Sometimes I really wish I could just have one of those moments where, after a long and protracted argument with someone who takes a wholly opposite (and wrongheaded) position on a critical issue like racism or power or the various impending environmental holocausts that right wing nuts continue to ignore, the person is hit with a zinger and has to actually acknowledge that they were wrong. I mean, we go on and on with these debates, but does anyone ever actually move from their ideological line in the sand? And even if people eventually do, can't we just have one of those moments once in a while? Not necessarily one where someone is ridiculed or anything - just where they see the truth and take it from there, rather than just save face and act like nothing's changed.
Maybe it's too hopeful.
But we're all about hope nowadays, aren't we?
Jun 13, 2008
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9 comments:
I dunno if there's hope for people who are too far gone...but there's definitely a number of people who just don't know about a lot of these issues (like a few of my real friends in LI). Yes, they could be putting more effort into finding out, but they're not necessarily indifferent or callous (I would argue that the majority of kids my age here are, though, so this isn't coming from someone who does the whole "everyone means well!" thing).
also, i think Yuri Kochiyama got into activism in her 40s.
I hear you about people not knowing/feeling connected. I think that's a natural human tendency, and it's more American than anything else ("if it doesn't concern me, why should I care?")
Yuri may be a bit of a tough one to peg for a lot of reasons, including the impact the internment had on so many of the younger Japanese Americans. One could say that the post-9/11 Homeland Security regime in the U.S. has had a similar effect on Muslims and Sikhs, but I can't say that's true for desis as a whole.
But this post was about someone who is actually actively disagreeing and spitting back anti-something rhetoric when I'm trying to reason with him/her...
Oh, ok. I took it as a general post because I'm frequently arguing with all kinds of flamers and trolls in the blogosphere.
You're right about my Y.K. example - she had a more direct experience w oppression by the state than the average person in our communities, even with all the harassment and targeting.
Actually - it was a general post, but about people who have active/strong opinions (won't say well-reasoned) instead of those who are tuned out.
And don't argue with the trolls/flamers: I think they post to get a rise more than to actually stake out a real position or even try to get you to change yours.
I'm not that down on our people... I think a lot of people came out of internment wanting to do nothing more than blend in as quickly as they could and put it all behind them. I can't say I have any way of putting myself in their shoes, so it's hard to even fathom where they were coming from.
We just have to have a bit of faith, and support those folks who get it without writing off those who don't, enit?
It's hard for me to not respond sometimes because a lot of the blogs I frequent (especially ones by woc) get a ton of vitriol. It absolutely is a time and energy drainer. I hesitated for a long time before setting up my own a few weeks ago, even though it probably won't get much traffic.
"We just have to have a bit of faith, and support those folks who get it without writing off those who don't, enit?"
I agree.
Not to be overly preachy or anything. :) Kudos to you for trying to put your own voice out there. I maintain this site more for myself to work some things out and for that occasional dialogue, but I don't expect much. Who's got the time!
i sent you an email with a link to my blog, btw.
Thanks - will def. check it out.
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