We told him how welcoming our neighbours had been to us and that we would be amazed if they treated him any different. We then told our neighbour we had good news, house had been sold to a decent guy. His reply was that we had stiched him up and sold to a black c*! Well it shows how little you sometimes actually really know someone! Ps neighbour wasn't even a catholic!