[KathyM]

Why is it when a respected white person competes with a respected person of color, he/she finds the need to refer to his opponent as an animal. For example, "I saw the opportunity, so I tagged him" (hunting reference), and references to branding cattle (ownership).

Why do so many supposedly intelligent white people see brown people as animals? If they didn't believe it, they wouldn't be saying it. As they say, "you can't throw up what you haven't swallowed."

Maybe it is competition more generally that brings out the hunting and analogies (regardless of race or gender). Just a thought...

I have never heard those references, but I have heard plenty of awful remarks in place of that, so I can empathize with what you are feeling. Where are you from? Maybe the references you are talking about are specific to a certain area? Just wondering...

[KathyM]

I'd like to believe that, but what I've seen so far in competition between two people of the same race for the job - they refer to themselves as warriors or professional boxers, not animals.

IMO, if you have to fight dirty, you don't deserve the prize. Only the most vicious and deceitful person wins, not the best one for the job.

I can't think of a single instance when a respected white competitor was compared to an animal to be destroyed or owned. Can you?

[Doh2007]

Some people have been raised to be competitive rather than cooperative. They learn on the playgrounds to zero in on others' vulnerabilities. You can be sure that they hurt everyone, not just a particular race or culture (or gender).