DGS49
Diamond Member
The public demonstrations in the wake of the killing of George Floyd raise a pithy question: What is the purpose of the demonstrations? The same can be said of the "Take a knee" movement in some American sports. What is the end game?
The stated objective - the end of racism - is not something that is amenable to measurement or even observation. How will we know when racism has been defeated? How will we know whether the demonstrations are having any impact whatsoever? When will the demonstrators stop?
If I demonstrate to stop the segregation of certain facilities, or the exclusion of certain people from a club or an organization, or to promote the opening of some opportunity to people who were previously excluded, then one can see whether the demonstrations have had an effect, and stipulate the time when the demonstrations will be come superfluous, and end. Let me on the bus, allow me to join the country club, or admit me into the program, and it's game over.
But racism - no matter how you define it - is ubiquitous, and will never go away. In fact, the current demonstrations are likely INCREASING the level and intensity of racism in the country, because they are so obnoxious, and also because the demonstrators cannot even point to any manifestation of the racism that they oppose, other than "inequality," which can easily be explained by factors totally unrelated to racism. Specific, measurable, observable racist acts are so rare that they immediately become front page news. Sometimes they have to be contrived. The infamous NASCAR noose? Were you, the reader, shocked and appalled by the "news" that Roger Stone uttered the word, "Negro" under his breath during an interview with a Black journalist? Pass the smelling salts!
If this is "racism" then "we" have an infinitely long way to go before it is eradicated.
I'm afraid that, like the Jews' very existence in Israel is an affront to all Arabs (or Muslims...which is it?), I suppose my very existence as a "white" person in America is an affront to the People of Color who share my home country - presumptive proof of racist intent.
By defining your goal as something that cannot be observed or measured, you have chosen to seek the unattainable. Not very smart, sorry to say.
The stated objective - the end of racism - is not something that is amenable to measurement or even observation. How will we know when racism has been defeated? How will we know whether the demonstrations are having any impact whatsoever? When will the demonstrators stop?
If I demonstrate to stop the segregation of certain facilities, or the exclusion of certain people from a club or an organization, or to promote the opening of some opportunity to people who were previously excluded, then one can see whether the demonstrations have had an effect, and stipulate the time when the demonstrations will be come superfluous, and end. Let me on the bus, allow me to join the country club, or admit me into the program, and it's game over.
But racism - no matter how you define it - is ubiquitous, and will never go away. In fact, the current demonstrations are likely INCREASING the level and intensity of racism in the country, because they are so obnoxious, and also because the demonstrators cannot even point to any manifestation of the racism that they oppose, other than "inequality," which can easily be explained by factors totally unrelated to racism. Specific, measurable, observable racist acts are so rare that they immediately become front page news. Sometimes they have to be contrived. The infamous NASCAR noose? Were you, the reader, shocked and appalled by the "news" that Roger Stone uttered the word, "Negro" under his breath during an interview with a Black journalist? Pass the smelling salts!
If this is "racism" then "we" have an infinitely long way to go before it is eradicated.
I'm afraid that, like the Jews' very existence in Israel is an affront to all Arabs (or Muslims...which is it?), I suppose my very existence as a "white" person in America is an affront to the People of Color who share my home country - presumptive proof of racist intent.
By defining your goal as something that cannot be observed or measured, you have chosen to seek the unattainable. Not very smart, sorry to say.