http://www.smartlyrics.com/Song632662-WillIAm-SOS-lyrics.aspx
When an eskimo gets bit by a mosquito
Somebody in Miami will get swept by a tsunami
Rastas in Jamaica will get hit by a quake
That registers somethin like eight point eight
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Are White's victims of racial oppression?
This morning a friend of mine sent me an article titled "Are whites racially oppressed" posted over at CNN. I have been seeing/feeling this kind of thing coming and it is really really annoying.
One thing is that most White people I have met don't even understand a lot of the foundational ideas around Systematic Oppression. It's like, they have no idea what it means, and that to them, it isn't even a relevant thing to define. Which is all fine and good, of course that is, until they start claiming to be victims of it.
To start off with, one indicator that a group is marginalized the their access to wealth: the Forbes richest people in the USA, top ten, all white. What about political representation: The Supreme court is majority white, 7 white judges, 2 non-white judges. The vice president is white, the majority of the house is white, and it goes on.
I've witnessed that there is some sort of debate around the idea of what racism is. If racism means pre-judging people on the basis of their skin color, than sure, racism can apply to just about everyone, because we all have some kind of coloring to our skin. If racism means, pre-judging people on the basis of their skin color, having the power to influence their daily life as your judgement see's fit and actually using that power against them, than the scope of racist actors and victims is a little bit more narrow. Racism begins to be something that belongs to the dominant party, whereas the oppressed other can think whatever they want but has not power to do anything. And then we have another definition of racism, which is the systematic oppression of a peoples based on their skin color, meaning that not only does the discrimination or prejudice find itself present in singular and individual situations, but it is omnipresent, like a wave that washes over every aspect of life. This type of racism is not dependent on the views of individuals, but rather supported by a power systems that is essentially built on the backs of those that are oppressed. This, is the definition that I ascribe to.When racism is definied as a systematic oppression against a given race, it can from another angle be considered a system of privilege. A system that rewards and benefits those who are Not members of certain color groups. In the context of the US, and in my opinion the world, because of the spread of it's media, and a long history of european imperialism, the term ``Racism``, can be easily interchanged with the term ``white supremacy``.
So are white people being targeted by racism, by some definitions, at some individual moments, according to some people, perhaps. But are white people a group that are oppressed systematically to the point that they need to motivate as a racially solidified group moving towards a common liberationist cause? If anything, maybe what the majority of Whites in the US are facing is a loss of privilege, a disillusionment of what race promised them. But surely the problem white's today are having is not with race, it is with class. Affirmative Action is being attacked as a privilege for people of color in the US. But I have to whole heartedly disagree with that. Affirmative Action laws are simply way's to prevent groups from being stonewalled when it comes to employment and education, not to insure their dominant position. One has to only look at how hard communities of color have been hit by this economic downturn to understand that it is not non-whites who are keeping whites out of work. Rather, the economy just stinks, and wealth is being centralized at the highest level.
The promises that whites have been given by race is that they will prosper. That they will own and they will have comfort. The construction of the white race was initiated when higher classed whites wanted to control their worker. For fear that Whites and non-whites would band together for workers rights, better treatment, higher wages. What happened is that the rights of whites were levied against the degradation of non-whites. The elite at the moment, land owners, company owners, employers, "beg(a)ns to give certain carrots" as Tim Wise would say to poor whites, in order to win their alliance. These `carrots` came at the cost of racial division, and the total subjugation of non-whites.
Now, the division between working class whites, and elite whites is being shown for what it is. Race and racism have been given to whites to help keep them down, and to help poor whites be complicite in the role of helping the elites keep everyone else down. Now, race is the thing some whites are grabbing on to in order to salvage what they feel they have lost. The economy, the unemployment rate, the lack of fanancial security has not been caused by non-white people, but rather by a callous elite that has no qualms around bankrupting the exact countries they were founded in. What the elites would want us to forget is that the best way to face this problem is to unify, rather than divide.
