Let's Acknowledge Racism and Understand What It Is

[Jcrowley]

Disapproving of the system won't be enough to change them. I was taught to think that racism could end if white individuals changed their attitude. But a "white" skin in the United States opens many doors for whites whether or not we approve of the way dominance has been conferred on us. Individual acts can palliate but cannot end, these problems.

To redesign social systems we need first to acknowledge their colossal unseen dimensions. The silences and denials surrounding privilege are the key political surrounding privilege are the key political tool here. They keep the thinking about equality or equity incomplete, protecting unearned advantage and conferred dominance by making these subject taboo. Most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of dominance while denying that systems of dominance exist.

It seems to me that obliviousness about white advantage, like obliviousness about male advantage, is kept strongly inculturated in the United States so as to maintain the myth of meritocracy, the myth that democratic choice is equally available to all. Keeping most people unaware that freedom of confident action is there for just a small number of people props up those in power and serves to keep power in the hands of the same groups that have most of it already.

One of the most important things that we all have to come to grips with is that RACISM KILLS (as do sexism and homophobia, and all the other oppressions.) If NOLA didn't show the world that for once and for all, it showed us nothing.

So many people don't seem to understand what racism even is. "Are you saying George Bush is racist?" "Oh, no, I'd never say ThAT." BULLSHIT. Of course the ass is racist. And so is everyone else in that administration AND anyone -- yes, ANYONE -- who can't see that it was the racism (and classism) killing NOLA residents more even than the flood, or who shies away from charging most of our leaders and our whole government as racist to the core.

It's as if they think racism (or any of the other oppressions) is necessarily a CONSCIOUS construct: "I really don't like black people -- I think they're inferior, so let's not fund the levees and then someday they may die."

Perhaps the worst, but certainly the most intransigent aspect of racism is the part(s) based on SUBconscious or even UNconscious beliefs that there are people who simply don't count as much, for whatever reason. But the funny thing is, those people tend overwhelmingly to fall into the oppressed groups. "Oh, it's only black folk (so who cares?)," or "Oh, it's only poor folk (who are lazy and therefore deserve what they get) and old people (past their prime and useless) anyway."

The US is a nation born of genocide, suckled on slavery, and weaned on apartheid, and the weaning process has been largely confined to a bottle at board meetings.

And as someone else mentioned, maybe here, maybe elsewhere, the sin, in the eyes of the white and affluent, is not the racism itself, but being reminded of it.

To be fair, it is so deeply ingrained that most do not even realize it, and their indignation is quite sincere when they insist that they are not a bit racist, some of their best friends are black, and they (or their parents) even marched in Selma.

[ThomCat]

1. I agree with everything you wrote.

I wouldn't have used so much bold. It makes it a bit hard on the eyes. But your words are very right.

People who don't see racism are usually racist, and rarely acknowledge it because from their privilaged perspective racism barely exists. A good test for racism is whether or not someone recognizes racism when confronted with it.

And again, you have to be suspicious when anyone, who spends no time or effort opposing racism, gets defensive about what constitutes racism. That's exactly the person who shouldn't be deciding what is and isn't racist. That person has no expertise, no experience, and no incentive to figure out what real racism is.

[Jcrowley]

5. The overarching

point, as illustrated by many of the discussions of the last few days, that seems to be painfully lacking in people's analysis of "What Is Racism" (and what isn't) is what we might call a more holistic socio-economic approach/analysis and certainly power-relations being at the forefront of this.

How is it that people who seemed offended would pretty much omit an entire history instead pointing to an individual case or circumstance (sometimes their own) in attempt to illustrate their point. This is very sloppy thinking.

Anyway that pervasive surface concept of what people mistakenly think of as Racism is what motivated me to put this out there. I stayed out of most of the threads and mostly just shook my head at the sound-byte defenses of a rather indefensible position.

Thank you and I'd have to say I agree with you on the bold letters. Thanks for that advice. I'll edit.

