Guest post
2017-05-19
by Suzann Darnall
I really feel right now that some in the population of this country (and possibly the entire world) are suffering from a kind of insanity that causes them to behave with depraved inhumanity towards others. I truly cannot see another reason for the kinds of stupidity and cupidity they are perpetrating in their supposed beliefs. There are some truly mean and evil happenings going on right now in the name of politics, religion, environment, society, or whatever is at the top of someone’s priorities. The sad thing is that people seem to be way down on the list of so many special interest groups. In many areas even animals rate higher than humans.
There are numerous organizations that seem to be geared for doing nothing more than denying freedom to those with whom they disagree. Usually the freedom they are denying others is pretty much the same freedom they are demanding for themselves. Kinda weird and sorta scary.
One thing that I find especially distressing in all of this is the resurgence of racism. A particularly hateful kind of racism that is requiring segregation. Even more frightening is that this segregation is being demanded on college campuses. By students. And, it is seemingly being allowed by some administrations.
Gender bias is also becoming more prevalent and again the rebirth place seems to be centered around universities. But, this seems to be more widespread with their being both groups of students and educators indulging in this hateful practice. While some administrations are standing up against the bias, others are acquiescing to the demands of those who would be intolerant.
I lived in Alabama in the 1960s. I know about the rules that blacks lived under during that time. I also lived in Alabama in the 1970s and again in 1980. I saw the changes that happened in less than 20 years. My husband and I ate dinner in a private restaurant in 1980 with about two dozen people, including a mixed race couple and a black couple. What made this astonishing is that back in the 1960s this establishment would not have allowed any black people to enter as guests.
I also experienced gender bias when applying to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in the mid-1970s. In 1974 and early 1975 they pretty much would not even speak to female high school students ‘cause they were still not decided about allowing female cadets. In 1976, even after they had decided to allow females in, they still jury-rigged it so females wanting to fly were essentially penalized and kept out. Now, in 2017, not only is USAFA getting its SECOND female commandant, she is married and will be joined by her wife and their two children in Colorado Springs. Also, she is a USAFA graduate and an Air Force pilot. Two things denied to some of us just over 40 years earlier.
So, when I see some of the prejudices that had faded somewhat being brought again to life, I have to ask myself why anyone would want to resurrect such hate? No matter that much of it is reversed from the earlier times. No matter that it is now whites being denied entrance or men being discriminated against. Bigotry is wrong. Equality is not gained by one group denying freedom or rights to another group.
Segregation never was equality. Inequality never will be true freedom. A wise man, Martin Luther King, Jr., knew this and told it to all of us back in 1963. He was very inclusive. Inclusive of others. Despite race, gender, and religion. Maybe not in spite of those differences. Perhaps even because of the differences.
Do we really want to set back the clock to a time when such a man as MLK, Jr. was denied equality based on the color of his skin and not the content of his character? If we are now allowing those who preach such hate as gender bias and racial segregation, that is exactly the time we are heading towards at breakneck speed. How can such backwards thinking be anything except insane and inhumane???
Sayonara,
Suzann
http://www.suziezoo.com
http://www.woolymammoth.org
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