Quote:
Originally posted by AXO Alum
I guess that this is the problem where some people expect to draw lines in the dirt and say that its either this way or that way, but not both. Like the AA thread -- I mean, sure, AA can have a very positive effect, or a very negative effect -- it all depends on HOW it is used. Unfortunately, someone says blahblahblah about it, and then the next thing you know, a flame war has erupted. You know, I used to never go on CC -- I did recently for something, and ended up finding out REAL quick that its prolly not the best place for me. I have too many "gray" areas on my views of things, that people (especially there) expect to be either white or black (as in colors on the chart -- not skin tones).
I think that a big problem regarding race, color of skin, what-have-you, is that people only KNOW what they have experienced in life. So if Sally has only lived her 20 years of life knowing that people in her school are white, black, green, and red -- she really has no experience with the fact that just a few years prior to that, that people who weren't white weren't even allowed in school! The same applies for my friend who was the first black girl to attend public school -- even now, all these years later, she cannot get over the fact that not all people are trying to get her (I included somewhere the story where she parked in a maternity parking space in the mall - she isn't pregnant and has no small kids - and said that she was parking there because she knew that it wasn't really for pregnant people, but rather so that the mall officials could keep black folks from parking up front! -- Yes, she can get carried away!) I can totally sympathize with the stories she tells about being spit on and hit in the halls -- and that is a TERRIBLE thing that NO ONE should have to live through -- but she also needs to realize that parking spots aren't designated that way!
Some people also can't look past race to know that you can talk about things regarding race, without always having to make a war about it -- this goes for black and white folks!
If there was a perfect world out there then we could all share our stories and experiences and really learn from each other -- but that isn't the case, and unfortunately, you get people on a touchy subject, and somebody somewhere is going to go overboard with it! Then people are dumb enough (okay, using that loosely) to agitate it knowing that they aren't going to get anywhere with it! Next thing you know....BOOM....Chit (Chat) happens -- heehee, okay, so they just come to me! 
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You brought up some very interesting points that I am glad you shared.
(And I agree. Your friend is just a tad bit extreme!)Yes, some people (all races included) don't know how to see past their own race and their life experiences. The problems arise, however, when those people totally shut themselves off from even
hearing, let alone learning, about others. We all need to learn how to take the experiences and lives of others into consideration.
I think not living in a perfect world makes some of us stronger and more eager to share and serve our communities in a means to, at least, reach one person. Some people are going to be who they are and constantly create controversy. Oh well. As long as there a few open-minded people in the world that understand or are willing to learn, then some of our "rants" are not in vain.