Reactive no longer enough... time to get PROACTIVE on their a$$'$

[PrinceofWands]

I thought that by spending every moment of spare time guarding muslim/islamic/arabic places from the ignorant people in our country that I would be doing enough. It's obvious to me now that I can't wait for the problem to come to me any longer.

I am now embarking on a two prong attack against racial stupidity in our nation.

#1 I will no longer sit idly by as racists spread their filth. I used to try to argue rationally with them, hoping somehow I could reach at least one, and bring him to enlightenment. That has never once happened, and the problem just kept getting worse. Now, I will openly challenge anyone expounding a message of selective hatred to face me. I have done so twice, and in both cases the abuser of human traits backed down and removed his offending presence from my area. While I will not become the enemy by using guerrilla/terrorist tactics to remove them, I will always challenge them for the right to continue to corrupt our planet with their presence. I may end up in jail for it, but I don't care anymore. It's time to clean house.

#2 I will do my best to strike at ignorant America where it will hurt the most - their wallets. This BS of racial discrimination on our airlines will cease. To help get the message across I will be going to Portland Airport tomorrow to gather all the information I can on contacting all the airlines, and if possible beginning a campaign against them and the airports that allow them to give in to fear and hate. Maybe if I can cost their CEO's a Ferrari or two they'll stop the madness. I will personally REFUSE to fly on any airline that participates in these heinous acts, and I will campaign to encourage others to do the same. After the airlines, I'll pick the next best target and continue until America and I reach an understanding.


I've given blood...it wasn't enough. I've donated money...it wasn't enough. I've donated time...it wasn't enough. I don't know what it's going to take to stop this BS in my country, but whatever it takes, I'm willing to do it.

 

[Jfur]

I am also putting Delta and NW on my sh!tlist. I have several friends that I am worried about and they are not even answering their phones

edit: I am talking about friends that are likely to be profiled and harassed and who are probably terrified to leave the house for fear of some deranged, racist freak assaulting them

 

[PrinceofWands]

if any of them are in the portland/vancouver area I'd be happy to do a welfare check...just pm me.

 

<< Now, I will openly challenge anyone expounding a message of selective hatred to face me. I have done so twice, and in both cases the abuser of human traits backed down and removed his offending presence from my area. While I will not become the enemy by using guerrilla/terrorist tactics to remove them, I will always challenge them for the right to continue to corrupt our planet with their presence. I may end up in jail for it, but I don't care anymore. It's time to clean house. >>



No offence, I'm against racism and hatred as much as anyone else. But going out in the world and sticking your chest out like a tough guy is just going to get you cut down.



<< I don't know what it's going to take to stop this BS in my country, but whatever it takes, I'm willing to do it. >>


You know what you can do?
1.) Raise or adopt children and raise them with good values.
2.) Be an educator, be that one teacher that makes changes in a students ideals.

 

[SmackdownHotel]

Maybe you should start with the ones on AT first.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

What is racism? It's nothing! It's just a word constructed by the media and the PC police. What makes it so bad, what seperates it from other things. People get screwed over because of their age, because of the way they talk, because someone just had a bad day and wanted to take it out on them, because of whatever. "Racism" is just a stupid word that's been stigmatized to have the power to mute any opposing opinion, like the Red scare of the 50's. It's a way for guilty "opressors" to get up on a high horse to relieve their irrational guilt and stroke their ego at the same time. It's a way for the "opressed" to feel validated, and to justify their own inadequacies, and most importantly, self-righteous.

Now that you've shaken the earth and wowed the masses with your firm yet noble resolve for racial justice, what's next, you going to Disneyland?

 

[PrinceofWands]

It has nothing to do with 'tough guy' bs. I've lived my life avoiding physical confrontation whenever possible...mostly because with my training and combat philosophy I'd likely end up in prison fairly quickly. I wanted to keep going like that, not having to get confrontational I mean. Unfortunately these ignorant fools are forcing my hand. I CAN'T sit by and let them run their hate campaign against my fellow man. I won't infringe on someones right to have their own opinions, but I CAN demonstrate clearly how my opinions differ.

If I challenge these people, and they back down, they lose strength. If I challenge these people and they accept then there are three possible outcomes.

