Racism Is Alive and Well in America

[shadowsource]

It's also called not standing on principle

Are you from Venus or something?

Sure, I tell this 66 year old guy he's a moron because I don't like what he says. Then after 7 years he decides not to do business with us anymore because I insulted him, and we lose about 25% of our annual billing. The next day my boss fires not just me, but the two people working onsite at the client's office. There is no other assignment for them

Boy, I showed that old fart! I'm sure my family and the families of the other two people who lost their jobs would sleep well knowing that I told the old geezer off.

In R/L my boss told me afterwards he wanted to tell the guy to fuck off and die. But he didn't do it for the same reasons.

It's called picking your battles.

I'm sure its easier and less costly to argue with people here, where it really matters. In prewar Germany, you'd have found plenty of excuses to mind your own business, too.

I just had a very interesting argument with a client of mine about Arafat, Sharon and that whole disgusting mess. I took a big chance telling him what I thought. Fortunately, he was cool about it, and we parted well. It was risky, but I couldn't let his comment pass without challenge. That's how racism gathers momentum. This issue is what really began this "childish" thread, and I daresay your recollection of cottoning to racism was a fruitiful addition. I'm sure we've all had moments like that, and all ethnic groups are guilty of it, but that "nod, nod - wink, wink" racism is a big petrie dish; assholes love to prod approval out of others. Compliance is complicity.

 

[lavender]

 

[Harbinger]

Re: shadowsource

It's called picking your battles.

I'm with you on that one, Miles. Besides, jumping on people for holding racist views may seem like the satisfying thing to do, but it almost never makes that person question their beliefs and want to change. Simply setting a good example is usually more effective over the long run.

 

[lavender]

 

[miles]

Shadow

Don't pick your battles.

Pick your nose.

 

[Problem Child]

Re: This thread hs grown like crazy...

Where I can see the difference between the USA and the UK over this subject is that in the UK (perhaps because of our overcrowding) we tend to discuss, debate and argue the matter openly whereas in the USA there seems to be a certain amount of coyness about broaching the topic at all.

[sarcasm]
Of course. We are painfully coy about race over here. It hardly ever crosses our minds. We have cities that are well over 50% non-white- my own state is now over 50% non-white, yet we would never think about discussing race. We have a history of slavery in this country, but it rarely comes up in this country because we are so timid about it.
[/sarcasm]

You are so misinformed and ignorant about the U.S....it's pathetic.

Race is the #1 problem in this country and it affects nearly every other policy or issue in the U.S. It is on the evening news every night. Our ancestors did some terrible things to non-white people, and we reap the harvest of those misdeeds every day.
Racism still continues, but we certainly do not ignore or minimize the problem. It is probably the most-often and hotly debated subject on our national conscience.

We had a civil rights movement in this country a while back and millions of people mobilized to correct wrongs that were being perpetrated on minorities. Racism no longer exists in a legal sense, but that's like saying no one can legally do heroin in the U.S. either. Racism still remains in the minds of people, and nothing can erase it but time.

We have a racism problem in the US, yes, but it is certainly not as bad as it was 35 years ago, and we are certainly not "coy" about it. This country has suffered a lot of pain over it's history regarding race issues, and we will suffer more.

One last thought....perhaps if most of the founding fathers of this nation weren't English, or from English stock, we never would have had slavery here.

Interesting "what if", don't you think?

 

[Starfish]

I am not sure why I am saying this, as it has nothing to do with anything important.

I still want to know what the fuck is up with the term 'scarves'. Not the history, but what is it implying. Thank you lavender for helping me with what groups it refers to, as I didn't know that all.


I have to deal with a weird type of 'ism'. It is a very hard thing to deal with sometimes, but it is superficial and very unimportant because I have a choice, where others of racial difference don't, but that choice is out of my moral support to those of ethnicity, in retaining certain aspects of their cultural background. Needless to say, I tend to dress like a foreigner.

I must do this right now. Sorry. This next part pertains to the idea that I am a flake and need to spew out some shit.


[rant out of frustration in order to loosen me up to do what I feel, regardless of what others think, even though I am suppressed]


I seriously find it annoying that I can't dress the way I want here in the US without getting glaring looks about why I look like I lived in a different century.

My dress isn't insulting, or even immodest. Most of the "play" clothes for girls and women on the market are slutty as fuck. They are even becoming slutty in Business clothes. I admit it.. if I put certain things on just right, they are modest. It I make a few small layering changes or accents and I look like a fucking nymph, ready for hot sex and slutty behavior isn't hard to follow with. It is situation appropriate dress. I love it.

So why is that okay, but me, wrapped in sheer scarves and looking quite historical or eastern but being a whitey and choosing that over the G.A.P. in my ass clothing Co. is so fucking weird? I think the way I'd best like to dress (but don't out of fear) is one of the most beautiful styles of dress that exists. I don't do it because of the reaction people will give me. I've had a taste of it already, and I hate the feelings. I am really actually shy to that kind of thing. I have been degraded openly by strangers about other things, so it is scary to me.
(I got the whole.... "Must be a dyke" and gross obscenities followed by two four assed truckers, because my best friend and I skipped hand in hand like little girls in our hippie dresses, through a BK restaurant to use the potty.

That makes us dykes? I don't regulate my flow of water very well, so I don't think the USGS wants me to be a dyke.
I can't believe they didn't see that I am just a fun loving, life loving silly bi sexual twit. How obvious does that have to be, before people just glance past me when I am outwardly being myself. I have to wear drab clothes, that look like boring puke, to just be another person.

I am loving it when I meet others like me, but I rarely do. Most people who can relate to this, will be those innovators of trend, that didn't quite break through at first, but are now.

If you saw me dressed like this.....


What would you do? Scan over me with the crowd?
Stare because you like, and it is an uncommon sight?
Or spout things, giggle under your breath or be otherwise offensive?

If I were able to make it to Vegas, some of you would see what I mean. I could put up picks, and may, but don't have anything of me and I'd have to take some.

I will probably continue to dress as close to want I want within my comfort range, but am still in a frustrating dilemma.

I realize that this is all just a big circle, but I disclaim that in the image tags here.

Why am I so shocking as is? Fuck. It is a shitty feeling to have to go pick clothes that are completely fucking typical, just so I don't stand out like a sore thumb. And I don't dig that modern shit.

The capris are cute. Low cuts are a waste of money. It's called Men's jeans.... I've been doing it for years. I'd wear them, but this icky fake snake skin is just refuckingdiculous for me to wear.

I know this doesn't meet the dilemmas that MOST face, and this isn't important, but I had to say this all. Sorry.
[/rant out of frustration in order to loosen me up to do what I feel, anyway, regardless of what others thing]

 

[Cheyenne]

Okay, I admit that I didn't read this whole thread. Way too long already. But, I believe that we all have a little bit of racism in us. Even if you don't want it to be there.

Haven't you ever caught yourself seeing someone or something, and having a racist thought? Realizing after the fact that it was racist and something you believe is wrong? Wondering why it popped into your head in the first place? I think the key is to recognize racism in yourself when it does pop up to the surface. It gives you something to think about.