Ask The Wrong Question, Get The Wrong Answer

Over the past few months I have encountered a...phenomenon isn't the correct word. Dichotomy, perhaps? in the thinking and expressed views of several people: I have listened to self-proclaimed liberals and/or socialists espousing racist beliefs. I will not lie; this has troubled me immensely, not so much because in this day and age racism exists and continues to run rampant through the minds of the ignorant (especially here in the south), but because it exists among those students with whom I interact on an almost daily basis. Aren't we--those seeking higher education--supposed to be of open minds and tolerance? Apparently not. A socialist who is a racist. I cannot fathom this. I spoke with my psychology and sociology instructors concerning this, and both agreed something was wrong in the thought process of the individual(s) who adheres to such pabulum. With the SOC instructor, the reality that racism will never truly die was countered by the telling of her former instructor's prophecy: "By the year 2100, everyone will be a bi-sexual mullato." This, of course, was said in jest, but does such a reality await us all? My PSYCH instructor, on the other hand, stated that he believed a socialist could be exclusive in to whom the proleteriat should benefit. I did not accept this. I COULD not accept this, because by definition, the proleteriat seeks the equality of the working class as a whole, not "rationalized" factions of said. This was really beginning to bug the hell out of me. I didn't lose sleep over it, but it irked me that I could not get past this hurdle of how a socialist or liberal could be a racist. Then it dawned on me: The reason my PSYCH instructor's answer made no sense to me is because I asked the wrong question. I thought back to the end of the Civil War: Blacks were given their freedom from enslavement, but their inclusion into the newly-formed Socialist Party as well as the many worker unions that sprang up was nil, even though by definition they eventually became eager and willing candidates (and for the record, all blacks were Republicans initially, as they paid an homage to Abraham Lincoln for his efforts in setting them free [and for the record, the Civil War was never about ending slavery {The Emancipation Proclamation took care of that}, it was about "...preserving the Union.]. Was it not the Republicans who facillitated the change from oppression of the black man to making him an economically viable citizen in the south in the aftermath of the war? But this is not meant to be a history lesson). This brings me to today, and my poorly-phrased question. How can a socialist be a racist? (S)he cannot. It is impossible for such an entity to exist. We, as human beings, tend to define ourselves by grouping. There are many groups, some more important than others, that we latch onto in our quest to identify ourselves. I am analytically driven, I am a conservative, I am open-minded, and I am athiest. At any point, these and the host of other traits and qualities I exhibit can become my primary group, with the others falling into secondary groups. I like to think that what defines me best is that I am analytically driven, but the others are equally important as well. I have already shown how a socialist racist cannot exist. The proper question, then, is: Can a racist exhibit socialist tendencies? Undoubtedly. The person in question must be grouped according to their strongest belief, or that which best defines them. In this case, they must be racist above all else (inclusion of the specific group) with a feeling of entitlement toward (the exclusion of others in matters of) socialist doctrine. So there you have it. I have hypothecized, theorized, and formed a cognitive, logical explanation to this most perplexing enigma, no doubt given power by the fact that I asked the wrong question to begin with.

