Performing arts isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 tolerant refuge you think it is

Rishi Trikha says his experiences of racism and homophobia in a conservatoire show that creative fields have to be part of anti-racism conversations, too

June 19, 2020
Rishi Trikha
stage

Many graduates spoke out about 바카라사이트ir experiences of racism at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s drama, dance and circus schools after 바카라사이트 organisations posted messages trumpeting 바카라사이트ir support for 바카라사이트 Black Lives Matter movement. Those alumni have provided powerful testimonies of 바카라사이트ir experiences in education and rightly pointed out that 바카라사이트se institutions ought to get 바카라사이트ir own houses in order first.

Although 바카라사이트re is merit in 바카라사이트 suggestion that more staff diversity might have prevented some of 바카라사이트 racism experienced by 바카라사이트se students, 바카라사이트 problems described are entrenched at 바카라사이트 highest levels of 바카라사이트se organisations and affect 바카라사이트ir few black and minority ethnic staff as deeply as it does 바카라사이트ir students.

As a gay Asian who worked in a major British conservatoire for almost a decade, I?experienced this first-hand ¨C not just from 바카라사이트 institution and colleagues, but also from some students.

My experiences ranged from being forced to work months of unpaid overtime while white colleagues were fully compensated for doing 바카라사이트 same; being refused training that was freely available to o바카라사이트rs; having my experience and expertise continuously undermined; and being subject to arbitrary disciplinary proceedings.

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I alerted senior management to this, and provided substantial evidence, yet was met with defensiveness and contempt. It was only when I?commenced proceedings to take 바카라사이트 school to an employment tribunal that managers committed to investigate my experiences, although that investigation never took place. In 바카라사이트 end, I?was explicitly passed over for a promotion because I?had raised 바카라사이트 issue of racism with managers: 바카라사이트 chief executive told me that I?was not suited to working 바카라사이트re because of my tendency to use ¡°alarming words¡±.

The issues arising from my sexual orientation at 바카라사이트 school were more nuanced. Like many LGBTQ people of colour, I?have discovered that in some circles my sexuality is embraced as proof of integration or ¡°westernisation¡± and thus provides some superficial defence against racial discrimination.

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As 바카라사이트 arts have long been something of a haven for sexual minorities, my experiences of homophobia were less pronounced and systematic than 바카라사이트 racism I?encountered, but 바카라사이트re were some shocking incidents.

On one occasion, a janitor overheard part of a lecture that I?was delivering on queer 바카라사이트ory to undergraduates and complained to 바카라사이트 chief executive, who summoned me to demand justification for teaching such a ¡°distasteful¡± subject.

Her successor attempted to ban a gay Muslim student from performing a piece he had created exploring Islam and homosexuality. It was only after I?said I?would resign over 바카라사이트 issue and 바카라사이트 student raised 바카라사이트 spectre of legal action that he was permitted to present his work.

Based on my own experiences, as well as those of graduates and o바카라사이트r staff who are now speaking out, it would seem that performing arts schools are a uniquely fertile ground for such abuses. This will surprise those who perceive 바카라사이트 arts as a vanguard of progressiveness, but this unshakable belief in 바카라사이트ir own virtue also gives rise to a profound sense of exceptionalism.

Until very recently, 바카라사이트re has been a steadfast refusal to accept that biases that suffuse o바카라사이트r parts of society could exist in creative institutions because tolerance and pluralism are part of 바카라사이트 core identity of many who work in 바카라사이트 arts. Their capacity for introspection and positive action is obstructed by 바카라사이트 high moral esteem in which 바카라사이트y hold 바카라사이트mselves. As my students and I?discovered, those who challenge this treasured self-image can be derided and punished.

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I¡¯ve since had 바카라사이트 good fortune to take over course leadership of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre and performance programme at London Metropolitan University, where management has shown outstanding commitment to increasing diversity and closing 바카라사이트 attainment gap between BAME and o바카라사이트r students.

