We just spoke with a public high school teacher about this the other evening. She said that the kids throw the word “racist” around and use it in the wrong context. They refuse to think it through. Example: “One kid pointed out that another was white and Jewish. Another kids said, ‘that’s racist.’ The teacher pointed out that it is not racism to correctly identify someone without putting them down. The kid was truly white and truly Jewish, and nothing racist was intended by saying so, in the situation where it was brought up. The kids didn’t get it. It’s become a meaningless insult word and the kids just want to use it that way, without further thought.
For me it is just a complete misuse of the word. I openly admit I am biased. I am biased against A holes no matter their color or point of national origin.
Sadly, this has been happening for a long time. I remember a PSA in the 1970’s...an older man and a small boy:
“Grandpa, what’s prejudice?”
“Well, who is Timmy?”
“Timmy is one of my Jewish friends”
“See, that’s prejudice”