race, discrimination, and the like

[kadiera]

I've been seeing folks on my friends list posting for "blog against racism" week. And I'm really torn here...I've said little because I know that my views will likely be unpopular - most of what I've seen seems to be blogging as a way of saying, "I know I'm a little racist, and this makes me feel guilty." rather than "I know racism is a problem,

Comments

[mogwar]

That's great on an individual level, but I think work needs to be done on an institutional level as well.

[kadiera]

Institutions are run by people. Institutions act on the will of the people behind them.

[mogwar]

I don't think it's quite as simple as that. I think your ex is probably a good example of this - on an individual level, I bet he was a decent guy and he'd never discriminate against another individual due to skin color or gender or anything like that. But put him in a whole class people looking at a whole class of other people, and things might radically change. We are frequently not the same people in groups as we are on our own.

[kadiera]

We are frequently not the same people in groups as we are on our own.

That is not the fault of the group though, because "the group" is a nebulous thing.

It is something we each have to deal with in our own heads. To change the world, we, as individuals have to be true to ourselves, and have the balls to stand up for what we believe is right, regardless of the beliefs of those around us.

I'm not saying it's easy. I am saying it's necessary.