Hicks

Ian Mast (imast@SUN.CIS.SMU.EDU)
Mon, 24 Oct 1994 13:50:13 -0500

All men should shut their mouths and admit that the only superior beings
are women!!!!!

I know that a white male with european roots who comes from the state of
Iowa is clearly unable to understand race and ethnicity, and I also
realize that I am not worthy to speak with such a superior being but I
wanted to interject.

The discourse on this list has consisted of the definition of racism.
Some say that it is the belief that one race is superior on the basis of
said racial distinction. The other point of view is that racism is a
combination of prejudice and power. While the latter definition of racism
is useful in understanding the present discriminatory social system which
has been implemented by "white elites," its implementation by Hicks has
offended me deeply on a personal level. I'm sure that was its intention.

My interest is the separation of flashing emotions and rational thought.
In an earlier postinge, hicks asserted that my great-great-grandfathers
were f---ing SOB's who screwed it up for People of Color. I wonder
how this assertion can lead to any meaningful action toward limiting hate
and violence based on racial characteristics. This leads me to my point.

The agenda set forth in the postings by Hicks, demonstrate that revenge
rather than equalization is the main motive.

Individually, I am upset by the history of the world. However, I don't
believe the world would have been some idyllic Eden without the influence
of "whites". (I hate to use this racial division because it labels a
broad group of people in the same group.) I do believe that action should
be taken to correct the injustices that are all around us.
Since success in educational circles, (at least through high school)
tends to create opportuinty, I beleive that each one of us should put
pressure on local school boards and state educational hierarchies to
create equal opprtunities for education. Clearly, education is not equal
by any perverse interpretation of the word.

Secondly, I hope that each one of us would fight racist ideas in our own
personal lives. Telling people that they are SOB's seems to be a rather
useless tool in persuasion. What we are faced with as we look toward the
next century is the acceptance of a vast variety of individuals into a
heterogenous community. Indeed, if we are to be truly successful in going
beyond histrical defintions of the "other" as enemy, we must find a way to
tolerate even those we violently disagree with, i.e. Rushton, and Hicks.
It is my hope that our goal can be rational and constructive. If not, we
will continue to be haunted by those among us who seek to divide.

I. C. Mast, imast@sun.cis.smu.edu