what it is. so is this racism? to assume that someone is an authority on hip hop if they're black? or to assume that someone's parents don't speak english if they're asian? or to assume that someone can't dance if they're white? or is that just stereotyping? which is, on the scale of these types of things, better. i mean, chances are, if you're chinese, your parents probably don't speak english that well. chances are, if you're black, you're a fan of hip hop. but that's just generalizing right? nothing harmful about that, not in the big scheme of things. then again, stereotypeing leads to racism leads to bad things. so nip the root in the bud?

is it racism to not want to sit in a "beaner mobile" because it's too embarassing? i heard a whole radio program about this issue yesterday, while i was driving down from LA. a marine didn't want to take a trip in his hispanic friend's car because it was a beaner mobile decorated with fuzzy dice and mexican flags. his concern was that his friends would think less of him because he rode around in a beaner mobile. i mean, he didn't have a problem being friends with a mexican, he just didn't want to ride in his car. applaud him for how far he's come? or hate him for not going far enough?

is it racist or funny when the only white person at a vietnamese restaurant gets handed a fork without even being asked for one? i've also had the reverse happen to me once. we got chopsticks and soy sauce put in front of us at an oyster bar. i was a bit put off until i realized we had just ordered the raw tuna. whoops.

is it racism to get extra large portions of orange chicken because you're chinese? what do you call racism that results positively? i mean, i may have gotten the extra chicken but the jewish guy behind me didn't, isn't that racist? do you give the extra orange chicken back because it's positive racism or do you eat it because it's free food? is "positive racism" oxymoronic?

while we're at it, is it sexist or common sense to try not to block a girl's shot? at least up to the point when you're in danger of being outplayed by her; which, for me, usually means about three minutes into a game. is it sexist to not tackle a girl as hard as you can? or once you step onto the field of battle, it's every man and woman for themselves?

is it racist to have american indian nicknames for our sports teams?