There is a lot of conditioning that happens to us in our developmental years over which we have absolutely no control. I know that I was influenced by some incredibly racist people, and to this day, I catch myself having intolerant thoughts. I hate that and wish I could erase it from my brain. It does take a concious effort, at times to overcome the embedded biases that my experiences have taught me to be false.
I believe, ultimately, that we are judged on our actions, and the attitudes that we foster in those that we influence. My wife and I have chosen to live as colorblind a life as possible, and raise our children to do the same. We try to teach that whole "content of their character" concept, and the results have been great, thus far.
Racism, or any intolerance for that matter, cannot be eliminated in one generation. The current governing generation was raised in and taught a segregated way of life. Their decisions are colored (no pun... please!) by that. Achieving universal tolerance will be a long process, with eras of progress and regression. The next generation should make things a bit better, but much depends on how we raise them.
(My good friend, Craig - [African/American ] - and I have a standing joke. He builds and drives 1/4 mile race cars, so that makes him a "racist" in a literal sense of the word. I refer to him as "My favorite racist." It is offered and accepted with true affection. He's my children's favorite adopted "uncle")
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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard
Last edited by grumpyolddude; 05-03-2008 at 09:16 AM..
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