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Comments Posted By Assumed Name

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Debating the Existence of Racism (and Gravity if We Have Time)

Hmm…maybe it’s changed, but given the recent reaction to gay marriage I doubt it. (I studied abroad in France part of my sophomore year in college. My perception is based on my experiences and the experiences of (then) fellow international students of color.)

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 5:07 pm

I hear you AdLib. We lived in a well-heeled, mostly white and Asian area, until my son attended pre-kindergarten. After a year we moved to a mixed (race, ethnicity, class, and citizenship status) suburban neighborhood because the first place had incredible undercurrents of hierarchy and privilege.

Now that my son is older and I feel that he’s both comfortable in his own skin and he gets along well with various others, I’m considering moving further away from the inner city once again. My concern currently is that he has safe places to explore when leaving home for an evening with future buddies or significant others. (Of course, it’s not clear where is safe, but we do what we can in the circumstances presented, I suppose.)

Hmm…sorry for the constant “my son” references…it’s unusual for me, but I hope understandable. *smiles* In any event, cool kids such as your daughter and my son are bright spots and hope for the future, yes?

Cheers,
–Assumed

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:54 pm

Meta Off Topic: Your response reminded me of a current FB posting making the rounds…a split screen, the upper half a snapshot of Florida newspaper announcing the acquittal and the lower half a still of the television character Dexter looking straight ahead knowingly, with one eyebrow raised, no caption. (Not to be taken seriously, of course, but it is an indication of how strongly people feel. It was posted on my (whatever they call it) by an interracial couple who usually post scripture and photos of their four children.)

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:43 pm

Nice analysis, and I think you’ve correctly read the shopkeeper’s need to not stand alone.

It’s difficult to embrace people who seem weak in conviction, but perhaps this is an object lesson (although a difficult one to accept given what is at stake and at issue) that there are times when a soft response goes farther. (Full disclosure: I’m soft spoken; however, not hat the shopkeeper would have ever broached the issue with me, unlike Murph my response would have been harder…and most likely to no avail. (“Know thyself,” and so on. *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:36 pm

SueInCal, you’ve touch upon an important truth: it’s not just the hardened, rough and ready racists who are a threat, but also dangerous are the countless many who support them with either silence or small acts of compliant support.

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:40 am

Thank you for posting this, Murph. I don’t think enough people realize to what extent the Zimmerman verdict presages more intense violence against African-Americans. I wish more people would report honestly and widely what they’re hearing on the ground.

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:37 am

Thank you for posting these statistics–they are numbing.

I don’t want to frighten my son, so I haven’t gone into detail (yet–he’s too young), but he knows the 1 in 3 statistic, and to be wary of police. (He’s only 9 and, biracial, he tends to sincerely not become caught up in race when interacting with people. Indeed, his best friend is Iraqi. However, I do remind him periodically that in the U.S. there is no “driving while half black (or half white if the other half is black)” and, as he matures, most will see him first and far most as a black male.)

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:25 am

Indeed…although the French are often blatantly racists–and sexist. (It’s not a nice place to visit, and I definitely wouldn’t want to live there. *smiles* )

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 18, 2013 @ 4:18 am

Very nice piece, AdLib. I would add that, with regard to the African America prison rate it’s instructive to notice what percentage of African American men and women are imprison on drug possession charges (often for years, as in 10 or 20) as opposed to being incarcerated for violent crimes.

Also of a piece is the extent to which imprisonment disrupts black families…I believe about 40% of black men lived with their children before imprisonment and (I think!) 65% of black women lived with their children before imprisonment. About 20% of black children are present when they’re father’s are arrested–the vast majority are 6 or younger. It’s also the case that many prisons now are ran by private organizations…and there are many that are for profit. (“Ding, Ding”…remember that peculiar institution? It just siddled on over behind the bars.)

And last, but not least, in many states, especially in the south, it is near impossible for ex-convicts to regain their right to franchise…the industrial prison complex does a lovely job of flicking away those pesky things called voters.

