2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: "income equality is the solution to racism. Any minority of ANY type knows that simply not true." [View all]monicaangela
(1,508 posts)You get it. I have been posting a short time on this site compared to many who post here. I understand exactly what you are saying, and I agree with your premise. It is impossible to end racism by implementing laws to end it. If that were possible Native Americans and some African Americans would be living a much better life in this nation today. Economic issues can help address some of the misery we suffer at the hands of those that would take advantage because they are economically superior, but it won't change racist behavior. Think of Red Lining by the banks, think of Pay Day Loans by loan sharks that prey on the citizens of this nation who are economically incapable of supporting themselves. Red Lining stopped even those who were capable of paying their bills. Just think of the many situations where minorities are charged more for items such as homes, cars, and many other things that we don't even know about, those things have been proven. Look at the Healthcare industry and how it is racially prejudice against minorities who have the same insurance, the same ability to pay, but have to more often than not visit a clinic or hospital where they have to be serviced by someone who is white. Many who have grown up with racist bias.
So from this we can see that from inception, as Europeans came to this nation they started with horrible economic and racist practices. The practice has continued from the beginning. It is going to take a revolution, hopefully peaceful to change what has happened in this nation. It should start in my opinion by uniting those that see the bad behavior Caucasians, African Americans, Asians, Latinos and any other nationality in this nation, but we especially need minorities to come together and as one unit decide to work together to end this artificial privilege that has been given to some at the expense of others. I'm hoping with leadership in the White House this can be done with more ease, however; if Bernie Sanders does not win, I still believe we as a people need to unite and resist the status quo by any means necessary.Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island's beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, speaking oddly, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. He later wrote of this in his log:
They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks' bells. They willingly traded everything they owned... . They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features.... They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... . They would make fine servants.... With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.
These Arawaks of the Bahama Islands were much like Indians on the mainland, who were remarkable (European observers were to say again and again) for their hospitality, their belief in sharing. These traits did not stand out in the Europe of the Renaissance, dominated as it was by the religion of popes, the government of kings, the frenzy for money that marked Western civilization and its first messenger to the Americas, Christopher Columbus.
Columbus wrote:
As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first Island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts.
The information that Columbus wanted most was: Where is the gold? He had persuaded the king and queen of Spain to finance an expedition to the lands, the wealth, he expected would be on the other side of the Atlantic-the Indies and Asia, gold and spices. For, like other informed people of his time, he knew the world was round and he could sail west in order to get to the Far East.
http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinncol1.html