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Human Nature Is A Vicious Cycle


In modern civilizations, we hold ourselves as "enlightened" and above the old crimes of the past. Yet as recent history would tell us, such claims are haphazard. Lewis Sinclair would say, "Now is the fact that can't be dodged", because we have a tragic issue beyond just a few isolated cases. There is a terminal illness inside the experiment of free democratic societies.

 

No matter how long we struggle, how true our cause, or how noble our sacrifices; somethings persist in society, an "open society" that entertains all walks of life and all viewpoints of perspective.

 

The hardest truth to acknowledge is that injustice, whether it is borne of historical prejudice like the US' racial issues or the perceived injustice of bias by western nations against a world religion like Islam, is present within the mind's eye of those who view themselves as the persecuted. Both of these issues are different and separate in on themselves, but when taken into the fold of our societies' multifaceted voices, who continue certain views that should be forgotten or left to historical debate, it becomes a vicious cancer that eats away at the core of civilization.

 

I am not arguing that racial tenions are fictional notions, because they do exist and I personally have seen a fair share of my own. I am not arguing in favor of reactionary violence against actions by "authorities", who may have just cause or simply made bad choices based on evidence or experiences frome their work.

 

In case of the domestic terrorism, I am not arguing that there is not a distinct problem within western nations concerning its political and cultural attitudes that create a persecution perspective from others. I am not arguing that to defend cultural/ethnic/political identity, one must take actions against an alien ideology or people.

 

Human nature is illogical and irrational, if we simply stop to analyze a situation and ask one another "Why are you doing this?" and "Why am I prepared to do this?" prior to taking an action, we would not have such messy situations.

 

Persecution is real, but so is reactionary principles that antagonizes the persecuted. Violence begets violence; death brings death as an inexitable vicious cycle.

 

We have to stop and ask what is the price of peace between all parties? what allowances can society create to reduce fears and reduce long term tensions?

 

If terms can be agreed to, it would be an ideal outcome for all as many noted persons would relate as the natural progression. Yet, I would question what would happen if peace is unreachable by all sides. In this outcome, perception conquers the logical reality of destruction or fear beats reason. We would end up with the same world we have today, a constant detente of fear, tensions, and illogical violence.

 

I would question whether a world where tensions build and fear propogates as an "enlightened" modern state for mankind.

2 Comments


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Zombie

Posted

The reason that racial division is so profound in the US is because it goes all the way back to slavery. There has never been closure. It is an open and suppurating wound

 

South Africa was able to achieve what seemed impossible - to get closure on apartheid (which in reality is what you had in the US after abolition and all the way right through to living memory) - by its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Until the US recognises and addresses this with its own appropriate healing process, the American racial wound will never be healed, and division and conflict will continue.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_%28South_Africa%29

W_L

Posted

The reason that racial division is so profound in the US is because it goes all the way back to slavery. There has never been closure. It is an open and suppurating wound

 

South Africa was able to achieve what seemed impossible - to get closure on apartheid (which in reality is what you had in the US after abolition and all the way right through to living memory) - by its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Until the US recognises and addresses this with its own appropriate healing process, the American racial wound will never be healed, and division and conflict will continue.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_%28South_Africa%29

 

Attempts have been made, but ultimately, there are only a few compromises that can be reached with money alone. There are programs in the US for minority students in college enrollment along with federal aid to pay for higher education that aid minority students.

 

As for direct aid, currently welfare participation is around 39-40% for blacks as well as white identified racial populations, but black population is only 13-14% of the total population compared to 77-78% white. Welfare is more than just a check nowadays after the Great Recession, it also includes trade retraining and re-education for potential unemployed or under employed peoples. Still despite economic

 

Money and opportunities can only solve some long standing racial economic issue, but there's been a dangerous idea that it has made people colorblind.

 

I think a false presumption exists within Capitalism and "Free Market" ideology that as long as you have the means, you should socially be equal to a peer of the same ethnic/racial background. I disagree with this wholeheartedly, because while you may point to certain people in the community as leaders with high ranking like President Obama himself, or in Baltimore the Police Commissioner Angthony Batts, or heck the Mayor is also black along with most of the city's council members, a majority is still poor and socially unable to move up. The racism is not about opportunity or power, but inequal and injustice created by the cure to racial tensions in the 1960's.

 

The solution of South Africa has not worked for the US.

 

The LA Times clear cuts that Baltimore is by in large both politically and racially  mixed in terms of political power. Our racial problems are not about Whites oppressing blacks or blacks crying feigning persecution, but something else entirely.

 

I think the US and Europe too has fallen into perverse problems created by their own institutions that leave far too many people out as marginalized segments of society. Whether it is blacks in the US or Muslims in Europe, you have to admit there is a longstanding problem that must be solved.

 

While naysayers can point to a beacon of hope and leadership as an example, but if your society does not fix systemic poverty on racial lines, any amount of pyrrhic victory would not amount to much in the lives of the average man/woman/teen.

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