Dear Pellius,
I owed you a response to your above copied premise and needed some rest and more coffee in order to give it it's proper time and energy with which to respond.
First, I think all rational persons would agree that when judged solely on behavior, race and culture are properly left in the corner. We are a better civilization when we
judge others by behavior as opposed to skin color or race.
However, you make a valid point in that there are behaviors that are "unique to certain races and cultures." We see that exemplified more in the orthodoxy of a culture but
we can at least start with that premise. Given the proliferation of social media, technology and the new need to know everyone else's business, there has been an inevitable
"exposure" of certain acts, behaviors and even rituals previously unknown to others outside that group's culture. When these are shared with others, there is a certain amount
of sharing, copying and assimilation between races and cultures. Rap music certainly didn't start in Madison, Wisconsin but you can surely bet that virtually every white 15 year old
there is aware of Chris Brown, Naz or whoever is the new rap king.
You wrote "There is a reason that young adult males commit disproportionately [commit] the amount of violent crime in our society. It endemic in their culture."
Here, I disagree. Violent crime by males is not as much a cultural phenomena as it is a biological, psychological and to some degree, sociological product. On this topic, may I
recommend a book that seriously changed my life: Robert Wright "The Moral Animal." It's tenet is that Evolutionary Biology is not only the best explanation for each gender's behavior,
predilections and flaws, but also its best predictor. I use that book ALL THE TIME in attempt to explain to women why they ARE different than men, why they NEED to be different than
men and why they NEED TO ACT AND BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY than men. The book fused traditional Darwinian principles with incredibly poignant research in sociology along with the hard
sciences.
I agree with your point in that any race that promulgates detrimental behavior (your example that Black culture treats education differently than does Japanese culture-- although I would've
cited Chinese culture given their over-representation at schools such as MIT and Harvard) merely perpetuates a culture that is doomed for failure and also sentenced to be despised by other
cultures and races who may have to not only support such tragic consequences but find themselves harmed by it as well.
As far as being able to "make some very accurate value judgments" by the way one dresses (and I understand you mean it as what I call an "Identity Badge" as to what part of the culture
they wish to ascribe) we would all be wise to exercise judicious cautiousness before making such conclusions in haste. I myself, dress in the polar opposite when I am not in court and have
been often accused of not having a job. I was once approached when filling my Ferrari with gas by someone who said, "you must have a great boss to let you drive his car." I replied, "the
guy is an asshole but he has abs, a 12 inch dick and fucks strippers by the dozens." The moron to whom I was speaking smiled and said, "Wow!!!"
I can't tell you how often the cops pull me over in any of my cars especially when I am with my friends, most of whom are Spanish or Black.
If anyone has interest, I can relate a true story involving me, a Dominican stripper with implants, the cops and Washington Heights (the most populated Dominican site outside of the DR itself).
But oh, how I agree with you on how some cultures are nurtured from the bottle of "Entitlement" and "Victim Status." My grandfather, when being hunted by Nazis, did nothing to stop any minority
living in America from attending public, free high school. Today's urban public libraries are empty. There is one on the corner by my office and it is used by bums to smoke cigarettes and ask me
for money when I walk by.
As far as which breed to pet, I concur in that our life's experiences must sometimes lead us to make quick and less than completely informed decisions. Those decision can sometimes mean
the difference between life and death and incorporating certain stereotypes must just prove useful in such situations. Perhaps there is an element of untrustworthiness when we make
those decisions but how often do you see someone rely on their "instincts" and avoid a potentially horrendous situation? The answer is, far too often.
As far as the issue of screening Muslims at airports, as far as I recall, there have never been any Blacks or Puerto Ricans who decided to fly airplanes into buildings thus killing thousands of
people. A certain amount of profiling is understandable under certain conditions. What the U.S. government did to the American Japanese after Pearl Harbor was reprehensible. Just read
U.S. vs. Karamatsu and you will be disgusted as to how the government put honest, decent Japanese Americans into camps. Truly another disgraceful chapter in American history.
As always, I appreciate your comments as they stimulate my brain and cause me to ponder on just how I examine life and in what manner.
Please send my regards to the next Elder, even if he is on his way to Angola (they speak Portuguese there so for me, it wouldn't be hard to read the news)
Harley
That's why I wanted to specifically point out the difference between women and men when they go bad (heart ache to their family in the case of women and a menace to society in the case of men). When I said that Black young adult males disproportionately represent the amount of violent crime in our culture it was in the context that not only are they young adult males (the highest percentage of violent crime in all races and culture) but it's more predominate in Black culture not because of their skin color as such but because of their culture. A fatherless culture due in no small part to the role the government played in the creation of the welfare State and assuming the role of the father/provider. I am not sure that everyone is aware that the Black family unit was very close prior to the welfare State going all the way back to slavery.
Of course one may argue that this proves that it is not the skin color per se but the culture. That it has nothing to do with race. But I do think there are behaviors and cultural norms unique to a particular race and there one can make value judgments on that. After all, the vast majority of Muslims are not terrorist but the vast majority of terrorist are Muslims. Driving a Lambo while dressed as a homeless person does not discount the fact that anyone driving a Lambo represent a small percentage of the population with certain, very unique, traits common to them all. But of course there are always exceptions. But that's why they are called exceptions. You are very unique. Just being a New York Jew and a Defense Attorney would put you in the ultra liberal side of the political spectrum. Your views of government intrusion and gun ownership nixes that right away.
Many years ago I was having work done on my place. The first guy was White came up and talked with me and my impression was pretty neutral. Seem fine to me. Then I saw his Black partner shuffling up the stairs in casual manner. I was like, "Oh boy. Here we go." Then when he spoke to me everything change. He had an African accent. He was a real Black not an African American (who has more in common with me than he does with any real African). He was from Eritrea. I was totally put at ease. Polite, respectful, spoke perfect English and always a big smile. Of course I had to get his story how he got here from Eritrea and it really humbled me. How lucky and spoiled I am just being born here. A luck of draw that I did nothing to earn or deserve.
But the point being that even though one may have personal biases based on personal experience it doesn't discount the notion that one can also recognize the many exceptions.
Since I started out with a blank slate when I first moved to Inglewood it doesn't bother me when people like Dr. Chimps calls me a racist. He may claim to be just as comfortable going into a Jack in the Box in Inglewood at 2:00 am with his girl friend as he would be in Redondo Beach. But even Jack in the Box knows better from real world experience. Their drive-in in Inglewood has a bullet proof plexiglass barrior between the customer and clerk and you speak through a speaker and your sliding door can't open when their side is open to slide your order into the "neutral zone" and you feel like a dangerous
criminal.
It's easy to pass judgment in the comfort of your home and safe neighborhood with zero experience as to what life is like in a gang ridden inner city.
