On Racism and Stereotyping

I was part of a discussion today on my Facebook was on the topic of racism and stereotyping. I made a comment about the new "We are a culture, not a costume" campaign that is out right now. It's purpose is to raise awareness of racism, in this case, in the form of Halloween costumes (though it's meant to be all-encompassing, not just restricted to costumes). Here is an example of one of the posters:

While I believe that racism has no place in our society (or indeed any), and I understand what they're trying to say, I find that the campaign is a little ridiculous. I think that dressing as someone from a different culture (such as a geisha or gangster) is no different than dressing as a someone from our own culture (like a hippie or a cowboy). It's a stereotype, yes. It runs the risk of being in bad taste, yes. But is it insulting or damaging? Most likely, no.

I mean, if I see someone dressed as Bob or Doug MacKenzie (stereotypical Canadian), I don't feel like that's an insult to my culture!

I like to think that we, as a culture, are able to look beyond the stereotype and not judge based on race or religion. Do look at every Asian and think they're a ninja, or at every black person and assume they're a thug, or at every Southern American and think they're a redneck? OF COURSE NOT! But is it funny when someone dresses as a ghetto baby-mamma, or as a pugilistic Irishman? HECK YES!

Of course, there's the whole issue of "Well, we can parody our own race/culture, but nobody else is allowed to." And I'm just not gonna do there, because I'll just get frustrated.

Here's the thing that bugs me, though. In our ultra-PC society, if I admit that I like stereotype humour, I'm a racist. It doesn't matter that I don't judge people based on their background. The fact that I don't see the issue in someone dressing as a geisha apparently makes me racist now.

So now I feel bad. I try to logic my way around it, but I'm blocked at every turn by our society's PC views.

I just don't understand. Why restrict Halloween costumes to what's "appropriate for your race"? Isn't that another form of racism? Where's the harm in dressing up as a samurai because it's cool? Or as a geisha because it's beautiful? Or as a viking because you get to wear big horns? Or even as something a little edgier like a Nazi soldier or suicide bomber as a joke, or to get a rise out of your friends? Though I admit, that's pushing the envelope... I'd even go so far as to say that a most cultural costumes fall into two categories: tribute or joke. So what's the big deal?

Have we as a society become so suspicious and and distrusting of others that someone who dresses as someone from another race/culture for Halloween or a fancy dress party is automatically ridiculing them? Seriously. Take a chill pill.

Where does this all lead me? To feeling like all my friends think I'm a racist now, dammit! Just because our society is too afraid of hurting someone's feelings to take a joke. *sigh*

Thank goodness I'm dressing as someone from my OWN culture this Halloween or else I'd be really screwed...