[Mark]

In my experience, people are 1,000 times more likely to be stupid than mean. In fact, pretty much everyone says stupid things at times. I wasn’t there, so obviously I couldn’t see his expression, hear his tone of voice, consider his history, etc. But I have to think that just as a general principle, I don’t see how we’re ever going to get past all the racial issues in this country if we cannot create an environment where people are free to make mistakes and learn from them and where people are capable of giving others the benefit of the doubt where possible and of providing a measured, educational response where appropriate. I’ve been corrected for stupid, ignorant things I’ve said where that correction led to a much broader understanding on my part. I’m very grateful that the person I offended took the time to explain it to me and didn’t hold my ignorance against me.

User Detail :  

Name : Mark, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 32, City : Alexandria, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Mark]

You know, I’d sound like a racist idiot if I suggested that all the white people laying out on the beach to get a tan were somehow rejecting or ashamed of their “white heritage.” I guess in my less-sinister world view, the clothes people wear, the music they listen to, the people they associate with and the look they go for are assumed to be a matter of personal tastes; and the fact that for some individuals, those tastes happen to take them outside the “norm” for their “group” (however you choose to define that) is a pretty thin basis for assuming that this somehow represents a rejection of membership in that group.

Sometimes it almost seems as if people develop a siege mentality on sensitive issues like race, religion and politics – kind of a “If you’re not for us then you’re against us” attitude. I’m certain the thought process of the overwhelming majority of non-whites who dye their hair blond is exactly the same as that of white brunettes – something along the lines of “Hey, this might be a good look for me, I think I’ll try it.”

User Detail :  

Name : Mark, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 32, City : Alexandria, State : VA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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