Land of Confusion, That’s What the World is Today… Hey Hey.
September 1, 2006
Recently, City Mama posted on BlogHer about the newest Survivor series, where they divide the teams by race. Specifically, a Hispanic team, an Asian team, a black team and a white team. In the comments of that post, debate struck. The discussion then went further and ended in complete mis-communication. While I can’t (and won’t) clarify anyone’s position there, I will stand by what I said in the comments (which was in response to comments made comparing Toronto, Vancouver and the States and how the States was far more racist than Canada.):
I grew up in Toronto, and lived in Vancouver for 5 years, and also have travelled extensively through the States. There is a glaring similarity between all 3, in my experience. Glaring.
Toronto and Vancouver both have very different ratios of various nationalities, and Vancouver seems to be more accepting of other cultures than most parts of Toronto, though I will say the rest of Ontario (I’ve lived in alot of cities here) needs to “catch up” with acceptance and get closer to what Vancouver and Toronto have accomplished. I am not labelling every person outside of these cities racist, so don’t bother jumping me. The States also has as much racist diversity as it does race diversity. So what I’m saying is - there are anti-racists and racists everywhere. No comparison - both countries have considerable work to do.
The thing that bothers me the most is that terrorists have made the States and Canada scary places for innocent people who may appear to be the same as terrorists. Every Lebonese person, every Muslim, (the list goes on) is judged by their appearance because of said terrorists. It makes me sick to watch my friends with these backgrounds to be judged, profiled and suspected of, because of their appearance.
I’d love to see no racism anywhere. I grew up with friends of every nationality and I was always taught that everyone is equal. I know that alot of my friends were raised differently, and that racism is taught. I constantly give people shit when I am told a racist joke, sent a racist joke over email, or witness someone emitting toxic racial slurs. I’m sick of it.
What I’m also sick of is caucasian people being labelled as racist. While there are some who are, I am not and I’m sick and tired of terms like “pulling the racist card,” “why can’t there be a white pride day?” and “why is Black History Month the shortest month of the year?” Do these statements make it worse? Hell yes.
Why can’t we all get along?
As for Survivor, Deb is right - Survivor is done. Put a fork in it already. This latest plot to divide by race is generating the kind of attention that gets ratings - angering people, getting people to talk, and ultimately, to watch. Advertisers, start your engines.
Just my two cents.
Now I don’t know alot about the world, about war, history, etc. And maybe I’ve been too busy to notice, but when did the whole world go fucking crazy? I mean, here we are, in 2006, arguing about this age-old stupidity that is racism. Yes, I said racism is stupid. It IS fucking stupid. Think about it. I’m whiter than Casper the Friendly Ghost. I have white friends. I have Asian friends. I have Lebonese friends, Black friends, skinny friends, fat friends, friends with yeast infections. I also have friends with disabilities, friends with dogs, friends with mortgages and friends with red hair. I could write a damn Cat in the Hat book with all the friends I’ve got. Who cares? When will this all end?
Dylan plays with kids of all different races at school. He also has a little girlfriend who has Diabeties, and another friend who has Downs Syndrome. Does he care about the differences? No. Most kids don’t. Unless they are taught.
I’m not just talking to the white people when I ask (because I’m sick of being labelled as racist just because I am white, dammit.):
So who is teaching racism? Raise your hands if you are.
I thought not. Anyone who is teaching it, by way of overheard snide slurs or outright bold statements behind the four walls of his/her house, isn’t going to raise their hand.
Why? Because racism is not only stupid, the act of passing it on is cowardly and racism lies hidden when it’s being taught.
September 1st, 2006 at 2:38 am
I got yer back, gurl.
totally agree with you. *sigh*
September 1st, 2006 at 2:48 am
Ditto. It’s so stupid, really (racism). Abso-freakin-lutely stupid. Oh and I’m the friend with the red hair. Just FYI. *Wink*
September 1st, 2006 at 11:01 am
Yes, there is a huge problem with race relations and racism here in the States. And yes, it is Really. Stupid.
I agree with you whole-heartedly…
September 1st, 2006 at 11:45 am
wonderful. another everyone is a friggin racist bullshit flame wars.
I am seriously becoming more and more racist based on the fact that everyone already thinks I am anyway.
People need to shut up and get on with their lives…not everything is about them and if they’re downtrodden and discriminated against, maybe they might want to look inward to find out why.
I am so fucking sick of race-based debates and flame wars
September 1st, 2006 at 2:01 pm
I feel like the race argument ebbs and flows. I am shocked (I hadn’t heard) that Survivor would divide things up by race, but I hope this season gets cancelled for it. I think that network is trying to make the debate flow again with their actions, and that totally pisses me off.
I live in the Midwest, which is probably the least diverse section of the country. Here, it’s more of a socioeconomic divide, although some races seem to make up a larger portion of the “haves” versus the “have-nots.” I do sometimes wonder if all the money were equal - would there be a race problem?
September 2nd, 2006 at 12:02 pm
What do you do when your ten year old makes a calm, not intended to make mom freak statement like, “Why are there so many mexicans in this town? Those beaners need to get back across the border.”
He was so surprised by my rather violent reaction that it seems obvious this is a NORMAL kind of statement to him. WHERE did he hear that? Not at home! He has to have picked it up at school. So how do you stop your children from hearing (and then repeating) the racist bullsheet spread by other children who are taught it at home? Educating them, obviously, but then I’m left hoping that they don’t become racist simply because I don’t want them to be, you know, rebellion. Whatever my parents hate is what I’ll be. I’d never considered racism to fall into that category until yesterday when I saw the guilty but triumphant look in his eyes at the extreme reaction he got out of me.
Sigh. Some days, I just want to give up.
September 2nd, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Ditto Meowkaat - I’d never heard a racial slur until I went to school, and then I still didn’t even understand it.
And ditto Dorothy - Mark Burnett did this for ratings because they are grasping at straws at this point. I think it was an unnecessarily inflammatory move and betrays their desperation.
September 4th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
I’m disappointed that the Survivor franchise had to sink this low. I was bothered when they pitted men against women because it reflected poorly on stereotypes for both men and women. I haven’t decided if I’ll boycott this season — or check it out to see if they actually recognize and cope with the diversity instead of being divisive.
September 5th, 2006 at 3:52 am
Blame the flippancy on the pain-killers, but is it weird that as you catalogued the diverse types of friends you have, by the time you got to the yeast-infection sufferers, I was totally putting the words to the old Armour hot dogs commercial jingle? You know, “Tall kids, short kids, kids who climb on rocks, fat kids, skinny kids, even kids with chicken pox love HOT DOGS, ARMOUR HOT DOGS….the DOGS. KIDS. LOVE. TO. BITE!”
OK, I made up a lot of that EXCEPT the part about climbing on rocks and chicken pox–that was DEFINITELY in there.
And yes…can’t we all just get along? Please? What WILL it take, really?
September 5th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
I find it funny that everyone is in such an uproar. I mean…no one batted an eyelash when they seperated by sex. That was after all…GASP…sexist. Ya want racism to stop? No problem….stop freaking out when somone tries to make it this big special thing.