Time To Leave Neverland

I have labored under the delusion that as I change, those around me change as well, and just as progressively. I have felt that as age and new experiences have brought wisdom, enabling me to become a better person than I was yesterday (or yesteryear, as it were), that this same increase in age and experience has affected others, thus enabling them to become better people than they were one, ten, even twenty-five years ago. I realize now just how wrong that hypothesis is, simply because I am looking at this the wrong way. Not everyone is going to share my philosophy of right and wrong; not everyone will adhere to my morality, defining good and evil as I do. I am 46 years old, and in regard to my personal growth vs. the growth of those around me, I have remained a "Lost Boy." It is time to move on, though. It is time to leave Neverland. Some friends and acquaintances eventually fall to the wayside as I understand that to revere them as I had always done (out of nostalgia's sake) serves no positive purpose in my life. The same holds true when forming new acquaintanceships and friendships; I tend to hold the newer individual to a more rigorous standard than the previous, simply because I know in the end that individual MUST make a positive impact on my life. So it is with some sadness that I say good-bye to the woman who is more afraid of being alone than she is of continuing in a loveless marriage where she is cheated on almost daily; it is with sadness that I say good-bye to the person who--year after year--psyches himself up because he knows THIS is the year he is going to win the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, making him a millionaire overnight; it is with sadness that I bid farewell to the arrogant prick who had obediently followed the path his parents set him upon, marrying a woman he did not love just so he could say, "I married up and improved my station in life," while dropping the riff-raff that was his friends because she did not approve; it is with sadness that I bid farewell to the individual who believes his age and experience has brought about a wisdom so esoteric in nature that only other like-minded white supremacists can fully grasp its significance; it is with much joy that I say good-bye to the person who's jealousy has caused him to despise me at every turn, who has looked at me and asked, "Why you?" when he should have been looking at himself and asking, "Why not me as well?"; and finally, it is with much joy and anticipation that I say good-bye to my albatross. I will not look back, I will not shed a tear. My future is lies before me, and my focus remains resolute. Good-bye Neverland. Good-bye Lost People. Even I can admit that the negative influence you each became has changed me for the better.

And So We Begin Anew...

Fall semester began today. I have Psych 2103 and Algebra 0099 Mondays and Wednesdays, English Lit 2130 Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Public Speaking Thursdays only. Can anyone say 4.0? Nice try.

Something Old, Something New

Yesterday was a very good day. I met my mother and Cameron at Super Wal-Mart to pick up Cam before making my way to Jasmine and Sky's house. While at Wal-Mart, I saw, of all things, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile (complete with the vanity plate OH I WISH); the last time I saw that was when I was a wee lad of eleven and living in California. I even met Oscar Mayer himself back then, and got wiener gum (cherry flavored, if memory serves) and a wiener whistle. There was no gum this time around, but I did get another wiener-whistle, plus a couple of stickers commemorating the 75th anniversary of the wienermobile. Cameron and I got our pictures taken next to the vehicle, then it was off to meet Skylin's parents. My skills on the grill were immediately called upon, and once everything was finished I was able to spend some time with Peter and Mary, both of whom proved to be enjoyable company; their two girls as well. I need to spend more time with my granddaughter Juliana as she doesn't recognize me inbetween the 6-week absences of seeing her. Oh, well. It was a good day, with a little reminiscing, and I look forward to doing it again real soon. The only thing missing? DJ, of course. LIVER (That was for you, Kimber).

The Results Are In...

Sociology: 98.68; Algebra: 90. Another 4.0, baby!

Just When You Think It's Safe to go Back Amongst the Rednecks

          So I'm at the gazebo at school today (gazebos are designated smoking areas at WGTC) and three ignorant-as-hell hillbillies come over, already in mid-conversation and showing no signs of slowing down, which is fine with me as the gazebos are generally where any and all topics can be discussed/debated. So as they approach, the apparent ringleader of this intrepid triad is saying, "...an' thet's when I said to 'er, 'Hey, lady. I know yer a damnyankee an' I c'n prove it.' Then she ast (yes, ast) me how an' I told 'er ta spell "Yee-haw." An' ya know whut? She kuddent. So thet's when I toll her she ain't had no business teachin' anglish. I was country raised, so I don't need no damnyankee tellin' me how ta talk. They thank there so smart just a'cuz they won the war, but nuthin's changed. It's all gonna be the way it was by the time its all over."
          The other two were adding their two-cents worth every now and again, agreeing with this inbred freak of nature at every turn. Okay, anyone who knows me, knows this is exactly the type of scenario I practically WILL into existence for the simple sake of reminding ignorant people just how archaic their views are, but for some reason I just kept my mouth shut. I listened, I laughed, but said nothing. I was reminded that it is ignorance such as this that keeps hate alive. These people should not be allowed to reproduce.

A Wonderful Read

The Book of DILLIGAF says the opinions of others carry more weight than my own.