We spend most of our lives talking about where we came from. Lately the story goes further back. What I mean is the conversation used to be what your parents did, or your grandparents. Now it isn't uncommon to hear someone declaring some heritage from four or five generations back. We use our past as a reference, sometimes as an excuse, and sometimes as a perceived entitlement. It seems to me the focus has shifted from what we have become, to what we used to be. That's why a picture taken thirty five years in the past can be used as evidence today. And it is not just the latest incident with the Governor of Virginia, that's just politically expedient at the moment. Both parties are playing the same game, deflect and distract. Don't stereotype, but one incident does define an entire party! That's the narrative today. And one picture defines that Governor. No doubt about it.
This blog isn't about the Governor of Virginia and whether or not he is a racist. I don't know the guy, never heard anything of him before. I suspect he has been in public life for a while now. Has there been any prior reports of his racism? Well I'll leave that to the court of public opinion, because that is the only court that will be applied in this situation. What I'm thinking about is this concept of digging up dirt on someone, particularly political figures, to use as a weapon. Mud slinging is what they call it and it has become the method of choice. It is a method predicated on bias and prejudicial thinking. If I can show you a photograph or a recording of you doing something, anything, that is " offensive " at the moment that's prime stuff. It was Superbowl weekend. Much talking and stirring up of an old controversary.
Colin Kaepernick? Remember him? Not many do anymore but the narrative was many stars refused to perform at halftime in support of him. Yeah, okay. So, you have the pot stirred up once again and after thirty five years this picture surfaces, like magic! Racism! It is obviously racism! The connection is lost on many people, the two things apparently not related. Personally I find it just too much of a coincidence. And now the Lt. Governor is facing accusations as well. And so, just like that, the entire Democratic leadership of Virginia is called into question. Hey, remember I am a staunch Republican but I'm not blind or stupid. Strangely I haven't heard of one other person being identified in that photograph, not one. So it's okay to be racist if you're not the Governor? If not, why aren't those names being broadcast to the world? If we are to eliminate racism we have to get all the racists! Personally I'd start with those rappers spreading hate and inspiring violence but that would be racist, wouldn't it? Yeah because that's being called social commentary. Sounds like racist rhetoric to me though.
The problem with this strategy is it relies upon shame and public opinion. The idea is to shame your opponent into submission, or convict them in a public court. Facts aren't that important. Insinuation is all that is required. If you can produce some evidence, no matter how thin, how flimsy, how distorted, that is the icing on the cake. The problem is, so few have any shame. Just listen to the proposals these legislators and celebrities offer. There is no shame. Killing children after birth if the mother and a team of doctors agree? That's what is being supported today. Think about that for just a minute. The child is born but isn't " perfect " so we decide to kill that child! Hitler was a big supporter of that too. When he was doing it the world agreed that is was immoral, reprehensible and in no way acceptable. Now, we are legalizing just that, in America! We are holding parades celebrating deviant behaviors! Everyone agrees these behaviors are an aberration, a deviation from the norm, but we will celebrate that! And the reason for that is? An attempt to make the court of public opinion rule in their favor. In short, it's fine nothing to be concerned with. Mind your own business right? Yup and that's what every criminal in the world would like you to do, every deviant, every crook, every one that has something to hide wants you to mind your own business! Well, I can tell you this much, for the most part, if someone is afraid to share their business with you, it is probably because they have something to hide.
What I fail to understand here is, why should I be compensated, recognized, rewarded, and shown special favor and consideration for what my distant ancestors lived through? I'm entitled to certain things by virtue of history? I can claim that and that claim cannot be disputed. At the same time, I will be held accountable for what my distant ancestors did, and face prejudicial treatment for that. We won't call it prejudice though, we will call that entitlement. I deserve this because of my ancestors, whether they were involved or not, I deserve this by virtue of the color of my skin. I enjoy white male entitlement. I can't speak about it because that is just proof that I'm a racist. If I don't agree with the other point of view, I'm a racist. I just don't get it! Why? Because I'm a racist that's why. And that is the way that works. I'm supposed to be ashamed of what my distant ancestors did or didn't do. I have to publicly acknowledge that and make amends for the past.
What bugs me is simple enough to understand. Martin Luther King Jr. hero of the civil rights movement, and deservedly so, had a dream. He said, I dream of the day when my children will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. I paraphrased that so don't beat me up if it isn't exactly right. But I agree with the sentiment, we should judge each other on the content of our character. I hear a lot of , don't judge anyone, but you'd be awful foolish to not do so, but that's another topic. But here it is 51 years later and what are people judging each other on? Is it the content of their character?
No, I'd say it hasn't changed much at all. Same old prejudicial thinking as always. The haves and the have nots. Doesn't matter much about the color of your skin. What matters is your social position. That is the seat of social unrest. How the leaders attempt to appease that is called governance. There are many variations but two basic strategies. In one the government provides everything to the people, everyone is equal. That is the perception socialism attempts to instill in the people. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a Republic. In a Republic the people govern the actions of their fellow citizens. There will always be those that attempt to lie, cheat, steal or otherwise gain an advantage, and that is what is being governed. What the person is able to accomplish is dependent upon the person. Everyone has an equal chance. Equal results are not guaranteed. In that lies the content of your character. We call it independence.
