Where's the 'Love?'

Will, in his blog, takes issue with my characterization of events during a dead-cell excising of the other day. Arguably, some of his comments regarding those who commented on the post have merit. However, here are some excerpts to which I felt the need to respond:

"SwampWoman" says:
"I used to have a construction company and hired a variety of folks. What I thought was odd was that the whites and hispanics did not have a problem with the Caribbean blacks, but the American blacks would make their lives a living hell until they left."

So, categorically, every white and hispanic person who worked for the construction company had no problem with Caribbean blacks, and, categorically, every American black made their lives a living hell? And more importantly, what does this have to do with college admissions?

Of course all Carribeans aren’t hard workers, nor does every black American make “their lives a living hell.” Considering that SwampWoman was referring to her particular company, the word "some" is implied. It’s called anecdotal evidence—just like, admittedly, my post. SwampWoman's story, however, is a symptom of the problem.

Here are a couple of definitions of the word "prejudice" from my trusty Webster's dictionary:
preconceived judgment or opinion
an adverse (emphasis mine) opinion or leaning without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge
an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.

Here's a quote from Juliette: "Heck, I don’t even like every black person. In fact, I don’t like most of them." Since I doubt that anyone knows "every black person, " how can you dislike people you don't know?

As I mentioned in your comments, you quoted me out of context. Read my post again. I’m not too fond of most people that I have met—which apparently must be spelled out for some--regardless of their ethnicity or persuasion. A post-conceived notion, to be sure, if I may coin a word.

My question concerns whether African-Americans can air grievances and be taken seriously. I'm growing tired of the kneejerk dismissal of minority grievances. It's come to this: if an African American complains about anything, it's perceived as a desire by the person to maintain victim status.

Crying “wolf” at every preconceived slight will cause that to happen. Legitimate grievances will get caught in the mire of the whining. Complaining about how much paperwork is involved to apply to college and using it as evidence that "they don’t want us there” falls into that category.

What I'm completely sick and disgusted by are people who attack African Americans for no legitimate reason or who criticize them for sport.

Am I doing that?

Six days ago, while walking to my car after work, I was repeatly [sic] called a "nigger dog" by a raving lunatic. Now, the man's speech is protected by the Second Amendment [sic] and, since he didn't threaten violence, he didn't commit a hate crime. But he certainly was trying to send a message.

Should I not be upset about this? Should I not hope for a world in which people of any race, gender or sexual preference are allowed to live free of irrational hatred?

In traffic, I have been called an “ugly nigger b****” while in military uniform defending this person’s right to piss me off. Ugly? It’s a matter of taste. Glad this cretin thought so; I suppose it’s because I’m not a Halle Berry clone.

B****? You’d better believe it.

Then there’s that other word. Had the…man…been brave enough to call me out without running away, I might have shown him that I take my Second Amendment rights seriously. (I know you meant the First Amendment.)

In the aftermath, I will admit to temporarily avoiding my (mostly white) friends/co-workers/comrades-in-arms. Were they calling me that word behind my back, I emotionally asked myself. Such an incident does little to induce rational thinking. However, reason, once again, did take over.

Of course, you have the right to be upset about such a thing (as did I). Are the types that we apparently have both run into--and, regrettably, not over--stopping us from achieving?

Here’s a relevant analogy: In the early and mid parts of the last century, Jewish Americans were not exactly welcome on many college campuses. Yes, they complained about it, but it didn’t stop many of them from reaching their goals. Not all, Will, not all, but a larger portion than can be said of black Americans since, say, 1964.

Shouldn't a student be allowed to voice a grievance without being kicked out by a kneejerk dismissal of his concerns?

Do you know what "compassion" means?

compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

Should we only have compassion for non-whiners?

And what in the name of (insert name of your favorite deity or philosopher) is wrong with love?

Having love for another or a group does not imply an implicit or explicit approval of everything which that person or group does. Example: a relative of mine has two illegitimate children by different fathers. Did my vocal disapproval of this state of affairs imply that I don’t love her? You make the call.

I learned long ago that you can't win an argument about race, because we're all prejudiced. No one can distance themselves far enough from their own feelings and perceptions to be rational about this issue.

I'm not arguing a point of view. This is a rant. I'm not trying to win an argument, and since I truly believe you can't argue about race, I rarely discuss race on my blog, and I probably won't respond to any comments.

Well, Will. I understand your ambivalence toward discussing this subject. However, since you did post parts of my rant on your blog, a response from me was inevitable. Cause and effect, you know.

Peace out.

Back at you.

UPDATE: Here’s Will’s response to my attempt to engage him in constructive dialogue. I asked him a question in order to answer one of his questions to me. I did this in order to avoid making any assumptions about the meaning of his question.

How much "context" would satisfy you?The entire paragraph? Your entire entry?

Not answering my question is a blatant way of showing your unwillingness to engage in argument and to defend your own words.

What we have here is yet another blogger who only responds to commenters who kowtow to her point of view. Goodbye, Juliette.

Sigh. Sometimes people won’t let you give them the benefit of the doubt regarding their intelligence. And Will wonders at my misanthropy.

UPDATE: The above comment was mistakenly attributed to "Chris in CT." The error has been corrected, has its correct author, "SwampWoman," and the correct gender references.