School Slave Days and Racism
I am on very shaky ground here but: Is ignorance of Racism always culpable?
Often humans act out the reprehensible. We COULD see the following situation in this light: If we were to ask any student or staff at the time of 'School Slave Days' (During the 70's and late 80's) what they thought about 'Slavery' as a concept, I think I know the answer. Yet they acted it out. We see many examples of this.
'Racism' is a weird word with shades of meaning. 'Prejudice' is not. It is very specific and implies a consciousness of consequence. Nobody can be prejudiced without being conscious of it. But anybody can perceive a person as being Racist even when the perpetrator might have no motivation to be, or consciousness of it.
Sometimes we can condemn the 'act' but shouldn't always condemn the 'actor'. Like: "Forgive them for they know not what they do". But once they do know what they do, they should not do it again! And so, there are no more School Slave Days in BC Schools.
It is still, apparently, OK to perform in plays and movies which depict atrocities and rank 'Racism'... Othello, Merchant of Venice, Deep purple, War movies depicting the Holocaust and American Westerns. Humanity is still able to pick and chose what it sees fit; right or wrong, good or evil. Protests can be conjured up to suit whatever taste. Today we are destroying Historical Monuments and Statues.
Abraham Lincoln was a slave owner...should we tear his statue down?
Winston Churchill's statue was not erected because in his youth he projected prejudice and Racism but for many other reasons...So why should it be defaced?
The English, Spanish, American, Portuguese and the Dutch are all guilty of their part in Slavery and the wealth achieved from it. So?
Give the kids a break, they were just having fun at the expense of nobody. They were unaware of all the significance of what they were doing. Most kids have a pretty high moral sense.
They did not dress up as negro slaves or anything like that. They just had a friend to carry their books for the day. And if they were not friends they would not have even been bought. This is why this is so ridiculous to call this "Racism"!
I remain appalled at the 'Preciousness' of certain sections of society today. We need to address reality!
It is still, apparently, OK to perform in plays and movies which depict atrocities and rank 'Racism'... Othello, Merchant of Venice, Deep purple, War movies depicting the Holocaust and American Westerns. Humanity is still able to pick and chose what it sees fit; right or wrong, good or evil. Protests can be conjured up to suit whatever taste. Today we are destroying Historical Monuments and Statues.
Abraham Lincoln was a slave owner...should we tear his statue down?
Winston Churchill's statue was not erected because in his youth he projected prejudice and Racism but for many other reasons...So why should it be defaced?
The English, Spanish, American, Portuguese and the Dutch are all guilty of their part in Slavery and the wealth achieved from it. So?
Give the kids a break, they were just having fun at the expense of nobody. They were unaware of all the significance of what they were doing. Most kids have a pretty high moral sense.
They did not dress up as negro slaves or anything like that. They just had a friend to carry their books for the day. And if they were not friends they would not have even been bought. This is why this is so ridiculous to call this "Racism"!
I remain appalled at the 'Preciousness' of certain sections of society today. We need to address reality!
