White guilt

What is white guilt.  As a Mexican-American this is something strange for me which I have little personal  experience with.  I have never personally felt it.  But it is something lots of white people bring up in talks and discussions about race or social injustices.  But lets think about this for a moment and analyze it.  White guilty, from what I have seen, is something which comes up only when you have just been exposed to knowledge or a perspective of a social injustice.  This social injustice may or may not have been committed by you or your parents or ancestors, but you have directly benefited and not been hurt by this injustice.  In a way you feel guilty for having been privileged and spared the pain and suffering of this injustice.  You feel this because you have been exposed to knowledge which you had no prior information or understanding.  You want to do something to fix this injustice but you don’t know what to do or you fear that anything to fix this injustice would involve removing some of the benefits or privileges you have.  The solution though does not involve a loss on behalf of white people. In fact the solution can be what we call in economics Pareto efficient, a situation in which everyone comes out winning.  However, the fear of the possibility of losing something you have is so great that it sometimes leads to a white backlash.  People will deny that the injustices are occurring or react very defensively.  However, white guilt is not because we are attacking you, it is because we are fighting to change a system that has failed to address the historical injustices minorities have experienced.  We do not seek to stop the benefits and privileges you have we simply seek to gain those same benefits and privileges for ourselves.  The fact that you feel white guilt is a good thing.  It means that you recognized a wrong has been committed.  The next step would be to address that wrong and work to fix it.  It means that we are that much further in our conversation or dialogue.  To hear the social injustices that have been committed against minorities and not experience white guilt is to not see that there is a problem, its not caring about what is happening, its not wanting to do anything to correct the situation.  By not experiencing this white guilt you are in essence admitting to yourself that you are a racist.  But your not.  And that is why we are asking for your help.  In order to change this system that has been put in place by our racists past we need the help of everyone.  To be apathetic is worst than being a racists.  It is to actively know what is happening, know that it is wrong yet refuse to change it.  You need to take this guilt and transform it into an agent for change.  You can not just let injustices go on unaddressed.  

The end of a true democracy- Native Americans

Over 500 years ago there existed a civilization that was like no other since then.  It existed right here in North America.  This civilization by today’s standards would be considered primitive and backward because of their lack of the modern amenities we no have.  But if you were to take a closer look at them, they were in fact ages ahead of us.  The problems we face today were nonexistent in their times.  

The debate over health care? They had avoided the diseases we no so fear.  Deadly and contagious viruses were unheard of.  Cancer did not exist.  They did not deal with dangerous toxins that we do today, and somehow skin cancer did not affect them.  Cardiovascular disease and obesity did not exist.  The food they eat was the most organic and completely natural food available.  It was eaten regularly in the right amounts.  They did not need anyone to tell them that they should eat in moderation and have a balanced diet.  There was no need for increasing one’s amount of exercise.  

Environmental degradation? This was unheard of.  Nothing was wasted if a use could still be found for it.  The people lived as if they were a part of nature.  The destruction of their environment was a threat to them.  Trees, fish, resources abounded. No activity was unsustainable.  

Poverty? If you measure it in dollar terms which they had none of, then yes.  But how can there be poverty if everyone has enough to eat? If everyone has shelter, health, love and desires nothing more? If everyone has time to spend with their family and leisure to do what they want?

Quality education?  Everyone had access to knowledge.  It was pasted down from generation to generation and between individuals.  It was accumulated through life experiences.  The elders who had accumulated it were widely listened to and respected.  

Inequality? A more egalitarian society could not have existed.  Everyone had access to the same amount of food, clothes, shelter, health services, and had an equal say in community decisions.  The Indian chief was nothing more than a spokesperson for the village.  The decisions were made by the people.  This was a true democracy were everyone’s voice was heard.  There were no special interests with undue influence.  The special interests were those of the community.  

This civilization unfortunately was eliminated by a less democratic and less perfect one.  Western civilization came in and brought disease, inequality, poverty, and monarchy.  A flawed civilization overpowered the natives, destroying all the good things they had achieved.  Western civilization is now struggling to solve these very same problems the Natives had solved so long ago. If only they had joined the natives instead of conquering them.  

Neoliberalism and the third world

Neoliberalism. What is it? Its a word you hear often but do you really know what it is or means? Neoliberalism is a theory. An economic political theory. It is free-market capitalism and laissez-faire. But it is also more than that. Its government practices that favor big business. You may have heard accusations of “government lying in bed with big business” but its more than just that. Its government  going on its knees for big business. Its government willingly bending over backward for big business. Its similar to when lust and desire are so great that government will invite a complete stranger to its home because he has a pretty face. you have no clue who he is, but you still place your complete trust in him. you have an array of contraceptives that you have been using but he says he will have none of your protectionists policies. He claims they will only get in the way and hurt you in the long run.  Your skeptical of what this stranger is saying but he’s so overpowering you have no choice or say. you fight and squirm but still he has his way with you. Your culture, traditions, way of life are all destroyed in front of your eyes while your powerless to stop it. Afterwards you realize he had an STD and its infected you people. And while it only makes him stronger its wreaking havoc on your nation.  That is neoliberalism. The scourge of the third world.