Hi Bunnispace,

‘I don't find it odd that persons from different cultures, genders or beliefs can be best friends.’

I agree with with your above statement, and any disagreement would be extremely old fashioned and not in the good way.  As far as I am concerned I am not israeli or palestinians so it was easier for a friendship.

Hi,Lilwabbit,

Thanks, I don’t mean to throw out terms, I was pointing out how I felt.

Hi Ffb,

They are some very nasty stereotypes about Jews, which I am sure you would find racist.  The fact a Jew is not his/her stereotype, that should be of no surprise, if it is you have looked at Jew, from a narrow lens, and racist fears evolve from looking at people from very narrow point of views.  Looking at a group of people as monolithic is a form of bigotry.

I have had people come to me, who are not Muslims and say ‘You can’t eat pork’, Muslims can eat pork, it isn’t Islamic Kryptonite.

There shouldn't any, surprise if a Muslim or Jew eats pork, because Muslims and Jews can eat pork.  It doesn’t kill them, to think that all Muslims and Jews don’t eat pork is racist.  

If someone thinks you have two horns, that person is an Antismeite.  Now you may help them get rid of their intolerance, yet it doesn't change the fact that they had a intolerant impulse about you once.   

Any individual from any culture, faith, race or ethnic backgrounds knows his or her heritage is filled of extreme diversity from the most crazy people to the nicest people on earth.  If the individual is willing to recognize that in his community why is he not willing to see that in 'the other' community?

It is like the worst kind of orientalism and occidentalism.

You know how diverse your culture is, why should you be surprised that another culture is equally diverse?

Oct 27, 2011 -- 10:57AM, 4thagold wrote:

You would be surprised at two people from different racial/ethnic backgrounds being good friends?   Please explain your reaction when seeing a biracial or bi-ethnic couple. 

To answer your last question first, I'm not bothered by that one iota.  As to your first question, let me answer it this way:

I am Jewish, my wife is Christian, our older daughter and her kids are Jewish, our younger daughter and her kids are Christian, and our son and his daughter are leaning towards Buddhism.  Not only do we get along great, we celebrate each others' religious holidays and special occasions.  Let me also add that our synagogue shares visitation with a local mosque usually twice a year.

It can be done.

"A guy who thinks you have two horns and believes the worst about Jews is not racist?  (you do know sometimes these people like to get violent?) "

You see what you did there? You inserted this notion of "believes the worst about Jews." I didn't say anything of the sort -- you put in what you expected and drew a conclusion based on that. You are finding hate where there is none.

Oct 30, 2011 -- 2:04AM, 4thagold wrote:

Believing thats Jews are the devil and up to all sorts of evil plans, is pretty much the nastiest form of anti-Semitism.  That’s at least what I presumed you meant by ‘horns’.

What’s your definition of bigotry?  

I am not seeing hate everywhere, I am asking people to see, just as their community is full of diversity, they shouldn’t be surprised if another is.

What one acknowledges in their own community/race/faith/ethnicity, one must recognize in ‘the other’.  

I know my ethnic background is extremely diverse in opinions and filled with all sorts of individuals, should I be surprised if an American is against gun culture? (since American love shooting each other is the prevailing stereotype)

‘When I meet someone who has been taught that all Jews have horns, and he is surprised that I don't have horns, I don't cry "racist!". I take the person as one with limited experience and knowledge base who had expectations bred from limitations, not fear or hatred.’

Thats very naive, how do you know that behind your back they don’t say ‘ but when he is with his own people...’?

The horns on a Jews' head stems not from a reference to the devil but to a mistranslation which was made into a piece of art (Moses by Michelangelo)

www.wga.hu/art/m/michelan/1sculptu/giuli...

Instead of assuming the worst, I can take an opportunity to educate, not fear. And assuming that when I'm not around, people are talking about me is arrogant -- that they are talking negatively is paranoid.

If a non-American thinks that Americans are gun crazy, I expect him to be surprised if he sees a non-gun crazy American. THis isn't hatred or racism.

Bigotry is intolerance usually based in group identification. Preconceived notions are not intolerance nor hatred.