I suspect from the tone of several posts here that what people are really writing is quite racist and classist
It would be interesting to know which posts you have in mind. Racism comes in many forms, from the blatant, to the unwitting, to the subtle.
I think when one excuses or rationalizes bad behavior in a racial group, it is subtle racism, because it implies that one holds lower expectations of the group.
I think that when one believes that a racial group can only rise from poverty through greater and greater amounts of government largesse, it is unwitting racism. I see such attitudes as a form of noblesse oblige, that the smarter and more capable of society must support those lacking the qualities to rise and prosper on their own.
In watching the welcoming of the evacuees at Cape Cod, I was struck by that standing ovations given to each. There is always something thrilling about such accolades, but wait -- what has a rescued victim done to deserve a standing O? Wouldn't smiles, back-pats, handshakes, and hugs be more natural and fitting? If the reception was exaggerated, was it because all 200 were black?
I do think racism comes in many forms, and when it is exhibited by well-intentioned people it may hurt more than the blatant racism of obviously evil people.
Moving on, I highly recommend this in-depth piece from the Boston Globe as to what went wrong in New Orleans. The Globe's investigative reporters have often won Pulitizers.
boston.com |
