Growing up in the sixties and seventies

[bradly1101]

[448 words]
My brother had an experience, and everyone should know how "normalized" racism has become. Assuming the other white guy is a bigot like you is one of the most horrible things I can imagine in human behavior. My brother grew up like me, thirteen months before.

Growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s was weird. I learned about great minds that had been/would be snuffed out. JFK, RFK, MLK, and many innocent great minds in places like Cambodia and Viet Nam.

I learned their ideals in school. MLK had great words, all of them did (below). I was learning tolerance and empathy from a man who peaceably went about lawful activities, led the inspired to. I saw a picture of young women screaming in obvious hate at another who I'm sure truly loved them. Same DNA, same desire to go to this school, exercise curiosity. The differently enhanced woman appeared unaffected. No reaction. She was revealing the ancient divisiveness (700M years?) our brains are wired for when it sees differences, especially in its own specie. The reaction (an electro-chemical mechanism called the Sympathetic Nervous System) is almost automatic because in many, something gets in between the eye and the response, logic.

Difference-vision is built in. It is so ancient that I’m sure all species with sight have something like it. Gotta find a mate, defend, after the dancing. A big shadow, shark!
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/…/animal-vision-evolv…/

The logic and empathy that many show, the stuff that stops the electrons from going down that historic, pre-built path in our noggins, is what I’d call human sophistication (it’s partly affected by the “Para” Sympathetic Nervous System), and that word has connotations. I heard good words about that recently from a developing mind, “Humans have some ability to self-modify.”

If the greats of the sixties had lived, would the world be different? Would there be different leaders? Could harmony ever displace division? Would someone I know, my brother, be confronted with blatant bigotry in late 2017? Sometimes I imagine worlds…

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - MLK

“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.” - RFK

“Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.” - RFK

“Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal.” - JFK

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” - JFK

 

[Puffnstuff]

Being multiracial myself I'm no stranger to racism and have witnessed how its learned and passed along. Adults should be ashamed of themselves for propagating it but they aren't and most see nothing wrong with their long held beliefs refusing to accept anything that differs from them.

I made it all the way to high school before I encountered it in a way that my young mind could perceive. While living in Philly I got to see it in the forced busing where black students from the west side were brought into the Italian neighborhoods of the south side. Each day when they'd board the yellow buses for the ride back to the west side kids would line the streets shouting obscenities at them while hurling objects like rocks or bricks at the buses. Many times this would result in damage to them and the police would have to come over and run them off.

The city was divided along racial lines with different groups congregated into separate sections of town where one group was considered to be an outsider if they ventured into another groups area. I've always loved being around people so I struggled with the concept that people could shun others in this manner. This learned behavior is being propagated by multiple factions in this country and many of them openly profess that they are not racist yet if you step back and observe their behavior you will discover that they are hypocrites. Some of the most racist people I've ever met fall into this category.

 

[Muse]

Where I live it would be difficult to be racist, at least overtly racist. Of course, it's been observed that everyone is a racist, "Everyone's a Bigot."

There is such an incredible wide ranging assortment of peoples where I live (Berkeley, CA) that I really think it's easiest on the mind/soul to just be accepting of diversity than than to harbor jealousies or antagonisms. I don't know how I'd handle living in a place where racism is "accepted" as the norm. I know I would fight that in my mind, continually and outwardly as the situation befit.

 

[Zaap]

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/07/the-fbi-and-martin-luther-king/302537/

On October 10, 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy committed what is widely viewed as one of the most ignominious acts in modern American history: he authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to begin wiretapping the telephones of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Kennedy believed that one of King's closest advisers was a top-level member of the American Communist Party, and that King had repeatedly misled Administration officials about his ongoing close ties with the man.

----

The blazing irony of these two together, both touted as anything close to the same level of civil rights champions. If he thought for a second you were a 'communist' Kennedy was a civil rights violating, law-breaking, witch-hunting, shitbag little totalitarian asshole.

We know things about MLK that should be no one's business, because of shitbag RFK's attempts to discredit him via illegal wiretaps.

I guess it's nice to see one thing is true, the Kennedys were right. Daddy's money COULD by them anything, and they COULD get away with anything, America's royalty and all. That clearly includes BUYING their favorable legacy as not only complete asshole villains, but white-washed civil rights champs, even as they worked to destroy one of the movements leaders.

Amazing, but I'm not really surprised.

 

[Gryz]

If the greats of the sixties had lived, would the world be different?

You mention "the greats" and "the world".
And then you only talk about Americans who fucked each other over and shot each other in the face.
That got very little to do with "the world".
The world is a bit bigger than the US.

And to answer you question: no, the US would not have been different if your greats would still be alive.
Your voters would assure that some other scumbags would now be in charge.

 

[bradly1101]

I don't know how I'd handle living in a place where racism is "accepted" as the norm.

