Please follow this link before continuing to read this post.
I'll give you a few seconds to get all your giggles/disgust out. Now that you've got that out of your system it's time to sadly recognize that there are people out there that actually believe in this garbage. Organized religion has long been used as a method for controlling different unpopular behavior, but were you aware that feminism has single-handedly caused the rate of divorce to rise? I'm sure your mind is buzzing with what kind of reasoning the author of the website uses. Well apparently if women decide to not do ALL of the cooking and cleaning in her household, God is going to be PISSED. If women choose to have careers or control over their own bodies or disobey their superior husbands...they will have to face God's wrath. Even domestic violence is not grounds for divorce according to the author.
I think faith and spirituality is a beautiful thing, but not when the minority turn religion into an ugly weapon. I'm pretty sure that "hate" wasn't the message that God wanted to get across.
Decide for yourself, but I'll leave you with the best quote:
Feminists are hypocrites who portray themselves as "victims" in a man's society. The truth is that they're angry at God, because God created women the WEAKER vessel, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the WEAKER VESSEL..." (1st Peter 3:7).
Thanks...got it.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
History of the word "Caucasian"
So I constantly hear the word 'caucasian' thrown around as a "PC" way to refer to people who are of European ancestry or self-identified white. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself where this word comes from? Well one of my history professors explained that the word itself represents the epitome of racism.
Meet Johann Friedrich Blumenbach. Blumenbach was a German scientist and anthropologist that created a classification system for all of the various 'races.' I keep putting 'races' in quotation marks because the idea of different 'races' in itself perpetuates the same type of thinking that has been responsible for many atrocities throughout human history. Blumenbach's system is based on physical characteristics including skin color, hair growth, and cranium shape. These classsifications have been/are used used to infer the ability, intelligence, and 'civility' of different ethnic groups. So what 'race' are you according to Blumenbach:
Caucasian: white race
Mongolian: yellow race
Malayan: brown race
Negroid: black race
American(indigenous): red race
The caucasian race was considered the most beautiful, intelligent, and superior race. The Caucus region was also fabled to be the birthplace of mankind even though we know that the human race originated in Africa. There were also sub-racial groups within each of these categories. In fact, according to Blumenbach, the white race included Egyptians and other north Africans, known as the Hamitic race. You may be saying to yourself "why is this a bad thing, he's saying that some Africans were as superior as whites?" Well, the Hamitic race was added as a sub-group mostly to explain the great historical civilizations of Arabia and Egypt. Blumenbach needed a way to separate "good and intelligent" black people(Hamitics) from he viewed as the animalistic black people of southern Africa(Negroids).
How has this way of thinking impacted our lives? Colonialism, slavery, the holocaust? Blumenbach's work still echoes today. Genocides, racial purity, race wars, racism, the imaginary notion of reverse racism are especially prevalent amongst the current debate about immigration and "defending" America. Perhaps you have only experienced this in the less extreme realm of interracial dating. You know what I'm talking about. I can't tell you how many times I've seen families disapprove of different love interests based on the color of their skin. If this isn't an everyday example of racial purity, I don't know what is.
Basically what I'm trying to say is STOP USING THE WORD CAUCASIAN. Most of my self-identified white friends identify strongly with the various countries they're from (ie Italy, Ireland, France, etc) and NOT some German anthropologist's take on racial purity/migration. And while there will continue to be white privilege based strongly on skin color...using the word caucasian will only perpetuate the historical notion of racial purity and superiority.
Meet Johann Friedrich Blumenbach. Blumenbach was a German scientist and anthropologist that created a classification system for all of the various 'races.' I keep putting 'races' in quotation marks because the idea of different 'races' in itself perpetuates the same type of thinking that has been responsible for many atrocities throughout human history. Blumenbach's system is based on physical characteristics including skin color, hair growth, and cranium shape. These classsifications have been/are used used to infer the ability, intelligence, and 'civility' of different ethnic groups. So what 'race' are you according to Blumenbach:
Caucasian: white race
Mongolian: yellow race
Malayan: brown race
Negroid: black race
American(indigenous): red race
The caucasian race was considered the most beautiful, intelligent, and superior race. The Caucus region was also fabled to be the birthplace of mankind even though we know that the human race originated in Africa. There were also sub-racial groups within each of these categories. In fact, according to Blumenbach, the white race included Egyptians and other north Africans, known as the Hamitic race. You may be saying to yourself "why is this a bad thing, he's saying that some Africans were as superior as whites?" Well, the Hamitic race was added as a sub-group mostly to explain the great historical civilizations of Arabia and Egypt. Blumenbach needed a way to separate "good and intelligent" black people(Hamitics) from he viewed as the animalistic black people of southern Africa(Negroids).
How has this way of thinking impacted our lives? Colonialism, slavery, the holocaust? Blumenbach's work still echoes today. Genocides, racial purity, race wars, racism, the imaginary notion of reverse racism are especially prevalent amongst the current debate about immigration and "defending" America. Perhaps you have only experienced this in the less extreme realm of interracial dating. You know what I'm talking about. I can't tell you how many times I've seen families disapprove of different love interests based on the color of their skin. If this isn't an everyday example of racial purity, I don't know what is.
Basically what I'm trying to say is STOP USING THE WORD CAUCASIAN. Most of my self-identified white friends identify strongly with the various countries they're from (ie Italy, Ireland, France, etc) and NOT some German anthropologist's take on racial purity/migration. And while there will continue to be white privilege based strongly on skin color...using the word caucasian will only perpetuate the historical notion of racial purity and superiority.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Happy Birthday Harvey Milk
Saturday, May 22nd, was Harvey Milk Day! Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office. May 22nd would have been Milk's 80th birthday, but sadly in 1978, he was assassinated by fellow city supervisor Dan White. In honor of his legacy, cities across America organized rallies and marches for a variety of issues concerning federal equality including equal marriage, the passing of an inclusive Employee Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and the lack of funding/closing of hospitals like St. Vincents that provide vital services to those living with HIV and AIDS.