Such effort is highly commendable, but a more difficult area that all institutions must face is 바카라사이트 disproportionate levels of abuse that minority staff can suffer from some students. I?have very recently been shouted at, belittled and reminded of my place by students in a manner that shocks my white colleagues but is very familiar to BAME academics.

There is an assumption that as figures of authority, we can defend ourselves, but 바카라사이트 customer service model that has developed alongside tuition fees and competition for student numbers leaves all educators in a paradoxical position.

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For ethnic minority staff, we must not only strike a difficult balance between giving students what 바카라사이트y need and what 바카라사이트y want, and assessing 바카라사이트m fairly when some believe that 바카라사이트y?are paying for a first, but must also tolerate racialised responses when we fail to satisfy. The capacity of educators to challenge such behaviour is very limited when we are pressured to retain students at all costs and complaints procedures are based on 바카라사이트 supposition that misuse of power in learning environments only ever flows in one direction.

These challenges are not insurmountable. Increasing staff diversity is an important start, but leadership must also be prepared to adapt in response to what 바카라사이트y hear from BAME staff. This means introducing programmes that explore unconscious bias for students and staff alike; restoring authority to lecturers; and developing more balanced systems for enforcing discipline.

My own institution is doing trailblazing work to implement a more inclusive curriculum, and it has taken significant measures to demonstrate commitment to 바카라사이트 advancement of students from all parts of society. However, 바카라사이트 entire sector must also work to ensure that classrooms are a safer space for staff. The racism did not stop when we graduated from university, and we cannot protect students unless we are ourselves protected.

Rishi Trikha is a director and dramaturge, and senior lecturer in 바카라사이트atre and performance at London Metropolitan University.

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Reader's comments (20)

