I agree, my bigotry sucks. I’ve never been very good at bigotry even though I have had it shoveled at me all my life. Even when in the military I didn’t hate Russians or Koreans etc. I don’t hate homesexuals, radical islamists or even Gov Mike Pence. Just not in me any more to sit and try to judge people. Liberals are pushing the boundaries though. Once I moved out of isolated communities (physical, cultural and spiritual) and met new people, experience different cultures and see from different points of view, the bigotry I grew up with eventually fell away. I don’t need it, don’t miss it. I also don’t have an automatic sympathy towards self proclaimed oppressed groups, or the perpetually offended. I have learned a simpls philosphy, as long as a person or group isn’t trying to kill, enslave or oppress me for being me, I will leave them alone.
Another look at Male Privilege, Survivors of RMS Titanic:
Although all but four of the 140 women traveling first class survived, only 57 of the 175 men were saved. There were 80 female survivors out of 93 traveling second class, but only 14 out of 168 men. Third class survival rates were even worse; 76 of 165 women were rescued, but the list of survivors shows only 75 out of 462 men. Almost all 30 of the children traveling in first and second class survived, only 27 of the 79 children in third class were rescued.
Another take on Making Men Cry, Pretty Little One:
Dr Jimmy T (Gunny) LaBaumeApril 1, 2015 5:32 am
Racism, to me, is hating someone for no reason but for the color of their skin. On the other hand…
The freedom to associate has a corollary–the freedom to choose to NOT associate.
I may not “hate” anyone for no reason other than the color of their skin. However, I also may “strongly dislike” other things about them so that I may not wish to associate with “those people.”
If that makes me a bigot, then so be it. I’m sure as hell not going to grovel at the feet of some PC moron.
ClaireApril 1, 2015 6:09 am
Dr. Gunny 🙂 — Apparently I didn’t write that piece very well. You are the second person to interpret it as possibly being against freedom of association.
For the record, it’s about groups claiming special privileges, including the privileges of depriving other groups of rights and the privilege of excusing their own bigotry as something “better” than some other guy’s bigotry.
PatApril 1, 2015 6:22 am
One man’s bigotry is another man’s paranoia. And no one gets to speak their mind with honesty and tolerance when everyone is fighting each other.
I remember when Danny Thomas could make jokes — make jokes! — about many different ethnic groups, and they were understood to be a bringing together of common problems pertaining to all people. The laughter they evoked was not making fun of others, but in empathy with others. People were *willing to be more tolerant* of differences than many people are now, because they recognized the differences were less important than the common ground.
I also remember reading the Reader’s Digest series, “the X [name of country or ethnic group] in America” — explaining how, why and when a particular people came to America and what contributions they’ve made here. I enjoyed those differences as a learning experience.
To expand the idea more globally, see Thomas Sowell’s essay titled, “Cultural Diversity — A World View.” It’s rather long, but worth the read. http://www.aei.org/publication/cultural-diversity/
MamaLibertyApril 1, 2015 3:10 pm
Claire, I never ever thought you didn’t understand the difference… I didn’t make myself clear either, evidently. sigh
I agree, my bigotry sucks. I’ve never been very good at bigotry even though I have had it shoveled at me all my life. Even when in the military I didn’t hate Russians or Koreans etc. I don’t hate homesexuals, radical islamists or even Gov Mike Pence. Just not in me any more to sit and try to judge people. Liberals are pushing the boundaries though. Once I moved out of isolated communities (physical, cultural and spiritual) and met new people, experience different cultures and see from different points of view, the bigotry I grew up with eventually fell away. I don’t need it, don’t miss it. I also don’t have an automatic sympathy towards self proclaimed oppressed groups, or the perpetually offended. I have learned a simpls philosphy, as long as a person or group isn’t trying to kill, enslave or oppress me for being me, I will leave them alone.
I can’t help being racist, I was made that way.
Another look at Male Privilege, Survivors of RMS Titanic:
http://www.historyofthetitanic.org/titanic-survivors.html
Another take on Making Men Cry, Pretty Little One:
Racism, to me, is hating someone for no reason but for the color of their skin. On the other hand…
The freedom to associate has a corollary–the freedom to choose to NOT associate.
I may not “hate” anyone for no reason other than the color of their skin. However, I also may “strongly dislike” other things about them so that I may not wish to associate with “those people.”
If that makes me a bigot, then so be it. I’m sure as hell not going to grovel at the feet of some PC moron.
Dr. Gunny 🙂 — Apparently I didn’t write that piece very well. You are the second person to interpret it as possibly being against freedom of association.
For the record, it’s about groups claiming special privileges, including the privileges of depriving other groups of rights and the privilege of excusing their own bigotry as something “better” than some other guy’s bigotry.
One man’s bigotry is another man’s paranoia. And no one gets to speak their mind with honesty and tolerance when everyone is fighting each other.
I remember when Danny Thomas could make jokes — make jokes! — about many different ethnic groups, and they were understood to be a bringing together of common problems pertaining to all people. The laughter they evoked was not making fun of others, but in empathy with others. People were *willing to be more tolerant* of differences than many people are now, because they recognized the differences were less important than the common ground.
I also remember reading the Reader’s Digest series, “the X [name of country or ethnic group] in America” — explaining how, why and when a particular people came to America and what contributions they’ve made here. I enjoyed those differences as a learning experience.
To expand the idea more globally, see Thomas Sowell’s essay titled, “Cultural Diversity — A World View.” It’s rather long, but worth the read.
http://www.aei.org/publication/cultural-diversity/
Claire, I never ever thought you didn’t understand the difference… I didn’t make myself clear either, evidently. sigh