Recently, while listening to The Diane Rehm Show
On WYPR 88.1 FM in Baltimore ...
The Host and three "Talking Head" guests
Spent an hour discussing 'Racism'.
I was in my car and tried to dial in, on my 'Hands Free'
Cell phone, but couldn't get through.
The more they talked about the History and Current Events
Surrounding the Issue, the more I realized that ...
They Were All Missing the Point!
RACISM WILL NEVER BE TOTALLY ELIMINATED!
WHY? You might ask ...
Because of the Natural, Visual Differences!
Let us review a case in point, from the Play, "Fiddler On the Roof"
The Father, Tevye, learns that one of his Daughters,
Raised as a Devout Orthodox Jewess,
Wants to Marry a Young Russian Cossack Soldier ...
Tevye's Response is in the Form of an Analogy ...
"So, a Bird is in Love with a Fish ...
But, Where Will They Make a Nest?"
The Patently Obvious Natural Conclusion is That ...
The Differences are Too Great!
Now, bear in mind that there is no Visual Difference ...
Both are Caucasian, or White,
And Both are Russian Citizens,
And Language is Not a Barrier.
There is a Natural Defense Mechanism Built into Humans,
To Fear that which is Different, and/or Unknown.
The Visual Difference of Color of Skin ...
White - Black - Yellow - Red - Mixed Blood - Mutations ...
Often causes both Apprehension and Mistrust.
THEY ARE DIFFERENT !
Also, there are often several other Differences associated ...
Different Backgrounds, Different Countries of Origin,
Different Languages, Different Religions, Different Values,
Different Traditions ...
"AH - There Lies The Rub!"
TRADITION ! TRADITION !
This is One of the Main Songs of 'Fiddler' ...
And the Theme Permeates the Play.
My contention here is that ...
Racism is Promulgated and Perpetuated simply by Vision.
If Everyone was Blind ... Would it Solve the Problem?
Perhaps? Maybe? Partially?
I Rather Doubt It!
The Next Natural Human Instinct is Sound ...
Voice Inflections - Accents - Dialects - Languages ...
Just consider Minor Differences from People
From the Same Country, but Different Regions ...
The Gal with the "Southern Drawl" ...
Meets the Northern Gent with the Bostonian 'Properness' ...
The Cowboy with that 'Twang' in his Voice ...
Meets that Cutie-Pie from 'Vassar' ...
VIVE LA DIFFERENCE"?
Is There a Probability of "Problems"? Probably!
Sight ... Sound ...
How about the Sense of Smell?
Ever enter an Apartment Building and get 'Knocked Over'
By the Different Fumes of Cooking?
Stinking FRIED FISH!
Over-abundance of GARLIC!
Fresh Smell of COFFEE, or POP-CORN!
Some Odors are Nauseating ... Disgusting ... Over-Powering ...
Some ... Quite Pleasing ... Make You Hungry!
What About Religion?
Is She / He ...
A Southern Baptist?
A Bible-Thumping Evangelist?
A Devout Catholic?
An Orthodox Jew?
A Buddhist?
A Hindu?
An Islamic Muslim?
An Agnostic?
An Atheist?
WOW ... So Many Possible Differences ...
Belief Systems ... Religious Holidays ...
Types of Food ... How to Raise the Children ...
Who is Driving Whom ... In Which Car?
On What Day, or Night?
To Which Place of Worship?
Consider the Old Adage:
"Birds of a Feather Flock Together!"
In the Animal World there is Very Little Successful
Cross-Mating!
Does Mother Nature Tell Them Something that ...
We Just Don't Get?
The "Birds and The Bees" ...
Certain Ones Pollinate Certain Species of Plants ...
Occasionally there might be a Few Accidental Hybrids ...
BUT ... MAN ...
Wants to Cross-Pollinate Everything!
Animals ... Plants ... Humans!
This Leads me to Another Form, or Part, of Racism ...
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