iwant8inches said:
Hence, our perception of and overall concept of race is stupid, but it is firmly entrenched into our cultures/countries. Race and racism is moreso on the minds of those born in the U.S. because of fairly recent acceptance of slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, a history of mistreating and demonizing immigrants etc. (that immigrants part especially applies to most countries to some degree or other)
One reason why I hate to see stereotyping of others and "groupism" by minorities is where does it end? You mention immigrants and there were many that were treated pretty poorly. Some groups were treated better/worse than others, but there are several that could find something to have a legitimate bitch about. At some point, it becomes in everyone's interest to focus on the here and now and move on.
Plus when you consider our country is still pretty young it is no wonder why race is such a touchy subject when looking at the history here we'd like to move on from and forget about.
There is some truth to that. America's history on race and discrimination would ideally be a whole lot better than it is, but I would just simply like to point out that those always complaining about how bad the society is have not been around many other places in the world. That doesn't excuse anything here, but I think it puts things somewhat in perspective because there has been a great amount of progress made. Being 31, I can remember when I was in grade school it was common for some of the kids I went to school with to use racial slurs. These days, I can't imagine it being tolerated in schools and I know you would be in serious trouble in the workplace, regardless of whether or not you worked with any minorities. There has been a major difference in just 10-15 years or so on how the message that such behavior is unacceptable has taken root.
Smacking down affirmative action and wanting to wall up the border are pretty damn racist if you ask me. There are flaws in the system and the way things work today, but it's difficult to make things right when so many things were obviously wrong in the past. Let's hope that your solution to the immigration problem isn't the same as the Minutemen and the WHITE POWER! fucks that are with them because if you are I have to tell you right now your brain power is needed in AISLE 5 of a Wal-Mart right now because a kid just threw up...ok that was sterotyping...anyone see the difference between that and what all has been said about the N word?
It would be wonderful if we could get rid of affirmative actions quotas, but I'm not convinced we're there yet. As for the wall on the border and the Minutemen Project, I have to think you're letting your Mexican heritage totally bias you on this one.
One of the founders of the Minutemen Project was married to a Mexican-American. Just because he took offense to the blatant violations of our border and immigration laws doesn't make it an racial issue by default. The Minutemen simply alerted the border patrol and never physical apprehended suspects. First, why should we ignore a problem of people sneeking in illegally? How would it be fair to give Mexicans preferential treatment and look the other way effectively just because they're a neighboring country? Shouldn't Mexicans that wish to come to the U.S. go through the same legal application process as anyone else and if there is evidence that many are violating that policy shouldn't that be policed? Second, there is a security issue here. Terrorist operatives have been known to be seeking entry into the U.S. by posing as illegal aliens sneaking through in groups along with Mexicans. I have heard reports of suspects apprehended with no ability to speak and understanding Spanish and the intelligence community is aware of the problem.
Now, as far as REDNECK, or TRAILER TRASH, it might be offensive and it might be something an individual will proudly wear on his sleeve/belt buckle.
I have known some that proudly wear it on their sleeves, but not as a statement of white supremacy or any such thing, rather they are making a statement of being proud to be country folks. Obviously, the discussion revolved around people negatively classifying them and I would just like to see any further stereotyping and groupism stopped before it starts, when speaking of society as a whole.