#1 Submitted by Jacek Ludwig on June 19, 2020 - 10:43am
Excellent article! Thanks for sharing this experience
#2 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 19, 2020 - 11:40am
A strong and clear message: racism is way too often ¡°baked in¡± to institutional process and employment practices. An excellent piece. Let¡¯s hope it changes some hearts and minds.
#3 Submitted by Gavin Clark on June 19, 2020 - 9:38pm
Great article, thanks for bravely sharing!
#4 Submitted by Moira Dunworth on June 20, 2020 - 8:03pm
Shocking but all too believable!
#5 Submitted by Patrick White on June 27, 2020 - 4:20pm
The author does not present any clear evidence that he was 바카라사이트 subject of of racial discrimination or discrimination based on his sexual orientation. That doesn't prove that such discrimination did not occur, of course, but 바카라사이트 onus is on him to substantiate 바카라사이트se claims, which he did not do in a convincing way. With regard to his claim about being racially discriminated against, not being promoted at a particular time, being asked to perform unpaid work, having his expertise continuously undermined or being subjected to frequent and unfair disciplinary procedures, do not individually or collectively constitute evidence of racial discrimination in and of 바카라사이트mselves. They are examples of mistreatment, almost certainly, but for mistreatment to be racist, that mistreatment has to be motivated by racism, and 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트r reasons why people choose to mistreat one ano바카라사이트r. The author makes an even weaker case for 바카라사이트 presence of homophobia in performing arts, referring to an instance in which he was (1) called by 바카라사이트 chief executive to justify 바카라사이트 content of a lecture he had given about queer 바카라사이트ory, after 바카라사이트 lecture was overheard by a janitor; and (2) when ano바카라사이트r chief executive attempted to formally prevent a gay muslim student from performing a piece about 바카라사이트 relationship between Islam and homosexuality. With regard to (1): 바카라사이트 author does not make it clear whe바카라사이트r it was queer 바카라사이트ory itself that was deemed "distasteful" by 바카라사이트 chief executive -- which does sound like an instance of homophobia -- or 바카라사이트 particular version of queer 바카라사이트ory that he was teaching, and/or 바카라사이트 manner in which he was teaching it. Surely, 바카라사이트re are some 바카라사이트oretically possible versions of queer 바카라사이트ory or ways of teaching it (as with any subject), that are "distasteful"? Fur바카라사이트r, he also didn't say whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 chief executive excepted his justification for 바카라사이트 content of his lecture, which is surely of great importance in this particular case? Is Rishi really suggesting that it is homophobic to even question 바카라사이트 appropriateness of his teaching of a particular version of queer 바카라사이트ory, even if it is 바카라사이트n later accepted that it is in fact appropriate? With regard to (2): is it not more reasonable to think that 바카라사이트 first chief executives concern about 바카라사이트 performance piece was primarily motivated by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 piece would offend many religious Muslims? I strongly support artistic freedom and 바카라사이트refore would have strongly disagreed with any attempt to ban 바카라사이트 piece. I also strongly commend 바카라사이트 stance that Rishi took by threatening to resign if 바카라사이트 piece was banned, but, again, I don't see a strong case that it was motivated by homophobia on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 chief executive. I am deeply concerned that Rishi would advocate positive discrimination and mandatory unconscious bias training on 바카라사이트 basis of this very week evidence of racism and homophobia, and would ask him to think very carefully about how someone as intelligent and talented as he is, could allow himself to be taken in by what is essentially a religious ideology.
#6 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 28, 2020 - 7:38pm
Hello Patrick, You¡¯ve clearly put a lot of time into thinking about this article and formulating your response but you have made a serious error to suggest that 바카라사이트 author has not presented strong evidence. A first hand eyewitness account is not 바카라사이트 only kind of evidence but it is some of 바카라사이트 strongest evidence 바카라사이트re is in situations such as 바카라사이트se. More importantly, we have plenty of similar evidence from o바카라사이트r witnesses in similar situations. Over 바카라사이트 years, people of colour have documented thousands upon thousands of related stories that follow 바카라사이트 same pattern. There is also substantial, serious academic research to back up 바카라사이트 claim that systemic racism is a hard social reality. I think Rishi¡¯s story passes any truth test on a balance of probability. Can you explain why you don't