sharing an email from a friend regarding this column.
"1972, my mother, stepfather, and I were moving from the Bronx to Phoenix. We took a two-week cross-country trip to Phoenix. A fantastic trip. I will never forget Alabama. The first billboard we saw was Welcome to Alabama. The second billboard said, "Welcome to Alabama, this is George Wallace Country". Shortly after we stopped in a small town to get lunch. To this day I can still see exactly what happened. We sat in a booth in a small restaurant, my mother and stepfather sat opposite of me and then the fun began. My mother, who was wearing a Star of David, proceeded to order something, the two waitresses and the cook were standing behind me when they told my mother they were out of what she wanted. She proceeded to order another thing and they said they were out. My mother attempted to order a third meal when my stepfather said, "I understand what is happening", and we got up and left. I can still see them laughing while this took place. When we got to our car there was a sheriff's deputy standing by our car. As a 14 year old I didn't quite understand what had happened, but it was quickly explained to me. I haven't been back to Alabama since.
Race is a construct that came out of the African slave trade. It wasn't an identifier until that time. I identify as Ashkenazi, not white although my skin has a certain tone to it. I have been rejected in various ways due to my Jewishness, e.g. having my Chanukia hidden in the dorm because a suite mate thought it took away from her holiday experience and only Christmas decorations were appropriate in December. Or the time when I was reprimanded by a boss who said I had no right to call out a student at a college where I worked because he insisted in front of his friends in a hallway to speak about the cheap Jews. I have other examples too. The tone in this country today is one that is scary and doesn't bring out the best in people. I hope that we can get past this time in history for better days ahead. Thanks again for your eloquence at voicing the concerns that millions of us feel.
actually, before the African slave trade, but Europeans 'perfected' it. Many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, favored their own groups and viewed those outside their culture as "barbarians". Ancient societies like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome practiced slavery, often with slaves from different ethnic or geographical backgrounds than their captors. Discrimination Based on Appearance: Discrimination based on skin tone and other physical attributes has occurred throughout history.
15th Century: The modern concept of "race," emphasizing biological and inherent differences, began to develop in Europe around the 15th century.
I had not heard all of what you said. At my job, they emphasized the European stuff as the beginning of race identification but yours makes a lot of sense. Human fears of the 'other' (whatever that other is) is a sad state of affairs.
Bravo Barry. You are speaking for all of us who agree America is about acceptance and opportunity for all. The current regime is not only fanning racism in our nation it’s now importing it from South Africa!
Not voicing the feelings of millions! There is MUCH I could say here, but will leave it at your picking and choosing issues you have a bee in your bonnet about and generalizing. That is a very dangerous, and a typical response of angry people who want to vent. Not productive and some of what you say is not only offensive, but not accurate. Best we have a conversation in person some time as we seem to do that well.
sharing an email from a friend regarding this column.
"1972, my mother, stepfather, and I were moving from the Bronx to Phoenix. We took a two-week cross-country trip to Phoenix. A fantastic trip. I will never forget Alabama. The first billboard we saw was Welcome to Alabama. The second billboard said, "Welcome to Alabama, this is George Wallace Country". Shortly after we stopped in a small town to get lunch. To this day I can still see exactly what happened. We sat in a booth in a small restaurant, my mother and stepfather sat opposite of me and then the fun began. My mother, who was wearing a Star of David, proceeded to order something, the two waitresses and the cook were standing behind me when they told my mother they were out of what she wanted. She proceeded to order another thing and they said they were out. My mother attempted to order a third meal when my stepfather said, "I understand what is happening", and we got up and left. I can still see them laughing while this took place. When we got to our car there was a sheriff's deputy standing by our car. As a 14 year old I didn't quite understand what had happened, but it was quickly explained to me. I haven't been back to Alabama since.
Race is a construct that came out of the African slave trade. It wasn't an identifier until that time. I identify as Ashkenazi, not white although my skin has a certain tone to it. I have been rejected in various ways due to my Jewishness, e.g. having my Chanukia hidden in the dorm because a suite mate thought it took away from her holiday experience and only Christmas decorations were appropriate in December. Or the time when I was reprimanded by a boss who said I had no right to call out a student at a college where I worked because he insisted in front of his friends in a hallway to speak about the cheap Jews. I have other examples too. The tone in this country today is one that is scary and doesn't bring out the best in people. I hope that we can get past this time in history for better days ahead. Thanks again for your eloquence at voicing the concerns that millions of us feel.
actually, before the African slave trade, but Europeans 'perfected' it. Many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, favored their own groups and viewed those outside their culture as "barbarians". Ancient societies like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome practiced slavery, often with slaves from different ethnic or geographical backgrounds than their captors. Discrimination Based on Appearance: Discrimination based on skin tone and other physical attributes has occurred throughout history.
15th Century: The modern concept of "race," emphasizing biological and inherent differences, began to develop in Europe around the 15th century.
I had not heard all of what you said. At my job, they emphasized the European stuff as the beginning of race identification but yours makes a lot of sense. Human fears of the 'other' (whatever that other is) is a sad state of affairs.
Bravo Barry. You are speaking for all of us who agree America is about acceptance and opportunity for all. The current regime is not only fanning racism in our nation it’s now importing it from South Africa!
Not voicing the feelings of millions! There is MUCH I could say here, but will leave it at your picking and choosing issues you have a bee in your bonnet about and generalizing. That is a very dangerous, and a typical response of angry people who want to vent. Not productive and some of what you say is not only offensive, but not accurate. Best we have a conversation in person some time as we seem to do that well.
Curious about your vote for McCain. What made you decide he was the better candidate?
good question. i voted for him in the AZ primary, not the general
Voicing the feelings of millions.
Thank you.