You know ... it's interesting. For anyone who thinks that "racial issues" are not a problem, all they have to do is read a thread like this. It's all here. And WE are arguing over it. But, notice that the argument primarily involves North Americans, with a North American viewpoint, and based on North American history. If I were Dominican, I would sit back and be entertained. And then I would say "F*** No!!! We don't have any of THAT here!!"
Race IS a problem. There are still some major issues to be resolved. And I don't see how arguing about it right now (or even fighting over it) will resolve those issues anytime soon. Arguments are never a good substitute for action.
I know that there are some who might wonder how I could make the statements that I have made, given MY personal history. While I have never denied that racial issues are real, I have tried to take some of the focus off of it, while directing things to another way of thinking.
My reasons ... and this is just MY opinion ... are that we have much much more to focus on right now than what we consider to be racism. I say "consider to be" because, for one, no matter how bad it may seem to you right now, it is NOTHING compared to what it was like in the past. Now, I am not diminishing anyone here who experiences it. I have too. And I know that for you, it is very real. If you ask me "are we there yet", I would say "No". But we do have a lot more control over our destinies than before. And a lot more options for action.
In my opinion, we are looking at what MAY become an emerging class system in the US -- not necessarily based on race, or socialism vs capitalism, or any other political BS -- AND with a shrinking middle class and growing number of poor. (Disclaimer, I am pro small business/capitalism, and pro individual freedom.) While we (black and white) sit and argue over race, other business is being done, other agendas are being put in place, and by people who are not personally concerned with race. All while THE REST OF US (black and white) continue to be locked in a racial argument. That, of course, is way beyond the topic of this thread.
We need that passion to be focused on more than why someone straightens their hair or uses skin lightening cream. We need that energy to be focused on more than wondering whether some "rapper" kid in droopy pants is a gansta or is thinking about taking your stuff. If somebody has a better shot at life because their father had more than my father -- for whatever reason -- hey, it's been that way throughout human history. I will just work at getting mine, and making sure that my kids have a better shot than me. If somebody seems to you to be getting something for nothing, something that you did not get by choice or otherwise, hey -- again, it's always been that way in some form or another. And all groups have benefited from that kind of thing at some point or another in time.
Absolutely, there is a lot that I don't like about the way I see some behave, as I go about my day-to-day. But if it does not affect me, I have a few other things to occupy me besides trying to control someone elses life ... or way of thinking. And it IS sad to see all of the energy that gets spent on differences, rather than similarities, when there is so much else that we all need to have accomplished on our collective behalf (jobs, crime, drugs, personal freedom, ....)
Just my opinion.
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So far as "Social Conditioning of Dominicans through History", we could just as easily have focused on things like the impact of the DR family on behavior, or the impact of the US media on the DR value system, or how senior citizens are treated in the DR, or .... so much more. Just a thought.
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