I should have mentioned that my brother's experience happened in San Pedro Calif., which is as left coast as you can get without falling in the water.

It's norming everywhere almost. We need to make America grate again to our knuckles' dismay, er, I meant knuckleheadeds'.

 

[bradly1101]

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/07/the-fbi-and-martin-luther-king/302537/

On October 10, 1963, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy committed what is widely viewed as one of the most ignominious acts in modern American history: he authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation to begin wiretapping the telephones of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Kennedy believed that one of King's closest advisers was a top-level member of the American Communist Party, and that King had repeatedly misled Administration officials about his ongoing close ties with the man.

----

The blazing irony of these two together, both touted as anything close to the same level of civil rights champions. If he thought for a second you were a 'communist' Kennedy was a civil rights violating, law-breaking, witch-hunting, shitbag little totalitarian asshole.

We know things about MLK that should be no one's business, because of shitbag RFK's attempts to discredit him via illegal wiretaps.

I guess it's nice to see one thing is true, the Kennedys were right. Daddy's money COULD by them anything, and they COULD get away with anything, America's royalty and all. That clearly includes BUYING their favorable legacy as not only complete asshole villains, but white-washed civil rights champs, even as they worked to destroy one of the movements leaders.

Amazing, but I'm not really surprised.

Many reasons to criticize many on all sides. Misdeeds don't always define the man. Is Clinton only his lies? Is MLK only his womanizing? Is Maya Angelou only her former occupation as a prostitute? Is Nixon only his lawlessness? Are Pythagoras, Byron, Michelangelo* only their crazy? edit: Is Obama only his initial opposition to gay marriage? Am I only my socialism?

Narrow minds see narrowly.

* http://www.cracked.com/article_16559_7-eccentric-geniuses-who-were-clearly-just-insane.html

 

[woolfe9998]

What I remember most about bigotry while growing up in the 70's (I was born in the late 60's) was that homophobia was pervasive in at least K-8. Every other insult was "f@ggot" or "that's so gay." This was in the bay area of California, bastion of liberal tolerance. I didn't learn homophobia in church. I learned it in the school yard, starting from about age 5.

 

[sportage]

How about women?
At one time a woman could not get credit or sell a house without her husbands consent and approval in writing.
The house could be in her name, but if she was married and wanted to refinance or sell, she couldn't.
No bank would do credit with only the woman if she was marred.
There was a time not so long ago when women were treated as second class citizens, and if married needed the husbands consent in order to do anything financial or involving any major purchase.
Luckily, that has changed. But today we are witnessing the other shoe dropping. Sexual harassment.
Living thru the 60's was pretty amazing.
If you disliked change back then you probably felt angry, detached, and helpless.
If you wanted change and equality, you were proud that you lived thru such history making.

In many respects we are living in that history making time today.
Addressing sexual harassment, exposing what women have been going thru for decades, and witnessing the sweet justice.
Imagine... Roy Moore was stopped cold in his tracks, and one of the most achieving liberals forced to resign. Senator Al Franken.
When you remember what all Franken went thru to win his seat, to challenge that close election and then win that election, for Al that was pretty amazing.
Then now, Al exposed, humiliated, and forced to resign.
THAT was and is nothing less than history making.
More will come, have no doubts about that.
And in the meantime never forget.... YOU WERE THERE.
And I still believe while the times they are still a changing, this change could eventually bring down a presidency.

 

[bradly1101]

When RFK was shot I was six, I remember the live footage [edit: from the Ambassador] well. A few days later my mom sobbed at the black and white TV on its little rolling stand as the coffin was pulled in the procession. I had never seen her cry like that.

Craig said: 1968: the year started with the activism, and assassinations of, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and ended with the Dem. Natl. Convention mess and Nixon. I tell my students it was quite a tumultuous year.

I said: It was enthralling. Mom and dad had wanted McGovern, grandma wanted Humphrey, not unlike Sanders/Clinton and what that led to.

 

[bradly1101]

The blazing irony of these two together

Could there be the teeniest, tiny, minuscule possibility that MLK forgave RFK/JFK? But it would take a wide-open, empathetic, generous, compassionate mind to do that. Hmmm.

 

[bradly1101]

Now, on the former site of The Ambassador Hotel in L.A. where RFK was shot sits The Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools.

Great words:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...073741839.100002482877186&type=1&l=33cbce0f40

 

[zerocool84]

Where I live it would be difficult to be racist, at least overtly racist. Of course, it's been observed that everyone is a racist, "Everyone's a Bigot."

There is such an incredible wide ranging assortment of peoples where I live (Berkeley, CA) that I really think it's easiest on the mind/soul to just be accepting of diversity than than to harbor jealousies or antagonisms. I don't know how I'd handle living in a place where racism is "accepted" as the norm. I know I would fight that in my mind, continually and outwardly as the situation befit.

