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An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

politico.com

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Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#21

Post by chargingmarmot »

ck2 wrote: post #4

Humans: even if there is 0.01% genetic difference between people or ZERO, we'll still seek some other way to discriminate against each other because hey that's what conscious life is all about right, hating "the other" ? Ban it, make it politically incorrect. We have to start somewhere by saying it's wrong or each generation will just teach it to the next. Yes governments should ban it, that protects people.

"So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts." - James Madison

https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/federalist...

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#22

Post by whats_a_quasar »

kashunstva wrote: post #14

> “A lot of staff asked, ‘What is caste?’” Wait - these staffers are working in government but know so little about world history and culture that they’re clueless about caste? Maybe that’s part of the problem of getting progressive consensus on this bill.

To be fair, caste has no direct analog in U.S. or European culture. It isn't shocking that a staffer in the California state government would need to be educated about an issue, the first time it's become a political issue in the U.S.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#23

Post by thegreenswede »

mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

It's absolutely not forgotten in India. Maybe openly talking about in terms of 'caste', sure. But I just visited India for over a month and it was extremely clear they bucket each other into groups. And it's also very alive here in the US. Recently a friend at an ivy league mentioned that an 'upper class' Indian refused to work with a lower class one for their lab's research. Just straight up said he would not interact with him. And this was at a western University!

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#25

Post by [deleted] »

ajross wrote: post #9
mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

A simple search for "caste discrimination" seems to disprove that. Whether or not you agree that it's routine or rare, or whether it happens in the US or just in India, it's absolutely not "forgotten". Coverage of the practice in the media is pervasive.

[deleted]

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#27

Post by konschubert »

ck2 wrote: post #4

Humans: even if there is 0.01% genetic difference between people or ZERO, we'll still seek some other way to discriminate against each other because hey that's what conscious life is all about right, hating "the other" ? Ban it, make it politically incorrect. We have to start somewhere by saying it's wrong or each generation will just teach it to the next. Yes governments should ban it, that protects people.

Feeling worthy and respected is a fundamental human need.

Sadly, one way to achieve this is by looking down on other people.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#28

Post by trehalose »

Supermancho wrote: post #11
ugh123 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How would it extend longevity? Seems like people who are fighting this are likely the ones still benefitting from this system

> How would it extend longevity? Codifying something in law (or code, ie unit tests) tends to ensure it's durability. Information is something that can exist as an idea ephemerally. Once you write down a definition, it has perceived historical value. Later this can be used as an example of how things were done that might be tried again. Many people recognize this as self-evident.

What's the difference between codifying anti-discrimination laws and codifying laws against other things, such as shoplifting?

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#29

Post by ambicapter »

mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

So in the article we got to see a whole lot of "It's embarrassing me that you would even bring this up" arguments and now in this comment we get to see the "It doesn't even matter anyways, and you talking about it is making it worse" arguments, all classic defensive positions when someone definitely supports a system that is being exposed as toxic.

Re: An effort to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve

#30

Post by [deleted] »

thegreenswede wrote: post #23
mortureb wrote: post #2

It’s dumb. They’re trying to get caste codified and defined where all it will do is extend the longevity of a system that is genuinely on its way to being forgotten, even in India.

It's absolutely not forgotten in India. Maybe openly talking about in terms of 'caste', sure. But I just visited India for over a month and it was extremely clear they bucket each other into groups. And it's also very alive here in the US. Recently a friend at an ivy league mentioned that an 'upper class' Indian refused to work with a lower class one for their lab's research. Just straight up said he would not intera…

[deleted]
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