Would it make you more comfortable if instead they said racism has been historically institutionalized and systemically reproduced within Euro-American societies through law, labor systems, colonial policy, and bourgeoisie state power?
It would, but I suppose OP’s intention was not to make constructive and nuanced criticism, but rather to rally against a supposed homogenous and evil ‘other’.
The issue is what I’m saying and what they’re saying is the same thing. I’m just using the proper academic language. People in the imperial core are racist. Most not maliciously or consciously but simply through living in a system that perpetuates and enforces it.
Countries that support genocide don’t get to complain when other people call them racist, also pretending like that slug isn’t representative of a vast swathe of German society that views non-white people as (and I’m quoting German media) a “jungle”
“The Germans” is obviously a metonym for the German government (and those who support it) in this context. The claim isn’t that every orphan and office clerk in Berlin is racist against Chinese people.
Looking at some of the other replies to my comment (e.g. ElChapoDeChapo, Flyberius, CyborgMarx), I am not sure your comrades share that sentiment.
And I would agree if we were talking about “Germany”, but “The Germans” is usually used to refer to the people of Germany.
I think it is important to clearly distinguish between a country’s people and its government. Conflating the two only serves to mobilize ethnic hostilities.
The lack of self-reflection required to say ‘People of nationality X are racist’ is mind-blowing to me.
Would it make you more comfortable if instead they said racism has been historically institutionalized and systemically reproduced within Euro-American societies through law, labor systems, colonial policy, and bourgeoisie state power?
I might invite you to read settlers
It would, but I suppose OP’s intention was not to make constructive and nuanced criticism, but rather to rally against a supposed homogenous and evil ‘other’.
The issue is what I’m saying and what they’re saying is the same thing. I’m just using the proper academic language. People in the imperial core are racist. Most not maliciously or consciously but simply through living in a system that perpetuates and enforces it.
“Stop being mean to the master race” part one billion…
The German state and its supporters systemically are perpetuating far worse than racism.
Countries that support genocide don’t get to complain when other people call them racist, also pretending like that slug isn’t representative of a vast swathe of German society that views non-white people as (and I’m quoting German media) a “jungle”
Its legally mandated in Germany.
If it walks like a German and quacks like a German, it’s probably a nazi
“The Germans” is obviously a metonym for the German government (and those who support it) in this context. The claim isn’t that every orphan and office clerk in Berlin is racist against Chinese people.
Looking at some of the other replies to my comment (e.g. ElChapoDeChapo, Flyberius, CyborgMarx), I am not sure your comrades share that sentiment.
And I would agree if we were talking about “Germany”, but “The Germans” is usually used to refer to the people of Germany.
I think it is important to clearly distinguish between a country’s people and its government. Conflating the two only serves to mobilize ethnic hostilities.