Lets play a game.
Pretend that there is a disease that is brought on by living a life of negativity. We will call it Creepycrawlyitis. It's something that you're predisposed to from a young age, your lifestyle aggravates it, and at a certain point in life it begins to affect the people who associate with the person in a very negative way. It can destroy the sick person and may take others with it to some degree.
You have a friend, Al, who you often spend time with and you've known him for years . You like Al a lot, but you aren't super close to him. One night, in a drunken stupor, Al thinks you are bonding and tells you that he has Creepycrawlyitis, not suspecting that you will tell anyone.
Right away, you begin to panic. You know that if word gets out that you are close to someone infected with Creepycrawlyitis people will think you have it too! You liked Al, but essentially he has put you at risk. It's appalling! People will think you have Creepycrawlyitis too! How many other people has he done this to? Al is very popular! You must tell someone so people know what's really going on.
You expose Al and people are shocked that he didn't admit to this sooner! He was selfishly putting others at risk through the power of association. Al gets fired from his job, his wife leaves him, his whole world seems to be crumbling around him.
Ned from the next street over has Creepycrawlyitis. He just saw what happened with Al. Do you think he's going to tell anyone?
DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO TELL ANYONE?
Ummmm.... nope. Chances are Ned will keep it on the down low, find some secret friends who also suffer from Creepycrawlyitis and he will have a blast living a normal life. No one will know the truth about Ned.
Did the Ah-Ha Moment getcha yet? No? I'll give it to you. Go back and substitute Creepycrawlyitis with Racism.
I don't want racists to be scared to speak their minds. I don't want them to pretend they are someone they aren't. I don't want their fake apologies. Fining them and taking their money and assets away from them isn't going to change what they believe at all. Not one bit. It's only going to keep them quiet.
I want this to be a world where we know exactly who we are dealing with. Let the racists reveal who they truly are. Make them feel comfortable enough to think they can speak their minds and feel that there wont be any repercussions. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO TO AVOID.
I would like to think that enough time has passed that the non-racist people outnumber the racist people by an enormous margin. The best way to keep people honest and show them that we don't approve and just ostracize them without argument. Maybe they will seek help to overcome this stupid fucking mindset. If not, at least they will receive what they've been doing to others...... segregation.
If Donald Sterling was just left alone without all of this pressure to ACT remorseful what do you think would happen? He'd have no team because the players would protest or quit. He'd go to business and NBA functions and people would ignore and avoid him like the plague. (People HATE to be ignored! Worst punishment EVER!) No one would purchase anything that he was associated with. He'd have no friends other than the other racist pigs he associated with. He'd indirectly be punishing himself. And that is way more influential than the stupid fine and the media giving him all of this publicity. Thank God he was such an idiot that he screwed up his "opportunity" to "apologize" and be accepted back into society after a short waiting time.
I was brought up to not see color. I went to a trade school where I was a minority and found it to be a life experience that everyone should have. I often find myself in situations where I'm the odd one out, but people accept me and let me in. I have been fortunate beyond believe in regards to potentially discriminatory experience. I have no clue what it's like to SUFFER because of racists and I don't pretend to understand what those who have been victims suffered through.
My daughter will be raised the same way I was. View people by what you see on the inside. The outside means nothing. Some of the best books are hidden by covers that don't do them justice. Some of the most visually attractive people have had the most repulsive personalities. The outside cannot be trusted when "judging" people for their true character.
By the way, we really ARE all the same. That's not just a statement that "liberal extremists try to force down our throats in order to create unity." (I thought I was going to vomit when I heard that come out of the mouth of someone I know.) I saw a presentation in college by someone famous who often spoke on diversity. Eons ago, when all of the continents were one, before they divided, humans all looked the same. We all had the same physical characteristics. The continents drifted and our appearances changed as we acclimated to our new environments and climates. Nature caused us to change. That's it. The freakin' weather is what makes you look different from someone from another country!
"There is only one race on the planet; the human race."
Edward James Olmos
Love to you ALL!
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