I see similarities going on in relation to the different kinds of oppressions. Men feel that they are victims of sexism, and nationals feel that they are being marginalized in their own countries. Why is it that when peoples comfort in being the dominant group so quickly turns into victimization when a touch of that dominance feels out of reach? Usually the problems that men feel target them can be resolved by feminism, and the problems that nationals feel threaten their sense of life can be fixed by accepting and intergrating new people, and similarly to other ethnically/racially motivated conflicts the issue is really at the root of it about class, and those who are used to enjoying a certain level of class security feeling as if suddenly it is being challenged by the other, rather than their own old good friend the elite.
If we want to talk about why people are not having the quality of life we would like, let's look at government spending, instead of each other. If we want comfort, and security, it has to be something we all share. Yes, I hope(but don't quite believe) the days of white privilege are over in the US. Not in hopes that it will be replaced by non-white supremacy as some might fear. But so that we can begin recognizing the equal citizenship of all members of society. Maybe then people in the US, and everywhere will be able to build a system in which all people can enjoy the same kind of safety and security that laid off and angry white folks who feel they've become the nation's unsung victims of racism, had grown accustomed to.
One thing is that most White people I have met don't even understand a lot of the foundational ideas around Systematic Oppression. It's like, they have no idea what it means, and that to them, it isn't even a relevant thing to define. Which is all fine and good, of course that is, until they start claiming to be victims of it.
To start off with, one indicator that a group is marginalized the their access to wealth: the Forbes richest people in the USA, top ten, all white. What about political representation: The Supreme court is majority white, 7 white judges, 2 non-white judges. The vice president is white, the majority of the house is white, and it goes on.
I've witnessed that there is some sort of debate around the idea of what racism is. If racism means pre-judging people on the basis of their skin color, than sure, racism can apply to just about everyone, because we all have some kind of coloring to our skin. If racism means, pre-judging people on the basis of their skin color, having the power to influence their daily life as your judgement see's fit and actually using that power against them, than the scope of racist actors and victims is a little bit more narrow. Racism begins to be something that belongs to the dominant party, whereas the oppressed other can think whatever they want but has not power to do anything. And then we have another definition of racism, which is the systematic oppression of a peoples based on their skin color, meaning that not only does the discrimination or prejudice find itself present in singular and individual situations, but it is omnipresent, like a wave that washes over every aspect of life. This type of racism is not dependent on the views of individuals, but rather supported by a power systems that is essentially built on the backs of those that are oppressed. This, is the definition that I ascribe to.When racism is definied as a systematic oppression against a given race, it can from another angle be considered a system of privilege. A system that rewards and benefits those who are Not members of certain color groups. In the context of the US, and in my opinion the world, because of the spread of it's media, and a long history of european imperialism, the term ``Racism``, can be easily interchanged with the term ``white supremacy``.
So are white people being targeted by racism, by some definitions, at some individual moments, according to some people, perhaps. But are white people a group that are oppressed systematically to the point that they need to motivate as a racially solidified group moving towards a common liberationist cause? If anything, maybe what the majority of Whites in the US are facing is a loss of privilege, a disillusionment of what race promised them. But surely the problem white's today are having is not with race, it is with class. Affirmative Action is being attacked as a privilege for people of color in the US. But I have to whole heartedly disagree with that. Affirmative Action laws are simply way's to prevent groups from being stonewalled when it comes to employment and education, not to insure their dominant position. One has to only look at how hard communities of color have been hit by this economic downturn to understand that it is not non-whites who are keeping whites out of work. Rather, the economy just stinks, and wealth is being centralized at the highest level.
The promises that whites have been given by race is that they will prosper. That they will own and they will have comfort. The construction of the white race was initiated when higher classed whites wanted to control their worker. For fear that Whites and non-whites would band together for workers rights, better treatment, higher wages. What happened is that the rights of whites were levied against the degradation of non-whites. The elite at the moment, land owners, company owners, employers, "beg(a)ns to give certain carrots" as Tim Wise would say to poor whites, in order to win their alliance. These `carrots` came at the cost of racial division, and the total subjugation of non-whites.