[hfojvt]

21. looking at your own history is the scientific method

If you postulate some kind of general theory of racism, such as the existence of 'white privilege' who better to test whether that exists or not than a white person? But 'white privilege' is, to me, a different animal than 'racism'. Just as there is a difference between defense of and aid for black people on one hand and attacks on or punishment for white people on the other. On the one side you have NAACP - national association for the advancement of colored people. On the other side you have NADWP - national association for the disparagement of white people.
I don't expect white people to tolerate insults hurled at their group any more than I expect the same thing from black people. In your OP, you pretty much define anyone who sees things differently than you do as a 'racist'. What next? I suppose if I don't believe that OJ was framed by a racist police department then I must be a racist. Have you, by any chance, read the recent post by H2Oman about Quaker conflict resolution, because pigeonholing and name calling like that is a huge part of the problem.

[Jcrowley]

22. White privilege and Racism are bound at the hips

If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.

Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.

I do not have to educate my children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.

I can swear, or dress in second hand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty or the illiteracy of my race.

I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.

I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to the "person in charge", I will be facing a person of my race.

If a traffic cop pulls me over I can be sure I haven't been singled out because of my race.

For the most part I think the same items can be applied to Class privilege as well.

[hfojvt]

24. I think myself, that the class privilege is more important

one by one

"in which I can afford" is a key phrase

I wish I had such assurances. I went to welcome some new neighbors and make sure they were registered to vote, and they ignored me and refused to talk to me. Apparently because I was white and they were not.

Why should I care about the race of people on TV? Am I some kind of racist?

School was a long time ago, and I can be sure I will be told on DU that it was my white people who made it so genocidal, racist, and full of hate.

Maybe not. I complained in my economic history class that it seemed to be all about 1) immigrants, 2) industrial workers, and 3) city people and that my people were 1) in the US before 1865, 2) farmers, and 3) rural and that we were in fact the majority of the country.

Lots of places will not take a check even from a white guy. Maybe they couldn't tell I was white.

Are we still teaching 'stranger danger'. What is it about that teaching? Are you telling me that all black kids are taught to hate whites by their parents?

Dammit, I was hoping to get off the hook. I guess it's just me then.

Much nicer to be seen as a credit to your race, than as perhaps some of the racism-promoters (or is it educators) see me as a discredit to DU.

Yes, it is too bad when white people ask colored people for their perspective.

Again, am I supposed to care if a person of another race is in charge? Should I now be bothered because of the increased and increasing number of women and blacks in position of authority? According to that a black person is supposed to be bothered every time they find a white person in charge. Crackers with their soup again. Tanj!

Usually I feel like I have been singled out because of my poverty.

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. "The US is a nation born of genocide, suckled on slavery, and weaned on apartheid,

and the weaning process has been largely confined to a bottle at board meetings."

That is a powerful statement of the truth. Particularly, the last phrase about the board meetings.

Apparently, it was the "respectable", more prosperous white-collar types, not the poorer folk who were behind the lynchings, although of course many collaborated in them.

[Solly Mack]

3. I applaud your tenacity

and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.


Excellent post

[Karenina]

28. Seconded, K&Red!!!

:applause:

[Bjorn Against]

4. K&R

This last week has really reminded me of how serious of a problem racism really is. Far too many people tried to use rappers to distract from what Imus said, as if white racism doesn't matter just because some blacks use harsh language sometimes as well. There are far too many people who want to think racism against blacks has ended, yet somehow still think that "reverse racism" against whites is a serious problem. It just boggles the mind that someone could hold both of those positions at once, but far too many people do. There is a lot that needs to be done before all races will finally be treated equally, but in order to make progress we have to acknowledge the problem still exists.

[Karenina]

35. In EVERY DU discussion on race

the first and most difficult hurdle to jump is the DENIAL.

[TerdlowSmedley]

6. This country has never given enough up to affirmative action.

The scant success achieved under this concept has been successfully slandered as "discrimination" against white men. Yeah, right, those poor, maltreated white men. To hear them tell it, they'd all be bank presidents or the chief of police if it hadn't been for all of those black people and women taking THEIR jobs from them through affirmative action.

[Usrename]

13. The problem is that they do not consider themselves racist.

At least not because of their views on affirmative action.

They argue that they are just being fair, and that they only want a level playing field, and yet they refuse to believe their own lying eyes which tell them that the playing field is not even close to being level.

A family member said during the recent Imus brouhaha "it seems that it's the more racist talking heads in the media that are the most offended by the Imus statements." I have to say that there is most likely some truth there, maybe because the true racists in the media have learned that you just can't say things like that. I dunno.

