I Told You So...What It Means To Our Role As Teachers

WARNING:  Sensitive Content

Don Meyer, at a coaching conference in the late 90s, said, "If you have to guard your words, you are not among friends."  If you don't know Don's story, it is amazing.  He is the winningest coach in college basketball...more than Bob Knight.

So, I will assume I am among friends, as I write about this touchy, difficult issue - racial prejudice, intolerance, and hatred.

It didn't take a month.  But I said it here.  Being called a "conservative" or "liberal" is something that can make a career, and be worn with pride.  Being called a "racist" is the ticket to unemployment.  There will be no room for anything that can be twisted into a "racist attack" in the parodies of President Obama.

Fox News Sunday had long discussion about the Editorial Cartoon in the New York Post.
The NAACP wants the cartoonist fired.
I wonder if the artist got his idea from here (from 2008), as well as the current event of an actual chimp going crazy on an innocent American.

Here are some links that have a little more on the "Chimp" Topic (if you need more discussion bites):
http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2009/02/ny-post-cartoon-travis-chimp-and-obama.html
http://steadyhabits.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/bush-chimp-vs-obama-chimp/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/18/new-york-post-cartoon-race

The Attorney General, Eric Holder (African-American) also made some comments this week, which are counterproductive to dealing with race issues.
Charles Blow has a quality op-ed piece about Holder's comments.

CLEARLY, WE STILL HAVE A DEEP CHASM (THAT RUNS BOTH WAYS) WHEN IT COMES TO RACE RELATIONS.

BUT...
Just the fact that we have to either guard against saying anything that could be taken the wrong way, proves even further that we "are not among friends," and we continue to have a primary problem with race in this country.  The election of a minority president has not changed this circumstance.

This is the reality of the world in which we live.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE MAKE PROGRESS IN THIS ISSUE? 

Can teachers do anything to make the world a better place, in relation to race, prejudice, and hatred?  David Warlick's recent post comes back to my mind.

Here are my Essential Questions:

• Is it possible to end racial prejudice?
• Is it wise to end racial prejudice?
• What would be better if racial prejudice was eliminated?
• What would be worse if racial prejudice was eliminated?
• If it is true that racism is something that is taught, can it be untaught?
• Does having a president who is a minority help or hurt race relations?  How?
• Is it "wrong" only when a minority is "made fun of" or compared to something that is seen as negative?
• Is "reverse discrimination" a real issue or just something that allows the problem to continue?
• How do we get to a point where a person is "judge by the content of their character" rather than "the color of their skin?"
  

What's the difference between this...


and this?


No, Really...What is the difference?

IMO - Both are wrong, yet we have devolved into a society wherein we find it acceptable.  Therein lies the biggest problem with race relations in the United States. 

See, I can be serious.  That usually messes with people who think they know me.

Posted via email from rrmurry's posterous