Is this bigotry per se?

[DRSB]

"Despite sanctions and trade embargoes, over the past decade the United States government has allowed American companies to do billions of dollars in business with Iran and other countries blacklisted as state sponsors of terrorism, an examination by The New York Times has found."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/world ... ral&src=me

[JOZeldenrust]

Why would this be bigotry? It's just stupid. I'm all for doing business in Iran, but not with the Iranian government. Getting money into the Iranian treasury means aiding the oppression of the Iranian people. Getting money into the pocket of the Iranian people means aiding their emancipation.

[klr]

Why would this be bigotry? It's just stupid. I'm all for doing business in Iran, but not with the Iranian government. Getting money into the Iranian treasury means aiding the oppression of the Iranian people. Getting money into the pocket of the Iranian people means aiding their emancipation.

Well ... in theory, yes. But I presume there is an Iranian equivalent of corporation tax. And (taking a wild punt on this one) I suspect that the level of state ownership in the Iranian economy is rather high in the first place.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I think you might mean hypocrisy, Deersbee.

[JOZeldenrust]

Why would this be bigotry? It's just stupid. I'm all for doing business in Iran, but not with the Iranian government. Getting money into the Iranian treasury means aiding the oppression of the Iranian people. Getting money into the pocket of the Iranian people means aiding their emancipation.

Well ... in theory, yes. But I presume there is an Iranian equivalent of corporation tax. And (taking a wild punt on this one) I suspect that the level of state ownership in the Iranian economy is rather high in the first place.

Yes, there is, and yes, it is. I didn't say it was easy. The Baseej control a very large portion of Iran's heavy industry. That's a big part of the problem for the Iranian people.

[JOZeldenrust]

I think you might mean hypocrisy, Deersbee.

That would make more sense. Yes, it's hypocritical. It's also harmful.

[maiforpeace]

It is total hypocrisy, and it's shameful. There isn't one part of our government that isn't compromised by big business. We give them tax breaks while they continue to reap billions, let our jobs go overseas, and our treasury approves that corporations do business with black listed countries. Why should we be surprised?

The almighty dollar is our god.

[Ian]

It is total hypocrisy, and it's shameful. There isn't one part of our government that isn't compromised by big business. We give them tax breaks while they continue to reap billions, let our jobs go overseas, and our treasury approves that corporations do business with black listed countries. Why should we be surprised?

The almighty dollar is our god.

Nicely put.

(I'm not sure where the word "bigotry" applies though.)

[DRSB]

I think you might mean hypocrisy, Deersbee.

That would make more sense. Yes, it's hypocritical. It's also harmful.

Yes, I mean hypocrisy, thought "bigotry" meant partially the same thing, I've come across the word in this sense, plus, it has a religious connotation and God is big in US.

[Trolldor]

Yes, I mean hypocrisy, thought "bigotry" meant partially the same thing, I've come across the word in this sense, plus, it has a religious connotation and God is big in US.

No.

[DRSB]

Yes, I mean hypocrisy, thought "bigotry" meant partially the same thing, I've come across the word in this sense, plus, it has a religious connotation and God is big in US.

No.

No to what? "The origin of the word bigot and bigoterie (bigotry) in English dates back to at least 1598, via Middle French, and started with the sense of "religious hypocrite". Forms of bigotry may have a related ideology or world views." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry
Anyway, interesting article!

[Trolldor]

1598

Just... no.

[Meekychuppet]

Bigotry? It's the American Dream.

[JimC]

In the modern sense, bigotry usually involves an unreasoning predjudice against a group of people for racial, ethnic, religious or other irrational reasons. There may be some underlying hypocrisy in the mind of a bigoted person, but it is not necesssarily connected to bigotry per se. One can be hypocritical without being bigoted. It would be grossly hypocritical of me to urge people not to drink alcohol, but I am not bigoted against non-imbibers...

[DRSB]

In the modern sense, bigotry usually involves an unreasoning predjudice against a group of people for racial, ethnic, religious or other irrational reasons. There may be some underlying hypocrisy in the mind of a bigoted person, but it is not necesssarily connected to bigotry per se. One can be hypocritical without being bigoted. It would be grossly hypocritical of me to urge people not to drink alcohol, but I am not bigoted against non-imbibers...

I see, thanks!