The root of racism is probably based on the intolerance of cultural differences. Culture tells people what to believe and Some people have unwarranted stereotypes and prejudices that have no context and are mostly inaccurate. These negative social attitudes are often exaggerated and may be formed because of generalisation based on personal experiences or hearsay. Possibly, they could just be the direct result of xenophobia, although racists will never admit it. Perhaps these individuals are also ethnocentric, believing that their race or ethnicity is superior to all others. They might have limited or no contact with some other races and therefore assume prejudices that may very well stem from their innate fear of the unknown.
In the world of football, the Blacks in particular have been discriminated against intensely, especially in countries such as Italy and Spain. Just this month in Madrid, fans of Atletico Madrid hurled racial abuse at players of Olympique Marseille during a european game. This, together with the violence that followed, earned the club a lofty fine and a stadium ban of two matches which meant that they were required to play their next two competitive fixtures at other venues and not on their home ground. One of those fixtures, happens to be against English football giants Liverpool FC. This incensed some English fans who had already made plans to fly to Madrid to catch the much anticipated match. Conseqeuntly, due to the immense pressure on UEFA (european football's governing body), the decision was reversed and is now pending a hearing after Atletico Madrid lodged an official appeal against the punishment.
UEFA has since clarified and reasoned that the ban was lifted temporarily because of "organisational and logistical difficulties related to relocating the match to another venue at such short notice". However, everybody knows that this is a mouth-watering clash in european football that means a great deal to both sets of supporters but I cannot help but question what message this sends out. That racism will only be punished if the next game is not a "big match"? That punishment can be put on hold just because of supposed "logistical difficulties"? UEFA has often spoken about their zero-tolerance approach to racism in the sport. However, many do not believe that they are proving it. Rio Ferdinand, an England international player who was one of many that was subjected to racist chants in Zagreb, Croatia during a recent World Cup qualifying game, rightly voiced his displeasure.
UEFA has since clarified and reasoned that the ban was lifted temporarily because of "organisational and logistical difficulties related to relocating the match to another venue at such short notice". However, everybody knows that this is a mouth-watering clash in european football that means a great deal to both sets of supporters but I cannot help but question what message this sends out. That racism will only be punished if the next game is not a "big match"? That punishment can be put on hold just because of supposed "logistical difficulties"? UEFA has often spoken about their zero-tolerance approach to racism in the sport. However, many do not believe that they are proving it. Rio Ferdinand, an England international player who was one of many that was subjected to racist chants in Zagreb, Croatia during a recent World Cup qualifying game, rightly voiced his displeasure.
"They [UEFA] make a lot of comments about what they are going to do but they never back up the words with actions. Croatia was fined a few thousand quid. What is that going to do?"It is sad to say that although sport is supposed to be a common denominator that unites all peoples, racism has still found its way in. I have to say though that I feel grateful to live in Singapore where racial harmony exists and the different ethnicities have become so comfortable with one another that sometimes we can even poke fun at each other and just have a good laugh about it.
Have any of you experienced racism shown towards you or heard of someone who has? Maybe not locally but when you were out of the country?
8 comments:
I think racism still exist even in Singapore albeit in subtle forms. Though people might discriminate explicitly, some still hold racist sentiments.
Perhaps racism is innate in all of us. It is a fast and easy way to differentiate people who are different from us and that is probably an ability which was inherited from our ancestors and we have to work hard to be less racist in our actions and our thoughts.
I'll never forget the first time I experienced racism. It so happened that one of the bus drivers allocated to us when I was overseas was racist against Asians - he treated us like we were second class citizens that were constantly in the wrong, no matter what we did. Even standing in one spot in front of him would infuriate him, and he'd hurl verbal abuse at us. Till today, I can't believe how anyone could be so racist.
However, that being said, I don't think racism will ever end. Like what Kai Siang said, even people here are racist - they just might not show it so obviously. We will always discriminate against others because of our innate fear of the unknown and whatever that is foreign. It's an extreme way of being cautious and protecting ourselves.
I agree with what ks has said. Although we proclaimed that we are a multi-cultural society, deep down, we know that there are still some reserves that we have of the other races.
I have a good friend, who is currently studying in Australia. And I find it ridiculus how the Aussies discriminate the Chinese!
She told me that the Aussies there dislike Chinese, and Asians a lot. They would simply ignore you and pretend that you are not even there! And the way they snicker at you... ^%$@#$%^&
irritaing..
yijing
As many of you know , I'm an consumer of the popular wide-spread MMORPG World of Warcraft . And it is an excellent way to sample the mix of different races performing an activity together - playing the same game . Day in day out I socialize with Australians , Middle-Easterners , Americans , Russians and our own Asians . However , I must say the worst behavior I've seen personally comes from , sadly , the Asians , and what's more our very own Singaporeans .
In summary , two Singaporean brothers were not invited to a group activity , otherwise known as a raid , because they logged on too late and we had the maximum number of people needed already . Following 'being left out' , they proceeded to hurl personal attacks and abuse at a few individuals , resorting to words such as chinese dogs and geeks . I was deeply disturbed by the actions of these two Malay individuals who claimed to be Malays and superior working class citizens of Singapore as compared to the chinese . Moreover , they displayed the ugly side of our Singaporean culture with their blatant racism towards members of their own country and despoiled our country's image for the foreigners in our group of friends .
Racism is here to stay no matter what we do and how hard we push towards equality of races . And it will not go away until the day where there is but 1 race in the world . Thus I feel that all we can do it to strive to live in harmony and ostracize those who seek to destabilize what we have .
Kai Siang, I think you have brought up a very interesting point there. Yes, in some way, we are all probably a little bit prejudice, though it may not be aversive. Sometimes, we are guilty of associating certain races with certain undesirable personality characteristics through ugly generalization. It is the ugly side of human nature that we must conscientiously cut out.
Racism exist in Singapore mind you. As far as I remember, the term MAT came in this decade from schools =) Not something I'm proud to acknowledge but lets not be hypocritical. Everyone out there has discriminated against others. More so than the problem of racism is the problem of not respecting the human rights of others. This topic on ethics is very Grey and ambiguous. One human might say that you have no rights to insult my colour. The other can simply add that he has rights to say what he wants, free speech.
Let me just post this hypothesis, what makes racism a more severe discrimination? Does this mean that it isn't as bad to hurl abuses and make fun of someone who do not look aesthetically pleasing as compared to being a racist? IMO, none.(you might feel im digressing but i hope u understand my point here) More so at the turn of century, humans have actually accepted other racial, culturally and religiously different groups more so than before. First black president for the win. What is clear is this, we are tolerant of what we think is right, of meritocracy only if we truly see the merits and highly intolerant of the unknown.
Curb racism? yes in a way. But more than anything else, curb being selfish human beings with no respect fer others.
Jack, I can see you feel rather strongly about this issue. I think the recent success of President-elect Barack Obama is a clear illustration of the breaking down of some racial barriers. I have no doubt that the world is moving in the right direction to curb racism. It may be an unattainable dream to wipe it out completely, but it is nice to see that all the peoples of the world are uniting for this cause. Like you said, it all boils down to respect for others. I cannot agree more with that.
Honestly, I have never been a victim of racism. (in which I feel really lucky for) When I watch films in movies showing how the blacks and whites never usually get along, and the blacks are always on the losing end, I truly feel a lot about the issue of racism. I never thought colour was something that could separate people.
And when I saw in movies, how blacks turned out to be violent and hostile because of how they were constantly ostracized since young, I can't help but feel so much for them.
It is unfair. You can't blame them!
Post a Comment