Once more I enter the breach. I can not help but comment on certain things even when I know I should keep my mouth shut. It is a choice I make. Today is the anniversary of a significant event in American history, a day called bloody Sunday. It is not a day we were taught much about in school, as for me it was a current event, perhaps they teach it now. It is not a day we as Americans should take any pride in. Those involved can take a measure of pride that they showed the resolve to continue on. The effort was certainly worth the gain.
As I was listening to the news and some interviews with those that were there I was struck by one statement. " We still have a long way to go. " Indeed, mankind does have a long way to go. The statement bothered me in the context that it was being used. The speaker was implying that somehow this minority is still being denied equality. That minority is the African American population. I do not believe that is the case anymore. Does bias and prejudice exist ? Of course it does, it always will. Man will always find some way to separate himself from his fellow man. That is a basic human need. There are those that want to lead. There are those that are convinced they are somehow superior to all others. Whether it is based upon the color of your skin, the money that you have, or the country in which you live, this will be so.
It is my belief that that those African American leaders that would try to use the color of their skin as an excuse, are doing a disservice to their own cause Equality under the law has been achieved..Is there any position in our society that is being denied under the law to any minority ? The answer is no. Minorities hold every office in the land. Are any minorities being shown bias ? Yes, they are. Thing is, it works both ways, let us not forget that in this discussion.
The whole deal is a matter of assimilation. There it is, in a nutshell. Unless a minority assimilates to the majority, division exists. Really a simple concept. America is a land of immigrants. We displaced the Natives. The natives held strong to their culture but were ultimately displaced by the influx of the europeans. That being accomplished the Americans formed a nation, a nation of immigrants. All were welcomed as long as they assimilated to the culture. Think the Puritans and others. Those not in compliance with society were ostracized or killed. The color of their skin was not an issue only the compliance to the rules. As time moved forward others immigrated to this land. The hyphenated Americans. You know Italian Americans, Irish Americans and the list goes on. Their goal however was a simple one, to become Americans. They assimilated to the environment and that environment was America ! There goal was to be a part of it all, not an independent faction.
The matter of the African Americans is a different situation that is true. It can not be denied that they were brought here against their will. There is no debate concerning the maltreatment they received. All that is in the past however, and I believe equal rights, under the law, has been achieved. All that remains is the desire to assimilate into the society. I'm not saying you should not embrace and celebrate your individual heritage, but that it is imperative to harmonious relations to conform to the current society in which you live. The scholars call it " Cultural Assimilation. " When that speaker said, " we still have a long way to go " there is truth in that statement. Cultural equality can not be achieved unless a willingness to assimilate into the society exists. Separate but equal ? Yeah, been there, done that. We know that to be wrong ! What is the alternative ?
Look ,what I'm trying to say in as diplomatic a fashion as possible is simple. Prejudice exists in many forms and always will. Deal with it ! Do not use the mistakes of the past as an excuse for today. Mankind has a long way to go ! Be one that takes those first steps
As I was listening to the news and some interviews with those that were there I was struck by one statement. " We still have a long way to go. " Indeed, mankind does have a long way to go. The statement bothered me in the context that it was being used. The speaker was implying that somehow this minority is still being denied equality. That minority is the African American population. I do not believe that is the case anymore. Does bias and prejudice exist ? Of course it does, it always will. Man will always find some way to separate himself from his fellow man. That is a basic human need. There are those that want to lead. There are those that are convinced they are somehow superior to all others. Whether it is based upon the color of your skin, the money that you have, or the country in which you live, this will be so.
It is my belief that that those African American leaders that would try to use the color of their skin as an excuse, are doing a disservice to their own cause Equality under the law has been achieved..Is there any position in our society that is being denied under the law to any minority ? The answer is no. Minorities hold every office in the land. Are any minorities being shown bias ? Yes, they are. Thing is, it works both ways, let us not forget that in this discussion.
The whole deal is a matter of assimilation. There it is, in a nutshell. Unless a minority assimilates to the majority, division exists. Really a simple concept. America is a land of immigrants. We displaced the Natives. The natives held strong to their culture but were ultimately displaced by the influx of the europeans. That being accomplished the Americans formed a nation, a nation of immigrants. All were welcomed as long as they assimilated to the culture. Think the Puritans and others. Those not in compliance with society were ostracized or killed. The color of their skin was not an issue only the compliance to the rules. As time moved forward others immigrated to this land. The hyphenated Americans. You know Italian Americans, Irish Americans and the list goes on. Their goal however was a simple one, to become Americans. They assimilated to the environment and that environment was America ! There goal was to be a part of it all, not an independent faction.
The matter of the African Americans is a different situation that is true. It can not be denied that they were brought here against their will. There is no debate concerning the maltreatment they received. All that is in the past however, and I believe equal rights, under the law, has been achieved. All that remains is the desire to assimilate into the society. I'm not saying you should not embrace and celebrate your individual heritage, but that it is imperative to harmonious relations to conform to the current society in which you live. The scholars call it " Cultural Assimilation. " When that speaker said, " we still have a long way to go " there is truth in that statement. Cultural equality can not be achieved unless a willingness to assimilate into the society exists. Separate but equal ? Yeah, been there, done that. We know that to be wrong ! What is the alternative ?
Look ,what I'm trying to say in as diplomatic a fashion as possible is simple. Prejudice exists in many forms and always will. Deal with it ! Do not use the mistakes of the past as an excuse for today. Mankind has a long way to go ! Be one that takes those first steps
No comments:
Post a Comment