The march in NYC started at the LGBT Center and ended at City Hall. The speakers were amazing and invigorating! Jillian Weiss, a professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey (as of a week ago, my Alma Mater!!!)and all around kick-ass activist delivered the following speech in Washington Square Park:
While this was all an amazing high, the legacy of Harvey Milk was dealt a major blow in California. The Kern High School District in Bakersfield passed a motion that banned teaching about Milk and all of his significant influence on Californian politics in the seventies and beyond. Disgusting, I know. If you're as angry as I am, you'll take the time to visit their "ContactUs" page, and send an email to their superintendent letting them know how you feel.
THIS IS WHY WE STILL NEED TO FIGHT. If you live in the NY/NJ area, please follow this link to get more information about how you can get involved in the fight for equality.
The march in NYC started at the LGBT Center and ended at City Hall. The speakers were amazing and invigorating! Jillian Weiss, a professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey (as of a week ago, my Alma Mater!!!)and all around kick-ass activist delivered the following speech in Washington Square Park:
While this was all an amazing high, the legacy of Harvey Milk was dealt a major blow in California. The Kern High School District in Bakersfield passed a motion that banned teaching about Milk and all of his significant influence on Californian politics in the seventies and beyond. Disgusting, I know. If you're as angry as I am, you'll take the time to visit their "ContactUs" page, and send an email to their superintendent letting them know how you feel.
THIS IS WHY WE STILL NEED TO FIGHT. If you live in the NY/NJ area, please follow this link to get more information about how you can get involved in the fight for equality.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Open-Ended Question about Responding...
There have been several instances in my last four years as an undergrad that I have been lost for words. Why? Because these things have been said to me by at least five different people:
"Before I met you, I didn't like Black people..."
"But I'm not afraid of you because you have a calming energy..."
"I've never been friends with a poor Black person before, but you seem different..."
"You're not loud and ignorant though...it must be because you're only half-Black..."
These are exact quotes from different people (both friends, ex-friends, and ex-girlfriend). I never know how to respond to these types of statements. In my heart I know the only reason why they say these things is because they have never been exposed to actual people of color. They clearly have relied on television and their parents as a resource. In my heart I'm glad I can change this awful misconception.
But in my heart there is a part of me that would find joy in making people like this uncomfortable and "afraid." Because I have been told time and time again that statements like this don't stem from malice, but from ignorance, it's hard for me to access my anger. Instead I passive aggresively write blogs about it. But hopefully this will be a little more productive! Now it's your turn...
How would you respond to statements like these?
"Before I met you, I didn't like Black people..."
"But I'm not afraid of you because you have a calming energy..."
"I've never been friends with a poor Black person before, but you seem different..."
"You're not loud and ignorant though...it must be because you're only half-Black..."
These are exact quotes from different people (both friends, ex-friends, and ex-girlfriend). I never know how to respond to these types of statements. In my heart I know the only reason why they say these things is because they have never been exposed to actual people of color. They clearly have relied on television and their parents as a resource. In my heart I'm glad I can change this awful misconception.
But in my heart there is a part of me that would find joy in making people like this uncomfortable and "afraid." Because I have been told time and time again that statements like this don't stem from malice, but from ignorance, it's hard for me to access my anger. Instead I passive aggresively write blogs about it. But hopefully this will be a little more productive! Now it's your turn...
How would you respond to statements like these?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Newsworthy...
Check out this article about the banning of "ethnic chauvinistic" education in Arizona. That type of wording should ban ALL history classes, but especially the romanticized version of American history. Instead the law would probably just affect the Mexican-American program.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Remember how we got here...
Reverse racism...reclaiming America...protecting American values....These are all clever ways of saying "We enjoy whatever power we have over others and we are scared shitless of being treated in the same manner as those we hate and oppress." To put your main objectives so bluntly wouldn't garner as much support as vague nationalist chants.
Did you know that Arizona has some the most fanatical militia groups? They use fear-mongering tactics to scare its members into thinking that minority groups are taking over the country. This goes past reverse-racism...they predict a "Great War" which will ultimately result in reverse-slavery. Check out this opening picture on the Arizona Citizens Militia Website:
Or how about this video from another militia groups website:
We can not continue to pretend that these groups are anything other than white supremacists. There's really no denying it.
Check out a few websites for yourself:
http://www.arizonamilitia.com/
http://www.myspace.com/northernarizonamilitia
My message to all of these crazy extremists, remember the history of this country. And to everyone else, regardless of how you feel about immigration, don't leave the law in the hands of these people or to politicians who do nothing to monitor their actions.
Here are a few reminders:
Did you know that Arizona has some the most fanatical militia groups? They use fear-mongering tactics to scare its members into thinking that minority groups are taking over the country. This goes past reverse-racism...they predict a "Great War" which will ultimately result in reverse-slavery. Check out this opening picture on the Arizona Citizens Militia Website:
Or how about this video from another militia groups website:
We can not continue to pretend that these groups are anything other than white supremacists. There's really no denying it.
Check out a few websites for yourself:
http://www.arizonamilitia.com/
http://www.myspace.com/northernarizonamilitia
My message to all of these crazy extremists, remember the history of this country. And to everyone else, regardless of how you feel about immigration, don't leave the law in the hands of these people or to politicians who do nothing to monitor their actions.
Here are a few reminders:
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