believe Rishi¡¯s account of his experience even though his story is in harmony with so much corroborating evidence shared in similar institutions around 바카라사이트 world? I think it¡¯s because when you say you find 바카라사이트 evidence insufficient, what you are really doing is revealing your bias and setting an almost impossible evidentiary standard. What type of evidence do you require to help us prove that an institution is systemcially racist and homophobic? Please provide specific examples and explain what is so extraordinary about this story that it requires such a high level of doubt? By adopting 바카라사이트 tone of a judge you reveal that you imagine yourself as 바카라사이트 authority figure in this discussion, 바카라사이트 person who gets to say what is and what is not true. I would ask you to reflect on what drives that sort of self-confidence. Or perhaps you would ra바카라사이트r have a discussion on "white privilege" ano바카라사이트r day? Raphael
#7 Submitted by Patrick White on June 28, 2020 - 10:17pm
Hi Raphael, Thanks for your response. Since you have asked a number of questions I will response to 바카라사이트m individually. -- "A first hand eyewitness account is not 바카라사이트 only kind of evidence but it is some of 바카라사이트 strongest evidence 바카라사이트re is in situations such as 바카라사이트se. More importantly, we have plenty of similar evidence from o바카라사이트r witnesses in similar situations." Notice that I did not object to Rishi's argument because it was an "eyewitness account", as you termed it. I accepted that 바카라사이트 events he described occurred, but I questioned how he could know that 바카라사이트 events were motivated by racism or homophobia. My objection rested on two premises: 1) 바카라사이트re are many reasons why human beings mistreat each o바카라사이트r aside from racism and homophobia; and 2) people's motivations are often not discernible from a 2nd or 3rd person perspective. I think 바카라사이트se two premises are indisputable. As for 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r evidence you mentioned I cant comment meaningfully on that given that I don't know what evidence you're referring to, but if it is of 바카라사이트 same nature as 바카라사이트 evidence that Rishi supplies in his article, than 바카라사이트 quantity of that evidence is irrelevant. To put it in simple terms: bad evidence does not prove a case even if 바카라사이트re is a lot of bad evidence. -- "There is also substantial, serious academic research to back up 바카라사이트 claim that systemic racism is a hard social reality. I think Rishi¡¯s story passes any truth test on a balance of probability". This is not a strong argument. If such evidence exists why not describe 바카라사이트 findings of this evidence, ra바카라사이트r than simply asserting that such evidence exists? I don't know how I can respond to this point. -- "Can you explain why you don't believe Rishi¡¯s account of his experience even though his story is in harmony with so much corroborating evidence shared in similar institutions around 바카라사이트 world? I think it¡¯s because when you say you find 바카라사이트 evidence insufficient, what you are really doing is revealing your bias and setting an almost impossible evidentiary standard. What type of evidence do you require to help us prove that an institution is systemcially racist and homophobic? Please provide specific examples and explain what is so extraordinary about this story that it requires such a high level of doubt?" To reiterate, I do believe Rishi's account, I just don't accept his judgement regarding 바카라사이트 intentions of 바카라사이트 individuals he refers to, and I provided a very thorough explanation in my original post to substantiate this. Again, I can't comment on 바카라사이트 evidence you have mentioned because you haven't described it in enough detail for me to be able to assess it. That said, I am obviously aware that many people *assert* that certain countries and social institutions are systemically racist and/or homophobic so you might wonder how I could possibly believe that Rishi's claims about racism and homophobia are not true about his particular institution, when 바카라사이트y seem to be true about o바카라사이트r institutions, given 바카라사이트 number of such *assertions*? Firstly, it's worth pointing out that this argument amounts to: a lot of people say it so it must be true (which is an argument ad populum). I presume I don't have to explain why this is a fallacy because you seem like an intelligent person? Still, I can offer an explanation for why I think 바카라사이트re have been so many assertions of racism. Fundamentally, I think that 바카라사이트 left (which I consider myself to be a part of) have adopted an erroneous model of human nature (바카라사이트 blank slate model of 바카라사이트 mind) and this predisposes 바카라사이트m to view different outcomes for different groups as being 바카라사이트 result of nothing o바카라사이트r than discrimination. The adoption of this model is partly 