(Part One)
Right. So, there was some huff ups and drama and things of that nature in blog world here lately- mostly regarding racism, classism, all kinds of other ism’s and well, shit, if you’re here you probably know exactly what I’m talking about and don’t need a damn highlight reel.
And true enough, I am not ever going to get how a person hates another person because of what color they are- because sure enough, people have zero control over that- one cannot choose what color they are born or countless other things- like being male, or female, tall or short, what state, country or region said birth happens in, so on. I don’t get hating people for things that are merely subject to the crap shoot of birth. End of story. However, I get hating people…hell, I hate people. Regardless of the crap shoot…I just don’t like ‘em…so you know what? I get hate, and I get people who want to be away from people they do not like, and I get people who want to do shit different and with those who are more like them. I posted about women who wanted to be separatists, and guess what…my feelings hold for all people who are of that mind set- be they radical feminists, gay people, people of color, and why yes- even white people. So long as those folk aren’t hurting other people? I do not give a shit. I seriously do not care.
However, I do find it ironic how people tip-toe around the whole damn subject: separatism and extremists and hate movements and isms and ists of all kinds. People get all PC and understanding about some shit- all the while ignoring elephant in the room and all that shit. Face it- a lot of women who want to be women sepratists? They are of that mind because yep, you guessed it: They Hate Men. There are People of Color who do not want to be around white people because…yes, they hate white people. But if white people hate someone??? Holy fuck its an atrocity. I find that…odd.
There, I fucking said it. Like I said, I think it is stupid for anyone to hate someone due to the cards they are dealt at birth- but guess what, I think it’s freakin’ stupid ALL around. And I hate people of all sexes, sexual orientations, colors, religions and regions all the same…because people often act like idiots regardless of those things. And why yes, I do realize in the wider face of White Male Dominance..blah blah blah blah. Sigh. Guess what? True enough- white men are in fact in charge via politics, business, media, money, and military. But in a real world kind of way- you think when that shit all rolls down to us plebs who are barely making it in the modern world market it matters so much? As I was saying to someone the other day- I would like to take a nice, diverse lot of people on a tour ’round my neck of the woods. We could go to South East DC and see people of color who are economically disadvantaged, living in poverty, putting up with rampant crime…and fuck yes we would fly through there real quick with our doors locked. Then I could take the same group of folk right on over to West Virginia and see white people who are economically disadvantaged, living in poverty, putting up with rampant crime…and fuck yes we would fly through there with our doors locked. Because while in a large global sense of thinking, why yes- white men are in charge. In real world daily living for the majority of humans- white male or not- shit sucks. All around.
Which is why I can understand why people-of all kinds and colors- get involved with extremist or hate movements. Face it, most of these people have shitty lives to start with, feel as if they are going no where, have no where to go, are disenfranchised, and they are angry as fuck…and well, for them it feels good to blame it on someone. Someone different from them. Men? Women? White People? People of Color? Democrats? Republicans? Christians? Jews? Muslims? Hell, anyone will do. Anyone will do as a target for that rage and pain and angst. And in finding targets, a place to put all that rage, folk in these kinds of organizations find tribe, family, community- things they were lacking before. Is it right? No. Can I understand it? You bet your sweet ass and a pair of snakeskin boots I can. It is pretty much human nature, when shit sucks, to take it out on other people. Some people do that by gossiping about the neighbors and acting like assholes- some do it by joining extremist organizations.
And sure enough- I think ALL of these people are entitled to their beliefs, agree with them or not. And they are entitled to say whatever the hell they want- I can assure you, hate these fuckers or not, had I been there, I sure as shit would have said they should get to have their march. I am pretty upfront about being hardcore on that whole 1st amendment thing…
Be that as it may…this last go ’round almost had me laughing, not necessarily in a good way, but laughing none the less…
I’m from Colorado…you want to know how I was first ever exposed to a Confederate Flag???
That’s right! The Duke boys! At the tender age of 8, every Friday Night, I was glued to my tv (back when they only had 3 channels and all) watching The Dukes of Hazzard. The first model ever purchased for me was…that’s right, The General Lee! (and what a sweet, sweet 1969 Charger it was!) My bro had a poster of Daisy, in her trademark shorts, on his wall. Uncle Jesse was totally my favorite, and I always thought Luke was cuter than Bo. And boy, did I love that bright orange Dodge with the racing number and stock car welded doors and yep, even that flag that I had no idea what it meant on the roof. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized the full connotations of the Confederate Flag…but you know, I kept the model car anyway. And oddly enough, as I’ve lived around the South…I have to say, I have met a lot of people with that flag; on a belt buckle, on a shirt, on a Zippo or flask, on a beer holder, on a baseball hat, on a car sticker, and a great many of them? As tolerant every day working people as anyone else- hell not all of them are even white. I don’t think a whole lot of people “get their rebel on” to truly be offensive, or racist, or anything other than…Proud Southerners. I’ve never heard a single one of them ever say “The South Will Rise Again” as anything other than a joke. You know, these people I am talking about? Remind me far more of the Duke Boys than Klansmen. They are hard working, willing to help a friend or neighbor out, and well, often like driving fast…and they don’t much care what color or religion or gender the people around them are. And kinda like I am never going to be able to hate the Dukes of Hazzard…flag on their fine ride or not…well, you get the idea.
And I will sure as shit tell you this, I think Southerners themselves take a seriously bad rap, but that my friends, is a post for another day…
(looks into netflixing the Dukes of Hazzard…)
