Alright, I've had enough. It's time to go on the internet and complain. This particular rant is about racism.
Those who know me, know that I hate politics. As comedian Jeff Dunham so aptly put it "Politics comes from the latin word poly - meaning many, and ticks, which are blood sucking parasites." Never has that statement been more correct than when discussing the topic of race.
Take our current President. President Obama is (spoiler alert) not caucasian. I believe he refers to himself as 'black', while most of the right wing shouts 'he's only half black' as if this somehow matters. The left, on the other hand, will accuse you of rasicm for challenging even his most ridiculous policies. (No, that's not an attack on the man, democrats or anything else, all politicians draft policies that are ridiculous to the other party.) I don't mean to rant about politics, I'll save that for another blog. My point is this: isn't it time we moved past reffering to him as a 'black President'? As a matter of fact, isn't it time we moved past reffering to anyone as 'black', 'hispanic', 'white', etc.? Can we not simply be 'people'?
Now, that's not to say that one cannot be proud of one's heritage, far from it. Celebrate your differences as you please. I'm quite proud of my mostly Scottish and Irish ancestry (not scotts-irish, by the way, that means you're from northern Ireland.) And the physical aspects of race can be very important, say in a police investigation, and these are understandable uses for what I will hitherto label 'racism'.
I am sick, however, of turning on the news to hear 'Those in the black community were shocked by....". STOP IT! Can you not see that that is racism right there? Or perhaps you're familiar with this little doozy: "Recent polls show that the majority of hispanic citizens of...." ENOUGH! If you want to stop true racists from yelling insults at you, or commiting horrific acts of violence, based upon the ridiculous notion that the color of your skin makes you somehow inferior to them, then stop classifying people by it! ALL OF YOU!
I don't know if this is a problem in all parts of the country, but here in Texas we have a specific lawyer that makes terrible commercials, but this is not my problem with him. My problem stems from one statement in his terrible commercials (names have been changed to avoid being sued.). "Ricardo Shillyshally Inc. is the number one law firm in the metroplex, owned by a hispanic man!" (Or something to that effect.)
A: Quit using race to define your business... it's unbecoming, unprofessional, and UNRELATED!!! In no way is the color of your skin relevant to your law business!
B: Stop taking polls like this! What could possibly justify taking a poll based on race?! Who makes these things, and how can I get you to stop?
Do people simply not understand that defining people based on the level of melanin in their flesh is completely moronic? Whether you're doing to it to make someone feel inferior, or to make someone seem better, it makes no difference! If you look at someone and think 'black guy' and not simply 'guy' you are guilty of racism, no matter your intentions. There, I said it. I understand that we live in a ludicrously PC culture, but you if you try too hard to be nice to the 'black man' simply because he's black, that's racism! How about trying to be nice to him because he's a fellow human being? And, yes, this goes for you too. The sooner you look at someone and think 'woman' and not 'white woman', the sooner we can move beyond the issue of race and start dealing with each other as PEOPLE.
Do you people realize that classifying people by the color of their skin has led to some of the greatest atrocities the world has ever seen? By grouping people into white, black, brown, etc. and even by going so far as to say 'of _____ descent', the english were able to justify subjugating the africans, the indians, and the irish and scottish. It also let the Nazis (note: not the germans. The Nazis) kill six million jews. And the egyptians enslave the jews as well. We have to stop!
So please, stop taking polls based on race, excepting of course where it is physically significant such as sickle-cell anemia in africans. These kinds of polls are not only acceptable, but necessary. But stop saying things like "black children in this community are under-privileged", because I guarantee you, the white kids in that neighborhood are not doing any better. Stop using race in humor, even if you belong to that race. Stop using words that would offend you if you heard them issue from the lips of a man with a different skin tone.
Seriously, everyone, if you want to stop racism, stop acknowledging its existence.
Rant complete.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
An Open Letter To Nerds
Dear Nerds, Geeks, Freaks, Dorks and Weirdos,
Let me start by saying that this letter is the first thing I have ever written with intent to distribute via the internet besides the occasional Facebook post. It may be that no one is interested in reading this blog, but I hope that if you count yourself one of those mentioned in the salutation, you will at least read this letter, and share it with all your little dorky friends.
This letter has been forming in the back of my mind for a long time now, but this was the final straw. The nerd community has become more and more prominent in the public eye, and it seems to me that I cannot log into Facebook anymore without being barraged by images of cosplayers or comic book characters, references to Harry Potter or Doctor Who, and jokes that only followers of that specific fandom will get. It's enough to drive any normal person insane. And I can't thank you enough.
Let me explain.
