Comments on: Separatism

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 17:03:36 +0000

Here in the U.S., we call it “affirmative action”. That basically means that, because I’m Caucasian, someone who’s part of a minority has a better chance of, oh say, getting a job or getting into a college. It just “looks better” politically to have more minorities, I guess.

By: Mike Haddad

Mike Haddad — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:43:03 +0000

It’s probably being used to collect information on whether or not they’re being discriminated against. Which is ironic.

By: Chans

Chans — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:20:29 +0000

I think it’s a ridiculous question for getting a library card. I talked to a girl here in Holland and on a form from school about health care she had to fill out if she had any gay friends. I don’t ,for the life of me, see how anything like this or the question you mentioned is relevant in this situation (and the gay question in any situation really)

By: Paddy

Paddy — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:05:37 +0000

I don’t want to have an opinion. I’ll end up saying something someone will consider racist. And I’ll bring up something with false facts and everyone will think I’m ignorant. But…

I just read that thing about the phrase sounding better in cantonese. I can say.. GUM SAW GAH. I don’t know how to spell it. But I’m trying to say “so silly” – correct?

Reply: There’s no proper phoneticisation of Cantonese, but I’d type it as “Gun Sore Ah!”

By: marMARmar

marMARmar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:39:02 +0000

I never answer the race question…

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:31:28 +0000

Yeah, if it’s someplace that I don’t think it should matter, I leave it blank. I can see why they track it in, you know, college admissions and even job applications (I think they still have some quotas in place) but something like a library card is really ridiculous.

By: Felisa

Felisa — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:56:58 +0000

If it’s not necessary… I skip that part. I just don’t see the point of somewhat “separating” myself by labeling myself as a different race when I’m just trying to… get a new library card for instance!

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:00:31 +0000

*ahem* Delurking…

I never answer any questions about my “race” in forms like those; I just leave the check boxes unchecked. Unfortunately those questions pop everywhere.

Those questions are usually pointless, anyway, except when gathering some statistics, I guess. If anything, they should ask what country you were born in; it’s more interesting to see where everyone is from. Saying “I’m Caucasion” or “I’m Asian” or whatever else isn’t indicative of anything.

Um, to me, determining someone’s race seems just like determining what breed a dog is. Heh.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:43:55 +0000

It’s the same here, in fact.. worse. The ‘race’ question is on everything. Tests in school, college and job applications, driver’s license form, financial aide for college..

It’s sad that a kid making the exact same amount of money and with the exact same grades can get more or less money for school based solely on the color of his or her skin.

By: Belinda

Belinda — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:43:24 +0000

I find it weird how we’re so keen on getting statistics for Indigenous Australians yet Howard refuses to apologise. =/