Saturday, January 31, 2009

I'm Not Preaching

"Who da hell r u preaching 2? Them? Or, Us?" (Comment left on a previous post)

I'm not preaching to anyone.
That's why I'll "Allow" any comment that is not directed at any individual who has commented earlier.
It's a discussion - not a lecture.
It's a disagreement - not a fight.
It's the free exchange of ideas that is geared towards gaining a better understanding.
Since no one is smarter than everyone - we are all supposed to learn from each other.

But who is "Them"?
And who is "US"?
This is why I don't understand (the well intended) comments like;
"It not mattering you equates to being on the high road"
Why?
Is having a sense (and the ability to have such a sense) of a moral responsibility to treat each other with respect and dignity inherent only to whites?
Are Blacks only seen as victims and not equal allies in the fight between good and evil?

This is why I can't buy into the whole Tim Wise/ White Guilt malady.
White Guilt assumes a sense of superiority and condescension that feels the need to exercise itself by helping "those poor and uneducated - and thus helpless - non-whites"

Are whites solely capable of making a positive,meaningful and lasting change?
Nope.
We can all make some type of positive change in our families, schools, neighborhoods and communities.

But does this mean that I am against any type of alliance with those (who may be of another race, nationality or ethnicity) who also wish to make such a change?
Nope.
Forming alliances is the most efficacious way of bringing about these changes.
But working "with" someone is different than working "for" someone.
We need to bring more to the table besides complaints.

If we take the Steelers or a unit in the Marines as an example.
Past losses don't matter. (But the lessons from those losses do matter.)
Race doesn't matter.
Being competent is what matters.
Accomplishing a common goal is what matters.

So, if we put our differences aside and acknowledge that our fate may be in the hands of the men and women next to us - what are our common enemies or goals?

Education?
I'd say, yes.
But how do we ensure that everyone has a fair shot at attaining the highest levels?

Jobs/Employment?
Having a good education (the average high school diploma only ensures an eighth grade education) is usually the key to getting a better job and developing the skills needed to keep one.

Health Care?
Sure.
But many of the problems associated with high health care costs could be eliminated by changes in lifestyle or environment
For many, having a better education would allow them to gain the tools necessary to make such changes.

Crime?
Since the inability to read is the most common trait of those in prison - again, a good education is the key.

So how do we best educate our children?
Knowing facts is not as important as knowing how and when to apply these facts.
Understanding, and being able to properly interpret, these facts is what matters.

In short - Let's be The Shit.
If we become The Shit - we'll have the social, financial and mental facilities to solve these problems.
If we become The Shit - we'll ( and when I say "we" - I mean anyone who works for equal justice and equal opportunity) be in a better position to dictate terms instead of having to beg for concessions.

2 comments:

brohammas said...

an alliance is not only best, but the only way our siciety can or could progress as a unified nation.

In terms of racial reconciliation, there is an "us" and "them". Two sides with seperate parallel histories and experiances. Because of this each must be approached differently. why?
Individually we are all the same, but as larger groups, society has treated us differently.

In context of history, a black, or mixed race, person not caring about race could be reffered to the "high road" because this would be the person with justified complaint. It is justifiable for a black person to be upset at the white society who enforced and perpetuated Jim Crow.

A white person who does not care about race is ignoring the affects that Jim Crow has left on black people. It is refusing to see the negative affects of society's structure not because they don't exist, but because the white individual isn't harmed by them.

Of course we are talking macro here and not individual person to person interactions...

Although if this were individuals it would be akin to a white guy walking up to a black guy on the street and punching him in the nose, knocking him to the ground. When the black guy gets back up the white guy extends his hand and says "let's let bygones be bygones".

For the black guy to ignore the punch and resulting broken nose would be the high road at best. The white guy to ignore the black guy's broken nose is inexcusable

This is not condescention. Even if I didn't throw the punch, who am I to back up white boy and echo his "lets all just walk away"? As a white guy, I more or less came to the party in the same car as mr. bloody knuckles. Wouldn't the right thing be to encourage justice? or do I just go call a cab and go home alone?

even if the black guy decides to let it slide, do I pretend it didn't happen for the rest of the night?... maybe even joke "dude, your nose is messed up, whats up with that?"

Sure the party must go on (health care, education, economy, etc.) but the party is big enough that if we want to move it from one house to another we have to take seperate cars.... what happens if I came in the white guy car and then try to hop in the black guy car, all the while denying that a punch was thrown?

Sorry for all this... my team lost.

uglyblackjohn said...

@ - brohammas - Good points.
But I gotta' get back to you with a response. (First of the month, gotta' deal with my renters).