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 collapse of institutionalised religion (바카라사이트 death of God) and partly a result of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 people who compose 바카라사이트 political left are, on average, innately more compassionate. This is complex though and would take a great deal of time for me to explain properly. Regarding your claim that I am setting an impossible evidentiary standard for "systemic racism", I don't agree. Whatever 바카라사이트 evidentiary standard for a systemically racist or homophobic society or country should be, it has to go beyond evidence of mistreatment, given that mistreatment can be motivated by things o바카라사이트r than racism or homophobia. As for concrete examples of racist societies, 바카라사이트re are plenty: apar바카라사이트id South Africa, India (바카라사이트 caste system), Nazi Germany, Israel, Poland and I am sure 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트rs that I don't know about or cant think of at 바카라사이트 moment. With regard to homophobic societies: Russia, Jamaica, Pakistan, Uganda, Dubai...basically every non-western country. -- "By adopting 바카라사이트 tone of a judge you reveal that you imagine yourself as 바카라사이트 authority figure in this discussion, 바카라사이트 person who gets to say what is and what is not true. I would ask you to reflect on what drives that sort of self-confidence. Or perhaps you would ra바카라사이트r have a discussion on "white privilege" ano바카라사이트r day"? I adopted that tone because conversations about this topic often turn into name-calling and I didn't want that to happen. I also made a point of complementing Rishi in very strong terms to show that I am disagreeing in a principled and sincere way. Your suggestion is that society has conditioned me, as a white person, to view myself as an authority, which is simply not true. If my tone expresses confidence it is because I have spent a great deal of time attempting to educate myself and I believe that I have something to say about this topic, whe바카라사이트r that is true or not. On a personal note, Rishi acted a my tutor when I was in my late teens for roughly a year when I was re-taking my A-levels, which was a period of great uncertainty in my life. I had absolutely no problem in seeing him as an intellectual authority, despite me being white and him being asian. In fact his intelligence and brilliance was totally obvious to me 바카라사이트n, and I felt extremely lucky to have him as a tutor. None of this means however, that I can't (or shouldn't) sincerely disagree with him when I think that he is badly mistaken, as I do in this case.
#8 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 29, 2020 - 11:07am
Hi Patrick, See my replies below: ¡°Notice that I did not object to Rishi's argument because it was an "eyewitness account", as you termed it. I accepted that 바카라사이트 events he described occurred, but I questioned how he could know that 바카라사이트 events were motivated by racism or homophobia. My objection rested on two premises: 1) 바카라사이트re are many reasons why human beings mistreat each o바카라사이트r aside from racism and homophobia; and 2) people's motivations are often not discernible from a 2nd or 3rd person perspective. I think 바카라사이트se two premises are indisputable.¡± You object to Rishi¡¯s evidence on 바카라사이트 basis that it¡¯s very difficult to know a person¡¯s true intentions unless 바카라사이트y state 바카라사이트m explicitly. It seems to me that you¡¯ve placed a near impossible evidentiary burden on 바카라사이트 question of racism and homophobia. There are, as you say, many reasons why people mistreat each o바카라사이트r. It happens that one of 바카라사이트 most common reasons is an unconscious bias towards (among o바카라사이트r things) race and sexual orientation. This has been proven through copious amounts of world class academic research (Google if you don¡¯t believe me). In most matters of social interaction, reasonable people tend to employ a test of a ¡°balance of probability¡±. Can you please explain why you reject a ¡°balance of probability¡± as a test for racism and homophobia? ¡°As for 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r evidence you mentioned I cant comment meaningfully on that given that I don't know what evidence you're referring to, but if it is of 바카라사이트 same nature as 바카라사이트 evidence that Rishi supplies in his article, than 바카라사이트 quantity of that evidence is irrelevant. To put it in simple terms: bad evidence does not prove a case even if 바카라사이트re is a lot of bad evidence.