1. They win. Not likely, next outcome.
2. They lose and I go to jail. Pretty good trade off really. It deflates their movement, while focusing public attention on their atrocities. I may lose my freedom, but maybe someone else will pick up where I leave off. Eventually, after enough losses on their part, maybe we'll have the movement down to manageable levels.
3. They lose and I remain free. Best possible outcome. Everybody wins in this scenerio.

I have a daughter, and I do my best to teach her about the world. My focus has always been tolerance and acceptance, tempered by standing up for what you think is right. I'm wanting her to know that there ARE things in this world worth fighting for, even dying for. If I sit by and allow these hate mongers to pollute us, then what message am I sending?

As for teaching, I'd love to. Unfortunately it requires a degree, which requires time and money, neither of which do I really have (and any I did have are now gone to volunteer causes stemming from the attacks). As much as I'd like to teach, it's time I pass that torch to someone else and do what I can do, what I'm good at...fighting for what I believe in.

 

[PrinceofWands]

EngineNr9 - I'm not talking about affirmative action BS. I'm talking about people of Arab decent being attacked by idiots. I'm talking about 'purists' who really believe they're better than other people. I'm talking about religious zealots that believe their sect has a 'divine right' to act as it chooses. Those are what I'm standing against now...the rest is political garbage.

In a perfect world there would be no stupidity, and no discrimination. This world is far from perfect. In a good society there would be no singling out a group for abuse based on characteristics. This society is far from good. I can apply economic pressure to businesses (like airlines) and maybe make a change. But how can I be everywhere at once to stop these rednecks from continuously harrassing, assaulting, and disgracing individuals? I can't. It's like repeat offenders who get out of prison and commit the same crime again. I may be lucky and stop someone once, but they'll just come back and do it again. Unless I stop them in such a way that prevents them from being physically able to commit the crime again. That's what I'm talking about.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Now that I've started to think about it, what really is, and what specifically is bad about "racism"? It's basic criteria for defining people? We are computers, we notice patterns, trends, in specific groups of people defined by <x>. If it weren't "race", it could be the size of ears.

The problem is that for many it's easy to have such things engrained into their brains as opposed to actually having learned from experience. In other words, the problem is greater, it is that we as a culture are dumbing ourselves down, becoming more vulernable to "ignorance". But the "anti-racists" or "unracists", as they regard themselves, are the products of the same dumbness that inflicts the "racists", ie. you've been unfortunate enough to have had stupid baseless notions engrained into your thinking pattern from childhood, they are just at opposite ends of an imaginary spectrum.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Very philosophical...but at some point the philosophy needs to have physical implementation.

Do YOU think it's all right for people to attack others based on characteristics they possess?

 

[PistachioByAzul]

They are idiots, so what? Honestly you know there's nothing you can do, there will always be ignorance, so you're channeling that frustration into this post. It's very subtle, but you're lowering yourself to their level with an ego stroking like this one. Behold, the noble, valiant white knight of racial justice!

 

[PrinceofWands]

hmmm, didn't see an answer to my question in that post...do YOU think it's ok for people to attack others based on characteristics?

 

[PistachioByAzul]

These people don't know any better, they are victims too. We're all products of our enviroment. How can you judge them, maybe they're right and you're wrong? Deal with things as they arise around you, don't try to take on the whole world, that's just being brash. Then you won't subject yourself to as much ideological & conceptual corruption.

"He who stands on tiptoes does not stand firm. He who stretches his legs does not walk easily. Thus he who displays himself does not shine. He who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged. He who is self conceited has no superiority allowed him." -- Lao Tzu

 

[PistachioByAzul]

What I think doesn't matter. Why is it even being called into question?

 

[Aihyah]

I am also putting Delta and NW on my sh!tlist. I have several friends that I am worried about and they are not even answering their phones


why are you blaming delta? from what i remember of the story the passengers have the right to boot ppl off with majority vote blame em not the airline

 

[PrinceofWands]

I'm calling you into it because in my experience unstable positions are seldom defended. In other words, I believe your words lack weight because you are unwilling to step outside you individual unconnected statements to debate the situation on specific rather than general terms.

An example:

If you believe that it's ok for these attacks to happen, then there would be specific reasons and repurcussions surrounding that debate.

Conversely if you believe that it's not ok, then there would be a different debate.

