What's wrong with being racist?

http://weblog.xanga.com/cotton_candy_confetti/670335948/whats-wrong-with-being-racist.html

This is a very interesting post from your typical "it's just my opinion, what's the problem?" kinda person.

So first, the difference between racism and prejudices is merely a matter of degree. Racism are prejudices that serve as the foundation for hate. Racists hate an entire group of people based on a shared characteristic that leads them to believe that the entire group acts or behaves in the same way. All Black people are violent. All Mexicans are dirty. All Middle Eastern people are terrorists. This is absolutely dangerous because it leads to conflict based not on the issues and facts at hand, but a generalization that may or may not hold true. The conflict that may have risen between a set of individuals is spread out between the two groups simply because it is assumed that individuals who share some characteristic with the feuding parties all MUST act the same way. That's what creates hate groups like the KKK.

Prejudices are the generalizations that one maintains against an entire group of people. These generalizations may not lead to hate, but they are still dangerous because they create different sets of expectations and define the prejudiced person's actions towards individuals who belong to those groups. If all Asians are smart, than an Asian person who gets a "C" in math or science is seen as failing because that person didn't meet the expectation that they had no control in setting. If all Black men are supposed to be good at basketball, then a Black man who doesn't get a spot on the team or just rides the bench for most games is seen as a poor player because he failed to meet the expectations they he had no control in setting. Some people say that they can overcome their prejudices and meet people as individuals, which is a great thing. However, it seems odd that they can meet individuals who don't meet their prejudices and still maintain them...

On a more serious note...I WANT A TATTOO! I'm thinking of getting Quan The Am (http://www.indigenouspeople.net/Spirituality/Mysticenter/quan_yin.jpg) or Phat Di Lac (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2673701860_ce8ca7b47a.jpg?v=0) on my shoulder blade. Thoughts?