--- colin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> -------Original Message-------
> From: Mark or Travis:
> But in the end, I want to be
> color-blind. But I have to
> honestly admit that I'm just not there yet.
i think this is the most important idea, and its an
idea that people are so terrified of. admitting it,
admitting that you have had/still have racist thougts,
that sometimes you are taken aback by things that pop
into your head, even though they're shameful and
hurtful and based in an ideology that you thought
education/understanding/exposure eradicated from your
heart and soul...
to the point that we can't talk about it because
people want to use the phrase "politically correct" to
subdivide and conquer even more..
to the point where ani difranco can't go on national
television and sing a beautiful and poignant song
about racism in america becuase the network thinks
people will get angry at having to look at themselves
reflected in that song. because the song is true, the
lyrics reflect a reality that we all know and we all
see but are too afraid to admit. because cosby had a
successful show on primtime time tv, and they were
like a doctor and lawyer, right? so there's no more
racism, see? and hey, look at colin powell! and wait,
hey look at tiger woods (forget that fried
chicken/country club crack, that was just one unique
thing..)
> Living authentically, really getting to grips with
> yourself and how you
> think is not easy at all and requires courage.
this is absolutely true. it takes a tremendous amount
of courage. and its courageous of all of us to admit
that we have preconcieved notions of each other,
whether they're based on race or class or gender or
sexuality (oops, sorry, marcel, my left-wing
indoctrination/education is showing! ;-)).
but in order to change things, we have to have the
discussion, we have to be free to ask each other
questions, to occasionally offend, to admit our
ignorances, in order to learn. we have to be
uncomfortable sometimes. and thank you, julius and
sherelle and everyone, for being willing focal points
and answering questions with honesty and integrity.
my 2 cents. or 2 dollars.
the above statement based solely in my experience, and
is of course, imho.
alison e. in nyc
np: ani, revelling.
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