Public school was Hell for me. I was short, fat, white, nerdy, with braces.I do not mean to drag race into this much, but being white at mostly Hispanic and black high school simply wasn't 'cool'. I didn't like sports, and I was in all Pre-A.P. classes. I had a healthy respect for teachers, (seeing as my mother was one) and my parents kept me rather sheltered, so I didn't know the latest rap songs, or even the enough popular 90's rock to get that crowd on my side. More important was what I WAS into. I liked Star Wars and Harry Potter, Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, and, though I tried to hide it, to 'fit in', I was never able to convince the bullies that I was one of them. From sixth grade to sophomore year, when it finally got too much and my grades plummeted to the point my parents pulled me out, my life was an endless string of insults, punches, and shunning. I had a few friends and being in middle school band provided me with a few more friendly faces. But even band was not the 'nerd' fest I had been promised when I got to high school, and the bullies were present even there. And forget about girls, no way were they going to have anything to do with me.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I simply couldn't hack it, and I contemplated ending my own life on more than one occasion.No one understood me. I know how whiny and full of teenage angst that sounds, but I honestly felt that way, and the 'best years of my life' were quite easily the worst. (This isn't even including the other issues I had to deal with, like cancer, the passing of a friend, and the loss of a goddaughter.) But even there, I turned out to be too cowardly to actually make the attempt. My only outlet was church, and truth be told, the bullies were not deterred by the cross over the door. True, I had more friends there than at school, but not enough to make a difference.
It was rough, but I made it, obviously, and now, nearly ten years out of high school, I'm married to a beautiful woman, I have a good job, lots of good friends, and most importantly, a son.
He's only two moths old, but I don't want my son growing up in the same environment. His mother is almost as big a dork as I am, and the kid is showing signs of following the same road. (You know, cuz we're not guiding him that way or anything.) There is nothing set in stone when in comes to a two month old's personality, and Liam may never have a love for Star Wars, or D&D, or anime. He might swing completely the other way and prefer football to quidditch. I intend to support my son no matter what his choices or preferences, though I'd prefer to be his first Dungeon Master more so than his first pitching coach. I have developed a strong affection for college football, and I want to see him succeed at anything. (Except perhaps cricket, but this is 'Merica and there's very little chance of that.)
I know that Liam is going to have to put up with bullies. Bullies are an unpleasant fact of life, because try as you might, you will never be able to legislate how strangers raise their children, or what kind of circumstances another person's child has to deal with. The only thing you can do is raise your own child to deal with the problems as they arise, and hope your child has a strong foundation of friends and family to rely on.
But that's where you come in. Yes, you, you Naruto cosplay-ing dork. In the last few years nerd culture has sky-rocketed in popularity. A-Kon and Comic-Con are national phenomena, not to mention all the other conventions. Nine times out of ten, walking into a bar an announcing that you are part of the local L.A.R.P. group will get you a cheer or two. Gamestop Outlets are on every corner, and there are two or three comic book movies every year. I have one friend who makes his living helping people make their cosplay costumes. And this is all thanks to you.
YOU have made it known that we are everywhere, and we don't care if 'normal' people think we're weird. I'm aware that my son will face trials and suffering in his life, though we all want to shield our children from as much as we can. But, thanks to you, I know that no matter what his fandom is, there will be enough of YOUR children in his life that he will have someone there to share in his nerdyness. In the end, most teenagers share more of their feelings, thoughts, and emotions with their friends than with their parents, and though many of us, or our offspring, may not be born with the physical attributes necessary to make the bullies beware, they will have each other. Brothers and sister innumerable, standing together. I makes it easier for me to sleep at night, knowing that whatever may come, my son will have your children by his side.
So here's to you Potterheads, Whovians, and Trekkies, gamers of the video and tabletop varieties, cosplayers and anime-freaks. To those who know that Han shot first, that Nathan Fillion would have been a much better Green Lantern, and that the eagles would never have consented to fly Frodo to Mount Doom. To Facebook Master George Takei, internet pioneer Wil Weaton, and Murder Santa George R. R. Martin for making swords and sorcery cool again. To Magic: The Gatherers, Yu-Gi-Oh collectors and Pokefreaks. To hobbits and orcs, Gryffindors and Slytherins, jedi and sith. To klingons and vulcans, dungeon masters and PC's, tributes and careers, shades and Riders. To all freaks, geeks, dorks, and nerds. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, and most of all...
WE SALUTE YOU!!!
So share this open letter with all of your nerd friends. I don't care how many 'likes' I get on a facebook post, I don't care how many blog followers I get. I just want you ALL to know how important it is that you do what you do.
Let me start by saying that this letter is the first thing I have ever written with intent to distribute via the internet besides the occasional Facebook post. It may be that no one is interested in reading this blog, but I hope that if you count yourself one of those mentioned in the salutation, you will at least read this letter, and share it with all your little dorky friends.
This letter has been forming in the back of my mind for a long time now, but this was the final straw. The nerd community has become more and more prominent in the public eye, and it seems to me that I cannot log into Facebook anymore without being barraged by images of cosplayers or comic book characters, references to Harry Potter or Doctor Who, and jokes that only followers of that specific fandom will get. It's enough to drive any normal person insane. And I can't thank you enough.
