Racism Rant- It's not that the whole machismo thing doesn't bother me as much as you

[lodessa]

Sometimes the people around me really bother me with their racism. It's not overt. It's not the Klan, they don't use derogatory racist epithets. It's 21st Century westcoast liberal racism. Since when did having your family adore you become a bad thing? Because apparently, according to my educated mother and her educated friends, it is a bad thing when you're a hispanic male. That's right, the fact that someone is supported by thier family is now a bad thing... if they happen to be the wrong ethnicity... because we don't disciminate against people, just their cultures. If they'd only be distant and cold like the good WASPs we could all get along. Except we aren't WASPs... we're Jewish and mom is proud of that. Apparently we are the only ones that can have a loud culture with mothers that overfeed and dote though. Are you projecting mom? Do you tell me that clearly if a hispanic man is adored by his family he can't ever be with a white girl because you really just want me to marry a nice jewish boy? Are you being such a fucking hypocrite because you married two men from out of the faith... albeit still white? Fuck it. It's so not relevant since it's not like I want to marry him (or even be with him romantically at all at this point) but it pisses me off that you make such broad generalizations. It bothers me that you don't even realize that this makes you part of the people that we have a problem with? Hell, I know I am not perfect. I have my own cultural biases no matter how hard I try not to and no matter how many hispanic guys I befriend, sleep with, fall in love with. I also know that there are cultural differences. To me it's almost worse though, to act like you are so enlightened and educated and to turn that knowledge around and use it to make it seem like you are not being fucking racist when you are. I never realized my family was racist... thought I grew up colorblind... and hey maybe it was different when we were growing up in student family housing with graduate students from all over the globe. I realized that I was maybe not immune to racist tendancies during my first year of college. It was maybe another year or two before I realized that my extended family always has been... when my grandmother was filling out some online dating profile and didn't want mom to say yes to wanting to date anyone not white "because they come from a different culture". That's the 21st Century for you... sugar coated and smiling polite racism. None of us are immune... but at least it bothers me.

ps. yes, as Veronica Mars may have clued you into, racism is really mostly related to the hispanic population in California

pps. Here's the entry I made in my old journal about the topic of racism and myself 2 years ago: http://csarina.livejournal.com/240101.html

Comments

[novin-ha.livejournal.com]

I think that unless we really grow up multicultural, it's sadly impossible to be totally devoid of racism. We have to try to our best, and that is what you are doing :)

I don't see racism in my self - but how can I, if I have no contact whatsoever with other cultures? Poland is mainly white - there are very few people from outside, well, Poland, and even fewer from outside Europe. Defending them from afar is easy, but what would I behave like if I were confronted with them?

/off to write a post about antisemitism and freedom of speech/

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

oooh... I'll look so very forward to that post

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I so totally understand, knowing that I am going through the same thing!

In this "enlightened" age, we are still thrown back to the old ideals...you cannot marry out of your faith! god forbid, the world is diversified now.

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

*hugs* it's funny because I was involved with this guy for 3 years almost and really he's just as mainstream culture as I am. We believe in the same left wing sort of things, we eat the same kinds of food, we listen to a lot of the same bands... there is no cultural gap. It's like mom is trying to blame that on the problems in our relationship when really they are the problems of the culture we both live in... not anything to do with having seperate ones. The last three guys I have been involved with have been hispanic (although now i am flirting with the whitest white guy to ever be white) and I somehow think this bothers mom even though she'd never admit it.

I am never going to end up with a Jewish boy... I don't have the temperment for it.

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

haha...i know, awful isn't it? I realized a long time ago that I can't live up to their standards. One day I hope I will make them happy, but I don't see it happening soon.

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

i can't even live up to my standards

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

*giggles* don't we all?

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

sigh... oh well it all sucks

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

definately

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

I just want to go hide in bed forever

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

sounds like a plan to me.

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

unfortunately... instead I am at work with double circles under my eyes

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

me too...so totally know that feeling

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

I freaking hate the double circles under my eyes.... however I adore some of the professors' accents

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

hahaha...

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

seriously so cute

[cyn-ful.livejournal.com]

*huggles* it will be better, I promise