From: his@the-temple.East.Sun.COM (Howard Solomon - SunExpress Support Engineer)
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Re: WARNING: Stealth African Marauding soc.motss
Date: 13 Oct 92 17:47:54 GMT
Reply-To: his@the-temple.East.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: the-temple.east.sun.com

In article 14526@tc.cornell.edu, shore@dinah.tc.cornell.edu (Melinda Shore) writes:
>[]
>I was genuinely depressed by Howard's posting on this
>subject, this thread following as closely as it does on
>the heels of the 'blame' thread.  I also wouldn't have
>guessed Howard to be so completely unaware of the results
>of systemic racism/sexism/heterosexism.

I'm glad I waited before posting a reply to this.  Originally, all I read was
the above paragraph and it infuriated me.  Now, I can look at it through calmer
means.  The results of Xism is very clear.  They are everywhere.  I don't see how
my post shows a lack of insight into this.  I am sure that at some time or another
the vast majority have been either on the benefit or detriment side created by
unfairnesses of the world.  I am sure, for example, that I have seen both.

>
>In article <1bc9doINNrp4@seven-up.East.Sun.COM> his@the-temple.East.Sun.COM writes:
>>I'm not sure quite how to respond to this, but I'll try.  
>>To my knowledge, I have not been involved in the type of 
>>thing Donald is screaming about, but, in reading
>>his post, I am supposed to feel I am.  I am not perfect 
>>and, I trust, neither is Donald or anyone else reading this 
>>posting.  HOWEVER, I am not evil by definition and CERTAINLY 
>>NOT by the skin color I happened to have been born with.  
>
>I didn't like Donald's post either, but what I've quoted
>above is pretty typical "just doesn't get it" stuff that
>we usually see from the terminally clueless.  Howard goes on
>to talk about blame, and the fact that his whiteness doesn't
>automatically make him guilty of racism.

Guilt is the key here.  Being white does not make me guilty of racism.  It does mean
that I likely benefit from it sometimes, but that is still not guilt.  I should
likely work harder to combat it than I might, but that still not earn me blame for
its existence.  I don't feel I am terminally clueless and resent the implication
that I am (at least on this issue).

>
>The problem is, obviously, that we can't really know to
>what extent those of us who are members of some privileged
>class (be it race, gender, affectional orientation,
>religion, etc.) profit from that membership.  Unless Howard
>*knows* for a *fact* that he's never gotten a job over a
>more qualified woman, that he's never gotten housing that
>was denied to a black person, that he's never gotten a loan
>from a bank that turns down equally qualified Hispanic
>applicants, that he's never gotten service from a sales
>clerk who is snubbing a sissy, etc., he can't really claim
>that he's never benefited from those kinds of bigotries.
>The assignment of blame is largely irrelevant;  it seems to
>me that we need to accept the fact that we do live in a
>racist culture and that many of us do accrue what to us are
>invisible benefits before we can begin to address changing
>it.

True.  I cannot know how I might have benefitted unfairly from society's prejudices.
I also cannot know how I was hurt by the programs designed to reverse same.  I have
been told in the past that Jews are a privileged class.  Yes, they have been victims
of discrimination but they are successful so it doesn't count.  This is ridiculous.  I
would certainly like to see a world where extraneous issues such as color, orientation,
religion, etc. were never considered.  I think, however, that it is important
when looking at these issues to distinguish between active and passive action.
While I should not benefit from the unfairness of society and probably do, it is
not directly my fault.  In my original post I was talking about doing racist things.
I never said I have not benefitted from the unfairnesses of racism.  I said I
do not act in a racist manner.  (it is certainly possible that I do but not
consciously, I suppose )  Working harder to address the unfairnesses around us is
something we can all do.

>--
>       Melinda Shore - Cornell Theory Center - shore@tc.cornell.edu

I do not feel the need to apologize or to live up to Melinda's or anyone else's
rules.  However, I am disappointed that Melinda feels so negatively about me.
If there was a misunderstanding, I am glad.  If not, so be it.  I cannot please
everyone.

Howard

---
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Howard I. Solomon			|ELECTION '92
Software Support Engineer, SunExpress	|Hold your nose and vote for Bill!
his@east.sun.com			|
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Newsgroups: soc.motss