Sunday, February 10, 2008

Something that Moves Me

When I was a little kid, I asked my dad, "Dad, why do people call Elvis 'The King?'"

He replied, "Well, people used to say that he was the 'king' of Rock N Roll, but he wasn't. The real king was probably really Chuck Berry."

That was all my developing young mind needed to hear. You can explain a lot to a child with the correct words and without even saying much at all.

Growing up, I have often felt guilty for being a white American. No one made me feel this way, it's just a powerful feeling that has grown over the years. I am not ashamed of myself, but I am ashamed of my ancestors and I am ashamed of the ideals they passed on. Many of these thoughts and actions still run wild in today's society and it sickens me. I know I'm not perfect. I'm very far from it. But what I do know is that the biggest problem plaguing our country isn't money, terror, drugs, or the government, it's the mother fucking color of our skin! I will end a conversation the moment I realize someone is a fucking biggot, period. Damn them for thinking they are better than another human being just because they have a different tan.

When I became a rebelious teenager, I told my mom that Thanksgiving Dinner could fuck right off. And I still feel this way today. That bullshit they teach in school about the Pilgrims and the Indians sharing a lovely meal is ridiculous. The first American Indians should have let those white bastards starve and freeze to death. Instead of toasting the Pilgrims and the Indians, teach your children to have Thanksgiving Dinner EVERYDAY.

To anyone whose skin is NOT white: You have every right to be pissed off. We are all in agreement here that no one alive today owned a slave or killed an American Indian in order to steal his land. But, we are only 50 some years out of segregation and believe me, those folks are still very alive, and the pain is still very real. Still, to this day, kids of different races are being bussed to other schools in order to desegregate. Damn us all, for allowing this shit to happen.

I walk a thin line with these feelings though. What I mean is, it's like when a white person thinks that just because they are not a racist, then that is supposed to mean that all other races have to be cool with them. That's totally and completely condescending, people. In fact, I feel that any further conversation beyond this blog entry is condescending to the topic as well. On top of all this, I also feel that the whole, "We're all the same" mentality is bullshit. We are NOT all the same. We are all different. By skin tone alone, the point is, no one is better than anyone else.


2 comments:

Wesley Goble said...

I respectively disagree. I believe you have well-deserved, valid points, though. When you say people of so-called "minority" status have every right to be pissed at people who are white, you are completely wrong. Hate isn't something anyone rightly SHOULD do. The true right thing is to get over yourself. Give up. Certain things happened a long time ago and it was a different world. They would not happen today and for the most part, I don't think anyone would try to re-introduce slavery, segregation, or any form of racial superiority.

However, there are exceptions. There are people who hold on to the same bitter feelings of past generations. This is only intensified by "proactive" concepts such as Affirmative Action. That has to be one of the most sorry cover-ups I've ever seen.

Regarding you're statement of "We are NOT all the same, we are all different", I again, disagree. With that kind of mentality, when can humans be unified? I DO, however, think people are divided by race, heritage, past, and preference. I think it is great to have pride in one's race and homeland. I also think it is perfectly fine for those whose ancestors were slaves to loathe the era, but not the descendants of the slave-owners plantation owners. How can things ever be repaired? That will only perpetuate the inferiority complex.

Today we have a black man running for President. That is monumental and a milestone in history for our country. I am proud to be alive at this day. That being said, I am also proud to say I have the option to not vote for this man and not be tagged "racist". That is ALSO a milestone for this country. THIS is the proof that racism can be stamped out. If every voter in the U.S. voted for Barack Obama because he is black, I'm sure he would feel worse than losing for real reasons.

I'm sure you will agree with that, if nothing else.

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