I like having constructive conversations with people, even people I disagree with. Sometimes especially then- I get new perspectives, learn new things. But the conversations, and opinions, need to be based on facts, on different interpretations of reality. Not complete ignorance of facts, and disconnect from reality. Is something based on fantasy really an opinion? Or just more fantasy? Paging Fox News!
Anyway. I'm torn between trying to debate with stupid people and ignoring them. On the one hand I'm not going to change their mind, and they're probably not going to understand what I'm saying, and they'll misinterpret what I say. On the other hand I can't just let stupid statements go. Because if you let it go unchallenged, people go "well, it must be okay." So I want to let them know it is stupid, but I know I probably can't change the way they think.
A couple of weeks ago Miss Mox and I posted things about events in Ferguson, about race relations, about how all that is affecting our family now and might in the future. And immediately some (now former) "friends" on Facebook got offended. Plus, I saw and participated in similar discussions elsewhere, online and in person. The amount of ignorance was astounding. The persistence in sticking to that ignorance, and in doubling down on it, was beyond belief.
And many of them tried to bring in history, in one way or another. Now, we each have history degrees; Miss Mox has several. We read history. We talk about it. Museums and libraries are our idea of fun date spots. Some tips for blithering idiots: Don't try to educate a history major about basic history. Don't try to tell a history major that history doesn't matter. Don't use bits of the past out of context to try to back up your nasty comments. If you're going to try to educate me about something, you'd better know a lot about it yourself.
One of these guys said, essentially, that history doesn't matter. That blacks should stop using history to try to explain current events, that the Irish had it just as bad, yadda yadda... Where did you go to school, and did you even stay awake in history class? Or are you regurgitating something you heard Rush say, or heard on a skinhead shortwave radio channel? I'm curious; maybe I missed something in class myself- were Irish-Americans kept from voting up into the 1960s? Were they kept from going to school with other ethnicities? Or marrying someone from another race? Because that was illegal in many places, less than 50 years ago. History matters. And discrimination is not just a historical fact, it's still going on.
Speaking of 50 years, one jackass in another thread posted a rambling history of the Republican party, trying to show how they were the real supporters of racial equality. We all know Lincoln was a Republican. How convenient, though, that these morons leave out the last 50-75 years of the Republican story. You know, the part many alive have gone through and know all about. Why? Maybe because they can't come up with any positive examples in the last half century? I am reminded of Rand Paul being befuddled when he
pointed the Lincoln connection out at Howard University and didn't get sudden, massive support. "I'll just sort this out and be on my way. Wait, why aren't they cheering?"
A lot of these people were also free with the n-word and racial stereotypes, while claiming not to be racist. "Everyone else is racist. Blacks are more racist than whites. The Democrats are the real racists." And they spout all the usual conservative talking points, but then say "I don't watch Fox” as if that gives them more authority. Maybe you just listen to Limbaugh then? So much ignorance. Some said since the president is black therefore there is no racism. "And the CEO of my company is black, so therefore there is no racism."
Anyway. People seemed offended when racism was pointed out to them. Then there's the guy who said "racism doesn't exist until you talk about it." Yeah. I'm guessing he's older than 5; not sure though. The idea of protesting offends them as well. "This isn't the way to handle this. Deal with it as a community. Don't block my commute." It's interesting that the people who are saying "well, this is something the black community needs to fix on their own" and "why aren't they cleaning things up themselves?" are the same people who cracked on Obama for being a community organizer. They're saying that's what is needed, but they disparaged it. Hypocrites.
And the commenters were upset by their privilege being pointed out. "I made myself who I am! No one helped me!" Sounding a lot like the "I built this" people who purposely ignore what Obama actually said, about businesses being great, and productive, but having help from the government with infrastructure, the internet, etc. The subtext of these commenters' points, of course, is that black people are lazy and violent and deserve everything they get. And should be quiet. The ignorance is truly breathtaking. I'm white, and male, and I know damn well that what I perceive as normal is not everybody's normal. I don't get followed in stores. I don't get pulled over for no reason. And I've seen how Miss Mox and her siblings get treated, and heard about things that have happened to her. Telling people their problems don't exist when they lay them out right in front of you is worse than ignorant. It's stupid. And vile.
It's interesting- one thing I didn't see in all these folks' comments was one hint of sympathy, or empathy, for their fellow human beings. Such shining examples of human decency. Ironic that most of this was the week before Thanksgiving, when most pause and reflect on their blessings, not just the things they have done themselves. Instead, these guys were self-centered, beating their chests about how they were responsible for everything they ever got. I get it- a lot of us started off with very little, and have made a lot of our lives. But most of us have the dignity and grace to be aware that we got some help, be aware of the lucky breaks we got. At least acknowledge that, and be thankful. You have no privileges that you know of? You did everything yourself, with no help? Nobody should talk about discrimination or injustice because it's just not real? I get it. Thanks for showing me who you are.
And, what, we're all responsible for anything that happens to us, for own death? Say, if you have asthma like Eric Garner? I have it, and could tell exactly what he was going through. People said "he said he can't breathe, so he can obviously breathe." Assholes. Trayvon Martin was responsible for George Zimmerman stalking him, while he carried snacks? How about if cops take responsibility for their own actions? Look- most cops are good. But there are bad ones, and when there are issues they should be dealt with- openly. Not brushed under the rug, not dealt with by the local prosecutor who is someone's buddy. We have a warped justice system, with unequal application of the law. Young black men are far, far more likely to be killed by police than young white men- 20 times more likely, far out of proportion to population or any explaining away about crime rates.
As a society we're apparently easily scared of black people. Due to, guess what? History. Years of discrimination, ignorance, and hatred. And since we're easily scared, we justify anything done in response to that fear. It's pretty pathetic that places like Florida can say if you're afraid, you can kill someone. So the biggest wimp can kill whoever he wants. That's exactly what happened with Zimmerman, with the girl in Detroit, with several kids trick or treating, etc.
But some people insist on keeping their ignorance intact. You don't hear about it, so you don't have to think about it, so it's not a problem for you, so it's not a problem at all. And you don't want anyone else to talk about it. Keeping problems in the dark makes them worse. The idea that people should keep things quiet, not protest, is counterproductive. And disappointing. Protest is what started this country, and is sometimes needed. Overblown images of looting, when most protests were peaceful, don't help.
This is probably my longest post ever, and I barely scratched the surface on so many aspects of this. You know, it's not my job to educate people. Several commenters said, essentially, "Prove to me that the gibberish I just spouted is wrong." Hey, it's up to you to do the work to educate yourself. You can sit in your hole and get pissed about things you don't understand, or you can learn a bit about history, and other people. Remember people? There are people besides you out there. People different than you. Try to be a decent human being and think of them sometimes, not just yourself. And hey, just try to think. And learn. It's good for you. And the country.
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