In solidarity,
Assumed (who’ll now disappear for a day *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 17, 2013 @ 6:56 pm

I’ve not watched the entire vido, PatsyT, but I’ll definitely return to it. What struck me most is the “reasonable person” standard. To my mind, given the plain meaning the the SYG language, if Zimmer is *already* somewhere he has a legal right to be (say, in his home), then he has no duty to retreat even if he is able to (say, flee out the front door as a theif comes in throught he back door). What I *don’t* “hear” is that anyone is allowed to instigate a confrontation as to have an excuse to use deadly force…say, leave one’s vehicle, follow an innocent stranter, at night, in a threatening manner, and then confront them with the pretext that the person accosted’s flight or fight response is enought to fear for one’s life and, therefore, justifies use of deadly force resulting in that accosted person’s death.

My point is, (and it’s comin’ *smiles*), even though SYG is a travesty of justice in the first instance, there is room to argue that it was misinterpreted or misapplied. The issue, of course, is that making such an argument seems to justify or accept SYG, which I don’t; that said, the above.

Best,
Assumed

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 17, 2013 @ 6:48 pm

SueInCa, if I may weigh in, first, I agree that AdLib’s written a very thoughtful, well presented piece on race.

Second, I wanted to acknoweledge your recognition that various groups have been deemed “the other” in the U.S., especially when their populations reach a critical mass due to immigration. I think, however, that “otherness” is not all of a piece. The Irish on the eastern sea board, the Scotts-Irish in the Appalchias, and the Italians in the east and in the the midwest are all now accepted as “white.”

To some extent, at least romantially, Native Americans are accepted to the extent that the most ardent white racist might proudly proclaim to be “really American” because she or he has Native American ancestery. The same person, however, would never prodly claim sub-Saharan African ancestry, and there’s the rub. It is as if blackness is an absolute standard of “otherness,” and it is a standard embraced by anyone who hopes to become white in America, hence George Zimmerman, or hopes to be embraced even if only as “one of ours” in America, hence Justice Clarence Thomas.

I have more to say (I think *smiles*), but I need to reign in my enthuiasm in order to turn my attention to more immediate projects. Before I do, however, I’ll peruse a few more of these most interesting of responses, comments, and ideas.

All the best,
Assumed

» Posted By Assumed Name On July 17, 2013 @ 6:36 pm

Short Posts

…that was a fine tribute, Smot.

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 19, 2014 @ 10:14 am

I agree, Kilgore. South Africa and Rwanda were both mentioned in a textbook I’m using for a course for Critical Thinking; the vast majority of students in the course didn’t know of either. After my post on the Planet, I asked my 10 year old about So. Af. and Rwanda (to see whether he knew of them), and off he went explaining each and giving his opinions left, right, and center. (His political meanderings ended up in Tiananmen Square.) The American educational system is woefully inadequate and not a little uneven. I feel for my students…I also feel, at times, that I’m fast becoming “unsmart” through teaching because so much has to be watered down. (Apologies for the previous presentation of this reply…I was using my smart phone as I’m a little unsettled at the moment. My mom just loss her husband of 24 years, and I’m bouncing between my home, her home (no WiFi), and work.)

Best,
Assumed

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 18, 2014 @ 5:37 pm

…maybe God sent the drought so the bigots would hurry up, dry out, and blow away. (It’s a thought. *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 17, 2014 @ 2:54 pm

Am I insane, or should 20 year olds know about South African apartheid and the Rwandan genocide?? (…or perhaps I’m longer in the tooth than previously percieved. 😉

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 17, 2014 @ 2:52 pm

…wow. (Propaganda “art” is as tacky and intellectually void as ever. *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 2, 2014 @ 3:17 am

Hurrah!! (I hope you all enjoy them, Ad. *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 1, 2014 @ 1:40 pm

All,

If, like me, you eat black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year’s Day, for a veggie version try ’em with shredded coconut, garlic, turmeric and salt served over long grained white rice with melted butter and/or a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt as a topper: it’s delicious!

Happy New Year!!
–AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On January 1, 2014 @ 9:00 am

Thanks, Kilgore. A Happy and Prosperous New Year to You & Yours!

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 9:38 pm

Happy New Year, Nirek!

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 9:37 pm

Happy New Year, Vegas Babe!