The SF Bay Area may try to show they aren't racist but they sure as hell like to make sure to keep people that don't have good money out of there or keep them in their own pockets of the area as to not scare the Whites/Asians. The Bay Area is extremely segregated.

 

[bradly1101]

A friend's words: The irony of sending the recording of MLK's tryst to Coretta Scott King made her more determined to support her husband.

See how you inform Zaap?

 

[bradly1101]

The SF Bay Area may try to show they aren't racist but they sure as hell like to make sure to keep people that don't have good money out of there or keep them in their own pockets of the area as to not scare the Whites/Asians. The Bay Area is extremely segregated.

Kind of everywhere really. I live in a gay-friendly neighborhood, and it is very mixed racially. Damned gays!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamitos_Beach,_Long_Beach,_California#Nightlife

 

[MajinCry]

I'd say pretty much all of America is racist; you guys still have an Apartheid against the Native Americans.

I'll believe America's great once you guys make amends for past misdeeds. What came of the institutionalized rape, abduction, torture, sterilization, sexual enslavement, and molestation of Naive American children in Reservation Schools? Fuck all, that's what.

 

[Paladin3]

Many reasons to criticize many on all sides. Misdeeds don't always define the man. Is Clinton only his lies? Is MLK only his womanizing? Is Maya Angelou only her former occupation as a prostitute? Is Nixon only his lawlessness? Are Pythagoras, Byron, Michelangelo* only their crazy? edit: Is Obama only his initial opposition to gay marriage? Am I only my socialism?

Narrow minds see narrowly.

* http://www.cracked.com/article_16559_7-eccentric-geniuses-who-were-clearly-just-insane.html

If I could have liked this twice I would have.

 

[Moonbeam]

I have nothing much to say here except to you, bradly. Like calls to like. You, not King or Kennedy are the hero of this thread in my opinion. I salute your idealism.

 

[bradly1101]

Anger sometimes has a trigger finger,
racist hate like diseases linger.
For instinct states that we should fear
differences when they are near.
Oh, to cast off and forgive this righteous armor,
and live free, to learn to soar.
Above the madness we have wrought;
rocket science it is not.

 

[bradly1101]

Naive American children

Indeed.

 

[Muse]

I should have mentioned that my brother's experience happened in San Pedro Calif., which is as left coast as you can get without falling in the water.

It's norming everywhere almost. We need to make America grate again to our knuckles' dismay, er, I meant knuckleheadeds'.

San Pedro, well, I used to live in SoCal. It's close to Long Beach, is L.A. County but close to Orange County, renown for right wing politics, although not at knuckleheaded as you're going to find in many areas of this country.

I still sincerely believe that a best hope for the U.S.A. is a mass realization of MLK's dream of racial equality. That would go a long way toward repairing our national attitude, which is now a festering wound. We've certainly been making major progress but many are still screaming and crying being dragged into the future and will resist change if it kills them. America is still a mad house.

 

[Muse]

When RFK was shot I was six, I remember the live footage [edit: from the Ambassador] well. A few days later my mom sobbed at the black and white TV on its little rolling stand as the coffin was pulled in the procession. I had never seen her cry like that.

A friend of mine told me shortly (weeks?) before RFK was assassinated "they're going to kill him too." We were in L.A. It was uncanny.

 

[Muse]

The SF Bay Area may try to show they aren't racist but they sure as hell like to make sure to keep people that don't have good money out of there or keep them in their own pockets of the area as to not scare the Whites/Asians. The Bay Area is extremely segregated.

Not scare the whites/asians? Are you betraying bias there? If you have money and you aren't white or asian I don't imagine you're going to have a hard time buying into most Bay Area communities. Money talks.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Money talks.

Its the universal language of a capitalist society.

 

[bradly1101]

San Pedro, well, I used to live in SoCal. It's close to Long Beach, is L.A. County but close to Orange County, renown for right wing politics, although not at knuckleheaded as you're going to find in many areas of this country.

I still sincerely believe that a best hope for the U.S.A. is a mass realization of MLK's dream of racial equality. That would go a long way toward repairing our national attitude, which is now a festering wound. We've certainly been making major progress but many are still screaming and crying being dragged into the future and will resist change if it kills them. America is still a mad house.

We should have worn more grippy shoes on the ramp up. We've hit slipperiness, and it aint over yet.


2017 America

She stood strong for centuries.
Depression, recession, and war threatened to tear her asunder, but she stood strong on the backs of her people.
Leaders of all, political bents notwithstanding, did what they could.
America, always leaning forward, until now.
Back we go to a time not remembered.
A time of lost hope being cheered by some, anxiety for the rest.
Torn from within.
Religions warring, circles breaking, respect and truth rarities.
Awareness desperately tries to look away but cannot.
Backs broken.
Tears wiped dry with sandpaper.