To: The Philosopher who wrote (3520 ) 4/12/1999 10:51:00 PM From: D. Long Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 17770
Yes, I do live in an "integrated" neighborhood, what ever that means. As a matter of fact there are more Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in my apartment complex than Caucasians. And I wont forget the very kind old Indian man I buy my coffee and paper from every morning, or the very courteous African-American gentleman that helps me fix my car in my complex. Id go on, but I dont have the space for such a post. Yes, there are "racial" neighborhoods in America. No one forces anyone to do so, and the government sure as hell doesnt. In other parts of the world, it would in all likelihood have been the government enforcing such segregation at the point of a gun. Yes, there are people here in Texas that are bigots, same as elsewhere. But those three men are being tried as we speak, and since this is Texas, they will no doubt get death as a reward for their racism. In other parts of the world, a government would not only have condoned such action, but in all likelihood it would have been government "security" forces doing the dragging. Yes, "ethnic pride" is upswelling in American schools and Universities, thanks to a misguided philosophy called "multiculturalism" which teaches young people to judge their self-worth not by their achievements, but by their ethnic group membership and collective racial history. Which is why no doubt your wish may come true Mr. Hodgkin, and Americans may soon enough be killing each other for the very same reasons Serbs and Albanians and Croats are. The fact that they identify themselves not as individuals with shared institutions, a shared history, a common interest but as a worker bee in collective racial whole. In other words, the undoing of everything that does hold this country together and keeps us from murdering each other for indecent reasons: the fact that in America everyone is equal under the law and has equal access to opportunity unfettered by government restrictions based upon race, ethnicity, sex, or religion. In America you are free to pursue your life as you see fit as long as that does not endanger others. In America, diverse and otherwise hostile peoples are able to live together under shared institutions and enjoy equal access to opportunity while being able to practice their individual beliefs and customs without prejudice from government agencies, and have legal recourse to protect their interests from others, including THE STATE. You are a lawyer Mr. Hodgkin, is this elementary lesson in American legal theory beyond your understanding? Id be very disappointed if you would disagree with me, sir.