Now, the division between working class whites, and elite whites is being shown for what it is. Race and racism have been given to whites to help keep them down, and to help poor whites be complicite in the role of helping the elites keep everyone else down. Now, race is the thing some whites are grabbing on to in order to salvage what they feel they have lost. The economy, the unemployment rate, the lack of fanancial security has not been caused by non-white people, but rather by a callous elite that has no qualms around bankrupting the exact countries they were founded in. What the elites would want us to forget is that the best way to face this problem is to unify, rather than divide.
I see similarities going on in relation to the different kinds of oppressions. Men feel that they are victims of sexism, and nationals feel that they are being marginalized in their own countries. Why is it that when peoples comfort in being the dominant group so quickly turns into victimization when a touch of that dominance feels out of reach? Usually the problems that men feel target them can be resolved by feminism, and the problems that nationals feel threaten their sense of life can be fixed by accepting and intergrating new people, and similarly to other ethnically/racially motivated conflicts the issue is really at the root of it about class, and those who are used to enjoying a certain level of class security feeling as if suddenly it is being challenged by the other, rather than their own old good friend the elite.
If we want to talk about why people are not having the quality of life we would like, let's look at government spending, instead of each other. If we want comfort, and security, it has to be something we all share. Yes, I hope(but don't quite believe) the days of white privilege are over in the US. Not in hopes that it will be replaced by non-white supremacy as some might fear. But so that we can begin recognizing the equal citizenship of all members of society. Maybe then people in the US, and everywhere will be able to build a system in which all people can enjoy the same kind of safety and security that laid off and angry white folks who feel they've become the nation's unsung victims of racism, had grown accustomed to.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Go Rosario! Go!
Today was a pretty normal day outside of this blog post I found on Racialicious about how Paul Rudd grabbed Eva Mendes boob for a little too long and as protest Rosario Dawson stabbed him with a fork and grabbed his balls. Lol. Too funny, and too awesome at the same time. My favorite part is the quote where Rosario say's
"I was like, I’m really sorry, Paul, I don’t mean to be offensive. But you’re kind of being offensive."
On a sad note there was a movie I wanted to watch that was available the first time I clicked it and then wouldn't let me watch because I am outside of the USA. Damn IP.
The weather is pretty nice today, the snow is still on the ground but it isn't very cold. The sky is calm and there is a bit of breeze. I feel homesick though anyway. Getting dressed this morning was annoying. Layering last minute can be hard, and I seem to have a habit of putting my leggings on inside out. Every other day I find myself walking along the street and at some point looking down and wondering why I can see the seam. : / oh well.
I'm feeling sort of romantic today, it's a pisces new moon. Hopefully it works in my favor!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Back in action, again...
Hello!
Okay so I am writing again and I plan to do some v-blogs and get things going with a little more excitement.
I am back in Finland and things are going, well you know they are going. I have tons of things I want to update on and it is just overwhelming, but I will try.
I'm happy to be blogging again and look forward to creating some nice content for whomever might be reading : / lol.
Ciao!
Okay so I am writing again and I plan to do some v-blogs and get things going with a little more excitement.
I am back in Finland and things are going, well you know they are going. I have tons of things I want to update on and it is just overwhelming, but I will try.
I'm happy to be blogging again and look forward to creating some nice content for whomever might be reading : / lol.
Ciao!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Long time, no be.
I haven't written for a long time, at least not before my trip so a bit over a month I guess it has been. I sort of stopped writing when I realized my co was reading pretty regularly and I got shy.
I feel a little better now, and even though maybe no one else reads of knows about this blog maybe I will just keep it up because I like to blog, I want to blog, and I think I've come up with a pretty sweet address so I'm gonna keep it...
