Redefining racism?
According to Helsingin Sanomat…
Racist crimes refers to crimes whose victims are chosen on the basis of their ethnic, racial, religious, cultural, or national background.
Since when did racism include religion, cultural or national background? When a Finn tells a harmless joke involving a Swede, is it a racist joke? I think the word they’re looking for is “bigotry”.
Now I’m not saying that bigotry less severe than racism, or anything of the sort – I’m just afraid that we’re “dumbing down” the meaning of the word “racism” – Once Finns believe that it’s considered “racist” to tell (for instance) a joke involving a Swede, they’ll “poo-poo” (for lack of better words) the idea of real racist behavior they won’t take racism seriously because they believe racism encompasses so many different things. Know what I mean? (I’m having trouble explaining this…)
