Making Bad Travel Decisions
Making Bad Travel DecisionsPrevious Posts
To take just one part of your post, Racism. Although, it touches on the 100% vs 70%. And as usual, my post will be much longer than necessary.
My father is racist against blacks (and many others). Much more so now that he is 85 than when he was younger. Yet, he does not hate blacks and others at all (well, OK, he hates lawyers). When he talks about when he was younger and what the black culture that he saw and perceived, you can understand why he may think the way he does. He grew up in a poor neighborhood where there were many ethnic groups. When he was young, many very poor blacks from the south were moving north for the good paying jobs. He saw uneducated people getting their first taste of *big* money and they spent much of it in the liquor store. They behaved more lively than the extremely conservative European immigrants he was used to. His mother used to sit on the back porch watching the blacks for entertainment. At least that is what my dad remembers. He saw blacks etc, to some extent, as a little funny, a little inferior. It's just sad that he never completely let that go and that now that he is getting older it is coming back.
I was sitting with some co-workers having a few beers when I was in my 20's. These were people I consider friends. They were blacks who worked in my office who came from a highly varied background. Some grew up middle class, some in very poor neighborhoods, one was a deacon in his church etc... I mentioned that I thought I was a little racist, partly because of my upbringing. The example I used was that if I was in a less than desirable neighborhood (we worked near Bridgeport, CT) I felt much more nervous if I saw a group of young black men coming towards me than if I saw a bunch of young white men. I thought this was bad of me. My friends explained to me that they felt the same way. That this was not racist, that it was good survival skills. They explained that in the particular area we were in, the biggest problems were caused by the young black men. Most of the crime and danger could be attributed to them. I like to think that that is why I felt that way back then, but I think there was a small amount of racism in there too. But it showed me that many things are not 100%. Not black and white.
I will say though, that I have been in areas that a group of young black men would not have made me nervous at all, but a group of young white men would. I wonder if that makes me racist against whites. ^_^ (I am of Polish heritage)
Bob L
There are cultural behaviors.
- Example; Macho men who beat women.
Some cultures accept this more than others.
I really despise some parts of a culture to the point it is better to avoid some cultures.
I love Black people in Africa, I love the cultures.
I do not love the inner city Black Culture in the USA and do my best to avoid.
I avoid older people with Rastas, I do not avoid younger people.
Not that I really avoid, however I do my best to opitimize my friendship and happiness.
I guarantee I walk away from some cultures.
However, as most realize, I have met 10 time more cultures than the average person and do not stay surrounded by some culture I love. I do reach out to meet other cultures.
A person that is surrounded by only his or her culture to me, refuses to talk or encounter the other unless in perfect controlled eviroments worry me.
Give everyone a chance that enter my world with respect.
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