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Last night there was a news article on TV. While this in itself is not a particularly unusual occurence, the subject rather alarmed me.
A particular person, I forget who, had suggested, to combat bullying of black children in schools, that, in certain areas, Black schools are set up, to allow these kids to be taught about their culture and background away from bullies who may intimidate them because of their skin colour.
Think about this for a moment. What have hundreds of people around the world fought for, for many years? What did Nelson Mandela go into prison for? The banning of segregation in every aspect of society.
Now the person who has proposed this claims that this is not segregation. It is simply an opportunity for, in selected areas, black children to learn separately, about slightly different things, to white children. In my book, that's segregation.
It's all very well to say that this is harmless. But for white children nearby, and also for black children in these schools, the other group are certainly going to be seen as "different". When these children grow up, what will they think of one another?
The black children will probably resent white people because they had to go into their own school to get away from bullies.
Moving further on from this, think about what else this segregation could cause. Once black schools are set up, there is a distinct possibility that white people will want to set up their own "white-only" schools. And why shouldn't they? If black people are allowed to do it, then why shouldn't white people?
Beyond this, segregation could move into every aspect of our lives. From schools, it wouldn't be a big step to segregate universaties, shops, transport, and so on. Doesn't this defeat the object of a multi-cultural society, and also what many people have fought to stop?
Our society could be split into several groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. Once this has happened, it would be very easy for one of these to become dominant. Their services would be better, and no-one else would be allowed to use them. These people would get a better life, and everyone else would suffer. Just like the situation until recently in South Africa.
If this has happened, would it really be hard for some madman to come along, and decide to kill or enforce slavery onto everyone in one of these groups? It would be nice to think that this could never happen (again), but, of course, it could.
This is obviously an extreme example. This is not likely to happen, certainly not within our lifetimes. But it is a possibility. Regardless of any consequences, I am convinced that any sort of segregation in schools (for that is what this is) will not help combat racism or bullying. Indeed, it will undoubtably make it worse.
Surely a better way of combating these problems is to teach children, in multi-ethnic groups, about each other, and about themselves, so that these problems never arise. Racism shouldn't be a problem in this country. But it is. And, I agree, the only way to stop it is by teaching children differently. But not by splitting them apart.
I know that this isn't directly related to gaming, or to this forum, but this is an issue that I feel very strongly about. Thank-you for taking the time for reading this - I am very interested in what everyone else (I'm sure someone's got something to say :=)) thinks about this!
(I'm also sure somebody could find a way to fit that into a gaming subject. I'm still not quite sure why I actually bothered to write all of that)
See Ya
PinkPig
A particular person, I forget who, had suggested, to combat bullying of black children in schools, that, in certain areas, Black schools are set up, to allow these kids to be taught about their culture and background away from bullies who may intimidate them because of their skin colour.
Think about this for a moment. What have hundreds of people around the world fought for, for many years? What did Nelson Mandela go into prison for? The banning of segregation in every aspect of society.
Now the person who has proposed this claims that this is not segregation. It is simply an opportunity for, in selected areas, black children to learn separately, about slightly different things, to white children. In my book, that's segregation.
It's all very well to say that this is harmless. But for white children nearby, and also for black children in these schools, the other group are certainly going to be seen as "different". When these children grow up, what will they think of one another?
The black children will probably resent white people because they had to go into their own school to get away from bullies.
Moving further on from this, think about what else this segregation could cause. Once black schools are set up, there is a distinct possibility that white people will want to set up their own "white-only" schools. And why shouldn't they? If black people are allowed to do it, then why shouldn't white people?
Beyond this, segregation could move into every aspect of our lives. From schools, it wouldn't be a big step to segregate universaties, shops, transport, and so on. Doesn't this defeat the object of a multi-cultural society, and also what many people have fought to stop?
Our society could be split into several groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. Once this has happened, it would be very easy for one of these to become dominant. Their services would be better, and no-one else would be allowed to use them. These people would get a better life, and everyone else would suffer. Just like the situation until recently in South Africa.
If this has happened, would it really be hard for some madman to come along, and decide to kill or enforce slavery onto everyone in one of these groups? It would be nice to think that this could never happen (again), but, of course, it could.
This is obviously an extreme example. This is not likely to happen, certainly not within our lifetimes. But it is a possibility. Regardless of any consequences, I am convinced that any sort of segregation in schools (for that is what this is) will not help combat racism or bullying. Indeed, it will undoubtably make it worse.
Surely a better way of combating these problems is to teach children, in multi-ethnic groups, about each other, and about themselves, so that these problems never arise. Racism shouldn't be a problem in this country. But it is. And, I agree, the only way to stop it is by teaching children differently. But not by splitting them apart.
I know that this isn't directly related to gaming, or to this forum, but this is an issue that I feel very strongly about. Thank-you for taking the time for reading this - I am very interested in what everyone else (I'm sure someone's got something to say :=)) thinks about this!
(I'm also sure somebody could find a way to fit that into a gaming subject. I'm still not quite sure why I actually bothered to write all of that)
See Ya
PinkPig
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Mouldy Cheese wrote:
> Yeah well, yo win some you lose some.
Don't we all!
> Yeah well, yo win some you lose some.
Don't we all!
Yeah well, yo win some you lose some.
>Because he put in a Smiley face himself.
So I did. Good for me. What a good boy I am! ;)
See Ya
PinkPig
So I did. Good for me. What a good boy I am! ;)
See Ya
PinkPig
Spider II wrote:
> How do you know he wasn't offended
Because he put in a Smiley face himself.
Just stop being so stupid in future please!
> How do you know he wasn't offended
Because he put in a Smiley face himself.
Just stop being so stupid in future please!
Well, you purple lot. Ought to put in their own forum. Actually the prime topics forum seems like that, seeing as newbies can't add topics.
Maybe I should complain that it's racist against people without green names! On second thoughts, everybody around here already thinks I'm a thick, rather odd-looking PinkPig. :)
See Ya
PinkPig
Maybe I should complain that it's racist against people without green names! On second thoughts, everybody around here already thinks I'm a thick, rather odd-looking PinkPig. :)
See Ya
PinkPig
Racism is rife here on the Forums, but it matters whether your name is red, brown, purple, gold or Green.
The racism issue could go on for ages. It is really stupid being a racist. As long as it doesnt happen on these forums or your not affected, things are kinda ok here.
I think the very idea of 'black and white' schools is sick - segregation is definitely not the answer. Black kids will hate white kids and vice versa. I think things are working out okay at the moment, and all the old racists are eventually dying out, although there are an unbelievable amount of idiots out there.
How do you know he wasn't offended, just leave it out Dan. Oh, i'll give you a lil face so you dont get all offended, here you go :(
whoops, wrong one!
whoops, wrong one!
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