On Wed, 23 Jun 1999, Linda M. Woolf wrote:
> Hi Y'all,
>
> Louis_Schmier wrote:
>
> > There is a significant difference; as Michael playing the devil's advocate
> > or were his comments a true reflection and expression of his views. If
> > they were the latter, I would suggest discussing them rather than lashing
> > out at them. People listen more closely to a quiet voice than a rancorous
> > shout.
> >
>
> I can't imagine that if I made statements such as (and I have trouble even
> using them as examples!) in the guise of devil's advocate:
>
> "Is it true that Blacks are lazy and have a genetic flaw that leads them to be
> criminals?"
>
> or, "Is it true that women really enjoy being raped?"
>
> or, "Is it true that homosexuals have a tendency to molest children?"
>
> on a list of academically trained psychologists, that folks would tend to
> listen with a quiet voice as opposed to calling me to the carpet for my
> offensive comments.
Well, Linda, what are the answers? The examples you use are not
statements. They are questions. They are questions which may or may not
reveal a prejudice or may be the result of simple ignorance. In any
event, it would seem to me, as a teacher, we should use such queries are
"teaching moments" to dispell such denigrating stereotypes. And, I use the
word "denigrating" purposely to reveal my own predilictions. Understand
that it was not too long ago, just a few decades or less, that the answers
to those three questions would have been almost universally: "yes,"
"yes," "yes." And in some circles, still are. Matters of the heart
change slowly.
Let me give you an example. One day last year, during college
basketball's March Madness, my alma mater, UNC, had won a significant game
on the way to the Final Four. The following morning, I was walking down
the street, wearing my UNC hat and passed a fraternity house. "Hey, Dr.
Schmier, How'd your team do last night?" one the four students on the
porch shouted out. "We won!!" I proudly answered as I walked by. "Yeah,"
said another student, "that's because they start five niggers." I
stopped. Slowly turned and calmly walked up to the porch, and said
quietly, "Why did you say that?"
One of the students, who was in one of my first year classes and
knew of my experiences as a civil rights activist, cringed as he waited
for the explosion that never came.
"I didn't mean anything by it," the student defensively answered.
"Sure you did. Otherwise you wouldn't have said it. Why did you
say that?" I calmly, but firmly responded.
We talked openly on that porch about racism, slurs, integration,
civil rights for almost two hours.
Gary, to take a firm stand and stand firmly is far different from
shouting people down and shutting them up. I the above example I suppose
I could have shouted, "Don't you ever say that again!" But, what real
good would it have done. To shut them up only shuts up their true
feelings; it doesn't get to those feelings and bring them out into the
open for all to see and discuss. Sweeping the dirt under the carpet only
moves it from one place to another. The dirt may be out of sight and all
may appear to be clean, but the place is still dirty.
Make it a good day.
--Louis--
Louis Schmier [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of History http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/louis.html
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698 /~\ /\ /\
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