What do the words racist, and also Islamophobia, mean to you?

Cambridge dictionary says that racist means 'someone who thinks their race makes them better more intelligent etc than people of other races, and who does and says harmful or hurtful things as a result.'

Yay! First time I've been first on a thread, thanks fancythat. Now it's your turn to post one of your ten.

One of mine, well not actually, but this is what some defintion say.
They say it is about feeling superior to other races.
I hadnt even realised that that was a definition.

That's a strange one. It will include lots more folk than other definitions.
Will it include people cheering on their team, at say the Olympics? You know, 'C'mon Team GB we're the best?'
For me, a definition would have to include an element of 'malice', to make it an 'ist'.

I am going to add anti-semetic to the list. Partly as I think people want me to.

The dictionary defintion seems to be "hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people".

It is interesting that this definition anyway, says Jewish people, not Judaism.

Not sure where my thoughts or post will be led yet.

As I said on another thread today, I have other things on my mind!!

Should add, that if any word is used as name calling only, then that is bad behaviour.

If, as some people say, Islamophobia is fear of the religion of Islam, that is a different idea to

1.fear of muslims
2. hostility to anyone, either muslim or Jew. or any person.

I think the words are different.

Racism is acting on a prejudice and treating people of other 'races' differently from those of one's own, or making assumptions about them based on their 'race'.

Phobia (whether of Islam, Judaism or whatever) is fear of people based on an interpretation of their beliefs - so assuming that Muslims all want to replace the legal system in the UK with Sharia Law would come under that category, the more so when it is based on flawed understanding.

Prejudice (judging the 'race' or religion before knowing the person as an individual) underpins both, but they are different.

Both are destructive, but only become illegal when they result in discrimination, ie treating someone differently because of a protected characteristic. Race and religion are protected, as are age, disability, sexuality, gender reassessment and maternity.

There is also the word Christianophobia which we do not hear much of in this country, although it exists in some other countries.

The word Christianophobia literally means “fear of Christians.” But, just as very few people are genuinely afraid of homosexuals (the literal meaning of homophobia), so are very few people actually fearful of Christians. Usually, Christianophobia refers to the state of being hateful or spiteful to Christians. A Christianophobe hates or despises Christians and/or what they stand for.

So Islamophobia similarly means fear of Muslims and what they stand for, whether either of these fears have any foundation or not.

Racism is different, people of many different races can be Christian, Muslim or atheist.

I probably agree with most of your post, but need more time to think about it.

Phobia (whether of Islam, Judaism or whatever) is fear of people based on an interpretation of their beliefs

Another poster on another thread, said that Islamophobia is fear of the religion of Islam.
That would not be the same thing at all as fear of muslims.
Well not in my book it wouldnt be.
Apparently there are non practicing muslims, but I cant see how there can be, because a muslim, by definition it seems, is a person who practices Islam.
So a non practising muslim is not a muslim.

My definition of racism is anyone or anything that is attributed to an entire cohort of people of the same race, ie tarring them all with the same brush, blaming them for everything that’s wrong with the world, discriminating against them in any way due to the colour of their skin or race.

I’d also say feelings of superiority towards other races one feels are inferior in some way, is a form of racism.

I’m afraid I yawn when I read those words.

*Phobia (whether of Islam, Judaism or whatever) is fear of people based on an interpretation of their beliefs

It’s actually just a fear, usually irrational. Arachnophobia for example. But in the case of a fear or hatred such as in islamaphobia this must mean against the belief and not the person. To fear or hate a Muslim would be Muslimphobia I imagine.

And yes of course it’s wrong.

JenniferEccles

I’m afraid I yawn when I read those words.

That says more about you than it does about the words!

Fair enough. Opinions may vary!

Racism = A baseless prejudice against a community or individual on the grounds of their colour.

Islamaphobia Break it down into two words Islam a religion. Phobia a fear. The phobia part isn't entirely baseless given there have been numerous attacks worldwide with thousands upon thousands of fatalities. Most atrocities are aimed at random people in varying scenarios, as they were when the IRA had their campaign on mainland Britain, many of us had phobias about them. I had only been in the US for a day in 2006 when the aborted transatlantic aircraft plots emanating from Britain were discovered, from that stemmed the banning of liquid in hand luggage. It changed the nature of how we all had to check in. Of course people were paranoid after that which is pretty much the same as having a phobia, if all the intended explosives had been detonated imagine the loss of life, not as great as The Twin Towers, but pretty substantial. To summarise, I have a phobia, in such situations, dress it up how you like, I'm phobic about the people who carry out such attacks and where or whether they may occur again. Since 2001, most atrocities resulting in mass murder have been carried out by radicalised Muslims. Before that on British soil, mass murder as acts of terrorism were committed by the IRA, and therefore I assume Irish. if I lived in the US I'd no doubt have gunaphobia, perpetrators, any old Tom, Dick or Harry who has a grievance .

Phobias therefore tend to manifest against Islamist extremists, but not Muslims per se.

The IRA but not the Irish as a race

Any Old Tom, Dick or Harry with a gun and a grievance in the US but not the American people

Phobias surrounding traumatising events aren't really irrational, especially in areas where umpteen people packed together have been maimed and killed at the hands of terrorists whatever their cause.

I think that is a very good assessment, Terribull.

Terribull - I agree with what you have written about Islamophobia. Thank you.

Racism - not quite so sure on that one yet.
Not quite made my mind up.

Citizens' Advice site is useful, fancythst

Race discrimination is when you are treated unfairly because of your race, or because of the race of someone you are connected with, such as your partner.

‘Race’ includes colour, nationality, citizenship and ethnic or national origins.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/discrimination-because-of-race-religion-or-belief/discrimination-because-of-race/#:~:text=Race%20discrimination%20is%20when%20you,and%20ethnic%20or%20national%20origins.

Some defintions include a feeling of superiority.
No mention of that on there.

Though that probably is as good a defintion as any.

Bellanonna

*Phobia (whether of Islam, Judaism or whatever) is fear of people based on an interpretation of their beliefs

It’s actually just a fear, usually irrational. Arachnophobia for example. But in the case of a fear or hatred such as in islamaphobia this must mean against the belief and not the person. To fear or hate a Muslim would be Muslimphobia I imagine.

And yes of course it’s wrong.

Yes, that's what I meant. Islamophobia is a fear of Islam, and therefore Muslims, based in an interpretation of their religion. Sometimes that interpretation leads to people fearing things that are most unlikely to happen, or are simply inaccurate. The same can apply to any religion, in the same way as, as in your example, people like me fear spiders, even though the ones I am likely to meet are harmless and also afraid of me.

It's not irrational, when extremists who interpret their religion in such a way their beliefs spur them on to commit mass murder, it might well be a warped version of those beliefs, it might well be condemned by the mainstream, nevertheless it has cropped up in the most unlikely places when people least expect it. Such as attending a rock concert at the Bataclan in Paris or The Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena. The unlikely could happen anywhere. If it were say an offshoot of the Baptists, just as an example, who were carrying out a sustained bombing campaign then I imagine something called Baptistsaphobia would emerge.

Yes, that's what I meant. Islamophobia is a fear of Islam, and therefore Muslims,

I dont agree with that.

Islamophobia is a fear of the religion of Islam it seems.

Muslims are not the religion itself.
They are not the Koran.