[ellacott]

7. I love your style

Excellent post. The most important thing to do to really get an understanding on the issue of racism is to get rid of many of the preonceived
notions that exist on this subject.

[Jcrowley]

10. It seems

that what is omitted in too many posts is any sense of history. You simply can't compare the Black experience in America with that of Whites. This is due to centuries of oppression and not just the scars and residuals but the firm structures that are in place today.

Here's an excellent historical background:
Chronology on the History of Slavery and Racism

Compiled from Archive, library and Internet source documentation, this timeline on Slavery and in part the History of Racism, has been used to guide the direction of independent research into the history of enslaved Americans of African descent at historic sites located at the National Zoo, in Washington, DC. Hopefully, this compilation of American history will help others who undertake similar tasks.

This project has been conducted totally independently from research conducted by the Office of Architectural History and Preservation at the Smithsonian and the National Zoo. Visit the Holt House Web Site for periodic updates. Be sure to go to the bottom of the page and hit "Contents" to enter. This research was compiled by Eddie Becker who will be happy to give advice on similar undertakings.

Citation information and credit: (Chronology on the History of Slavery, Compiled by Eddie Becker 1999, see on line at http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html)

The Chronology is broken up into three parts:

1. 1619 – 1789
2. 1790 to 1829
3. 1830 - the end

For pre-17th century timeline see Cora Agatucci’s African Timeline.



Compiled from Archive, library and Internet source documentation, this timeline on Slavery and in part the History of Racism, has been used to guide the direction of independent research into the history of enslaved Americans of African descent at historic sites located at the National Zoo, in Washington, DC. Hopefully, this compilation of American history will help others who undertake similar tasks.

This project has been conducted totally independently from research conducted by the Office of Architectural History and Preservation at the Smithsonian and the National Zoo. Visit the Holt House Web Site for periodic updates. Be sure to go to the bottom of the page and hit "Contents" to enter. This research was compiled by Eddie Becker who will be happy to give advice on similar undertakings.

Citation information and credit: (Chronology on the History of Slavery, Compiled by Eddie Becker 1999, see on line at http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html)

The Chronology is broken up into three parts:

1. 1619 – 1789
2. 1790 to 1829
3. 1830 - the end

For pre-17th century timeline see Cora Agatucci’s African Timeline.

http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html

[Possumpoint]

8. I Am A Racist

To varying degrees, have been one since I was 7 years old. Was initially taught to be one by peers, parents and grandparents. Now, some 54 years later, my views have modified. There are many blacks I admire, look up to, who are better educated and converse at a higher level then I do. A larger group are roughly on a par with me. There is another group that I hold in much lower esteem. There are neighborhoods and inner cities I won't go into after dark. As a child, there were poor white neighborhoods I was taught to avoid also.

I feel the same about every other race. I have been on the receiving end of racism from blacks and asians. It's an uncomfortable feeling but what comes around goes around. I believe racism to be a defensive reaction to the unknown of another race. It's an over reaction to threats the other race poses or may pose. Only by evaluating each and every person on their merits can it be overcome.

Best thing that ever happened to me was being put in charge of a group of field operatives who were all black. Their job functions were completely new to me and I had to quickly learned who I could count on to teach me what I needed to know. Knowing that they knew what they were doing and what was required allowed me to develop a trust never felt before.

One of the biggest No, No's taught to me is inter-racial marriage. I still have problems with that and must repeatedly tell myself that "it's only skin deep".

[MedleyMisty]

11. Thank you for your honesty

I think that's what got to me, with all the Imus discussion. It was the refusal to think about one's own attitudes.

[Karenina]

39. Most. Honest. Post.

We can only begin to dismantle the tangled threads of racism when our desire to communicate and find a way overcomes our defensiveness.

May I respectfully ask you to tell us more about the experience of being hired to manage blacks who knew a job that you did not? Did you ever wonder why none of them were promoted to manager? Did you experience any hostility? How do you feel aboout the experience in retrospect?

Your openness about miscegenation is SO refreshing. What a fearless spirit you are!

