>Hi Peter,
>
>>>Hmmm, I'm confused? Why is the above discrimination? I don't get it. It is making remarks to an individual not a certain groups with same characteristics.
>>
>>Using the combination of 'black' and 'rat' is a clear indication. First, objectively this person is not a rat, so using that word is humiliating. Second, that he's (she?) black was likely already known and in that case needed no further emphasis. By combining it with rat, the humiliation also strikes black people in general. Compare:
>> "Hey, you black rat!"
>> "Hey, you rat!"
>> "Hey, you there!"
>>That it appears to be focussed to an individual rather than to a group is not a guarantee that it's not discrimination.
>
>>A non-discriminating person would never say "Hey, you black rat". Would you?
>
>Would you regard "You red (haired) rat" discrimination ? I would not. Insulting yes, but no discrimination. What makes the difference here ?? My wife comes from a red haired family and have had a lot of remarks like "Hé rooie, wanneer spring je op groen", of "Lelijke rooie heks", etc. Is this discrimination ? They never thought it was discrimination, but rather insulting. If I project this to "blacks" it suddenly becomes discrimination, Again can you point out the difference between red haired people and blacks ??

So, we agree yelling "hey, you black rat" is insulting, at the least. I think the reason why your wife doesn't regard "hey, red rat" discrimination, is because she does not experience discrimination due to having red hair in other aspects. But if there would be discrimination of red haired people, then she would probably also regard "hey, red rat" as discrimination. In other words, there is a socio-cultural context that influences whether it's only insulting or also discrimination.


>Again, from my POV I just can't see someone calling a "black rat", beeing discrimination, after all the guy was "Black" and the guy was regarded a "Rat" for not buying a ticket and running away when caught.
>
>Anyways, If I follow the rules of the dutch (or english) language I just can't come to the conclusion this is discriminating blacks. After all I did not say "All blacks are rats".
>
>Walter,
>BTW, IFAIK, I've never used phrases like the above,

And there's a reason why you haven't... :)