> I've been steeped in the doctrine of not emphasizing things like skin colour over almost anything else
Regardless, much of the world does emphasize it; there is a lot of racism going on. I hear white people in the US express it with some regularity, especially in the last few years. In Internet forums (not HN) you can find it quite a bit. Should black and brown people pretend it's not happening? How should it be addressed if we can't talk about it?
> reignite conflict
Conflict seems obviously ignited for awhile, especially in the last few years.
> to improve their own and their groups perspectives to the detriment of the rest of society
I think that perspective is fundamental to racism: We are divided into groups based on skin color. Certainly some people divide us that way (see my first comment, above), but if we look at each other as humans, and that skin color means little (except for racism), then we see fellow humans seeking fairness and justice. That isn't a detriment to me - I want fairness and justice for all (of course) and those things are not competitions - in fact, less of it for you means less of it for me.
Regardless, much of the world does emphasize it; there is a lot of racism going on. I hear white people in the US express it with some regularity, especially in the last few years. In Internet forums (not HN) you can find it quite a bit. Should black and brown people pretend it's not happening? How should it be addressed if we can't talk about it?
> reignite conflict
Conflict seems obviously ignited for awhile, especially in the last few years.
> to improve their own and their groups perspectives to the detriment of the rest of society
I think that perspective is fundamental to racism: We are divided into groups based on skin color. Certainly some people divide us that way (see my first comment, above), but if we look at each other as humans, and that skin color means little (except for racism), then we see fellow humans seeking fairness and justice. That isn't a detriment to me - I want fairness and justice for all (of course) and those things are not competitions - in fact, less of it for you means less of it for me.