From: osele@acsu.buffalo.edu (itiakorit j osele)
Newsgroups: alt.discrimination,alt.politics.correct,soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: Slavery (was Re: Sexist African Males)
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:31:20 GMT
Organization: UB

In article <viking.703318611@aviator.cc.iastate.edu> viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson) writes:
>In <1992Apr14.223436.12865@acsu.buffalo.edu> osele@acsu.buffalo.edu
> (itiakorit j osele) writes:
>
>>Of coarse one doesn't take credit directly, but people do it indirectly
>>by taking pride in what their ancestors did. This is one of the linchips
>>of racism,  i.e human progress has been the effort of some races and not
>>others.
>
>	On the contrary, I am rather proud that my ancestors managed
>to introduce extortion to the inhabitants of the British isles.  We
>called it "Danegeld."  I am also quite proud that my ancestors were
>remarkably adept at killing others and finding new places to loot.  These
>views hardly make me a racist; pride in my ancestors does not equate
>to disdain of yours, no matter who yours may be or what they did.

Killing and looting is human progress ! May be our value systems are
diametrically opposite.

Certainly, when say, a body of knowledge [ e.g scientific ]
is ascribed to some races and not the others, this is implicit racism.
It does not have to be blatant DISDAIN FOR OTHERS. There are many ways
racism can manifest itself.

>
>>What I was wondering aloud in the net was, why not take pride in
>>the good things AND responsibilty for the bad - it sure would make us
>>better human beings ?
>
>	And why should I take responsibility for either the good or the
>bad?  I prefer to take a note of pride in both -- not everybody can
>say their ancestors laid waste to the aisland of Wisby, you know.  I
>can no more help or hinder the far past than I can predict the future,
>and I refuse to take direct responsibility for either.  I do not take
>credit for the battle plan that laid waste to Wisby, and I see no
>reason I should take any blame for such, either.  I am an individual,
>and I will judge and be judged on my own merits.  This ideal will,
>I believe, make us better human beings.  It is when we start making
>artificial classifications on people that we become inhumane.
>

Yeah, I agree we are individuals first, but we also make up a community
of individuals. This is not an artificial classification, it is a natural
tendency. Here is the crux: if we are at a higher level a community, how do
we organise ourselves so that there is harmony, and all the good things we
merit as humans. I think this is the current challenge to mankind, certainly
NOT achievable by looting and killing - however we perfect those skills!

Incidently, racism is about a race not an individual in a race, so when
you "I, I" you miss(ed) the point. We are talking about things larger than
our individual selves. I know this does not sound hip today when
individualism reigns supreme. Unless of course one has started his/her own
a one-person race ! It is logically [mathematical] possible.

Itiakorit

><Daniel R. Sorenson   Dod #1066  |If Iowa State University agreed with me >
><z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu <- work |I'd make $90K/yr.  They don't, I don't. >
><viking@iastate.edu      <- play |"I am *not* goofing off.  I am driving  >
>< myself mercilessly in the pursuit of relaxation." -- T. Weeds           >
>