[H2O Man]

9. On page 368

of Malcolm X's autobiography, we find these two paragraphs:

" When the white man came into this country, he certainly wasn't demonstrating any 'non-violence.' In fact, the very man whose name symbolizes non-violence here today has stated:

" 'Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. even before there were large numbers of Negroes on our shores, the scar of racial hatred had already disfigured colonial society. From the sixteenth century forward, blood flowed in battles over racial supremacy. We are perhaps the only nation which has tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade. Indeed, even today we have not permitted ourselves to reject or to feel remorse for this shameful episode. Our literature, our films, our drama, our folklore all exalt it. Our children are still taught to respect the violence which reduced a red-skinned people of an earlier culture into a few fragmented groups herded into impoverished reservations'."

I like Malcolm quoting Martin.

[bryant69]

12. The problem with it being sub-concious or un-conscious

is that it's hard or impossible to get a handle on it. It's hard to accept as part of you while it is not part of your conscious mind. You just have to assume it's there. If you can't drag your racism out into the conscious mind how can you defeat it?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ellacott]

14. You make a very good point

It's a conscious decision that one has to make. I think pride is at the root. I think if a person can put their pride aside and take the time to listen it would be a big step.

[Jcrowley]

15. Yes I agree

When I was tending bar years back this hyper little white guy named Joe , I am white also, would often come in towards the end of the evening as he worked at an Art Theatre a few doors down. Joe was not only the wittiest bastard around but one of the most straightforward people I've ever met.

Joe would note that "Of course I'm a racist and whether I am to blame or not isn't the point or even the discussion. The point as a White guy is to acknowledge it at the least and then to reject the power structure as best you can. Reject the privilege in any small way you can." He also made it clear that he didn't feel guilty either. He really cared.

[bryant69]

16. Reject the privilege in any small way you can

That's an interestingly broad statement. I mean if you find yourself in competition with a black person (or other) in an employment situation what is the moral thing to do?

Bryant

[Jcrowley]

17. Who knows?

I don't have the answer.

I guess we could examine the situation that brought us into this competitive position but that surely doesn't help one in that immediate situation you pose.

Here's a very first hand story. I once worked at a very posh place and was one of the high end folk in the workplace pecking order. Black guys were the janitors. Cute white, mostly blonde, young girls held the waitress and hostess positions. Other positions of high visibility were mostly good-looking underpaid women.

I couldn't ignore the obvious and had to walk out. Everything was great for me. Treated wonderfully and compensated in the material sense quite well. But no way. I'm not going to support that or condone it. My working there tacitly said that that hierarchical structure that was inherently racist and sexist was okay. And it's not.

Anyway that is just a small story and nothing exceptional.

[coco77]

34. I have also heard of situations where...

when black applicants or people who live in poor areas submit resumes the employers throw there resumes in the garbage according to the zip codes or phone numbers. IF this is really practiced by some how can they complain about poor or lower income persons when they aren't even given a chance.

There are also situations where a black applicant can have all sorts of degrees and has to jump through hoops to get the job but, someone of a different race can come in with a high school diploma or no training and are helped or trained while they are learning how to do the job. There are many situations where racism is practiced and this has caused generations of low income blacks because they couldn't get the job.

[Morgana LaFey]

19. Nothing different, UNLESS

you're a person who would typically do something underhanded to undermine your competition if s/he were white.

You're not responsible for affirmative action, or for "giving" that person a job, or for erasing the effects of centuries of racism, or for trying to ensure that the boss (or whoever's making the decision) isn't racist or doesn't exercise racism.

Or, I guess you could pray for him -- ??

Edited: My guess is there are going to be some folks who find your post just a week bit patronizing. I can't disagree.

[bryant69]

31. What a roundabout way to call me patronizing.

If you think I'm patronizing why not just say it?

[Neshanic]

32. That's the rub. They will not come out and say it.

[Karenina]

41. Who's "they?"

:shrug:

[Morgana LaFey]

48. Actually, I thought I was rather direct

It was something of an afterthought, or realization late in the post. Shrug. Whatever.

[flying_monkeys]

25. At the very least,

don't whine about it if the other person gets the job.... And don't say "Its because he/she was <insert other race>.

That might be a good (painless) way to start....

[Karenina]

49. Or because of Affirmative Action

and its inherent "reverse racism."

[loyalsister]

18. It's bigotry

A white person, such as myself understands it more upon joining a minority group via disability.
There are two ways where I notice that I find myself sort of beaten down. When a person is activiley is being mean spirited and often when the majority is trying to protect privilege I get hurt.

