We must keep sounding the alarms! Otherwise, all the progress that's been made can be stripped away in decisions by powerful but unaccountable people in robes.
I am sorry that because of a behavior of a few the resentment continues. When will we be able to live and let live without uninformed, hateful attitude?
Sadly, the behavior - and the hatefulness, the fear, the anger and aggression - is far more pervasive than you perhaps understand.
Working with the pubic in small town, Iowa, I see these attitudes and behaviors every. single. day.
We'll be able to "live and let live" when we are are willing to take a good hard look at our own biases, to understand the foundations for those biases and to recognize them as invalid and destructive - not just to those who are different from ourselves, but to our own families and communities.
The politically driven attacks on diversity, equality and inclusiveness education (DEI), the dog-whistle of Critical Race Theory, the insistence that systemic racism no longer exists in America - all of these things are diametrically opposed to that goal of a world where we can all live and let live.
A really good start would be for all of us to stop listening to those voicing these attacks and deliberately using our inherent 'fear of the other' to make us angry and frightened and suspicious.
Stop listening to them, stop voting for them. Give them zero oxygen.
Then maybe those of us who truly want to build a society that is equal and just can get on with the work.
"Sadly, the behavior - and the hatefulness, the fear, the anger and aggression - is far more pervasive than you perhaps understand.
Working with the pubic in small town, Iowa, I see these attitudes and behaviors every. single. day."
I'm an expat Iowan (from a small, Iowa town) that has lived and worked all over the SF Bay Area for over a decade now. If you seriously believe that those feelings and behaviors are limited to small towns in the Midwest then I have news for you. They're not.
This is pretty much the polar opposite of the point I was trying to make.
You said the resentment continues because of the behavior of a few. My point is that the behavior is pervasive and systemic: it's not "a few" - it's so prevalent that even in a small town in the backend of corn country these behaviors and attitudes are all around us.
And so I think we need to address the bases for those behaviors and attitudes, not turn a benignly blind eye to our own biases and the way some folks are using those biases to advance some really dangerous and hateful narratives.
"Was it simply because I flipped him off, which he richly deserved?"
What exactly initiated this encounter? Why did you flip him off? I'm assuming the aggressive road rage on his part didn't start until after you 'flipped him off.' You're leaving out key details. Is it on purpose?
There is an issue in this country that categorizes groups by location of residence, race and political affiliation as the same in bias. It is fed by our political campaigning. Not all people in this country, rural included are unyielding to inclusion and equality—the constitution was written for this even though women, as we all recall, had to march for the right to vote at the turn of the 19th century. No person is more privileged morally. Economically, the story of privilege has many chapters and they continue.
As a 67 yr. old slice of Iowa white bread, I grew up in a predominately rural area of NW Iowa. Not a black person in sight. When I graduated from high school I had never even spoken to a black person. Then I went to college where there were (gasp) black people. Truth be told, I was scared. What do I say, how do I act? Not wanting to offend with my naive upbringing. Luckily, I had the good fortune to attend a seminar hosted by the NAACP featuring C.T. Vivian. Here's wishing every white person in Iowa could have attended. To all of my white brethren I submit this question: If you woke up tomorrow and you were black, would your life change? Don't be scared. Fear arises from ignorance. I believe some outreach programs introducing some personable black people to rural whites (especially students) would reap positive benefits. PS- Sorry about that white jerk. Jerks gonna jerk. Please stay.
We must keep sounding the alarms! Otherwise, all the progress that's been made can be stripped away in decisions by powerful but unaccountable people in robes.
Yes! We must.
I am sorry that because of a behavior of a few the resentment continues. When will we be able to live and let live without uninformed, hateful attitude?
That's a good question that the many who hate others for their skin color will never ask themselves.
Thank you for your response, I choose to learn the wisdom of what it takes to be a peacemaker—Prov 16:22,23
I want this wisdom—From a wise mind comes careful and persuasive speech, kind words are like honey—enjoyable and healthful
I love the diversity of Des Moines—stay and soak in kindness when it is given—peace always
Sadly, the behavior - and the hatefulness, the fear, the anger and aggression - is far more pervasive than you perhaps understand.
Working with the pubic in small town, Iowa, I see these attitudes and behaviors every. single. day.
We'll be able to "live and let live" when we are are willing to take a good hard look at our own biases, to understand the foundations for those biases and to recognize them as invalid and destructive - not just to those who are different from ourselves, but to our own families and communities.
The politically driven attacks on diversity, equality and inclusiveness education (DEI), the dog-whistle of Critical Race Theory, the insistence that systemic racism no longer exists in America - all of these things are diametrically opposed to that goal of a world where we can all live and let live.
A really good start would be for all of us to stop listening to those voicing these attacks and deliberately using our inherent 'fear of the other' to make us angry and frightened and suspicious.
Stop listening to them, stop voting for them. Give them zero oxygen.
Then maybe those of us who truly want to build a society that is equal and just can get on with the work.
"Sadly, the behavior - and the hatefulness, the fear, the anger and aggression - is far more pervasive than you perhaps understand.
Working with the pubic in small town, Iowa, I see these attitudes and behaviors every. single. day."
I'm an expat Iowan (from a small, Iowa town) that has lived and worked all over the SF Bay Area for over a decade now. If you seriously believe that those feelings and behaviors are limited to small towns in the Midwest then I have news for you. They're not.
This is pretty much the polar opposite of the point I was trying to make.
You said the resentment continues because of the behavior of a few. My point is that the behavior is pervasive and systemic: it's not "a few" - it's so prevalent that even in a small town in the backend of corn country these behaviors and attitudes are all around us.
And so I think we need to address the bases for those behaviors and attitudes, not turn a benignly blind eye to our own biases and the way some folks are using those biases to advance some really dangerous and hateful narratives.
Yes, how can the mainstream of this society continue to be so blind, so willfully ignorant? It is self-destruction, I suppose.
"Was it simply because I flipped him off, which he richly deserved?"
What exactly initiated this encounter? Why did you flip him off? I'm assuming the aggressive road rage on his part didn't start until after you 'flipped him off.' You're leaving out key details. Is it on purpose?
Thank you for this column and all you do, Dana.
There is an issue in this country that categorizes groups by location of residence, race and political affiliation as the same in bias. It is fed by our political campaigning. Not all people in this country, rural included are unyielding to inclusion and equality—the constitution was written for this even though women, as we all recall, had to march for the right to vote at the turn of the 19th century. No person is more privileged morally. Economically, the story of privilege has many chapters and they continue.
We have the opportunity in our daily conversation to call it when we see it and I do
As a 67 yr. old slice of Iowa white bread, I grew up in a predominately rural area of NW Iowa. Not a black person in sight. When I graduated from high school I had never even spoken to a black person. Then I went to college where there were (gasp) black people. Truth be told, I was scared. What do I say, how do I act? Not wanting to offend with my naive upbringing. Luckily, I had the good fortune to attend a seminar hosted by the NAACP featuring C.T. Vivian. Here's wishing every white person in Iowa could have attended. To all of my white brethren I submit this question: If you woke up tomorrow and you were black, would your life change? Don't be scared. Fear arises from ignorance. I believe some outreach programs introducing some personable black people to rural whites (especially students) would reap positive benefits. PS- Sorry about that white jerk. Jerks gonna jerk. Please stay.