I spent the 2009 Ironman World Championships standing on the sidelines with my camera (for about an hour) waiting for a Pullet Surprise moment. Didn't get a one, even with over 200 shots taken. The next day at our local gym, I thought about racism and politics.
Our gym has a bank of tv's with the sound off, but CC on, in front of the elliptical machines, stationary bikes and stare-masters. This particular day, I was watching Fox News because that was on one of the monitors. The other monitors had Oprah, and a "Secret lives of women" episode about prostitution that I really wanted to watch, but didn't because...well, I didn't. On Fox news, BTW, I don't watch news channels anymore. They all seem like my Ma's opera when I was young: Lots of screeching, so you know there must be something important going on, but it's too much trouble to figure it all out. Ditto with internet news sources which seem to be all blogs.
Anyway, these three white guys, and one white woman were talking about how some people think that criticism of Obama is racist. At least twice, the talking heads said "I don't care if he's green, or purple..." another said "I don't care if he is mauve or puse..." They also said, repeatedly, "I don't have a racist bone in my body..." Was it Shakespeare that said "Methinks he doth protest too much?"
I was struck that none said: "I don't care if he's black or brown..." they just used Barney colors. Does that mean they DO care if he's black or brown? And further, I do have a racist bone in my body. I have my guard up when I meet an older white male...the difference is, I recognize my prejudices and don't let them get in the way of personal interactions...they just warn me a little...
Dunno where I'm going with all this.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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2 comments:
Buddy, you're going where Barney colors live. I know what you mean about those "I don't care if..." lines, and I can't quite put my finger on it, either. The whole idea of color-blindness seems flawed, or perhaps flayed.
Okay, okay, I admit I'm totally racist against any black, brown, red, yellow, and um...let's see..oh yeah, white person of color who proposes to tell me what to do, when to do it, and how much money to send in to them to pay for it. So I guess that makes me totally prejudice against....uh....oh! that's it: POLITICIANS! (Hey! Guess that makes me an Anarchist! Say...ever notice how "anarchist" looks a little like "antichrist?" )
"Half a nice day" --- Rick
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