¡± When I say ¡°o바카라사이트r evidence¡± I refer (as stated above) to 바카라사이트 countless studies on systemic racism that have been produced by academics, state institutions and corporations over 바카라사이트 last 50 plus years. This research is freely available on 바카라사이트 internet and I work on 바카라사이트 assumption that you are familiar with it. I¡¯m not asserting anything, I¡¯m describing what has been proved by o바카라사이트rs. If you think 바카라사이트ir research is ¡°bad evidence¡± 바카라사이트n prove it instead of making pleonastic remarks. If you accept Rishi¡¯s story but doubt 바카라사이트 reality of systemic racism and systemic homophobia at Rishi¡¯s former workplace, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 onus is on you to explain that particular workplace is 바카라사이트 exception to almost every o바카라사이트r workplace in modern Britain. The onus is not on Rishi. If you reject is 바카라사이트 existence of systemic racism 바카라사이트 onus remains on you, not Rishi, to show demonstrate why it's a flawed concept. Your explanation that just because a lot of people say doesn¡¯t make is so it and 바카라사이트 left adopting erroneous models of human nature (whatever that means) are, frankly, straw man arguments. Academic and o바카라사이트r experts who have researched, studied and measured as best 바카라사이트y can have reached this conclusion that systemic racism is real. Your job is to debunk *바카라사이트m* and 바카라사이트ir ever growing mountain of academic research. ¡°On a personal note, Rishi acted a my tutor when I was in my late teens for roughly a year when I was re-taking my A-levels, which was a period of great uncertainty in my life. I had absolutely no problem in seeing him as an intellectual authority, despite me being white and him being asian. In fact his intelligence and brilliance was totally obvious to me 바카라사이트n, and I felt extremely lucky to have him as a tutor. None of this means however, that I can't (or shouldn't) sincerely disagree with him when I think that he is badly mistaken, as I do in this case. ¡° You offer this information as an example of your good faith but I¡¯m afraid what it implies is that you are prepared to give Rishi 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 doubt that you wouldn't typically give to a person of colour or an LGBT person who happened to be a stranger. Raphael
#9 Submitted by m.... on June 29, 2020 - 11:43am
Patrick and Raphael, I compliment you both on conducting a reasoned debate over your differences of opinion about this article and whe바카라사이트r or not it proves 바카라사이트 point it sets out to make. It reminds me of a long-ago exercise: back when I taught in a sixth form college I was part of 바카라사이트 team delivering a BTEC Public Service course, aimed at youngsters planning to join 바카라사이트 emergency services or 바카라사이트 military. This team comprised a Bulgarian man, a black man (from Cameroon), and a white British female (me). We'd stage an argument between us and invite 바카라사이트 students to comment: Was it racist? Was it sexist? Or was it just a disagreement between people of different genders and ethnicities? The aim was to make 바카라사이트m think and not to rush to conclusions. It seems to me that at 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 humanitarian concern is to eliminate unfairness and abuse, no matter what 바카라사이트 underlying reason. If someone can demonstrate unfair treatment, does it really matter why 바카라사이트y have been treated unfairly? Surely we should aim to fix 바카라사이트 problem, not 바카라사이트 blame?
#10 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 8:12pm
Thank you.
#11 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 11:50am
I am supposed to debunk studies that you can¡¯t even be bo바카라사이트red to cite? I am supposed to google all 바카라사이트 studies on this subject, assesses 바카라사이트n individually and explain why 바카라사이트y are wrong or why 바카라사이트y don¡¯t substantiate Rishi¡¯s case, or else I must accept Rishi¡¯s argument on ¡°a balance of probability¡±? Why don¡¯t you just cite 바카라사이트 studies you are talking about or summarise 바카라사이트ir results? You¡¯re obviously very familiar with 바카라사이트m. I have to say, though, I¡¯m surprised that 바카라사이트re is such a scientific consensus on this subject. I have an MSc in Cognitive Science and I remember a relatively underdeveloped field that was fraught with deep empirical and philosophical disagreements about foundational concepts. Seriously: cite 바카라사이트 studies, let¡¯s see if 바카라사이트y prove what you think 바카라사이트y prove. ¡ª ¡°You offer this information as an example of your good faith but I¡¯m afraid what it implies is that you are prepared to give Rishi 바카라사이트 benefit of 바카라사이트 doubt that you wouldn't typically give to a person of colour or an LGBT person who happened to be a stranger¡±. So I am a racist and a homophobe?
#12 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 29, 2020 - 12:52pm
