Notice the Tagline?

I Live in This Country?

Today is, more so than not to most people, the continuation of a well-appreciated 3 day weekend. (I did not get today off, in case you were wondering) But what I am wondering is, how many people take a moment to remember and reflect on the man who brought about this holiday? I don't, really. Not in the past. The only reason I did today was due to a Fresh Air piece interviewing Michelle Alexander about her most recent book, which now is next on my list of things to read. In short, she brings forth the idea that the contemporary American incarceration system and its so-called "War On Drugs" campaign is but a redesign of the despicable Jim Crow Laws that existed before the Civil Rights era. Bold argument right? She made sense. Disturbingly and unfortunately enough, what she had to say made complete sense.

Listening to her made me think about why we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr with a national holiday in our time. Do we, as Americans, think we've made leaps and bounds in terms of achieving racial equality? The breakthroughs that occurred during the Civil Rights era were, no doubt, a big step towards gaining equality in the US. But on the other hand, it also merely made explicit racial discrimination illegal while bringing forth new and disguised ways to continue racially discriminatory practices and keep in place a system that has severely disenfranchised African Americans since they were brought here on a boat centuries ago. What's the meaning behind this holiday, then? Why erect a monument honoring Dr King in our nation's capitol? It's almost like saying, well...we haven't achieved your dream yet, and we don't know when we will, or if we ever will, but for the sake of formality we'll put you next to these other monuments representing people and historical events dotting our kids' history textbooks. Just because it seems like the natural thing to do. Not to undermine or belittle the progress that has been made--because we have come a long way--but I think oftentimes we are caught in the misguided hubris of progress. Just because restaurants no longer put up signs prohibiting 'coloreds' means we've made progress? Progress is not progress when a disproportionate number of members from the same racial group continue to be entrapped in a system that allows no way out of a life of drugs, crime, and violence. And apparently, there is no way to move forward when there are idiots like this barring the road.

Real Life Beats Shakespeare's Tragic Irony

"The key to a happier world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities."--The Dalai Lama

How appropriate I came across this quote as I recently read a story about a little girl in China being hit by two trucks and having no less than 18 people heartlessly passing by her before a scrap peddler lady pulled her off the street.

This tragic story demonstrates the ills of humans on so many levels.
1) How are you going to pass a completely helpless human being, without a soul in sight to help her, and pretend like you didn't even see them? She's paralyzed, lying in the middle of the street. She...was...fucking...run...over. By a truck. A two year old. What if it was your kid? Would you pay attention then?
2) How are you going to sit behind your computer, like the asshole coward you are, and post shit things like this woman only saved the child because she wanted to gain financially from doing it? WOW, masters of cynicism, where are you? You guys have got the act down, perfect 10. Don't hide like a coward behind a computer screen posting disgusting comments like that. Not only would you never, NEVER have the balls to commit a courageous act like that, you probably don't have balls, period. They probably were cut off and shoved into your mouth and that's why you're so bitter.
3) When did it become human nature to do a cost-benefit analysis before helping someone desperately in need?

Some arguments have been brought in that I think are just bullshit.
1) Lack of a "good samaritan" law that protects rescuers, because in China there have been incidents where people passing by tried to help old ladies who had fallen and then later got sued because the victim accused them of causing the injury. Because of these incidents people in China are hesitant to help others in need for fear they might get their asses sued.
2) This utilitarian culture that has been pervasive in China since the onset of economic reforms. Values that teach people to pursue pure material gain and take on a utilitarian mindset. Everything is cost-benefit. There is no such thing as altruism. In fact, it's considered a sign of weakness.
I don't deny the two are complicating factors. But when it comes down to it, I can't imagine any mentality as an alternative to instinctively wanting to help a person you see who desperately, unequivocally, absolutely needs your help. If they don't get your help, they will die. If that's not enough for you to intervene, then what is? Don't give bullshit reasons. Either do the right thing, or don't. This is a basic decision that should appeal to your conscience if you are HUMAN. Not if you are Chinese or American. If. you. are. human.

Wow, shit. New low. My faith in humankind to do the most basic, decent thing like save a badly injured, helpless 2 year old toddler can't even be satisfied. Each time I think I discover the rock bottom of the dark side of humankind, nope. It has this ever-expanding quality, like the universe. Just...shit.

The Danger of Ignorance

Whoever said ignorance is bliss was...ignorant. No, seriously. The other day I was reading a very sad and disgusting story about a white teenager who deliberately ran over a black man with his car, killing him. This is the story. I try to stay away from reading the comments sections when I read news stories because oftentimes I don't agree with what people say and it just wastes my time as I sit there in disbelief that people can be so obtuse. For some reason I decided to scroll down and read, and I think I found some of the deluded Americans who would vote for the Tea Party and cause a ruckus about Obama not being born in the US (see old entry addressing birthers aka idiots). Here is one example by 'Henridelagarrigue':

"Born in Hawaii?!?!?!? Paper can be generated to say anything you want it to. 2 days after the election, his own grandmother said he was born in Kenya. She was quickly whisked back to Kenya and mysteriously died 2 days later..."

What the freak. People in this forum were proudly pointing at themselves, stating they TRULY believed in this Obama not being born in the US bullshit.

Ok, but anyway, I digress. What I really couldn't believe was that so many of these people did not think this was a racially motivated hate crime, as indicated in this post by 'jason':

"Good thing your not on the jury. You already know this was meant to terrorize a community huh? Ok,who needs evaluation of such unimportant issues as the facts and evidence. Sickening. A 19 year old terrorist trying to terrorize an entire community through a fight in a parking lot,ummm ok. And that should be weighed into the charges? Wow, why even bother with a trial huh? But cause the dude was white and victim black he's already guilty huh? Amazing. And what community was this 19 year old attacking?I guess you fill that in for us. Reverse racism buddy."

Does he think the law was created to serve everyone equally? The legal system was born in an era where the social norm was to own slaves and count black people as 3/5 of a person. People who think the US has become a colorblind nation are living in in some sort of self-created utopia. Are we living in the same country?? How can you not understand that the black man was murdered because of his skin color? Some people take issue with race being mentioned in the crime. Why? Are they uncomfortable about having to face the cold, hard, ugly truth? Or are they genuinely blind to the deep legacy of racism that continues to exist in this country?

Wake up, people. We still live in a society where your worth and potential for success is largely determined by stereotypes and the color of your skin. Ignorance is going to be the downfall of this so-called "great nation." By the time Americans open their eyes, if they ever do, we will have realized the crumbling of our society was brought about by none other than ourselves.