"John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:4185BA74.4040407@yahoo.com...
> FreddieN wrote:
> >
> > I don't believe that racism and bigotry has anything to to with
> > genes. Nor do I believe that people make any deliberate attempt to
> > become racists and bigots. With few exceptions, I think that most
> > people become that way through either the surrounding culture which
> > either encourages or condones such thinking, or through events which
> > have occured in a persons life that at the least gives rise to sharp
> > bigoted thinking and at worst trauma from which one can suffer for
> > years.
> >
> If you have such a strong desire for revenge, join the military and
> you'll at least have the possibility of doing something. Otherwise
> you're just sitting around complaining.

Are you also just sitting around bitching, John? So am I.

> > I was in Manhattan on Tuesday September 11, 2001. Forgive me if I am
> > not a model of tolerance.
> >
> So? There are thousands of young muslims who have been killed or had 
> their lives otherwise destroyed by the policies of the US and our 
> allies. By your definition of what justifies racism/prejudice they are 
> right to hate us. That puts us in a perpetual downward spiral of hatred.

I thought that Freddie was talking about determinism: all our choices 
and actions are causally determined.  The factors are, for example, 
inevitability, surroundings or environment, the past, and irresistible 
desires.

Masayuki
 
> John W.
>