Hippiekinkster
Posts: 5512
Joined: 11/20/2007 From: Liechtenstein Status: offline
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Getting back to your question, blushes, well, we DON'T have to treat some people differently than others. In an ideal society, wherein surface traits such as skin color, ethnic identity, religion, sex (yes, I know sex is a fundamental difference; it is also an instant identifier, and one of the ways in which people discriminate) are irrelevant, it would be unnecessary. However, we do not live in such a society. I'm going to use the word "traitism" instead of "racism", since it is accurate. So how should we try and achieve such a society? Ask people nicely to not discriminate? I don't think that has ever worked. Pass laws against traitism? Well, we have those. Quite a few. Somehow, some people are able to circumvent those laws. Google "redlining". Credit scoring is the new redlining. Those laws aren't as effective as they could be, if people supported their necessity. So, what other methods are available to help "level the playing field"? (really dislike that metaphor) Maybe programs to help the kids who are the indirect (or even direct) victims of traitism have some good nutrition, so they can develop normally and learn more in school. Maybe some assistance with daycare so mothers can hold down productive jobs and get some additional education. Maybe some mortgage assistance to help offset the dispicable practice of redlining. maybe some tuition assistance so poor kids can get into college. Maybe some guidelines for hiring to help offset the "good old boys' network". (Oh, it's real, it exists) Maybe some penalties with teeth in them for discrimination. Maybe ending the corrupt practice of "racial profiling" so cops and lawyers aren't filling the jails with minorities. If people were going to do the right thing and actually follow the Golden Rule (like their religions tell them to; the vast majority, anyway), traitism would be almost gone. But people don't do the right thing (collectively); they either need to be forced to, or they need to be forced to accept some form of affirmative action. That's how I see things. I grew up in a Traitist house with traitist neighbors and relatives. I changed. I came to understand that I have an unearned advantage based on nothing more than the amount of pigment I have in my skin. I came to understand that is wrong. It's not possible for me to walk in, say, my buddy Randall's or Domiguy's shoes, but I can sure as hell try. I owe them that simply because they are fellow Humans, and because they are still being discriminated against in ways I can't even begin to see. That's how I see things.
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