In a way, it's sad that it has taken US so long to get to this point in our nation's political life. But at the same tie, it shines light on how far we as a people still have to go.
Racism will never go away, certainly not as long as we have so many of all groups living below the poverty-line. Racism is tightly linked to education level, which in turn is linked to a lack of economic opportunity.
"Racism will never go away, certainly not as long as we have so many of all groups living below the poverty-line. Racism is tightly linked to education level, which in turn is linked to a lack of economic opportunity."
Which is linked to GREED which the Republican party has been using since Regan talked in the south about "state rights" and the imaginary "welfare queen". At the same time cutting Fed money going to inner city schools, destroying the safety net we had for the poor, calling Catsup a condiment, A VEGETABLE!
All the way to Fucktard George Bush... Don't get me started! BestRegards, Pete
Each generation has been less bigoted than the one before it. I don't know how long it will be - if ever - that we're entirely free of the problem, and probably not in our lifetimes. Sad though that is - the fact of the matter is that bigots are a dying breed.
Obviously, there's still a lot of work to be done until we get to the point where skin color is just one of the attributes that makes a person unique. But there is progress - uneven as it is, slower than enlightened folks might want it to be.
There's a great deal to be done just in the GLBT community. I've had GL-folk tell me that racism doesn't affect them because they are white. For a dumbstruck second I wonder if they are totally obtuse to the irony of the remark. Then, I usually reply that they should ask a creole person in New Orleans how it feels to pass.
It dismays me that the people who were startled by racism have been so sheltered that they don't know what lurks so near the surface for a lot of America. MS, TX and various other "red" states aren't the only places where people are living in '08 (1808). George Wallace and Lester Maddox are dead, racism isn't - unfortunately. Bus boycotts in Montgomery and school busing riots across the northeast are dead - racism isn't. And on and on... Racism was "solved" if you didn't have to deal with it for many people. Plenty of people have found it much easier to make nice and avoid the underlying class issues. Declare victory and move on. Katrina was a good illustration of that. In the disruption you got to see the true measure of your neighbors. Many, many people were color/class-blind and helped anyone they could. Others were willing to "Let them drown". There were surprises in how people I know reacted - both ways.
Your point about GLBT people ducking racism as a problem is spot on.
I'm not surprised. Racism, sexism, and homophobia still run rampant in much of Middle America. Outside of major urban areas, I believe America continues to be a discriminatory wasteland.
I also wouldn't be surprised if, in some states, people have called Hillary's campaign workers foul names, vowing never to vote for a ****.
It's my belief we're at least two generations from wiping out these negative attitudes ... but it's probably more like three or four.
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:02 pm (UTC)I don't think it works that way. And, if not now... when?
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:16 pm (UTC)In a way, it's sad that it has taken US so long to get to this point in our nation's political life. But at the same tie, it shines light on how far we as a people still have to go.
Racism will never go away, certainly not as long as we have so many of all groups living below the poverty-line. Racism is tightly linked to education level, which in turn is linked to a lack of economic opportunity.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:41 pm (UTC)"Racism will never go away, certainly not as long as we have so many of all groups living below the poverty-line. Racism is tightly linked to education level, which in turn is linked to a lack of economic opportunity."
Which is linked to GREED which the Republican party has been using since Regan talked in the south about "state rights" and the imaginary "welfare queen". At the same time cutting Fed money going to inner city schools, destroying the safety net we had for the poor, calling Catsup a condiment, A VEGETABLE!
All the way to Fucktard George Bush...
Don't get me started!
BestRegards,
Pete
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 09:01 pm (UTC)Obviously, there's still a lot of work to be done until we get to the point where skin color is just one of the attributes that makes a person unique. But there is progress - uneven as it is, slower than enlightened folks might want it to be.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 09:21 pm (UTC)My 2¢, ymmv
Date: 2008-05-13 10:47 pm (UTC)MS, TX and various other "red" states aren't the only places where people are living in '08 (1808).
George Wallace and Lester Maddox are dead, racism isn't - unfortunately.
Bus boycotts in Montgomery and school busing riots across the northeast are dead - racism isn't. And on and on...
Racism was "solved" if you didn't have to deal with it for many people. Plenty of people have found it much easier to make nice and avoid the underlying class issues. Declare victory and move on.
Katrina was a good illustration of that. In the disruption you got to see the true measure of your neighbors. Many, many people were color/class-blind and helped anyone they could. Others were willing to "Let them drown". There were surprises in how people I know reacted - both ways.
Your point about GLBT people ducking racism as a problem is spot on.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-14 02:21 am (UTC)I also wouldn't be surprised if, in some states, people have called Hillary's campaign workers foul names, vowing never to vote for a ****.
It's my belief we're at least two generations from wiping out these negative attitudes ... but it's probably more like three or four.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-14 03:58 pm (UTC)