Let me explain.
Public school was Hell for me. I was short, fat, white, nerdy, with braces.I do not mean to drag race into this much, but being white at mostly Hispanic and black high school simply wasn't 'cool'. I didn't like sports, and I was in all Pre-A.P. classes. I had a healthy respect for teachers, (seeing as my mother was one) and my parents kept me rather sheltered, so I didn't know the latest rap songs, or even the enough popular 90's rock to get that crowd on my side. More important was what I WAS into. I liked Star Wars and Harry Potter, Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering, and, though I tried to hide it, to 'fit in', I was never able to convince the bullies that I was one of them. From sixth grade to sophomore year, when it finally got too much and my grades plummeted to the point my parents pulled me out, my life was an endless string of insults, punches, and shunning. I had a few friends and being in middle school band provided me with a few more friendly faces. But even band was not the 'nerd' fest I had been promised when I got to high school, and the bullies were present even there. And forget about girls, no way were they going to have anything to do with me.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I simply couldn't hack it, and I contemplated ending my own life on more than one occasion.No one understood me. I know how whiny and full of teenage angst that sounds, but I honestly felt that way, and the 'best years of my life' were quite easily the worst. (This isn't even including the other issues I had to deal with, like cancer, the passing of a friend, and the loss of a goddaughter.) But even there, I turned out to be too cowardly to actually make the attempt. My only outlet was church, and truth be told, the bullies were not deterred by the cross over the door. True, I had more friends there than at school, but not enough to make a difference.
It was rough, but I made it, obviously, and now, nearly ten years out of high school, I'm married to a beautiful woman, I have a good job, lots of good friends, and most importantly, a son.
He's only two moths old, but I don't want my son growing up in the same environment. His mother is almost as big a dork as I am, and the kid is showing signs of following the same road. (You know, cuz we're not guiding him that way or anything.) There is nothing set in stone when in comes to a two month old's personality, and Liam may never have a love for Star Wars, or D&D, or anime. He might swing completely the other way and prefer football to quidditch. I intend to support my son no matter what his choices or preferences, though I'd prefer to be his first Dungeon Master more so than his first pitching coach. I have developed a strong affection for college football, and I want to see him succeed at anything. (Except perhaps cricket, but this is 'Merica and there's very little chance of that.)
I know that Liam is going to have to put up with bullies. Bullies are an unpleasant fact of life, because try as you might, you will never be able to legislate how strangers raise their children, or what kind of circumstances another person's child has to deal with. The only thing you can do is raise your own child to deal with the problems as they arise, and hope your child has a strong foundation of friends and family to rely on.
But that's where you come in. Yes, you, you Naruto cosplay-ing dork. In the last few years nerd culture has sky-rocketed in popularity. A-Kon and Comic-Con are national phenomena, not to mention all the other conventions. Nine times out of ten, walking into a bar an announcing that you are part of the local L.A.R.P. group will get you a cheer or two. Gamestop Outlets are on every corner, and there are two or three comic book movies every year. I have one friend who makes his living helping people make their cosplay costumes. And this is all thanks to you.
YOU have made it known that we are everywhere, and we don't care if 'normal' people think we're weird. I'm aware that my son will face trials and suffering in his life, though we all want to shield our children from as much as we can. But, thanks to you, I know that no matter what his fandom is, there will be enough of YOUR children in his life that he will have someone there to share in his nerdyness. In the end, most teenagers share more of their feelings, thoughts, and emotions with their friends than with their parents, and though many of us, or our offspring, may not be born with the physical attributes necessary to make the bullies beware, they will have each other. Brothers and sister innumerable, standing together. I makes it easier for me to sleep at night, knowing that whatever may come, my son will have your children by his side.
So here's to you Potterheads, Whovians, and Trekkies, gamers of the video and tabletop varieties, cosplayers and anime-freaks. To those who know that Han shot first, that Nathan Fillion would have been a much better Green Lantern, and that the eagles would never have consented to fly Frodo to Mount Doom. To Facebook Master George Takei, internet pioneer Wil Weaton, and Murder Santa George R. R. Martin for making swords and sorcery cool again. To Magic: The Gatherers, Yu-Gi-Oh collectors and Pokefreaks. To hobbits and orcs, Gryffindors and Slytherins, jedi and sith. To klingons and vulcans, dungeon masters and PC's, tributes and careers, shades and Riders. To all freaks, geeks, dorks, and nerds. From the bottom of my heart I thank you, and most of all...
WE SALUTE YOU!!!
So share this open letter with all of your nerd friends. I don't care how many 'likes' I get on a facebook post, I don't care how many blog followers I get. I just want you ALL to know how important it is that you do what you do.
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