[Peace-discuss] Flag flap

[Morton K.Brussel]

I've been ruminating:

Yes, Dean showed gross dumb insensitivity in making his remark about 
those who paste Confederate flags on their pick-ups.

Yes, Dean was probably insensitive because of his privileged 
background, white and comfortable.

Are there differences between those with conscious racist intentions, 
those with unconscious prejudices, and those who are simply insensitive 
to the feelings and history of others? I think there are significant 
differences. Does one have to believe in the superiority of a 
particular race (however that is defined) to be a racist, or is one a 
racist because one may use words which, perhaps out of ignorance, 
offend a characteristic group of people? Is one a racist if one favors 
(and understands) one's own "family-tribe-ethnicity" rather than one's 
neighbors'?

Yes, I think the words "racist" and "racism" are used indiscriminately. 
Not all the great evils of the world can be attributed to racism, as 
many seem to think. Wars are NOT generally fought for racist reasons. 
Our war against Serbia, Iraq, the Sandinistas was not fought for racial 
motives.  Nor was WWI or WWII or even Vietnam. Economics, greed, lust 
for power, geopolitics, simple ignorance, classism-- all have 
contributed to creating injustice and destruction. But of course, once 
on the road to war, all the hateful epithets and propaganda come into 
play. Racism then raises its ugly head, for war making governments 
can't allow their publics to think that  the "enemy" is our equal, 
whose lives are worth as much as our own. Demonization,  contempt and 
hate then become necessary tools for war fighting.

Racism (an unscientific term) is not just present among whites; all 
colors  have been infected by it. "Whitey" is a term of contempt just 
as are "nigger", "wog", "kike", "wop", dink, chink, Jap, .... Perhaps 
realizing this will make us feel less guilty.

Being born in the south doesn't alone lend one any special insight into 
racism against blacks, although those who have come from families in 
which such racism was embedded, and in towns in which racism was the 
order of the day, may well have a special sensitivity and awareness 
about the roots of racism and how it shows itself. There has been a 
full measure of racism in the north. We all know about racial unrest 
and discrimination in Chicago, New York, Detroit, LA, Boston, etc.. 
Which is not to say that racism---the wish to proclaim and establish 
one's ethnic superiority over others---has been as pervasive in the 
north as in the south.

Doug: To say that flying the confederate flag isn't necessarily a mark 
of racism, but perhaps a wish to uphold "states rights" misses the 
whole point about the ferocity of the wish to uphold states rights.

When all is said and done, I believe that a mountain has been made out 
of a molehill in castigating Dean. I don't believe his intentions were 
racist. and I would not adopt the thesis that his insensitivity implies 
racial malevolence and belief in racial superiority. I don't know 
Dean's true feelings and beliefs, but I would not assume the worst on 
the basis of what he said. Ask Vermonters about this.

Al's deeply felt belief in the inherent racism of whites, indicated by 
insensitive language, is something I think is overwrought. It may be 
that racism, or "otherism" is a deeply embedded human trait, but it is 
not a particular trait of whites against blacks; all colors seem to be 
equally afflicted.

Enough, or perhaps too much, for now. My apologies.

MKB