People should not have to give up themselves just to feed onto some American idea of “The Melting Pot” which will do nothing more than slap them in the face anyway because they are “the other.”

Teaching sameness is basically an excuse not to have to teach or embrace cultural differences. There is nothing wrong with cultural differences, and a big problem that plagues America is that people think that there is a problem with anything different. We are not all going to live the same way, and to teach children otherwise does them a disservice when they get older – and manifests to a form of ethnocentrism.

So what can be done? My suggestion is to start young but not only the way it is done currently. We have an overwhelming curriculum devoted to making everyone feel important- the emphasis being on differences rather than similarities. When I was a child, attending school in this current district, things were very different. We were still under the pressure of the “Melting Pot” idea set. It is my absolute belief that this directly led to the increase in iamount of inter-racial / inter-ethnic marriages in this county and the adjacent one. (Some studies I have read report figures close to 40% of all marriages are inter-something!) It was drilled into our minds that we were all Americans and should follow one set of rules regardless.

Now, things are different. Excuses are made for everything including every failure. Priveleges are given to some groups disproportionately causing resentment. Sound familiar? Only the tables are turned, different groups. The pendulum on acceptable prejudice has swung the other way. Students frequently think it is acceptable to attack “majority” students. Since when is it ever acceptable to attack on basis of color / ethnicity?

I respect that some people believe action must be taken. But what action?? Here, in Southern California, the wrong kind of actions are taking us further from the goal of tolerance! Instead, we should be embracing how similar all Americans are rather than focusing solely on differences, we will move in the right direction! Regardless of color, these people need to understand how they are more alike the people in their own neighborhood/ city than some ancestral group. Besides, what happens to all those “mixed” children? I try to emphasize that love may eventually conquer many of these problems.

Personally, I’m tired of the ATTACK! ATTACK! mentality.

I will end on this thought even though I was primarily focusing on the issue from the point of view that we want people to be well adjusted Americans. The biggest new threat is not Black / White at all.

I actually found your website by doing some research on GEICO and their use of the Caveman. I happen to work in the marketing and sales area for one of their competitors. I will offer some comments on our perception(s) of their advertisements in another blog. I was sorry to see some of the horrendous comments made by some on that subject.

It is with great interest that I read this section. It seems I am coming aboard late as these posts stopped in late August. Nonetheless, I would like to comment on some practical ways to combat racism.

1) Educate yourself regardless of your backgorund. (Examples: If you are Anglo-Caucasian, then go over to the African-American Studies area of the bookstore and read. If you are of East Asian descent, read about Latin Americans in the U.S. May I also humbly add that nearly everyone can benefit from learning about the experiences of interracial couples and families in the U.S. – by the way, this is an area where most people, regardless of race and ethnicity, still fear to tread.

2) This relates to the first one. Professors in many disciplines will challenge their students to “lay all their presuppositions (prejudices, opinions, beliefs, etc.) out on the table” before engaging in study. Review those presuppositions you wrote down six months after study.

3) This relates to the first two comments. Reading and studying are safe – while they give you tools for change, they do not require you to change. Find a public university in your area that has student groups and professors who meet, engage in honest dialogue, and have public service opportunties. The reason I say “public” is because it is taxpayer-funded and you have as much right to be there as you do in a public library. Private universities can (and sometimes do) discriminate – but many will welcome you.

4) Do not discount the non-profit sectors – The shelters for homeless, battered, abuse people – Places of worship that focus their outreach efforts on people of all backgrounds -Community Centers and camps that are geared towards reaching children by promoting a positive self-image, physical fitness, and a healthy lifestyle. The difference you make in settings like these may or may not be visible to you, but it will reveal things in your heart and life.

5) Whether for leisure. education, or charity, travel outside the United States at least once in your lifetime. 80% of the U.S. population will never travel outside the U.S. in their lifetime(s).

6) Realize that racism does take on many forms: From the attitudes that individuals and groups have to the institutionalized structures of discrmination that still exist. And, it is impossible to have been born and raised in the United States without being affected in one way or another by racism. The same goes for most other nations, however.

7) I will repeat some advice that I have been given by those who are wiser and better looking than me: a) Never think too highly of what little you actually know when interacting with people with different backgrounds than you. b) Regardless of any pain or suffering you have endured, do not fall prey to believing you hold the market share. c) Always examine your beliefs – the things you consider worth living for should be the same as those you conisder worth dying for.

ABW, my apology for the length of my comments.

All the best,

Adam

I’ve never thought that about Blog Against Racism week, though, for a couple of reasons; first, it seems like a community thing, rather than a single person’s isolated posts, and second, I’m not really part of the choir, since I’m white, but I’m reading a large percentage of the posts and finding them eye-opening. I think it’s a great thing you all are doing, and I would be participating if I had a blog.

Perhaps I owe my friend an apology.

any movement needs to find ways to get huge masses behind them. now in today’s culture where most people truly don’t think anythings wrong with racial relations, it’s going to be hard (which i know all of you are aware of).

in the end i think actions in conjunction with words is a good combo.