Sunday, October 25, 2009

Year Zero ?

What if Blacks just started over with all Blacks in a classless society?
I'm sure Pol Pot thought this would be the ideal for Cambodians by Cambodians too.
But what were the results of the years of rule by the Khmer Rouge?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge

No one saying that everyone should just get along - but what is being asked is whether we could get along with each other if we started with just ourselves?
Do we have enough qualified people to run political, economical, educational and social infrastructures without a huge loss in our quality of life?
How many people would be willing to give up their modern comforts if it led to long term gains?

Thinking that Blacks should develop their own economies and educational systems is not racist.
It is just a practical view that should lead to greater equality.
It is just creating a larger pool of individuals who could operate from a position of power instead of from a position of being the dependent.

An example of this is seen in professional sports.
When Blacks we not allowed to play in the major leagues - Blacks created their own leagues.
When enough Blacks developed skills that were at or above the level of performance of the leagues from which they were excluded - these Blacks then began being recruited by the same leagues.
Today, most of the highest paid athletes are Blacks who are playing in leagues from which they were formerly excluded.

But maybe we can just get along.
Again, using sports as an example - do the athletes on teams generally get along?
Are these athletes all from the same race?
Do athletes still believe many of the stereotypes about those from another race?
Sure they do - but that doesn't matter because they are all working towards the same goals.
What another person thinks doesn't matter because every person knows that they are at a level that few reach.
Each person views his teammate as a worthy member of a larger group.
One's race matters little - only how well one performs.

So the trick to getting along with others seems to be being equal to others.
No, not in the form of direct competition - but in the form of being a contributing member of a group.
This is what those who are trying to elevate the status of those who under perform are trying to accomplish.
It is their wish that all are judged by their contribution rather than their race.
It is their wish that we all can get along.

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