With the explosion of social media platforms, streaming news services, and comment sections full of opinions of varying degrees of informedness, we are bombarded daily with snarky comments, drive-by insults that make no attempt at a good-faith conversation, and writers who tell all of us to stop doing this, start doing this, don't say this, don't say that.
Although your "middleground" concepts have merit, I doubt their adoption will have much impact. Whether a person takes the high ground, middle ground or low ground, issues will remain if human interactions are viewed through a racial lens. As the old saying goes, "if you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Similarly, if you view people through a racial lens, everyone will look like a racist.
My perspective- I grew up in an all white neighborhood in New York City (of all places). Adjoining neighborhoods were similarly monolithic. Riding the subways, I saw people who were not white, but I never knew or interacted with anyone who wasn't white.
It wasn't until I went to high school in New Jersey that I got to know a black person- the only black person in the school. Perhaps it was naivete, or perhaps it was the sign I remembered from the New York subways- "Ecidujerp is Prejudice spelled backwards. Either way it doesn't make any sense" - but aside from skin color, I never thought the black kid who sat next to me was any different than the other students.
Over the years, I have found that irrespective of ethnicity or race, people are simply people. Some are good, some are evil and some carry chips the size of earth-moving equipment on their shoulders. That's the lens through which all people should be viewed. The fact that another person has darker or lighter skin than you do means nothing more than the other person has a unique background that likely differs significantly from your own. That difference does not call for being solicitous, condescending or defensive; it is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to build a unique relationship.
Lots of merit to what you're saying, Dave, but I think striving for the "middleground" is the only path to people eventually NOT viewing everything and everyone through a racial lens. While you're not wrong that perspective is the problem, correcting it on a mass scale requires utilitarian solutions which are accessible to everyone. Fostering balance, or a "middle ground", is a free and easy place to start.
We aren’t at odds at all. A middle ground approach should not be necessary. The reality is that so long as ignorance and xenophobia exist, ( and they always will) it is.
Although your "middleground" concepts have merit, I doubt their adoption will have much impact. Whether a person takes the high ground, middle ground or low ground, issues will remain if human interactions are viewed through a racial lens. As the old saying goes, "if you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Similarly, if you view people through a racial lens, everyone will look like a racist.
My perspective- I grew up in an all white neighborhood in New York City (of all places). Adjoining neighborhoods were similarly monolithic. Riding the subways, I saw people who were not white, but I never knew or interacted with anyone who wasn't white.
It wasn't until I went to high school in New Jersey that I got to know a black person- the only black person in the school. Perhaps it was naivete, or perhaps it was the sign I remembered from the New York subways- "Ecidujerp is Prejudice spelled backwards. Either way it doesn't make any sense" - but aside from skin color, I never thought the black kid who sat next to me was any different than the other students.
Over the years, I have found that irrespective of ethnicity or race, people are simply people. Some are good, some are evil and some carry chips the size of earth-moving equipment on their shoulders. That's the lens through which all people should be viewed. The fact that another person has darker or lighter skin than you do means nothing more than the other person has a unique background that likely differs significantly from your own. That difference does not call for being solicitous, condescending or defensive; it is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to build a unique relationship.
Lots of merit to what you're saying, Dave, but I think striving for the "middleground" is the only path to people eventually NOT viewing everything and everyone through a racial lens. While you're not wrong that perspective is the problem, correcting it on a mass scale requires utilitarian solutions which are accessible to everyone. Fostering balance, or a "middle ground", is a free and easy place to start.
ZL
Also, I see several articles of yours from our shared pub at Wrong Speak. Glad to make your acquaintance! I shall delve into you work.
Thanks, Dave. I appreciate you sharing your story—I don’t think we are particularly at odds, from what I can tell!
We aren’t at odds at all. A middle ground approach should not be necessary. The reality is that so long as ignorance and xenophobia exist, ( and they always will) it is.