[R-G] American Racism/Ethnocentrism

[Hunter Gray]

Like all back and forth discussions, this on RBB regarding race and racism can -- probably unavoidably -- become a little diffuse.  One of the problems involved is obviously the interesting mix of cynicism with various political perspectives, some of which are obviously sharply critical of Barack Obama on ideological grounds [to say nothing of the Democratic Party in general,]

As I've indicated, I support Obama -- in the sense of critical support.  I can appreciate all of the other perspectives.  But let's not overlook the tremendous importance of this historical moment.  If the United States [and Canada as well] have a still all-too-pervasive sickness, it is dehumanizing racism and that related and intertwined ill, cultural ethnocentrism -- the many varieties of alleged "cultural superiority/inferiority".  Long after the initial and explicit [and, again I say explicit] economic foundations of these have eroded,  the quack theological justifications ["primitive children of the Devil"] and the equally quack biological rationales ["inherent, genetic inferiority of non-whites"] -- all of this to justify genocide against the Indian nations in order to secure lands and resources, and the enslavement of Blacks, and the seizure of Mexican territory, and all the rest --, racism and ethnocentrism have continued with consistency, taking on and carrying their own ill-life forward: profound infections in our national minds and our national bodies.  Often all of this still retains, however veiled these days, an economic foundation -- but these durable poisons can certainly survive purely "on their own" and do so in a vast number of cases.  [See http://hunterbear.org/AMERICAN%20RACISM.htm ]

True, in the past few decades, we've come a very long way in a very short time toward digging much of this out, exposing it all to healing forces, "overcoming" -- albeit far too slowly.  But, as everyone of us on these discussion lists knows, there is one hell of a long way to go.

When Barack Obama won the Iowa Democratic Primary, I commented on a number of lists:  "It wasn't so long ago that we had to fight to survive at a Woolworth lunch counter."

But this Good War is far from over.

In Solidarity,

Yours, H.

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq /St. Francis
Abenaki/St. Regis Mohawk
Protected by Na´shdo´i´ba´i´
and Ohkwari'

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