Anyway I am doing and internship at gallery/book store, and it's really cool because here was have zines and stuff which I can read all day. I've gotten into some of them and it's been nice. I discovered that we even have one book that is a publication of Wesley Willis' drawings. I was pretty blown away and excited about finding it, because when I was in highschool I was pretty into his music, and saw him live, but I never knew he drew also. It's amazing how some people, just being so much in their own world can create the most bizzare and amazing stuff.
Admittedly I got annoyed about the whole Wesley Willis cult thing because I thought it was really racist and exploitive. I wish I had discovered his drawings earlier, but it was a pleasent surprise anyway.
I feel a little better now, and even though maybe no one else reads of knows about this blog maybe I will just keep it up because I like to blog, I want to blog, and I think I've come up with a pretty sweet address so I'm gonna keep it...
Anyway I am doing and internship at gallery/book store, and it's really cool because here was have zines and stuff which I can read all day. I've gotten into some of them and it's been nice. I discovered that we even have one book that is a publication of Wesley Willis' drawings. I was pretty blown away and excited about finding it, because when I was in highschool I was pretty into his music, and saw him live, but I never knew he drew also. It's amazing how some people, just being so much in their own world can create the most bizzare and amazing stuff.
Admittedly I got annoyed about the whole Wesley Willis cult thing because I thought it was really racist and exploitive. I wish I had discovered his drawings earlier, but it was a pleasent surprise anyway.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Boring day...
Today has been a funny day.
I am unbelievably tired. I don't know why.
The past two weeks have been a battle between my body and whatever it is in that Evra patch. My body won.
It mad me moody, mad, restless, and gave me headaches.
Not worth it.
Now I am home. I am transforming and getting better at being brave and fair. Last night I sort of did myself a disservice when fear cropped up a little too high. I wanted to be with my coco and I got scared it would make too many problems with his work. I gotta stop that..
I'm so excited about going home and seeing my family. A part of me feels desperately unsure and worried about the whole thing though. I don't really know why..
I just watched the Anime Paprika, it was amazing.
I am unbelievably tired. I don't know why.
The past two weeks have been a battle between my body and whatever it is in that Evra patch. My body won.
It mad me moody, mad, restless, and gave me headaches.
Not worth it.
Now I am home. I am transforming and getting better at being brave and fair. Last night I sort of did myself a disservice when fear cropped up a little too high. I wanted to be with my coco and I got scared it would make too many problems with his work. I gotta stop that..
I'm so excited about going home and seeing my family. A part of me feels desperately unsure and worried about the whole thing though. I don't really know why..
I just watched the Anime Paprika, it was amazing.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Missing sleep
Sleep,
It is a needed thing. I'm happy though because usually somewhere near the middle, or end of the day I get a sort of bump of energy. I don't know where it comes from... Anyway, last night I went out and it was nice. I think it was the first party I have really been to with my BF. Which is quite funny because we have been together for quite a while. I see now how much my world has sort of been in the dark, in respect to our relationship. I also see how good it feels to really share my life with him. Sometimes he is just the cutest thing in the world.
Tonight is another party and it should be real fun.
But I am looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow. : P
I am so busy though, lately, that I hardly have time to think about, or rather execute my creative projects. I have a lot of time to think about them! LOL. But anyway, there are so many things going on in the world right now, crazy.
It is a needed thing. I'm happy though because usually somewhere near the middle, or end of the day I get a sort of bump of energy. I don't know where it comes from... Anyway, last night I went out and it was nice. I think it was the first party I have really been to with my BF. Which is quite funny because we have been together for quite a while. I see now how much my world has sort of been in the dark, in respect to our relationship. I also see how good it feels to really share my life with him. Sometimes he is just the cutest thing in the world.
Tonight is another party and it should be real fun.
But I am looking forward to doing nothing tomorrow. : P
I am so busy though, lately, that I hardly have time to think about, or rather execute my creative projects. I have a lot of time to think about them! LOL. But anyway, there are so many things going on in the world right now, crazy.
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