Mashed Potato

/demands a philosophy section

I was reading MLK's famous "I have A Dream" speech, and I came across these words:

Both skin colour and character content are innate traits, but why is the latter a more "noble" prejudice?

You might refute this by claiming that our personalities are not inborn but I believe we have a "core" personality that is conclusive and not subject to change. These are marked by our natural preferences, habits and tendencies.

Why is hatred of hate acceptable?

Discuss. New ideas are always welcome >_<

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&hearts;

jimmer45khb

I would have to guess that people just can't live with out hate
I have a major anger problem but I try to keep it under control
I see no difference in skin color or in characteristics I try to let people see that there is no need for hate but that never works thy just do the same thing over and over
then I get pissed that they don't try to change and it go round and round
simply put people will always hate some one it is just life there is no one out there that can say I don't hate any one I like them all

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Miburo

^Holy shit, yellowish orange text on white background is beyond obnoxious.

I would suspect that he was using the 'moral integrity' type definition of character. Not that 'innate traits that define individuals' type definition. Meaning we should judge people based on how they treat and interact with others, or based on their actions and rationale instead of superficial things like skin color or favorite food and shit. Sure, some of that shit can overlap, like if you have a dude that is just naturally stubborn, mean-spirited, and stupid as shit. But in that case his 'innate traits' actually effect other people negatively, and aren't completely unavoidable (Just because your initial reaction is to be a douchebag doesn't mean you have to follow through with it). It still can't be compared to something like skin color.

And if we're going to judge others, I'd say that's probably the best way to go about doing so. It's more easily justifiable to be against hating on people for things they can't help than it is to single people out for having a certain eye color or some shit. The first 'hate' is justified while the second wouldn't be, in a lot of 'hating on hate' scenarios.

Xicidal

Hate is acceptable but oppression is wrong. In free country you should be allowed to hate, if hate isn't acceptable then you are being oppressed. If you hate someone or some group and take actions that would prevent them from living fairly then you are oppressing. Hate all you like just don't be an ass and fuck with other lives because of it.

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fixed.

DarkAztek

Problem # 1 with your argument: A person's character is NOT an innate trait. Skin color is something that you are born with and cannot change (except in a certain Jackson's case). But a person's character? That's their personality. What kind of person that they are. Basically MLK said not to judge a book by its cover. What's the problem here?

I'm sorry, but you're wrong about a "core" personality. Our character is who we were RAISED to be. It's not something that is configured on the genetic level... And even for certain traits that can be attributed to hormones and our genes do not necessarily make a person.

Hating hate? I'm not sure how you can even consider that to be wrong. Can you elaborate or try to explain your side again?

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Mashed Potato

We're onto the Nature vs Nurture argument. It's not conclusive. >_< Nature/nurture should not be treated as a dichotomy in our personality context, but rather interwoven.
Yes. Our characteristics are shaped by our surroundings, but factors like our intelligence and preferences have been proven to be genetic and/or innate; and these are factors of our identity are they not? I have a natural preference for logic over emotion, and that's something that cannot be changed. >_<

Even so, I also believe your upbringing cannot be controlled, so if one had a rough childhood which consequently induced an immoral attitude, would hatred of his character still be justified?
I have nothing against king jr nor the distaste for prejudice, I'm trying to generate ideas. Sort of playing devil's advocate, if you will.


Hatred and hatred of hate are both forms of ...well, hate.

So lets say
Hatred of homosexuals = prejudice of sexual orientation
Hatred of homophobes = prejudice of maybe... irrational hate?

So is acceptable hate just hatred of irrationality?
I don't want a "it just is" answer.

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&hearts;

Miburo

I agree that whether you're born with douchebag tendencies or you're raised to have douchebag tendencies, it doesn't really matter. Either way, that really isn't something you can control.

Regardless, you can control your actions. And actions that effect other people negatively cannot be tolerated in most cases.

But yeah, I guess you could call it a hatred of irrationality. Which still isn't a bad thing. Irrationality and blatant stupidity should be looked down upon, at least when it can effect people negatively.

DarkAztek

True 'nuff statement, Potato. Thing is, if someone is a jackass then I think that I can still get away with judging them. I'm not going to hate them (maybe) but I feel like I can rightly decide whether or not I want anything to do with that person. However, for what Dr. King was talking about, I am not going to judge a person based solely on their outer appearance.

I might make some snap judgments based on my own prejudices or personal experiences but I won't necessarily assume anything. Heck, I once met a guy with huge dreadlocks and wearing all hemp clothes, wearing that patruli (sp?) shit. The guy turned out to be a conservative Republican at a Bush rally. Weird stuff, hm?


As Miburo already pointed out, actions are what define us.

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