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- Why do I have to tolerate your ignorance...We are all born an original, but the majority of us will die a copy -
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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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So more on the topic of diversity and learning to live in a society without stereotypical thinkers. Today I happened to read a blog by some so called "middle class white girl" At least that's how she described herself. But then I thought middle class is making at least 70 grand a year, and I'm quite sure she wasn't making that kind of income. (just my stereotypical opinion) I thought to myself that it must be tough for this "middle class white girl" to live in a neighborhood that is pretty much the example of the big American melting pot. And I quote
"Due to economic reasons and bad personal choices, I find myself living in what is considered to be "the bad part of town", or even "the ghetto". The block I live on is full of different races. There is a black family of 5 living next door. There is an elderly Jewish woman on the other side. The block is mixed with blacks, Koreans, Jews, and Puerto Ricans"
So why did I get all uptight at first about her blog? Well here goes and I quote:
"I try to not be racist, or predjudice about any race or religion, but DAMN people, you make it so hard by following your stereotype so well, that its hard not to! Harrisburg is not anywhere close to the murder capital of the US, but damned if every murder thus far this year involves blacks. Speaking of that, notice I refer to them as blacks and not African Americans!! Fuck that! Not all blacks come from Africa, and I think its about time we stopped catering to that nonsense anyway. Call me cracker, or caucasion, or whatever you will, but I claim no German-American, or Irish-American, I am just an American. If you want to be African American- go the hell back to Africa where that means something. Step up to the plate and be just an American. If you want us to stop judging you on your race, then stop claiming your race as a reason. That goes for all races, but blacks in particular, since that is the race that statistics show is guilty of most crime. You deserve no rights more than anyone else. Get over it and move on. Show the world you are not the inferior race in things other than basketball and cross country running."
Boy must she have it hard to have to tolerate people that she obviously has not bothered to get to know. Boy it must be tough to have to believe everything you see on the late night news. Did you know, that most crimes are not committed by black people or "African American" people or Hispanic people. The real world does not happen on COPS? That's right, the media just likes to milk crime myths for all they are worth. Why, so you'll watch and feel liberated by your one sided way of thinking. But if you really wanted to educate yourself, you would do a little research before making such an asinine comment like that. And once again I ask myself why I have to tolerate your ignorance. Well to my "minority" readers and my "Anglo Saxon" readers here is what we must all learn to live by:
We live in an environment/society where people are afraid to make mistakes. People are afraid to talk to one another. WE MUST FOSTER OPEN & HONEST DIALOGUE! WHEN WE HAVE MEANINGFUL INTERACTION WE FIND WE HAVE MORE THINGS IN COMMON THAN DIFFERENCES!
So I say maybe I can embrace the things we may have in common. I myself live on a very diverse block that is full of middle class people. I live next door to a nurse on the right and a teacher on the left. One is black the other is white. Across the street is a very nice Indian family. (Indian-from India, not Native American) His wife is a homemaker and he is a banker. Down the street is an Hispanic couple who are about to have their first baby. He's a contractor and she works in real estate. Now ofcourse these are just the neighbors I have taken the time to meet. I'm sure I will meet the remainder but at this point I've only lived here for 5 months. My house, I bought it in November. With my own credit and received absolutely no government handouts. I am thankful my son will attend a school that is very diverse. He will grow up in a society that has somehow stepped past race. That maybe the stereotypes you speak of are just part of bad habits that some people have regardless of their race. Maybe if you took the time to find out, you'll find that you have so much more in common than the constant complaining that you rant on about in your blog. Author Stephen Covey writes "Very few of us see life as it actually is. Most of us see it from where we are." Sound familiar? You said it yourself, "I write what I see and feel from my perspective."
So here goes, if you want to change, try. The worse you can do is not try. I encourage you to continue on the path towards respecting those people,
places and things that may be "different" from you.
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2 Comments:
I appreciate your response. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. It's part of having an open and honest communication base. The only way we can all get past race and stereotypes, is to stop seeing each other in those terms. And the way we see past those terms is by talking and getting to know those different from us. It's not wrong to think in those terms however, you must realize if everyone thought in those terms the world would become that unsafe place to walk alone. I can say honestly that I myself have thought in sterotypes but everyday is a learning experience for me. I take the time always to get to know those cultures that seem so far away from my own. Hopefully we will continue to have conversations. Blogs are great ways to get to know others that we may have never had contact with.
Robin, how did you get so lucky to have the office all to yourself? The feelers taking vacation time? Got your Easter pic's. We still need to make that play date for the boys to get together. I'm all for the bricktown experience.
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