[LiberalEsto]

20. People are unconsciously racist

as well as consciously racist.

I attended a small college that is part of Rutgers University, Livingston College. It was launched in 1969, and I was one of the 500 students to attend it that year. Livingston was special in the sense that intense efforts were made to make its student body approximately 1/3 black, 1/3 Hispanic and Asian, and 1/3 caucasian.

I entered Livingston as a white "flower child" eager to make friends with my "black brothers and sisters". There was only one black person at my high school, and I had never met a Hispanic person in my life. So I and others like me were stunned when the blacks and Hispanics largely ignored us and kept to themselves.

In its early months Livingston offered non-credit workshops on racism, in which we learned that even though we didn't think we were racist, we actually were. in many ways that we didn't realize. We were taught to recognize our own racism and make a conscious continuing effort to combat it. It was a powerful awakening for us to find that many of our basic assumptions in life required examination and change.

I'm fortunate to have had this experience, and more than three decades later I am much more able to perceive racism around me and speak out about it where possible.

I wish more people were open to learning about racism and learning how to fight it.

[ThomCat]

27. Many people, even here,

will probably read your description and assume the class created a perception of racism where none exist. That seems to be the common charge used against anyone who sees racism.

I think the opposite is in fact true, that people manufacture a belief in equality where none really exists. They overlook racism, both deliberately and as a matter of habit.

I would love to see courses like the one you took taught much more widely. Something like that could really open a lot of people's eyes.

[Karenina]

33. I'm not surprised to find this post

on the back pages. Racism is the systemic infection of the American body politic. America is DYING, as are innocents in far-flung locations, from its ravages, yet the denial is so strong that it becomes difficult to remain hopeful.

In the last days I have seen posts, which I could count on one hand, from those white privileged Americans who ACTUALLY GET IT and are willing to say publically, "I grew up in this society. Yes, I'm a racist/prejudiced but I'm working on it." Frankly THOSE are the only ones with whom I would care to discuss the REAL issues we face. All those regaling us about how "color-blind they are, how they have lived in the BLACK community and blathering on about rap music leave me cold.

Our commonly-used language is insufficient to properly discuss the issues. Is it the Inuit who have DOZENS of words to describe snow? Americans have only emotional "buzz-words" which fail in every attempt to address the subtleties of the HUGE PUS-FILLED BOILS on their butts.

[Madspirit]

23. K&R...Of Course n/t

[flying_monkeys]

26. Very good post .

And this - - "The US is a nation born of genocide, suckled on slavery, and weaned on apartheid, and the weaning process has been largely confined to a bottle at board meetings." needs to get put on buttons and bumper stickers... I'd buy one!


I agree that a lot of racism is subconscious, and a lot of white people don't *see* the privilege they get just by being white. (Additionally, many men don't *see* sexism or the privilege of being male, but that is another topic) Interestingly, to me, when it gets mentioned and explained and people are told/shown just *how* white privilege manifests, they usually end up getting it (not immediately, maybe after 3-8 attempts, I'm in NC and they sure are stubborn here). When someone does something racist and it is (politely) exposed as being such, most of the people I have met tend to NOT want to be "racist" and they at least listen to the argument of why whatever they did could be seen as racist. But that means all of us liberals need to be willing to discuss this with our neighbors and coworkers and be willing to (gently) call them out when they say/do racist things (and we need to look inside ourselves to see what areas we have ourselves that are actually a bit racist, as well).


Lots to think about in your post. Thank you!

[MedleyMisty]

36. How do you politely call people out on it?

Seriously, I could use the advice. I've realized the last few days that I have an unconscious prejudice against ignorance and just lash out at it instead of trying to remove it.

[flying_monkeys]

45. You pretend you are a Southerner LOLOL

I'm in NC but I was raised in NYC, so I had to learn quickly how not to Go On Attack when trying to "enlighten" someone :)


"UM, Ms Eloise? That comment you just made, about having to watch Andre around the knickknack table? Why did you say that, cause it sure sounded a bit racist to me... Why do you watch Andre so closely?" <racist reply> "Mmm hmm, I see, but has ANDRE ever pocketed your penknives or taken your thimbles? He seems to be acting just like little Sammy over there, but you are only nervously watching Andre..." <stumbling racist reply> "I see, but shouldn't you maybe treat Andre like Andre rather than assuming he is going to steal your goodies? Otherwise, you are treating him that way because he is <insert race>, not because he is a little 6 year old boy and little 6 year old boys might need watching, see what I mean? That is acting pretty racist - - do you want to be racist?" <adament flustered no>

Then hammer it home with some white stereotype and ask if he/she wants others to see him/her and automatically assume they are like that stereotype just because they are white...


