The Economy

[kandrathe]

Heh. The present would be so easy, if it wasn't for the past.

... and, some level of forgiveness for the sins of our forefathers. One of my recent gigs was at college where they had a huge rift between white students, and students of color. The situation was resolved through a multi-week assembly where the students discussed the idea of multi-generational guilt and contrition. The white students needed to understand the crimes and guilt that our culture is burdened with, and the minority students needed to be willing to try to absolve the past and move on to the future. Racism (overt of institutional) is still a threat to their harmony, but so also the fear of (or false perception of) racism which can alienate the minorities and demoralize them. Once they were able to get past the "them" aspect, and really meet and know each other as individuals, they soon found what they had in common was more important than their differences. It was inspiring to see on a person by person level, which then summed up to this college population. Again, this is a limited environment peopled with those who are aspiring to improve themselves and almost by definition have open minds, and not rife with politics, nationalism, and media propaganda.

My opinion is that most of these conflicts are resolvable and that reconciliation is possible, but it must be actively engaged. The head in the sand, or passive approach to cultural integration will not work.

A larger question I have philosophically is whether, as a modern society, we can ever get past the intentional set up of systems where individuals are put in competition for resources. It ultimately results in conflict.