It's like asking someone 'does your mother know you masturbate in the closet'. The person asking is all nice and safe and sounds powerful, while the person asked can't respond to the direct question at all without exposing themselves to the world.

The people don't know any better? BS. EVERY SOURCE IN THE WORLD IS BROADCASTING HOW WRONG THESE PEOPLE ARE. If they heard the president, or the media, or the radio, or read a newspaper they'd see that most people think they're wrong. That's enough to begin self-doubt which is the starting place of learning. Furthermore it would be impossible to gain 12 years in this country without hearing some kind of discrimination debate. If they truly don't 'know better' then I'm happy to educate them. The best lessons are a little painful so they stick with you.

Maybe they're right? Ok. If it's acceptable to attack someone based on their characteristics then it's ok for me to attack the attackers based on their characteristics. I don't have a problem with that.

Don't try and take on the world, expose myself to corruption, etc. Why not? Isn't that what Bush is doing? He's exposing America to global repurcussions based on something he, and most of America believe in. Nothing is gained in life from sitting where you are. Safety gains us nothing. Only by risking, by challenging does growth occur. I believe something is wrong, I'm working to change it. What are you doing besides sitting safe and expounding philosophy without committing yourself to the debate?



Aihyah - Why is Bush attacking Afghanistan when it's Bin Laden who's probably at fault? Because a person who allows something wrong to continue within his/her sphere of influence is as wrong as the person committing the wrong. The airlines may not have been the uncomfortable ones, but they're the ones who allowed bigotry and fear to run the show, so they ARE equally responsible. In my opinion they should have asked the bigots to get off and take another flight.

 

[Looney]

LOLOLOL ok tough guy.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Yeah moralpanic that's right...the education loving poet is just some 'tough guy'. Whereas you are an intellectual, as evidenced by the increadible depth of your post.

Come on, at least EngineNR9 offers some form of thought in his posts.

By your post I assume that Martin Luther King Jr. was really some redneck tough guy too huh? After all, anyone willing to fight for a just cause can't be taken seriously becuase then the rest of the world looks like a bunch of lazy ignorant stooges huh?

*snort* not impressed here.

 

[Siddhartha]

"What is racism? It's nothing!"

Engine,
Obviously, you have never experienced racism directed at you first hand.

 

[Cyberian]

PrinceofWands -

A noble , if somewhat vague to me, mission.
Could you give us a hypothetical scenario in which you would physically confront a 'racist'?

Racist - "I don't want to sit next to a/an <insert race> in class, so I'm transferring to another."
Or - "I hate all <insert race> and they should all die!"

Where is the line and who gets to draw it?

 

[etech]

Is an irrational fear the same as being racist?

I don't believe it is.

Would those passengers have been removed from those planes on 10 Sept. 2001?

 

[Michael]

I just thought that I would point out that physical threats in reaction to "racism" is still "reactive", not proactive.

Michael

 

[PrinceofWands]

I don't want it to sound like I'd be threatening these people...I wouldn't do that. Threats are "shut up or I'll kill you" kind of thing. That's not right. Threats are "someday you'll get yours, when you least expect it I'll be there". And if someone doesn't wish a confrontation to become physical I won't throw the first blow...but I will scream louder than them, make them look ridiculous, and attract as much negative attention to them as I can.

What I will do is offer an open and honest challenge to them rather than mutely accept their bs. "Hey, I'm really worried that if you feel that way you might take some very bad actions soon. I'd rather be the one to face you fairly, than have you attack some poor innocent person. If you really are *the chosen of god, the supreme race, so high and mighty, <insert similar drivel here>* then face me now, you and I, no weapons, skill against skill - and lets just see who's left to talk the talk." That kind of thing. If they refuse that's fine, but I'll use that refusal to lessen them in others eyes. Not because I believe they SHOULD fight, I really don't like fights. But because by using their decision AGAINST them I weaken their cause, thus strengthening mine. It's childish perhaps, but I have to do something. If they do happen to accept, then I can get out all my aggression while making the planet a better place.

As for when, whenever rational argument fails to achieve even a stalemate. Those who won't sit next to a <?> I would question, then chastise, the rib and jibe until they left or lost their temper...then I'd confront them with my challenge and proceed from there, either with further ridicule or action until they quit, left, or were defeated. Those who scream insults I will follow the same sequence. Those who actually take an action (defacement, attack, etc) are already handled in the normal course of my daily life. What I'm changing is my up front confrontation of those not directly acting, just talking. I want those people to start standing up for their beliefs, or taking their beliefs elsewhere.



