Hey, UC.
Not everything is a racist act, OK?
I’m sure campus life can get quite boring at times, and you no doubt need a little action. But really, once you start mass protests over a piece of rope hanging in a library I think it’s time to find a hobby or something.
I understand blacks have been oppressed greatly in the past, and I personally am not the first person to stand up and say I’m proud to be white.
Do you want to know how I know that the noose planted wasn’t an act of racism? Well, other than the public apology which stated it was an act of boredom.
If someone really wants to state their hatred for ethnic groups, they’ll vocalize it before making an obscure gesture such as planting a noose in a college library. You know, the everyday moron you run across muttering incoherent slurs about different races. That kind of crap happens everyday – especially in the South, where it’s become an accepted conversation icebreaker.
Another reason is that the noose was placed in a library with no other real indication of being targeted towards blacks. It wasn’t placed in the “Martin Luther King” section, it didn’t have a likeness of a black person in the hoop and it wasn’t hung underneath any sort of particular ethnic meeting place. It was a random noose. Period. The Jena Six incident was obviously a racist act because of the location of the nooses; even though the black students involved in the beating found it justifiable to gang up on one white kid. Morons. That’s wrong no matter what race you are. Anyway, getting back on topic.
People, you need to face an unsavory and simple fact – racism is never going away. Ever. EVER.
That being said, I’d advise you to let these kind of things slide until you are personally approached by someone making individual racist comments to you. Racism is a generalized set of ideas based on ignorance and stereotypes; no one person is singled out. Therefore, it’s better to focus on things you can control in life, rather than things that idiots will always be doing to perpetuate the idea.
Unfortunately, protesting and picketing racism is like protesting and picketing to a brick wall. Racists will always have the idea planted in their minds, an idea that holds no logic and can never be swayed.
Basically, what I’m saying is this: Stop the mass protests for something you don’t have a shot in hell at changing. Protest big business for killing trees and their laundry list of atrocities to this nation; protest with the rest of the nimrods at the tea party – at least you have a shot at being heard. Those particular entities have to listen to you eventually – racists don’t have to and will NOT listen to you.
Human rights activists like me love seeing a good protest for the benefit of humanity and equal rights. However, I’ve come to the realization that since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, nothing else can logically be done to end racism. I also know that since the Constitution came to be, we have the freedom to speak our minds freely. The Civil Rights Act was made to end segregation; there was no mind-control aspect of that particular act to change people’s brainwashed and inept minds.
Getting back to the noose – I know the noose is a universal symbol for racism and white supremacy, I get that. You can’t tell me that you haven’t sat at your desk and in a bout of boredom made some random sculptures and pieces of artwork with random office supplies – this person just happened to make a noose. Big deal. I used to see the emo and goth kids at my school make those things all the time, but did it mean anything? Other than their love for everything macabre and horrifying, no. Why start a protest over it? It’s called artistic expression, however these students let their futile convictions get the better of their logic and start a frenzy over it.
I’ll give you something else to chew on – what makes UC so damn special when it comes to racism? UC, I hate to rain on your parade, but you are only a blip on the radar of racism in this nation; that includes racial intolerance in schools. Sad to say, many kids are turned loose on this society full of their parents’ opinions and convictions without a thought of their own creation to speak of. The older parents especially still hold dear the flames of segregation and racial hatred of yesteryear. That hatred trickles down to the kids like the moldy drippings from a leaky ceiling, and the mold plants itself within the hearts and minds of the children. Some outgrow it, but many don’t.
In conclusion, racism is just as alive and well as it was back in pre-segregation days, protesting won’t do a damn thing, and you’re much better off carrying on with your own life and focusing on more pertinent matters that you encounter. Trust me, I’m sure you’ll sleep much easier and get a whole lot more done – especially you UC students. To me, this latest protesting is one act of boredom being demeaned by another act of boredom. Stop protesting and start studying – this nation needs some great minds. But hey, you or your parents are paying for the classes – see if the college gives a damn.
