Philosophy
This morning the short people and I were listening to "Flood" on the way into school. Still a great album. The ethical question in the song "Your Racist Friend" has always interested me. The song recounts the conundrum of someone at a friend's party and the host has a friend who is a racist and making ignorant racist comments. The narrator says of his host "I know politics bore you" and there is no sense that host himself harbors racist sentiments, but he "stands by his racist friend." The narrator says that he feels like a hypocrite remaining present at the party and so leaves on principle.
In refusing to condemn the friend's racism, do we have a legitimate case of guilt by association with respect to the host? Does the context matter? The host is apolitical and just trying to have a good time at his party, is he morally obliged to do more than sweep something he cares little about under the rug since it's not his fight? By not doing so, is the host entrenching and thereby indirectly supporting racism and thereby does he have a duty to do something about his friend?
- How Ugly, How Soon?
A couple posts about race today and tomorrow. This one is about a book. Dan Gutman has written a nice series of books that the shorter of the short people enjoys. The protagonist is a boy living with his mother after a divorce who loves to play little...
- Shapes Of Racism
In Kentucky's Democratic primary election yesterday, according to the exit polls conducted by CNN, 21% of the voters reported that race was important to them in making their decision and of those 81% voted for Hillary Clinton. More than one out of...
- Shades Of Racism
An interesting shift in the conversation around Barack Obama?s presidential bid. At first, we saw a lot of this ? ?Is the country ready for a black President?? Ready? What does that mean? I know when I ask the kids if they are ready, it means do you have...
- What Do You Do When Your Friend Is An Asshole?
Buridan has a recent post quoting H.L. Mencken: Someday the plain folks of the land will reach their heart?s desire, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. I must admit, I have a soft spot for Mencken. Maybe it's because I'm...
- Help, Help, I'm Being Oppressed
An interesting post to pull out of Buridan's Ass on the definition of oppression. Buridan argues that being an oppressed group requires (a) being a group and (b) being oppressed and neither of these notions is well-defined, indeed, both are self-defined...
Philosophy
They Might Be Kantians: Legitimate Argument for Guilt by Association?
This morning the short people and I were listening to "Flood" on the way into school. Still a great album. The ethical question in the song "Your Racist Friend" has always interested me. The song recounts the conundrum of someone at a friend's party and the host has a friend who is a racist and making ignorant racist comments. The narrator says of his host "I know politics bore you" and there is no sense that host himself harbors racist sentiments, but he "stands by his racist friend." The narrator says that he feels like a hypocrite remaining present at the party and so leaves on principle.
In refusing to condemn the friend's racism, do we have a legitimate case of guilt by association with respect to the host? Does the context matter? The host is apolitical and just trying to have a good time at his party, is he morally obliged to do more than sweep something he cares little about under the rug since it's not his fight? By not doing so, is the host entrenching and thereby indirectly supporting racism and thereby does he have a duty to do something about his friend?
- How Ugly, How Soon?
A couple posts about race today and tomorrow. This one is about a book. Dan Gutman has written a nice series of books that the shorter of the short people enjoys. The protagonist is a boy living with his mother after a divorce who loves to play little...
- Shapes Of Racism
In Kentucky's Democratic primary election yesterday, according to the exit polls conducted by CNN, 21% of the voters reported that race was important to them in making their decision and of those 81% voted for Hillary Clinton. More than one out of...
- Shades Of Racism
An interesting shift in the conversation around Barack Obama?s presidential bid. At first, we saw a lot of this ? ?Is the country ready for a black President?? Ready? What does that mean? I know when I ask the kids if they are ready, it means do you have...
- What Do You Do When Your Friend Is An Asshole?
Buridan has a recent post quoting H.L. Mencken: Someday the plain folks of the land will reach their heart?s desire, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. I must admit, I have a soft spot for Mencken. Maybe it's because I'm...
- Help, Help, I'm Being Oppressed
An interesting post to pull out of Buridan's Ass on the definition of oppression. Buridan argues that being an oppressed group requires (a) being a group and (b) being oppressed and neither of these notions is well-defined, indeed, both are self-defined...