why did the government decide to spend that money, despite their understanding of the "illiterate and stupid" mountaineers?
i ask this because i'm trying to understand your argument. the government in libya stigmatized these people, and yet they supported them. and do you see a parallel happening in the united states? because i'm not sure i do....?
It was not the government that stigmatized the mountaineers. It was the people who did that; and previous governments were afraid that cutting funds for these stupid people would be futile. Yes, I do see a parallel. I admit I was not clear enough. When the government decided to change things, it found people willing to be changed. If African Americans demonstrates a desire for change, I am sure the government will take the initiative to help.
i guess i feel like that sentiment, that it's just that the african americans don't want to change, or don't demonstrate the desire for change, is just the same kind of racist rhetoric that banks and selfe & selfe are talking about. this is why the digital divide exists. i mean, it isn't the only reason, but it is a big reason. because people assume that because they don't have it, it is because they don't want it. and that is just not the case.
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this post. Change is not something that is readily available to all people. Although you make a good comparison about mountaineers in Libya to African Americans, I do not think that it is a fair comparison. Not only are the histories different in this comparison, but the definition of what change means fluctuates. What Banks and Selfe are speaking about is larger than stereotypes. They are boldly talking about systematic exclusions that have histories, long ones. So, if “all” African Americans were to ask the same government that shipped them against their will, killed them, burned them, and rapped their women to really help them, I am not sure that a real initiative would take place.
why did the government decide to spend that money, despite their understanding of the "illiterate and stupid" mountaineers?
ReplyDeletei ask this because i'm trying to understand your argument. the government in libya stigmatized these people, and yet they supported them. and do you see a parallel happening in the united states? because i'm not sure i do....?
It was not the government that stigmatized the mountaineers. It was the people who did that; and previous governments were afraid that cutting funds for these stupid people would be futile.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do see a parallel. I admit I was not clear enough. When the government decided to change things, it found people willing to be changed. If African Americans demonstrates a desire for change, I am sure the government will take the initiative to help.
i guess i feel like that sentiment, that it's just that the african americans don't want to change, or don't demonstrate the desire for change, is just the same kind of racist rhetoric that banks and selfe & selfe are talking about. this is why the digital divide exists. i mean, it isn't the only reason, but it is a big reason. because people assume that because they don't have it, it is because they don't want it. and that is just not the case.
ReplyDeleteAnwar,
ReplyDeleteI have to respectfully disagree with you on this post. Change is not something that is readily available to all people. Although you make a good comparison about mountaineers in Libya to African Americans, I do not think that it is a fair comparison. Not only are the histories different in this comparison, but the definition of what change means fluctuates. What Banks and Selfe are speaking about is larger than stereotypes. They are boldly talking about systematic exclusions that have histories, long ones. So, if “all” African Americans were to ask the same government that shipped them against their will, killed them, burned them, and rapped their women to really help them, I am not sure that a real initiative would take place.
Jessica
Umm, I think the post is missing. All I can see now are the comments, which seem to be engage in a thoughtful conversation and I want in on it.
ReplyDeleteTim