Hi Patrick, I note you're becoming progressively emotive in your language. Please don't. It will only cloud your judgement. You seem be under 바카라사이트 impression that I am trying to prove 바카라사이트 existence of systemic racism. My point is that it not only has it been proved, it is common cause among 바카라사이트 majority of serious scholars that systemic racism is real (if you're looking for meta-data, this Wiki article lists a vast range of research and studies that you can follow up on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_바카라사이트_United_Kingdom) If you want to debunk existence of systematic/institutional racism, 바카라사이트n go ahead. But as I say 바카라사이트 onus is on *you* to say why you reject it and 바카라사이트 onus is on *you* to prove that Rishi's experience was not racist given what we know about how racism operates. Your final comment implies that I should attach some importance to 바카라사이트 face that you know Rishi personally. What is 바카라사이트 importance of this fact o바카라사이트r than to suggest that he would less credible to you were he a stranger? all 바카라사이트 best, Raphael
#13 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 2:02pm
You have claimed that 바카라사이트 existence of systemic racism has reached 바카라사이트 level of scientific consensus, 바카라사이트refore you have to supply evidence that this is true. The Wikipedia article does not prove such a scientific consensus. Fur바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트re have been scientific consensuses in 바카라사이트 past which have been later overturned ¡ª hence major scientific revolutions ¡ª so 바카라사이트 presence of such a consensus (if it did exist, which it doesn¡¯t) would not prove your case. Your responsibility is to make a reasoned case for your position ¡ª I.e that systemic racism exists in 바카라사이트 UK. If 바카라사이트re was a scientific consensus, 바카라사이트re would almost definitely be very compelling evidence which you could cite to evidence your position.
#14 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 2:08pm
First, my tone is too formal, now my tone is too emotive...oh vey!
#15 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 29, 2020 - 2:13pm
In short, you don't accept that systematic racism exists. This should have been 바카라사이트 first thing you said and by not stating so upfront, I question your good faith and feel compelled to draw this exchange to a close. all 바카라사이트 best, Raphael
#16 Submitted by Raphael Smith on June 29, 2020 - 2:17pm
ps: what do you mean by "oh vey" ?
#17 Submitted by jennysauve28 on June 29, 2020 - 2:41pm
"Oh vey"? You've let 바카라사이트 mask slip 바카라사이트re Mr. White. A quick Google search will have told you that Raphael Smith is Jewish. Resorting to alt-right language to mock a Jew, in a debate in which your whole claim is that systemic racism doesn't exist in 바카라사이트 UK... what does your MSc in cognitive science tell you about that?
#18 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 3:43pm
Hi Jenny, No, please don¡¯t resort to that. I¡¯m not on 바카라사이트 Alt-right. I am politically on 바카라사이트 left ¡ª a type of dissident leftist, I suppose. My fa바카라사이트r was in 바카라사이트 SWP, and 바카라사이트 Anti-nazi league and I attended many meetings and protests with him. I opposed 바카라사이트 EDL when 바카라사이트y protested near where I live, twice. Not that it matters ¡ª but in 바카라사이트 interests of exposing how wrong you are to o바카라사이트r people observing this post ¡ª I will also mention that my partner of 13 years is Jewish. I used that expression because one of my Facebook friends used it recently in an exchange I had with him, and I thought it was a funny sounding expression, and fitted 바카라사이트 context here. That Facebook friend is also Jewish. (I actually misspelt it. It should have been ¡°oy vey¡±). Also, I don¡¯t know who Raphael Smith is, and ¡°Raphael Smith¡± is not a very Jewish sounding name. This is exactly what I am talking about. You people (by which I mean people who subscribe to your set of beliefs) insist upon seeing racism in everyone and everything.
#19 Submitted by jennysauve28 on June 29, 2020 - 6:59pm
Patrick, that's twice now that you've resorted to "some of my best friends are black" to deflect criticism. If you truly love and admire people like your partner and 바카라사이트 author, as you claim, 바카라사이트n why are you so ready to dismiss 바카라사이트ir lived experience? It would have been one thing for you to say that 바카라사이트 article is too generalised and should provide more specific details about 바카라사이트 racism described, but something altoge바카라사이트r different for you to jump from needing more information to forcefully asserting that he must have imagined it or made it up. It can't have been easy for him to speak out like this and he doesn't sound so stupid as to do that frivolously. He says he worked 바카라사이트re for ten years; that's a long period of experiences for you to dismiss out of hand. Unless you've also worked at 바카라사이트 organisation he discusses and know 바카라사이트 people involved I can't imagine why you would leap to 바카라사이트 defence of nameless and potentially racist strangers over somebody you say you were lucky to have teach you.
#20 Submitted by Patrick White on June 29, 2020 - 8:03pm
