(no subject)
You know that tingling you get--almost like a shiver when something is wrong, or you're doing something you know you shouldn't be?
Sometimes you have to act on that in different ways.
The movie Crash (likely one of the best movies I've ever seen) will suffice as my example for this entry. Typical yes, fleeting in it's purpose--no.
I think a lot of people miss the main message that movie attempts to convey. All around the world and this very moment every single one of us coin new stereotypes, live up to stereotypes, and encourage stereotypes. There is a part in the movie where Ludacris' character discusses the stereotypes against their race with his partner. He looks down on those who look down upon him, but then proceeds to prove their judgment against him correct.
We all do that everyday. People prove to others that their negative preconceived notions about each person is an individual, or even as a group is correct.
So we create the stereotype. It's wrong, and many times untrue. But we see it in more than one person of the same color or descent, it becomes a label. Some people think that because they see this, it will always be true, and in the few times it isn't-- something must be wrong with those different people. And it's bullshit.
It's taken and made into what I like to call the accepted form of prejudice. generalizations such as 'black people can't swim' or 'white people can't dance' or 'asians can't drive' are juuuust hurtful enough to get your opinion across, but not enough to start a civil rights movement. And it's wrong. WRONG. yet, also unavoidable. We are who we were raised to be, but who says you can't for once think for yourself and break out of that? The power of one right?
Everyone tries to make out that we've come such a long way since the 60s or since the 1800s when in reality, we're just less open about it.
The shocking thing to me, and something made prominent in Crash: that it's not just white people. Human Beings of every shape size and color have an image that they believe a race holds true to, that doesn't make it right. So you people that say "oh well it's just the way things are, I'd love to change it but i can't" are full of shit. Start a change by thinking just a little bit before you say something that could insult a close friend--whether or not you're joking.
Someone asked me if I thought it was right to generalize certain groups by certain patterns. No I don't, especially when the patterns have a negative connotation at their root. That's the way it is.
I'm not directing this at any one person, regardless of the catalyst that got this going. You realize how ignorant we all are to the jokes we make and the assumptions, and it's shocking. Intelligent open minded people even!!!
It just makes me sad.
and that's it.
Sometimes you have to act on that in different ways.
The movie Crash (likely one of the best movies I've ever seen) will suffice as my example for this entry. Typical yes, fleeting in it's purpose--no.
I think a lot of people miss the main message that movie attempts to convey. All around the world and this very moment every single one of us coin new stereotypes, live up to stereotypes, and encourage stereotypes. There is a part in the movie where Ludacris' character discusses the stereotypes against their race with his partner. He looks down on those who look down upon him, but then proceeds to prove their judgment against him correct.
We all do that everyday. People prove to others that their negative preconceived notions about each person is an individual, or even as a group is correct.
So we create the stereotype. It's wrong, and many times untrue. But we see it in more than one person of the same color or descent, it becomes a label. Some people think that because they see this, it will always be true, and in the few times it isn't-- something must be wrong with those different people. And it's bullshit.
It's taken and made into what I like to call the accepted form of prejudice. generalizations such as 'black people can't swim' or 'white people can't dance' or 'asians can't drive' are juuuust hurtful enough to get your opinion across, but not enough to start a civil rights movement. And it's wrong. WRONG. yet, also unavoidable. We are who we were raised to be, but who says you can't for once think for yourself and break out of that? The power of one right?
Everyone tries to make out that we've come such a long way since the 60s or since the 1800s when in reality, we're just less open about it.
The shocking thing to me, and something made prominent in Crash: that it's not just white people. Human Beings of every shape size and color have an image that they believe a race holds true to, that doesn't make it right. So you people that say "oh well it's just the way things are, I'd love to change it but i can't" are full of shit. Start a change by thinking just a little bit before you say something that could insult a close friend--whether or not you're joking.
Someone asked me if I thought it was right to generalize certain groups by certain patterns. No I don't, especially when the patterns have a negative connotation at their root. That's the way it is.
I'm not directing this at any one person, regardless of the catalyst that got this going. You realize how ignorant we all are to the jokes we make and the assumptions, and it's shocking. Intelligent open minded people even!!!
It just makes me sad.
and that's it.