non-stop violence
Jul. 11th, 2002 05:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kespernorthLast night, as I was walking from the Aurafice to the Mercury, I saw a group of six or seven beefy young Aryan-posterchild jock-types hooting and hollering and behaving like the presentient simians we all know them to be. But the words
"Yeah, the way you jumped on that guy's cab was rad! Way to show the towelheads who's boss!"
were just infinitely saddening.
Now I'll admit that I've been sheltered from virtually any trace of racism and prejudice throughout my entire life -- I went to a high-class school where everyone was taught to care and share and get along; I went to an expensive liberal arts college back east; I got my degree in hippie-laden Bellingham; I live in Seattle, which is not exactly known as a hotbed of racial tension (provided you're not a black person on Mercer Island). I often just forget it exists, since the people I spend all of my time with are much too liberal to even consider voicing such things.
But it wasn't just the racism; it was how obviously undeserved it was. These kids had clearly never felt the touch of terrorism on their lives, whether from Islamic extremists or the fucking Basque Separatist Movement. They were just feeding their testosterone highs with some mindless aggression. And instead of using normal, healthy outlets of youthful exuberance and high spirits (like sputching Covenant in Halo or writing poetry and slitting their wrists), they were harrassing some poor taxi driver who probably just wanted to go home.
I can see why someone who had lost a loved one or their home or livelihood to a terrorist attack would feel that irrational, race-based hatred. But rich young white kids in Seattle have no fucking excuse.
And those kids are going to grow up to be marketroids and salesweasels and all-star quarterbacks, and maybe a few lawyers as well. Powerful people. People who matter.
And they're going to show the towelheads who's boss. And everyone else who looks different and might have something to hide.
Fucking humans.
"Yeah, the way you jumped on that guy's cab was rad! Way to show the towelheads who's boss!"
were just infinitely saddening.
Now I'll admit that I've been sheltered from virtually any trace of racism and prejudice throughout my entire life -- I went to a high-class school where everyone was taught to care and share and get along; I went to an expensive liberal arts college back east; I got my degree in hippie-laden Bellingham; I live in Seattle, which is not exactly known as a hotbed of racial tension (provided you're not a black person on Mercer Island). I often just forget it exists, since the people I spend all of my time with are much too liberal to even consider voicing such things.
But it wasn't just the racism; it was how obviously undeserved it was. These kids had clearly never felt the touch of terrorism on their lives, whether from Islamic extremists or the fucking Basque Separatist Movement. They were just feeding their testosterone highs with some mindless aggression. And instead of using normal, healthy outlets of youthful exuberance and high spirits (like sputching Covenant in Halo or writing poetry and slitting their wrists), they were harrassing some poor taxi driver who probably just wanted to go home.
I can see why someone who had lost a loved one or their home or livelihood to a terrorist attack would feel that irrational, race-based hatred. But rich young white kids in Seattle have no fucking excuse.
And those kids are going to grow up to be marketroids and salesweasels and all-star quarterbacks, and maybe a few lawyers as well. Powerful people. People who matter.
And they're going to show the towelheads who's boss. And everyone else who looks different and might have something to hide.
Fucking humans.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2002-07-11 07:19 pm (UTC)You were at the Aurafice last night??? I didn't see you!
(no subject)
Date: 2002-07-11 10:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-07-11 10:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-07-12 04:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2002-07-12 10:18 am (UTC)But I warn against the danger of stereotyping that certain people are 'untouched by terrorism' simply because of distance or social standing.
Everyone can lose someone, no matter how far away, or how much money you've managed to accumulate. It's not a safeguard.
But no. Race-based hatred is not understandable even to those who have lost.
I lost the safe refuge of much of my childhood and adolescence, and I still don't hate the race, just the individuals.
Therefore, it is not acceptable for anyone else to do so either.
This may be egocentric, but..