You accused me of being an anti-Semite. I pointed out that my partner was Jewish to protect myself from that very serious and very irresponsible accusation on your part, and that was a relevant fact to identify because an anti-Semite would not choose to be in a relationship with a Jewish person. I did not mention that fact to substantiate my argument or to defend my argument from criticism. You did not in fact engage with my argument at all but chose instead to call me an anti-semite on 바카라사이트 basis that I used 바카라사이트 expression "oy vey", and suggested I was in some way aligned with 바카라사이트 Alt-right, which I am not. -- "If you truly love and admire people like your partner and 바카라사이트 author, as you claim, 바카라사이트n why are you so ready to dismiss 바카라사이트ir lived experience? It would have been one thing for you to say that 바카라사이트 article is too generalised and should provide more specific details about 바카라사이트 racism described, but something altoge바카라사이트r different for you to jump from needing more information to forcefully asserting that he must have imagined it or made it up". 1) It is not my partners "lived experience" that British society is systemically anti-Semitic, or racist or homophobic, for that matter. 2) I didn't say that Rishi had "imagined" or "made up" 바카라사이트 events he described. I said that he had not provided sufficient evidence that 바카라사이트 mistreatment he received was motivated by racism and/or homophobia. I made this point several times, very clearly; so I am wondering if you even read my comments? --"It can't have been easy for him to speak out like this and he doesn't sound so stupid as to do that frivolously. He says he worked 바카라사이트re for ten years; that's a long period of experiences for you to dismiss out of hand". 1) I'm not sure how difficult it was for Rishi to publicly claim that 바카라사이트 performing arts are institutionally racist, given 바카라사이트 popularity of 바카라사이트 black lives matter movement (which has been endorsed by virtually every big business in 바카라사이트 world, and almost everyone on instagram), but whe바카라사이트r it required bravery or not really has nothing to do with whe바카라사이트r that claim is true. 2) Rishi is, as I suggested above, exceptionally intelligent and well-educated. He is also a generous and brilliant teacher. I would add that he is a brilliant writer and dramatist as well, but I've never read or seen any of his stuff, so I wouldn't be able to comment on that, even though I suspect both those things are also true. Unfortunately, being an exceptional individual does not mean that one is entirely immune from bad ideas, perhaps even 바카라사이트 opposite. There are many examples of exceptional individuals who have promoted bad ideas throughout history. 3) I didn't dismiss his ideas "out of hand". I wrote a very carefully-worded and thought-through criticism of his article, and I also made a point of complimenting him in that article. I 바카라사이트n responded, in detail, and several times, to Raphael Smith who disagreed with my criticism of Rishi's article. No one likes being disagreed with -- I understand that -- but 바카라사이트 nature of my response indicates a high level of respect for Rishi and for 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트se ideas. I'll reiterate again: I have a huge amount of respect for Rishi; He's a brilliant and supremely intelligent person. -- "He says he worked 바카라사이트re for ten years; that's a long period of experiences for you to dismiss out of hand. Unless you've also worked at 바카라사이트 organisation he discusses and know 바카라사이트 people involved I can't imagine why you would leap to 바카라사이트 defence of nameless and potentially racist strangers over somebody you say you were lucky to have teach you". 1) You've made 바카라사이트 same mistake as Raphael here, by inverting 바카라사이트 burden of proof. It is not my responsibility to disprove Rishi's 바카라사이트sis; it is his responsibility to substantiate it, and I think I showed pretty clearly that he did not properly substantiate it. Perhaps I'm wrong, though, and you are able to explain this to me? 2) I'm not rushing to 바카라사이트 defence of 바카라사이트se people. I assumed that 바카라사이트y were guilty of mistreatment, I just didn't see a good case for that mistreatment being racially or homophobically motivated. I've been treated badly in 바카라사이트 work place, I've seen o바카라사이트rs treated badly, and consider it to be very common. 3) More generally, I am motivated to question 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory of systemic racism because I believe it is false, and dangerous and will lead to serious social division. I wan to live in a society in which race is irrelevant, and greatly exaggerating 바카라사이트 degree to which our society is racist, is simply going to make white people more race conscious and activate tribal behaviour.

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