3 ms·

I do think schools shouldn't emphasize either collectivism or individualism over each other and I don't think the text you are quoting here advises that, either

by arrrg 13y ago

I do think schools shouldn't emphasize either collectivism or individualism over each other and I don't think the text you are quoting here advises that, either. Only a pretty narrow-mindes reading of that text would suggest that in any way. At any rate you would have to look at the actual implementation of that policy to really criticise it. As is this text is quite tame. Please also note that schools can hardly be idiologically neutral. That is not possible - they have to find a way to spproach how they depict individualism and collectivism no matter what. To connect this in any way to the linked situation is downright absurd.

emiliobumachar 13y ago
It's one thing for an institution to position itself against emphasizing individualism. It's a couple steps further to define emphasizing individualism as a form of racism. Is there somethig that I as a non-american don't get that makes this newspeak palatable? Have american racists historically been more individualistic or something? EDIT: this comment from elnate nails it: "They're conflating racism with enthnocentrism, the idea that one culture (usually yours) is better than others."
- jlgreco 13y ago
  > Have american racists historically been more individualistic or something? Not to my knowledge. As far as I can tell they are doing nothing more than using existing strong negative connotations of racism to slander an unrelated ideology. It doesn't make logical sense, but it doesn't have to; they are counting on the strong emotional response it evokes to be sufficiently persuasive.
- philwelch 13y ago
  If anything, individualism and racism are incompatible since individualism considers people as individuals and not as members of groups such as races or nationalities.
- arrrg 13y ago
  That’s not conflating something with something, that’s having a different definition than you have.
- hga 13y ago
  "s there somethig that I as a non-american don't get that makes this newspeak palatable?" Not a chance; I was born and raised in the US in the consolidation period of the Civil Rights struggle (came of political age in the '70s) and it's just as unpalatable to me.

by arrrg 13y ago

emiliobumachar 13y ago

It's one thing for an institution to position itself against emphasizing individualism. It's a couple steps further to define emphasizing individualism as a form of racism. Is there somethig that I as a non-american don't get that makes this newspeak palatable? Have american racists historically been more individualistic or something? EDIT: this comment from elnate nails it: "They're conflating racism with enthnocentrism, the idea that one culture (usually yours) is better than others."

jlgreco 13y ago
> Have american racists historically been more individualistic or something? Not to my knowledge. As far as I can tell they are doing nothing more than using existing strong negative connotations of racism to slander an unrelated ideology. It doesn't make logical sense, but it doesn't have to; they are counting on the strong emotional response it evokes to be sufficiently persuasive.
philwelch 13y ago
If anything, individualism and racism are incompatible since individualism considers people as individuals and not as members of groups such as races or nationalities.
arrrg 13y ago
That’s not conflating something with something, that’s having a different definition than you have.
hga 13y ago
"s there somethig that I as a non-american don't get that makes this newspeak palatable?" Not a chance; I was born and raised in the US in the consolidation period of the Civil Rights struggle (came of political age in the '70s) and it's just as unpalatable to me.