columbia, let's be real
Dear Columbia:
Let's be real with each other. With the recent march in mind, I have to wonder, having seen all these individuals holding signs preaching messages of anti-hate: Are we really practicing what we preach? Do people mean what they say when they wear 'No hate in our town' t-shirts?
It is easy enough to point the finger at that which is obvious - people who take the title 'Nazi' or 'Klan member' or 'White supremacist,' but what about those who do not claim those titles? What about racism that isn't blatant for those members harbouring those feelings? Columbia, are you the same city filled with people who roll up their windows and lock their doors when they drive down Worley? Are you the same city filled with suspicious women who grab their purses and cross the street and look the other way? Aren't you the same city filled with people who make comments every day about 'those loud Black girls'? Don't think, Columbia, that I can't hear you. You see me and you see that my skin is light and automatically you think that I am a kindred spirit and that I can identify with you and agree with what you are saying. I know you Columbia. You are the same Columbia that left the message 'faggot' scribbled in the parking lot of a fraternity. You are the same Columbia with people who complain about illegal immigration and what they mean is Mexicans - legal or not - because let's face it, to some of you, when you see someone with that darker complexion a million thoughts come to mind. You are a city filled with people who criminalize and other immigrants, non-whites, bisexuals, homosexuals, transsexuals, any body who doesn't fit a small mold.
You vote your conscience, and you know what? You don't call yourself Nazi or White supremacist or Klan member.
You say things such as 'I'm okay that you're gay' and you try to debate what the hell is wrong with us - whether it is a gene or socialization that 'warped us.' Some of you even jump up on your soap box, bleeding hearts saying 'It's not their fault that they're gay, it's not a choice! Do you think people would choose that?!' I will tell you this right now. It's not a fault, period, and if whether or not I chose it shouldn't be up for the judgment of others. The question shouldn't be 'what causes it' the question should be 'why are we asking this question? and why do we never ask it about heterosexuality?' But what's worse, Columbia, is that in addition to not even questioning this language, the subject of transgenderism and transsexualism is just 'too icky' to even touch.
You say things such as 'Why do they need their own magazines/groups/parades, etc' and you can't understand why we all can't be happy and happily assimilate into one ideally homogeneous and peaceful group. You say you are colour blind or that you turn a blind eye to us to accept us - as though we're all so offensive by nature that you have to be blind to appreciate our differences.
Come on - there are classes at the damn university for students to remind them that we're not all the same and they can't go through life ignoring our differences. They have to teach this obvious point. Is that not enough to tell me, Columbia, that there is hate in our town.
It's noble to stand against something that is blatant, but how sincere are you in your message when you never question bigotry and discrimination that is subtle?
Like my mother tells me regularly - I criticize because I love you and want you to be the best that you can be. So be real with me Columbia, and don't tell me that there is no hate in this town. Admit that you have a problem and we'll try to work on solving it together.
-Mo
Let's be real with each other. With the recent march in mind, I have to wonder, having seen all these individuals holding signs preaching messages of anti-hate: Are we really practicing what we preach? Do people mean what they say when they wear 'No hate in our town' t-shirts?
It is easy enough to point the finger at that which is obvious - people who take the title 'Nazi' or 'Klan member' or 'White supremacist,' but what about those who do not claim those titles? What about racism that isn't blatant for those members harbouring those feelings? Columbia, are you the same city filled with people who roll up their windows and lock their doors when they drive down Worley? Are you the same city filled with suspicious women who grab their purses and cross the street and look the other way? Aren't you the same city filled with people who make comments every day about 'those loud Black girls'? Don't think, Columbia, that I can't hear you. You see me and you see that my skin is light and automatically you think that I am a kindred spirit and that I can identify with you and agree with what you are saying. I know you Columbia. You are the same Columbia that left the message 'faggot' scribbled in the parking lot of a fraternity. You are the same Columbia with people who complain about illegal immigration and what they mean is Mexicans - legal or not - because let's face it, to some of you, when you see someone with that darker complexion a million thoughts come to mind. You are a city filled with people who criminalize and other immigrants, non-whites, bisexuals, homosexuals, transsexuals, any body who doesn't fit a small mold.
You vote your conscience, and you know what? You don't call yourself Nazi or White supremacist or Klan member.
You say things such as 'I'm okay that you're gay' and you try to debate what the hell is wrong with us - whether it is a gene or socialization that 'warped us.' Some of you even jump up on your soap box, bleeding hearts saying 'It's not their fault that they're gay, it's not a choice! Do you think people would choose that?!' I will tell you this right now. It's not a fault, period, and if whether or not I chose it shouldn't be up for the judgment of others. The question shouldn't be 'what causes it' the question should be 'why are we asking this question? and why do we never ask it about heterosexuality?' But what's worse, Columbia, is that in addition to not even questioning this language, the subject of transgenderism and transsexualism is just 'too icky' to even touch.
You say things such as 'Why do they need their own magazines/groups/parades, etc' and you can't understand why we all can't be happy and happily assimilate into one ideally homogeneous and peaceful group. You say you are colour blind or that you turn a blind eye to us to accept us - as though we're all so offensive by nature that you have to be blind to appreciate our differences.
Come on - there are classes at the damn university for students to remind them that we're not all the same and they can't go through life ignoring our differences. They have to teach this obvious point. Is that not enough to tell me, Columbia, that there is hate in our town.
It's noble to stand against something that is blatant, but how sincere are you in your message when you never question bigotry and discrimination that is subtle?
Like my mother tells me regularly - I criticize because I love you and want you to be the best that you can be. So be real with me Columbia, and don't tell me that there is no hate in this town. Admit that you have a problem and we'll try to work on solving it together.
-Mo
posted by Monique Mendoza at 3/12/2007 12:04:00 AM
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