Got to disagree. I consider myself completely devoid of racism, but claim no credit for same, as it was just never taught to me. Neither of my parents is at all racist, and I wasn't even aware that it existed until I was nearing my teens. When I first heard the "n" word, I thought it was somehow related to tigers, because the first time I heard it was in the that "got you by the toe" kid's thing, and I'd only heard that with tigers before. When it was finally explained to me, I was more baffled than upset at first. Many of my bestfriends were of all kinds of races, as they were my Mom's friend's children. I had the hardest time figuring out why it was skin color alone, and not hair or eye color. It should be noted that my Mom was an artist, so her circles were more liberated and archaically influenced, at least on the surface where a little boy would see them. As I got older, into my early teens, my Dad was doing his PhD, and part of it was on subliminal racism. He had me pouring over works like Native Son and Buried My Heart at Wounded Knee so I would understand elements of racism to which I'd never been directly exposed. When I got old enough to see it first hand, in more than a superficial way ( which, when encountered previously seemed to me as confusing as when we see something like a Freemason's ritual from the Victoian Era now; full of words and actions which were obviously important to those involved, but from the outside appearing bizarre and incomprehensible) I felt more and more general pain that humans could look at one another whith such a need to differentiate, with such a desire to blame or make themselves feel better that they would key on skin color or accents, elemtns I had always seen as adding to, not taking away from my existence. My experiences of living part of the year in Canada and part in the US also brought home the extreme differences. Some might suggest that in Canada it's merely below the surface, and I'm sure that's true of some, but if it's true of many, it fools most people of minorities I know who come here from the States. The most common comment I hear is how relaxed they feel, and how much of a non-issue it is here. But I bartended in our version of Little Italy, and there, among the regulars, it was very common. WHen I made it plain that I wasn't interested in the extreme, they moderated their language, and rationalized their jokes, etc., but I knew they felt that they were having to be P.C., and it wasn't genuine, for the most part. ( I initally objected by trying to be subtle, which sort of worked. Someone was making a...I think it was black joke, but it could have been Pakistani, etc. They saw my reaction and asked what was the problem. I said that I was part black, or whatever. They immediately apologized, etc. and asked if I was serious. I said no, not that I was aware of but what if I was; what would that change, me, or the joke. I think they sort of got it, but it was an uneasy truce from then on. Anyways, am sort of rambling here, but the point is, if I am just fooling myself about my racism, or my mother's or father's, it is complete, and in spite of years of reflection and contrary to my childish reactions to same, before I'd have been effected by a societal guilt. I am sure that there are many, many people like my family out there, so I feel it's a disservice, and something of a cop-out to racists to say that everyone is one to some degree.
Arabs blame Jews for everything - Saudi Arabia's leader is officially blaming this weekends attacks on foreigners on Zionist plots.
Until people are forced into a situation such as this, they cannot truely understand how being on the receiving end feels. And I'm not talking about going to a club or party. I'm talking about being in an extended situation outside of your normal environement. If you have ever done that, imagine how it would feel if you could never return home? Yes, people play the race card. As Malcom X, said: "The chickens will come home to roost." The reality is that America created its own racism problem with blacks. I cringe when people inappropriately play the card because it undermines the cause. But America created the problem and now has the deal with it. Whining about "playing the card" hurts your credibility because it displays insensitivity. Proactively doing something about it to fix the underlying problem DOES help.
Uprising, Are you still going? The US ambassador just recommended that all Americans leave Saudia Arabia. Your choice.
Thanks for the be careful talk. I know. I have been reading about it. It is just sickening what some readicalists would do. I have been flying back and forth since 1989. Things were so nice there back then before the radical movement led by UBL. The Saudi Gov. is doing a lot to make it safer. They do have road blocks like every 4 min down main highways. They consist of a number of patrol cards, about 6 or so men and normaly a humvee or pickup with a gigantic mounted machine gun on the back. They are doing what they can to make it safer. I read an article today that had a number of quotes from a Prince who was urging his people (Saudis) to do what they can to help protect foreigners. Since he claims we are all there to help the Saudi Economy, and if we should all leave it would drastically hurt the economy. (I don't think his speech would have too much influence, or change) But it is good to hear things from Saudis saying things such as the mutilation of the American body and the killing of the 8 foriegners is Un-Islamic. (The terrorists drove a vehicle with the dragging body behind it to a Saudi school where they yelled things like god is great, god is great, and that the kids should join the fight in Falluja (sp?), and said the body behind the car was the US President) These are all things I read in articles today, and after the guys yelled that some kids spoke to the media saying that it was un-islamic. Just terrible what those guys did..... anyways. I sort of got off topic there....
KKK parades and rallies aren't really that scary, and are definitely not as scary as Black Panther rallies. I'd have to say that Black Panthers and neo-Nazi/Aryan Nations are up there in the more militant feared racist groups. I guess it all depends on which side of the fence from which are looking.
Yeah, I heard the US ambassador Oberwetter met with Americans in a Holiday In in yanbu today. He did say that he urges Americans to leave the country, becuase they (USA) can not guarrantee our safety. As it stands right now, I am still heading out to the middle east. I am waiting to see if anything else develops till the day I fly.
Actually, I am heading to saudi to visit my parents who are currently Expats there. Also, I will be working with the recreation division of Saudi Aramco. In the dhahran location. My father is a web developer for Saudi Aramco. He has been for 15 years. I just hope this place settles down again. It was reasonably quiet for almost a year until the recent attacks in Riyahd and Yanbu. The last attacks were in May 2003 where 58 people were killed in numerous attacks on compounds. The Saudis have really stepped up their anti terrorism movement. They have captured many terrorists in the last year where they stopped them before they attacked. They have foiled a number of planned attacks.
. . the victims of it just have to wait . . .. if they not around when it is equal . . .well .. .. Rocket River
It was only a matter of time before McDonald's swiped pages from the tobacco industry's playbook. Soon they'll bring out some custom flavored lines to go along with their selective targeting.
OK... perhaps I am reflecting my own origins, having grown up in East Texas during the 1960-70's... Maybe instead of saying everybody's a racist, I should say that every American has to make a choice to recognize the culture and fight against it or not. From your post, I would argue that you do deserve credit for making the right choice. I do have hope in the sense that with each generation, it seems a little better.
