I can't think of any other way to put it. I am not racist, homophobic, misogynistic, a white supremacist, a bigot, a rich person, a gun nut, or any of the other things commonly claimed of an older white male in this country. I am white, and I am getting old, but I have nothing against any person due to race, color, creed, sex, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, or anything else. I do judge people based on what they do and what they say, but not on the basis of any of the characteristics that are, by law in most cases, considered illegal discrimination.
I believe in the idea that all men (and women) are created equal. I believe that we all have the same rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and all that. In the United States, at least, we all have the same rights and freedoms. In terms of the law, that is a fact, not a dream or a wish.
That being the case, why do we still have demonstrations and marches and rallies and headlines about various groups demanding equal rights? Why do we need Black History Month? We don't have a White History Month. Why do we need groups like the NAACP? Why do we have a Black Lawyers Associtation, but not a White Lawyers Association? Why do we have hundreds of groups to support or advance women? Why do we have photos and articles from public organizations like schools that focus almost entirely on minorities, even in communities that are 98% white?
My home town is still probably in the neighborhood of 90% white folks. Yet, in nearly every photo, or story in the newspapers or on school websites, you are led to believe there are more minorities in this town than white people. Everything is about the first black, or other minority to do this or that, the first woman to do this or that, how great our immigrants from other countries are (whether they came here legally or not), and this despite the fact that percentage-wise, minorities make up the bulk of our incarcerated population. If they are such great people, why is that?
Just today, the lead story is about a gay couple who run a business in a small town. What even makes that a story? Because they are gay? If sexuality is not supposed to matter, if all people are created equal, why is it important to include that information in the story? Is the story of the business they run not worthy of interest without some sort of prurient interest aspect? Isn't that a bit like a story decrying the objectification of women running next to an ad for Victoria Secret featuring a barely clad, voluptuous vixen?
I take everyone as an individual, but that doesn't mean there isn't some truth to the fact that many of our minorities appear to be much more likely to be involved in illegal activity, or be recipients of our generosity in terms of welfare programs.
Yes, a hundred and fifty years ago, blacks and women were treated much differently, not only personally, but by law. Today, that is not true. Not everyone treats everyone else with the respect and dignity and fairness they might deserve, but there are laws in place to insure that things like employment, housing, transportation, and other essentials are fairly available to all.
The only way to stop the ill effects of racism and sexism and religious discrimination and other forms of "I'm better than you" mentality is to stop promoting it. If women, or blacks, or dreamers, or Muslims, or any other minority is truly equal to everyone else, why is it that they get all the headlines? Not only do they get the headlines, but the media openly tells us the reason they got the headlines is not because of what they've done, but because of who they are (racially, sexually, religiously, ethnically, etc.).
