it=s YOUR world!

Today=s topic: Racism

The issue of race and racism in our society is truly a dilemma, the most troubling aspect of this issue is the lack of any true racial division amongst the human race. There is no variance which would be reason to define differences in species among us. The nearest analogy one can find is to relate the following:

Races are to Humans as Breeds are to Dogs.

No self-respecting individual would even consider calling themselves a >breed of human.=

Racial classifications are not even qualified as breeding issues; A dog whose parents are Doberman and Collie is a hybrid dog, while a person born of Caucasian and non-Caucasian parents is never viewed as a hybrid. Rather they are seen as >half-breeds= or stereotyped into the roles of the more oppressed of their biological parental units. (Notice how even the >breed= analogy doesn=t apply here, >half-breed= being a negative term rather than the positive, progressive nature of >hybrid=)

We must seek out those who would strive to maintain the status quo on racial injustice. We must see through the layers of cognitive dissonance pulled down over our base-morality and strive to correct the atrocities of our past through actions today.

While we needn=t assume a punitive or demeaned status in our actions, we must remember the ideas and actions of the past in order that we not repeat said activities in the future.

And here=s the part you=ve been waiting for...

Now you=re probably thinking, AYea, so I can change. But what I want to know is, Skam what about the Nazis, Supremacists, the Klan, and other racial hate groups?@

All I can say is this, remember that knowledge is power. In order to overcome the adversities set forth by these hate-mongers you must educate yourself on the issues at hand, more importantly, however, you must educate others. Whether it=s something as involved as staging a benefit/protest rally to enlighten the public, or as basic as spreading the word to a couple friends during a basic conversation, or even telling your family what you=ve learned during dinner, every bit counts. Finally, when you tell others what you=ve learned you must tell them to spread the word, for only in knowledge is there true strength, and we need a unified populace in order to make lasting changes in our society.

Remember, AHit >em where they live@ philosophies don=t accomplish anything in the long run. Violence only breeds violence, and hating hatred is hypocritical.

ARA Lansing C/O Active Transformation

PO Box 6746, Lansing Mi 48826

home.att.net/~heimdal