QUOTE (boobu @ Aug 29 2010, 10:35 PM)

actually, that argument is rediculous in light of the history especially. again, only crazies would want to associate with those who have oppressed, enslaved and abused them or people who have no sense of real identity or pride.
by your logic, countries have no right to borders since it's not up to everyone's approval. within country or not is relative regarding segregation. it would be different if they were segregating or separating family members (which they did in times of slavery).
people wanting to segregate themselves 'from' you or others is what you are absurdly insinuating is morally wrong. you are using wording in a way to present it as if it was an intrusive act when it wasn't.
I don't know how crazy they were, but there's only so much crap you can take before you say, "Screw it. I ain't sittin at the back of the bus no more."
I'm talking segregation within one country, among people of one nationality. Black Americans, being American citizens, should legally have the same rights and privileges as their white counterparts in the US.
You can't call out foreign administrators for not letting you into their country. They have a right to refuse entry. But white, black or Asian, if you're an American citizen, you're an American citizen. When you can't even enter certain
public domains within your country on account of your race, that's messed up.
The problem with racial segregation as it happened in the US was that it was directly discriminatory towards minorities. Blacks weren't allowed in "white only" diners, but if a white man wanted to be served at a black diner, you bet the people there would have had to serve him.
That said, it wasn't just about white people wanting to stay away from blacks... because they didn't even do that. The whole point of it was not just to keep the races separate, but also to keep blacks from becoming real Americans so whites could keep the best of America for themselves.
If the African Americans themselves agreed to build their own towns and facilities and create their own space (segregation by choice), that would have been better. They can obtain their materials and make their own spaces to the best of their abilities. It's not just whites throwing them scraps or them doing unnecessary and costly work just because the white people told them to.
I wasn't disagreeing with your idea that people should be able to segregate if they want to.
Segregation as it happened in America, though, was hypocritical and unfair.