01-24-2004, 12:26 AM
Hi,
As to Petes point, I understand and *agree* with the concept of a world without discrimination, but how can that be achieved when the starting position is inequality for a particular group (especially re: assets)?
First, don't give me "assets". My parents and I came to the USA in 1951. We had a couple of suitcases and less than $100. They were both in their 30's and had only the equivalent of a high school education. I was a few days short of 6. Now in their 80's, they are living comfortably in their own house in a relatively expensive suburb near Atlanta. I was able to get through enough of the educational system to earn a Ph.D. You don't need "assets", just a willingness to work for what you want and a lack of unnecessary obstacles. I am not claiming that we faced the discrimination which blacks face, but neither were we welcome with open arms.
But let's look at what you said again: you ask how a world without discrimination could come about, and you imply that it will come about through discrimination. The logic of that reasoning seems lacking to me.
How does a world without discrimination come about? I'd guess by removing the discrimination. First by removing the legalized discrimination (the Jim Crow laws, the segregation in public places and in schools). Then by outlawing the overt forms of private discrimination. Where there are injustices, such as the contrast between inner city and suburban schools, that too needs to be addressed. But you don't address an unfair school system by lowering the bar for the products of the inferior schools. And you for sure don't do it by assuming that all blacks went to inferior schools and all whites went to prep schools.
But the final step will always have to be in the minds of the people. And that will never come about as long as even one minority lounge (or majority one, for that matter) exists. As long as there is the "them and us" attitude that restricts the use of any space by skin color, for that long will there be hate based on skin color.
--Pete
As to Petes point, I understand and *agree* with the concept of a world without discrimination, but how can that be achieved when the starting position is inequality for a particular group (especially re: assets)?
First, don't give me "assets". My parents and I came to the USA in 1951. We had a couple of suitcases and less than $100. They were both in their 30's and had only the equivalent of a high school education. I was a few days short of 6. Now in their 80's, they are living comfortably in their own house in a relatively expensive suburb near Atlanta. I was able to get through enough of the educational system to earn a Ph.D. You don't need "assets", just a willingness to work for what you want and a lack of unnecessary obstacles. I am not claiming that we faced the discrimination which blacks face, but neither were we welcome with open arms.
But let's look at what you said again: you ask how a world without discrimination could come about, and you imply that it will come about through discrimination. The logic of that reasoning seems lacking to me.
How does a world without discrimination come about? I'd guess by removing the discrimination. First by removing the legalized discrimination (the Jim Crow laws, the segregation in public places and in schools). Then by outlawing the overt forms of private discrimination. Where there are injustices, such as the contrast between inner city and suburban schools, that too needs to be addressed. But you don't address an unfair school system by lowering the bar for the products of the inferior schools. And you for sure don't do it by assuming that all blacks went to inferior schools and all whites went to prep schools.
But the final step will always have to be in the minds of the people. And that will never come about as long as even one minority lounge (or majority one, for that matter) exists. As long as there is the "them and us" attitude that restricts the use of any space by skin color, for that long will there be hate based on skin color.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?