wednes: (Default)
wednes ([personal profile] wednes) wrote2004-10-22 10:09 pm
Entry tags:

Your task is to find the joke in this post:

For some reason, H wanted to talk about rascism today. Not the vague sterotyping of race that is practically unavoidable in society, but that hate-filled, slur-spilling, loud kind of racsism of a true beleiver.

He wanted to know if I thought there was any "excuse" for rascism in adults, like say, they'd been victims of a crime or multiple crimes by a specific minority. I had to tell him that while I accept that everyone has baggage in life, there really is no reason for a rational, thinking person to hate a group of people based on the actions of a few. Sometimes people are prejudiced because they were taught that by their family. And if that's the case, their religion might even require that they honor the wishes of their elders. But you can't really order someone to hate someone else. Even Hitler relied on negative feelings already in place in Germany at that time. H didn't seem to think I had thought this thru, and that maybe rascists should be cut a bit more slack. But then, H is pretty even keeled about such things.

I decided that the reason I feel so strongly about this is simply because I am an American. I'm caucasian, and female and middle class. But none of those things speak to the whole of who I am. There are people in Europe who think all Americans watch and really, really love American Idol. Asian "america bars" have big haired blondes and people wearing cowboy hats and digging Bon Jovi. I assure you, none of those things have anything to do with me. Not all Christians support murdering doctors to stop abortions. I know how to spell the word "women" and don't feel the need to alter the spelling to remove the word "men" (as in "womyn", "wimmin" or worse yet "womben"). And since I demand to be treated as a unique individual, I think it's only right that I do my best to extend that courtesy to others. I'm not sure H would understand all that. After all, he's black.

Did anyone notice I switched mood themes today? Ah, ChartityCam...how you delight and amuse!

[identity profile] fflo.livejournal.com 2004-10-22 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's not forget the influence mass media have on us---particularly TV, and the ways people of color are depicted.

[identity profile] wednes.livejournal.com 2004-10-22 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Wait, there are people of color on TV?

I thought they just tap danced up and down stairs with Shirley Temple.