For purposes of this discussion, yes.
Okay, walk with me. The mainstream "white" population of France is Gallic, Gothic and Norman, of caucasian descent via petty feudal clashes and internecine squabbles dating back two thousand years. They are of tribes that have navigated 500 miles or less over a hundred generations. The mainstream "muslim" population of France is Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian... all of which were colonies of France prior to France failing the fuck out of Empire. They emigrated to France either as refugees from war or political strife (somewhere between 50k and 150k dead in Algeria alone) or to seek better opportunity upon the collapse of the French protectorates. Now. Let's say I call a Mexican a "beaner." Is that racist? I mean, Mexicans don't have to eat beans, do they? That's a cultural choice. And I'm not making fun of Haitians when I allude to their voodoo powers because that's religious. When my friends jew out on me and ask for their $5 back I mean, I'm not being racist because hey - they don't have to go to synagogue or anything, right? Except "jew" IS a race for purposes of ethnography. And the article I linked you suggests that according to the Census bureau, MENA is a race, albeit an even more cumbersomely named one than African American. And if I choose to punish the cultural practices of a race, I'm not being cultural, I'm being racist.
Pardon me, but ethnography, what is that? I never could distinguish between race, ethnicity, and er.. well, I think that's it. Do you have a good source that could help break it down for me? Appreciate it!
'k. Know how anthropology is the study of society and people who are either primitive or long gone? Ethnography is the study of society and people who you have to look in the eye and be polite to. Which is inside baseball, really. Know that most people are confused and that having an opinion guarantees that someone thinks you're wrong.
Whoa! Thanks! I like that explanation! The comic is awesome too. It really explained it well to me!