reborn ... after a few responses I got on here I reworded my argument, but I had just read the last few posts before it got shut, and it was getting crazy. Most people who have referenced back showed me why, and that's why I didn't keep that arguement going. To be honest, I don't think that too many scholars on whiteness, and/or minorities want race relations to go "too far the other way". The point is that there is a lot of cultural racism that still exists, things like unfair hiring practices that continually allow for underqualified white people to keep getting hired - but it's very rarely acknowledged, whereas the few instances where AA goes to far is consistently questioned. I guess, after getting into my dissertation, it shed new light to me on what Affirmative Action has done, how it works, and who has generally benefitted. With this newer knowledge I have acquired I noticed that the (false) beliefs about how it has been implemented were being pushed on this board, and I just wanted to let peeps know how it worked. Further, I think the most interesting thing going on is that AA is huge in the millitary, which is a supposedly conservative bastion which implements liberal ideals (except in the fact that it's main purpose is to scientifically map out ways to kill large amounts of people - which may not be in and of itself conservative but is defended by conservatives). Finally what I have really learned is that whiteness is just as complicated as blackness, latinness, or asianness, but is rarely discussed as such - perhaps even more so by people like me who are liberally inclined. A lot of people on here have argued, I believe rightly, that individual situations need to be dealt with on an individual basis, but where my argument differs is that I still assert that we have to acknowledge that whiteness is still a general privilege that we need to understand. I hope that clarifies my position on the whole topic. Either way I have really enjoyed talking through this on the board, because it has really helped me think through this complicated topic, and that it is an important thing to be thinking about/discussing.
You raise some very good points about "whiteness". Honestly? I think part of the problem with the whole race relations situation is the LACK of a white cultural identity. I do not mean a pathological sense of white identify, vis a vis the KKK or other nutty groups. I mean a basic sense of ethnic identity. All white people in North America come from a mother culture but this sense of cultural identity is usually lost (except in the odd traditional family where the "old ways" are still honored). "Mainstream culture" is used to describe "white culture", but what is this concept, really? It just sets up a dichotomy between "us" and "them". I think this lack of cultural awareness in many white people can actually set the stage for a negative view of other racial groups.
Yeah, which is exactly why I used it. I use Americanisms a lot to fit in here, but felt like asserting my "Ozness" there !!
I figured it was a chance for the kiddies to learn something.
ozness?????
please explain.
*he winks at his mates behind the tourist's back as, with an arm draped around his shoulder, he explains the concept of dropbears to this unsuspecting soul.*
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
*he winks at his mates behind the tourist's back as, with an arm draped around his shoulder, he explains the concept of dropbears to this unsuspecting soul.*
Just felt inclined to use my choice of language and syntax, which turned out to be "uniquely Australian" ( actually , that deliberate wank is probably not even close to true, I pretty sure the Poms and Scots would have got "toey")and not modify it to ensure universal comprehension.
Just felt inclined to use my choice of language and syntax, which turned out to be "uniquely Australian" ( actually , that deliberate wank is probably not even close to true, I pretty sure the Poms and Scots would have got "toey")and not modify it to ensure universal comprehension.
i find myself explaining myself to americans at times with my turn of phrase. to me i always make sense, but apparently that is not true. go figure.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
*he winks at his mates behind the tourist's back as, with an arm draped around his shoulder, he explains the concept of dropbears to this unsuspecting soul.*
Comments
You raise some very good points about "whiteness". Honestly? I think part of the problem with the whole race relations situation is the LACK of a white cultural identity. I do not mean a pathological sense of white identify, vis a vis the KKK or other nutty groups. I mean a basic sense of ethnic identity. All white people in North America come from a mother culture but this sense of cultural identity is usually lost (except in the odd traditional family where the "old ways" are still honored). "Mainstream culture" is used to describe "white culture", but what is this concept, really? It just sets up a dichotomy between "us" and "them". I think this lack of cultural awareness in many white people can actually set the stage for a negative view of other racial groups.
in that case my answer would have to be yes, always. my gf just left after a weekend here... and STILL yes!
ozness?????
please explain.
*he winks at his mates behind the tourist's back as, with an arm draped around his shoulder, he explains the concept of dropbears to this unsuspecting soul.*
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Just felt inclined to use my choice of language and syntax, which turned out to be "uniquely Australian" ( actually , that deliberate wank is probably not even close to true, I pretty sure the Poms and Scots would have got "toey")and not modify it to ensure universal comprehension.
i find myself explaining myself to americans at times with my turn of phrase. to me i always make sense, but apparently that is not true. go figure.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Yeah, I usually take the shortcut of conforming to American style, sometimes I feel like being a rebel.
A rebel without a cause, that's me !! LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!
not me mate. i'll explain, but i won't change.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
DROPBEARS!!!!
Did someone say DROPBEARS?????!!!!!!
Oh I do so love Dropbears!
Those Bears know how to have a good time!!
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
if only they were awake for it.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Funny, I'd rather change knowing what I am doing, than explain myself to people. I never did like having to justify myself.
Did you know that drop-bears get a run in a Terry Pratchet book about some joint called Fourecks ??
hehe!!
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
i did not know that lucy.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say