It *can* be done - - gently. Most people around here were raised racist as all get out but they can't *see* it themselves until an outsider connects-the-dots for them. At the very least, even if they don't change deep down inside, they will know to act a bit better within *your* earshot :)

[Jcrowley]

46. Sputnik Monroe

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/feb/010222.sputnik.html

http://www.smokebox.net/archives/sport/monroe201.html

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/?p=8089

[Karenina]

47. Effective interpersonal communication!

:applause:

[Bethany Rockafella]

29. Speaking of opening doors and white skin,

This quote fits here....

"I feel sorry for a homeless white person. What a waste of white skin!"--Paul Mooney, comedien

[Jcrowley]

30. And the result

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0818/p02s01-usju.html

US notches world's highest incarceration rate

<snip>

If current trends continue, it means that a black male in the United States would have about a 1 in 3 chance of going to prison during his lifetime. For a Hispanic male, it's 1 in 6; for a white male, 1 in 17.

The numbers come after many years of get-tough policies - and years when violent-crime rates have generally fallen. But to some observers, they point to broader failures in US society, particularly in regard to racial minorities and others who are economically disadvantaged.

[SoCalDem]

37. It always comes down to majority vs minority

no matter the color.
if you undressed all middle eastern people and forbade them to speak,(and shaved the men's beards & heads) you would have a hard time telling the difference..

It's minority status that makes one a victim.

had the US been originally colonized by Chinese/Arabic people/Africans and then the mayflower arrived, THEY would have been captured/enslaved, and whites would have been a minority here:) I doubt that the UK would have sent rescue parties:)

[Karenina]

42. It's only because I "know" you

that I was able to make sense of your first paragraph. Truth be known, MANY Arabs, Persians, Kurds and Turks could EASILY "pass" in America.

[SoCalDem]

43. Yikes.. I just re read it myself.. I am not a pervert ./honest

:rofl:

[Karenina]

44. LOVE YOU!!!!

:loveya:

[nam78_two]

38. Didn't see this in time for a rec.

but here is a :kick:

[uppityperson]

40. I am a racist, try to watch for it but every now and then it pops up and hits me on the head.

Knowing that you judge people as soon as you see them is the first step. Seems that knowing that you are capable and acknowledging how you feel is needed to move on to the next step of not caring what sex/color/size/fashion/etc someone is. I really hate it when I am shown "ist" thinking, and try to not be that way. Thank you for the thoughts.

[bobbolink]

50. Could you please say more about "The myth of meritocracy"?

I 'get' what you're saying, but don't yet have the words to get this across to others.

Thank you for a well-done essay!

[bobbolink]

51. Denigration of "the other" is a pathetic attempt to elevate oneself.

It's clearly seen in the racism of Imus, but exists in a much larger way in most of our society, including right here in River City.

An Episcopal priest once said in a sermon, when he was asked what his definition of pornography was, "My idea of pornography is the whole concept of "US and THEM".

And that's what we do so much of in this society. We separate ourselves into ever smaller groupings, until what we have left is, "The whole world's crazy except me and thee, and sometimes I wonder about thee." Right after 9-11, when the theme was United We Stand, I saw that people were still doing this separation thing, and thought, so much for "united".

The same principle of "US and THEM" applies whether it's racism or sexism or gay rights, or..... the big one I see here on DU is poverty, which you touched on in your example of Katrina. I see a woeful lack of understanding of poverty on DU, and an even more woeful lack of interest in expanding that understanding. On DU I'm a "THEM" because of my poverty. I don't see that changing.

Until we come to grips with our "need" to separate ourselves into groups of "US and THEM", we aren't going to make many changes with regard to racism, sexism, gay rights, or poor folk.

Until/unless we start looking for our commonalities in the posts of others, instead of our differences all the time, well, we're just


STUCK.