Posted by Mary on February 27, 1999 at 17:03:38:
In Reply to: IS IT REALLY RACIALISM OR IS IT US .... posted by JEFFREY on February 26, 1999 at 21:31:11:
Jeffrey,
You don't ask easy questions, do you?
Unfortunately, many people ask these same questions, but I still have never heard a proper response. Humans are quite complicated beings. We are given the alledged gifts of intelligence and reason, and we have yet to use these gifts to their full potential. And, unfortunately, even though many people use these gifts for good, too many people use the same gifts for evil. We call other animals 'dumb beasts', but those dumb beasts don't worry much about each other's color or where they were born.
I didn't realize that this was such a big issue in England right now but it has been an issue around where I live my whole life.
My favorite personal story of dealing with such nonsense is from when I was in the third grade. I had always been told that black people were bad and to never associate with them. I also never got an answer when I asked 'why'. When I started the third grade, our all white school finally opened it's doors to non-whites. Well, instead of doing what I was told (which I have never been very good at doing), I went up to the black kids and told them that I had been told not to play with them because they were black. They said they had also been told not to play with us because we were white. So, after a good laugh, we all decided that the adults were crazy and we bacame friends for life.
To this day, I find that I don't even seem to see in color. When people will make a reference to someone by their color, I always have to stop and think of what they are talking about. I have met many people from just about every background, and the only time I really even think of their color, nationality or whatever is when I want to learn more about their culture. And other than learning about how other people live, I still can't see what all of the fuss is about.
You are also very right that it is not just an issue of black and white. I have observed that for some very strange reason, people need to make themselves feel good by pointing out other's differences and making it seem that those differences are a bad thing. And, if you take away color as a difference, they would just find something else. And, if you kept taking away the differences, and the only difference between them and someone else was the color of their shirts, then they would find a way to say the other person was bad because they wore a blue shirt instead of a red one. Go figure.
Ok, now I guess I should get off of my soapbox before this turns into a novel.
Mary
: Is It Really Racialism Or Is It Us ............
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: At this time England is locked in debate over Racialism. Black and white as it is called, but there are many colours and creeds which fall into the category if it be a category at all.
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: I am of the opinion that those of us that are white, so called, are as guilty as those others of the accusation.
: Why is it that each time controversy over the black and white issue occurs, we so called whites are found to be lacking in respect and manners and normal behaviour?
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: I am ashamed for those that claim to be white, with self opinionated, clear cut prejudices which I suggest we all are guilty of, both black and white.
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: Within any nation there are those whom cause trouble for troubles sake and these people I personally abhor. Perhaps they have good reason to do so but seldom if so, do we hear of it.
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: It is indeed a very cruel world, however that gives none of us the selfish right to take the law into our own hands and behave as we wish.
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: Like it or not there are lines of behaviour that our self created social society demands. The crossing of these lines without authority is clearly wrong, and if we do so, then we should expect the penalties that go with such behaviour.
: Sad Jeffrey