(no subject)
I'm reading a book I found called "The Emperor Of Ocean Park". Quite good. I'm really getting into but I wasn't at first and I'll tell you why(I'm sure you were wondering). It's written by a black man(not my problem) but it's the main character that is really the subject of my dislike. He's...I don't know if there is really a word for this. I don't think it's racist because I'm not sure you can be racist and black in this country. But he does make assumptions based on the color of people. These are not people he knows. At one point in the book, the main character, who we will refer to as Tal, gets jumped. He calls the Campus police and then tries to escape up some scaffolding. When the police get there, they find a man hiding in the scaffolding where they just got a call so they treat him like a suspect. It is later supposed that if he were white, they never would have assumed that he was the bad guy.
I really don't like things like this. I think the whole racial movement is given power by us. The fact that people are from different places or cultures or are a different color or speak another language may be cause for confusion. But that should be the extent of it.
I think slavery was a horrible thing and I feel bad for all of them. Every slave that was abused and beaten and tortured simply for being black. However, all of those people are dead. Not to be callous but, come on. I can't honestly take anyone seriously that believes, because a lot of people did bad things to some other people, and all of theses people are dead, that they should get preferential treatment.
I will be the first one to admit that racism is alive and well. But some people act like the only reason anyone does anything is a racist reason.
This book did bring up a good point though. I always disagreed with affirmative action because it forces people to hire based on other factors than merit. The characters in this book also don't like affirmative action but for another reason. They believe that it is a plot to lure the best of the ghetto to white america. Keep the rest of them in their place. Now I'm all for paranoia but...wow.
Anyway, I'm going to keep reading the book. I may even look into the whole fight for rights thing that went on earlier this century. I realize that I am under prepared to argue intelligently. This is just my thought for the day.
I really don't like things like this. I think the whole racial movement is given power by us. The fact that people are from different places or cultures or are a different color or speak another language may be cause for confusion. But that should be the extent of it.
I think slavery was a horrible thing and I feel bad for all of them. Every slave that was abused and beaten and tortured simply for being black. However, all of those people are dead. Not to be callous but, come on. I can't honestly take anyone seriously that believes, because a lot of people did bad things to some other people, and all of theses people are dead, that they should get preferential treatment.
I will be the first one to admit that racism is alive and well. But some people act like the only reason anyone does anything is a racist reason.
This book did bring up a good point though. I always disagreed with affirmative action because it forces people to hire based on other factors than merit. The characters in this book also don't like affirmative action but for another reason. They believe that it is a plot to lure the best of the ghetto to white america. Keep the rest of them in their place. Now I'm all for paranoia but...wow.
Anyway, I'm going to keep reading the book. I may even look into the whole fight for rights thing that went on earlier this century. I realize that I am under prepared to argue intelligently. This is just my thought for the day.