Michael - I consider the proactive portion as my soon to be campaign against businesses (starting with airlines). Although some have already begun to act in a poor manner (causing my reaction) many have not, or have not yet established policy on the matter. Hopefully I'll help them establish a better policy than their counterparts (thus being proactive). This also applies to the government, who has condemned similar actions, but not truly established specific guidelines. Also, by confronting talkers BEFORE they inspire violence in themselves or others, I'm being proactive in a certain sense. The only purely proactive choice is education, which has already obviously failed in many cases.

 

[Michael]

PrinceofWands - And what guidelines should the government set other than the standard of behaviour called for by our President? Seems to me if his request is followed there won't be any problems. Treating Arab Americans well is not only the proper thing to do, it could be looked at as helping our security as it reinforces their loyalty. Arab (and other Muslim Americans) will be bearing the brunt of the intelligence effort - they're the most likely to have any contacts that can help. I'm hoping that if people do not have the basic decency to treat them well they will at least remember this.

As for the airlines, and I've posted this before, have some compassion for their employees. Some may not be reacting in the best possible way, but they also say friends and co-workers murdered and then many of their friends lost their jobs. It is an act of courage for most of them to even work and I'm sure they're fearful of what may come. Writing to the airlines to urge them to work harder with their employees to overcome their fears is a good idea. I don't want too much of a reaction so that the judgment of the air crew is affected by fear of the consequences of them acting, but it is obvious that they need more personal support.

Finally, be careful about hurling around the term 'racism". As etech said, acting out of fear does not mean someone is racist. I worked in NYC and deal with Wall Street all the time. The images of the WTC burning and collapsing is etched in my mind. It takes a personal effort for me to put that aside and I am more fearful now than before the attacks. I have a lot of contact with many different cultures (I have a brother-in-law who is Pakistani, for example) and I'm having to work on it. I imagine that it is even harder for people without my background.

I have not personally seen any discrimination against Pakistanis or Arabs, but I'm making sure I smile and say hello to those I do run in to. That's my proactive action, making them feel more comfortable and reminding them that they're as much a part of our society as I am (heck, I'm not even a US citizen yet but hope to be soon).

Michael

 

[StormRider]

<< Is an irrational fear the same as being racist?

I don't believe it is.

Would those passengers have been removed from those planes on 10 Sept. 2001?
>>



Well said. I agree, this is not an issue of racism. It's one of irrational fear.

Prince of Wands,

I abhor the attacks on innocent people of Arab or Muslim (or Sihk Indians) Americans (or foreign guests) but I think you should have a little more compassion towards the airlines and the passengers. For God sakes, they have a right to be nervous after what's happened. Just like people of Muslim and Arab descent (or Sihk Indians) have a right to be nervous around other Americans because of these recent attacks by ignorant Americans on them.

Why is it okay for Muslim and Arab Americans people to be nervous around other Americans at this time but not the other way around? Why is one "racist" but the other is not? Do all white American make threatening phone calls and verbal attacks? Or just a few?



<< PrinceofWands - And what guidelines should the government set other than the standard of behaviour called for by our President? Seems to me if his request is followed there won't be any problems. Treating Arab Americans well is not only the proper thing to do, it could be looked at as helping our security as it reinforces their loyalty. Arab (and other Muslem Americans) will be bearing the brunt of the inteligence effort - they're the most likely to have any contacts that can help. I'm hoping that if people do not have the basic decency to treat them well they will at least remember this.

....

I have not personally seen any discrimination against Pakastanis or Arabs, but I'm making sure I smile and say hello to those I do run in to. That's my proactive action, making them feel more comfortable and reminding them that they're as much a part of our society as I am (heck, I'm not even a US citizen yet but hope to be soon).

>>



Michael,

Excellent post. I too have made an extra effort in making them feel more comfortable. Just yesterday I saw a man wearing a turban at my place of work (never saw him before) and I made a point of smiling and saying hi to him as we walked past each other.

I believe President Bush is doing an excellent job in this regard and it makes me proud that he is my president.