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 9:35 pm

Happy, Happy!! 😀

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 9:33 pm

Hi Dbos,

I don’t know that HP is worth the energy to even ponder–the entire set up is an indefensible “fix” devoid of journalism or authentic commentary. It’s also a rather blatantly sexist environment (article content generally and the sports section specifically), and too many of the comments allowed were both racist and classist. It just wasn’t a good fight…on my view. (Deleting my account was actually liberating. *smiles*)

Peace,
AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 3:18 am

Good morning, Kilgore.

I actually started with the fact that no one knows what happens after we die since no one can come back to report, but my son found the possibility of nothing happening unacceptable because, on his view, that would render our lives absurd and not especially significant. (Not his words, of course, but certainly the gist.) He introduced the concept of heaven and, descriptively, purgatory. (If you’ve ever watched or read the news, then you certainly have a clue that evil exists from drone bombings to weird men who keep people locked away against their will.) He then went on to explain why hell was morally indefensible. I think if that’s what he believes and it gives him comfort, then that’s fine. He has a spiritual bent expressed as a strong sense of concern for the welfare of others tempered by his need to know the truth…so there’s no danger, really, of his going off the religious deep end. He’s fine on that score. *smiles*

All the best,
AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 3:06 am

…the novel takes place in 1968 during the civil rights movement. (I forgot to add a context to the church bombing reference. –AN)

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 2:49 am

Hi Sabreen,

I’ve broached the possibility of his talking with his school counselor, but he refused. (I think he associates her with “kids who get in trouble.”) He recovered much faster last evening…I think in part because at the end of _The Watsons go to Birmingham_ the main character, Kenneth, witnesses the aftermath of the bomb that killed the 4 children, & he goes through a period of grief and guilt. It was from a child’s point of view and really spoke to my son…as I read the narration, he kept interrupting to say, “That’s how I feel!” We decided after to munch on spaghetti and watch an episode of “Full House.” He actually went to sleep with a slight smile on his face.

But.

I still haven’t told him his paternal grand – father has died. Of course he’ll grieve, but if he seems overwhelmed again, I’ll ask the school counselor to recommend a grief therapist.

Many thanks,
AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 31, 2013 @ 2:47 am

Thanks, Nirek.

My original post was motivated by my little guy’s usual rejection of easy answers…and the usual bedtime reading not working. (He was really distressed…he didn’t guffaw once through two chapters of _The Watsons go to Birmingham_ which is hilarious.) I think, however, the idea of heaven is a good one–that and giving him time. I’m just dreading telling him that he lost another grand-parent, but, as you said, “Such is life.”

Best,
AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 30, 2013 @ 2:12 pm

Thanks, Vegas Babe. I’ve had some time to think about it and I agree–the easy answer of heaven is much preferable to deep ruminations. (…perhaps even for me! *smiles*)

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 30, 2013 @ 2:01 pm

All,

This is *way* off topic, but older people in my family have been dying of late…last night the 4th death in a year–3 of which are since October–was announced. As a result, my son is preoccupied, and not a little terrified, of dying. His biggest fear is that nothing happens after death which would, on his view, render life absurd. He likes the idea of purgatory and heaven, but believes there’s no justification for hell. (The punishment of eternal torture outweighs any wrong doing that he can imagine.) These musings and “working things out” notwithstanding, he’s still distraught usually at bedtime. Has anyone dealt with calming a child’s fear of death? If so, would you mind sharing what worked and what didn’t? (My first funeral was at 7, but I was an admitted spacey child and it didn’t phase me. My son, in comparison, thinks and feels more deeply than I did so I’m unintentionally without empathy although, as a parent, I feel badly that he’s so distressed.)

As always,
AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 30, 2013 @ 6:51 am

Good morning, Nirek. My mother and I were talking about the Russian bombings over the telephone this morning. I think Kalima’s analysis is correct; still it’s difficult to fathom how anyone could justify taking innocent lives as “virtuous.” (Cultural divide indeed.)

Not strongly related, but I also believe that subgroups in modern liberal democracies should be prohibited from subverting democratic norms; on this note, facial veiling (which does not include the hijab) just is problematic (unless men veil their faces as well, and we can guess how well that would go over both internal and external to far right Islamic communities).

For what it’s worth, that’s my $0.02. 😉

–AN

» Posted By Assumed Name On December 30, 2013 @ 6:33 am