MODERATOR'S NOTE
In order to prevent the debate on racism in the media from degrading into flares
and
endless recital of personal impressions, Mr. Ross should perhaps explain how he
thinks the Japanese perceive non-Japanese and what evidence such observations
are based on.
The purpose of such a debate among social scientists is surely to understand why
racist
terms are more tolerated in some societies than others, to what extent that
reflects popular sentiment, and how such hatred is created.

Nobuhiro Hiwatari
Jonathan Lewis
Co-moderators, SSJ-Forum

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From: z95036[atx]ksc.kwansei.ac.jp
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 17:25:43 +0900

Attributing differential reactions to racism rather than well-formed judgement
when the reactions differ from one's own is an indirect way to celebrate one's
own superiority at not being "as racist" as the next fellow--probably both a
partial illusion and not an argument that furthers general human understanding.
There are degrees of difference, larger degrees of difference discombubulate
habitual percepts and concepts more than smaller degrees. Degrees above some
threshold can be conveniently labled racism but to me it is much more
interesting to examine the degrees of difference for qualitative changes and
variables. If I am forced to choose between whether it is racism or well-formed
judgement that informs British press reaction to WWII Japanese and German
anniversary musings, my answer is binary oppositions bore me, give me a
validated social science scale!