Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter 1
2. CONTENTS 5
3. Acknowledgements 9
4. PART ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK AND ITS AUTHORS
5. Suggested Readings 27
6. PART TWO NATIONALISM, RACISM, FUNDAMENTALISM, & TERRORISM
7. 1 “My country, right or wrong” Notorious motto of nationalistic jingoism 31
8. 2 “Everybody is a racist; it’s part of human nature” Fatalistic belief condoning the perpetuation of racial oppression 37
9. 3 “I’m not a racist, and nobody I know is either” A worthy statement which invites discussion of “colour-blindness 47
10. 4 “Immigrants are threatening our way of life” Centuries-old fear expressed about every new wave of immigration, even by members of the last wave of immigration 53
11. 5 “God is on our side” Common belief, usually held by “both” sides in armed conflict 59
12. 6 “Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists” A mind-numbingly ridiculous Hobson’s choice offered up by US President G.W. Bush, September 20, 2001 67
13. Suggested Readings 74
14. PART THREE COLONIALISM AND GLOBALIZATION
15. 7 “Third World poverty is the result of traditional values” First World conceits about “backward” societies 79
16. 8 “The USA promotes freedom throughout the world” America as saviour of the global community 87
17. 9 “Free markets pave the way for social development” The World Trade Organization as benign force for social good 95
18. Suggested Readings 102
19. PART FOUR POVERTY AND SOCIAL DISPOSSESSION
20. 10 “The Welfare State Rewards Laziness” The poor are different from “the rest of us” prejudice 107
21. 11 “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop” More myths about poverty 113
22. 12 “Indians shouldn’t have any special rights” Belief that aboriginal peoples are “just another minority group” 121
23. 13 “If unemployed people can’t find jobs, they should start their own businesses” Anachronistic view concerning “individual responsibility,” work, and the sanctity of small business enterprise 127
24. 14 “Recent trends toward falling living standards show that there are ‘natural limits’ to the expansion of human prosperity” Naturalistic explanation for why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer 133
25. 15 “The real culprit for the poverty gap (between rich and poor countries) is not uneven trade, but excessive population growth” Neo-Malthusian prejudice 137
26. Suggested Readings 141
27. PART FIVE SOCIAL CLASS
28. 16 “Class inequality is an inevitable feature of the human condition” Misanthropic belief that “There will always be a ruling class” 145
29. 17 “As a rule, the rich deserve their wealth” Corollary to the absurd notion that the poor deserve to be poor 151
30. 18 “A classless society in a complex and economically developed society is impossible; it is an unrealistic utopia” Excuse for gross social inequality amidst tremendous wealth and productive capacity 159
31. 19 “Most people belong to the middle class” Myth of the “Middle-Class Society” 165
32. Suggested Readings 175
33. PART SIX FEMINISM AND THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
34. 20 “Feminists are just ‘male bashers’” Misogynist notion representing a step up from “bra burners.” Better not to be thought of only for denouncing one’s underwear 179
35. 21 “Feminism is no longer relevant” Delusional statement by people who think women “have it all” 187
36. Suggested Readings 194
37. PART SEVEN HEALTH, SEXUALITY, AND REPRODUCTION
38. 22 “Doctor Knows Best” Dubious homespun advice encouraged by medical professionals everywhere 197
39. 23 “Modesty and virtue are the essence of femininity” Who needs genital mutilation, when ideology can cripple sexual fulfillment just as effectively? 203
40. 24 “Homosexuality is unnatural” Or, why my orgasm is better than yours 207
41. 25 “Abortion is murder” Anti-woman hysterical rhetoric of the anti-abortion movement 215
42. 26 “The family is a haven in a heartless world” The “family values” myth 223
43. Suggested Readings 230
44. PART EIGHT POLICING THE CULTURE OF PREJUDICE
45. 27 “Lock ’em up and throw away the key!” Expensive, inefficient, inhumane, and remarkably simple-minded solution to the modern “crime problem” 233
46. 28 “Just say ‘no’ to drugs” Or, why my drugs are okay and yours aren’t, as propounded by Nancy Reagan, Leading Lady to former actor and US President Ronald, c. 1980s 241
47. 29 “Support Your Local Police” Popular propaganda of dubious value to protesters of the Culture of Prejudice 251
48. 30 “In America, Justice is Blind” Myth of “Equality Before the Law” 257
49. Suggested Readings 264
50. PART NINE ECOLOGY AND ANIMAL LIBERATION
51. 31 “People come first” Conceits of anthropocentrism 267
52. 32 “Eating meat is natural” Preference defined as inevitability 271
53. 33 “Hunting is part of human nature” “Human nature” as a rationalization for the inhumane 279
54. Suggested Readings 284
55. PART TEN THE ECONOMY
56. 34 “When Corporations Win, Everyone Wins” Or, why big business is our saviour, as explained in a letter to the editor, The St. Catharines Standard, August 9, 1997 287
57. 35 “Unions are too powerful; they are detrimental to the economy” Anti-labour sentiment in a world dominated by big capital 295
58. Suggested Readings 302
59. PART ELEVEN POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY
60. 36 “He who says organization says oligarchy” The anti-democratic prejudices of Robert Michels 305
61. 37 “Radicalism of the Left and Right are Equally Deplorable” The “golden mean” prejudice 311
62. 38 “Vote for the candidate of your choice, but vote” The “democratic” prejudice 321
63. Suggested Readings 328
64. EPILOGUE “BLACK SEPTEMBER” AND THE CULTURE OF PREJUDICE 329
65. Glossary 337
66. Index 345