I disagree because there's nothing "intelligent" in finding a group of people repulsive based on looks or on having a different way of living life (whether it's Asian's or short, balding guys), and diminished contact with them doesn't make it anymore justifiable or reasonable...it's not a matter of it escalating to hate crimes all the time (because there you do have a point, it doesn't), it's more about basic human decency (not that I'm suggesting anything, I'm sure you're a perfectly decent person). It's about the golden rule of not treating others (or, in this case, seeing them, as you said you would talk to "individual ones" as they came up) as you wouldn't like to be treated or seen. Overall since you aren't being exactly hateful, I'd say it's more a matter of doing a disservice to yourself by only choosing to enjoy a groups cuisine yet not even caring for certain to know what they're supposed to be called. But you wrote this to make a point, so I wont say more than that...in the long run everyone will think like they will and I don't think this was written in such a rude matter for it to be worth getting truly worked up about.

But:
...just to make a point of my own and fyi...
"Mexican" is politically correct, because unlike calling someone a chink or the n-word, it identifies the country where people are from as opposed to their outward appearance.

So now you know :)

I find hardest thing about being a racist is convincing everyone else that your race is indeed superior in every way. There's always some bad apple or embarrassing incident some time in history they can refer to :)

I think the key difference with race prejudices against any other prejudice is that you can't help what color you are.  Redheads have a chance to dye their hair, guys can pull out nose piercings and people who swear can wash their mouth out with soap.  I think it's much like the way it's not "right" to make fun of someone with a handicap, they most likely had no choice in the say.

And another point is that, no, prejudices don't always lead to hate crimes, but they do lead to ignorant people who start to buy into those prejudices that aren't always accurate.

Nice post.

Most people have stereotypes of people anyways, it is usually engrained in their psyche by the way they were brought up.

I have a hard time with your logic, to me it seems you don't need to have predjudices to begin with, if you are going to accept the person as an individual anyways...isn't it just a waste of time?

You got a good point, friend. Hi, I am Sammie. I could not have put a finer point on that issue myself. You know, I wonder about those sort of issues myself. They are quite some issues to wonder about.

S.C.

I think the problem with racists is that most of them will NOT go and be friendly to the people they are prejudiced against. What you are describing are your preferences; you don't think that one race is inherently better or worse than another, you just have preferences. Racism is very different from preferences. Prejudice can involve assuming there are "binding characteristics" where there aren't any; a stereotype so-to-speak. Prejudices don't ALWAYS lead to hate-crimes, but sometimes they do, so how about people just start opening their minds and getting to know the people they are ignorant/scared of.

Very nice point.:)

This is probably one of the best posts I've read here in a long time...

Good post... I think it's all kind of ridiculous too. Half the time people want to be seen as different for where they are from and the other half of the time you point it out they get offended. Make up your mind. 

In my opinion, the issue of racism has become something rooted deep in our past. The fact that our society today seems to love its controversy doesn't really help the fact that the horribleness (is that a word?) of racism is emphasized over and over and over again...
It kind of reminds me of stereotypes that just don't go away. They start out completely serious and offensive and eventually thin out into silly jokes--but the background is there nonetheless...
Sure, it's still an issue, because some people live in the past, and others, like yourself, aren't exposed to experiencing other races firsthand--but really, it's not a big deal anymore. The world has grown and changed--the great majority of us is aware of how equal yet diverse everyone can be together, and things have finally started working out fine.
We've got bigger, more important issues to deal with, and most of us realize that we've got to let go of prejudices to deal with them. It's the choices we make as individuals that really matter--our opinions regarding things "in general" is, well, just that, a generalization.
So basically, just like stupid stereotypes, racism to me isn't an issue I regard with much importance. Sure, it should just not exist--but what's the world without conflict?
And anyway, what is there that we can do in a society that, whether it makes it obvious or not, encourages conformity.
We live in a society that defines it's people when truly it should be the individuals that define their society.

@hubbaduh - Bingo! 

That's what I'm saying. I think people confuse racism with close-mindedness. I think everyone holds some prejudice in them. People won't admit it because they don't want to lose face. Some things are just better left unsaid. I wrote an entry with similar points. I even ended it on the same note.