Reading over what I have written I can see that it isn't a very smooth essay. I wander around a bit, following my thoughts. I have found that my thoughts don't always lead me to an end, sometimes to just another corridor. I think I am trying to say, whatever my ancestors may or may not have done is not a burden for me to carry. I can acknowledge the injustice, but that doesn't make it mine. I feel no shame for what others have done. I can only be responsible for my actions, my choices. Do I harbor prejudices? Of course I do, we all do. Being aware of it is the only way of changing it. It should be a discussion, not a debate.
This blog isn't about the Governor of Virginia and whether or not he is a racist. I don't know the guy, never heard anything of him before. I suspect he has been in public life for a while now. Has there been any prior reports of his racism? Well I'll leave that to the court of public opinion, because that is the only court that will be applied in this situation. What I'm thinking about is this concept of digging up dirt on someone, particularly political figures, to use as a weapon. Mud slinging is what they call it and it has become the method of choice. It is a method predicated on bias and prejudicial thinking. If I can show you a photograph or a recording of you doing something, anything, that is " offensive " at the moment that's prime stuff. It was Superbowl weekend. Much talking and stirring up of an old controversary.
Colin Kaepernick? Remember him? Not many do anymore but the narrative was many stars refused to perform at halftime in support of him. Yeah, okay. So, you have the pot stirred up once again and after thirty five years this picture surfaces, like magic! Racism! It is obviously racism! The connection is lost on many people, the two things apparently not related. Personally I find it just too much of a coincidence. And now the Lt. Governor is facing accusations as well. And so, just like that, the entire Democratic leadership of Virginia is called into question. Hey, remember I am a staunch Republican but I'm not blind or stupid. Strangely I haven't heard of one other person being identified in that photograph, not one. So it's okay to be racist if you're not the Governor? If not, why aren't those names being broadcast to the world? If we are to eliminate racism we have to get all the racists! Personally I'd start with those rappers spreading hate and inspiring violence but that would be racist, wouldn't it? Yeah because that's being called social commentary. Sounds like racist rhetoric to me though.
The problem with this strategy is it relies upon shame and public opinion. The idea is to shame your opponent into submission, or convict them in a public court. Facts aren't that important. Insinuation is all that is required. If you can produce some evidence, no matter how thin, how flimsy, how distorted, that is the icing on the cake. The problem is, so few have any shame. Just listen to the proposals these legislators and celebrities offer. There is no shame. Killing children after birth if the mother and a team of doctors agree? That's what is being supported today. Think about that for just a minute. The child is born but isn't " perfect " so we decide to kill that child! Hitler was a big supporter of that too. When he was doing it the world agreed that is was immoral, reprehensible and in no way acceptable. Now, we are legalizing just that, in America! We are holding parades celebrating deviant behaviors! Everyone agrees these behaviors are an aberration, a deviation from the norm, but we will celebrate that! And the reason for that is? An attempt to make the court of public opinion rule in their favor. In short, it's fine nothing to be concerned with. Mind your own business right? Yup and that's what every criminal in the world would like you to do, every deviant, every crook, every one that has something to hide wants you to mind your own business! Well, I can tell you this much, for the most part, if someone is afraid to share their business with you, it is probably because they have something to hide.
What I fail to understand here is, why should I be compensated, recognized, rewarded, and shown special favor and consideration for what my distant ancestors lived through? I'm entitled to certain things by virtue of history? I can claim that and that claim cannot be disputed. At the same time, I will be held accountable for what my distant ancestors did, and face prejudicial treatment for that. We won't call it prejudice though, we will call that entitlement. I deserve this because of my ancestors, whether they were involved or not, I deserve this by virtue of the color of my skin. I enjoy white male entitlement. I can't speak about it because that is just proof that I'm a racist. If I don't agree with the other point of view, I'm a racist. I just don't get it! Why? Because I'm a racist that's why. And that is the way that works. I'm supposed to be ashamed of what my distant ancestors did or didn't do. I have to publicly acknowledge that and make amends for the past.
What bugs me is simple enough to understand. Martin Luther King Jr. hero of the civil rights movement, and deservedly so, had a dream. He said, I dream of the day when my children will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. I paraphrased that so don't beat me up if it isn't exactly right. But I agree with the sentiment, we should judge each other on the content of our character. I hear a lot of , don't judge anyone, but you'd be awful foolish to not do so, but that's another topic. But here it is 51 years later and what are people judging each other on? Is it the content of their character?
No, I'd say it hasn't changed much at all. Same old prejudicial thinking as always. The haves and the have nots. Doesn't matter much about the color of your skin. What matters is your social position. That is the seat of social unrest. How the leaders attempt to appease that is called governance. There are many variations but two basic strategies. In one the government provides everything to the people, everyone is equal. That is the perception socialism attempts to instill in the people. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a Republic. In a Republic the people govern the actions of their fellow citizens. There will always be those that attempt to lie, cheat, steal or otherwise gain an advantage, and that is what is being governed. What the person is able to accomplish is dependent upon the person. Everyone has an equal chance. Equal results are not guaranteed. In that lies the content of your character. We call it independence.
Reading over what I have written I can see that it isn't a very smooth essay. I wander around a bit, following my thoughts. I have found that my thoughts don't always lead me to an end, sometimes to just another corridor. I think I am trying to say, whatever my ancestors may or may not have done is not a burden for me to carry. I can acknowledge the injustice, but that doesn't make it mine. I feel no shame for what others have done. I can only be responsible for my actions, my choices. Do I harbor prejudices? Of course I do, we all do. Being aware of it is the only way of changing it. It should be a discussion, not a debate.
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