My thoughts on racism are all based 'inward'. By that, I mean racism is a state or attitude is based on the intent/words/actions of the person being accused. I don't subscribe to the political correctness of language, nor the branding of ethnicity based on the actions of an individual. I have no racist thought in my mind and take/treat every individual I meet on the merits of their 'person'. I abhor true racism. Having said that, another poster has already mentioned that generational differences can play a part and I agree with that. My parents are Australian-born, level headed, reasonable, generous and sympathetic white people but often fall into the 'trap' of classing aboriginal people as lazy with a tendency to be unemployed and drink to uncontrollable excess. I often cringe when they pass a simple (throwaway) comment because I know any debate with them would fall on deaf ears - it's what they grew up believing and therefore is. They would agree with me that these attributes can apply just as easily to any member of our community but it won't stop them thinking that about aboriginal people in general. Same as never forgiving Japanese people for wartime atrocities, despite no modern day Japanese person having any culpability for that. My parents generation was from a time more simplistic, yet more blinkered to differences in race. I mention this to help explain my position - I don't care as much about what is said or written (as long as it remains within the boundaries of acceptable social conventions), nearly as much as the value I place on actions to each other - that's where you will find out if a person is really racist or not.
