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Feb. 23rd, 2008
The fun thing about science fiction, however, is that POC are not exactly well represented in the genre. And when they are represented, its usually stereotype city. And if POC dare to complain?
- Denial: "The show/the character/that phrasing can't possibly be racist. I know them/it/the writer, they aren't racist! I don't have white privilege; I'm a individual! Why are you attacking me?"
- Anger: "How dare you call me/them/it a racist! That's not nice, in fact, it's the worst thing anyone could ever hear ever. And you're a crazy troublemaker! And you don't know what real racism is!”
- Bargaining: "Okay, maybe you kind of have a point but how does this benefit me? And how does it benefit you? Shouldn't we be out talking in the real world where it counts?"
- Depression: "what good does talking about this do? It doesn't change the world, it doesn't change anything? Why bother? I come to fandom to get away from these sad real life things."
- Acceptance: "wow, huh. Maybe there is a problem. So, what do I do now?" or my personal favourite, "oh, I know everything now, I don't need to read further."
Which hey, leads us all the way back to denial again. There is individual change and growth but as fandom, as this undefinable entity, as a community? I cannot see that much progress in this last year when there have been a pretty consistent race discussions, unlike years before.
Right then. In short, dear POC? STFU and stop spoiling our fun!
- Denial: "The show/the character/that phrasing can't possibly be racist. I know them/it/the writer, they aren't racist! I don't have white privilege; I'm a individual! Why are you attacking me?"
- Anger: "How dare you call me/them/it a racist! That's not nice, in fact, it's the worst thing anyone could ever hear ever. And you're a crazy troublemaker! And you don't know what real racism is!”
- Bargaining: "Okay, maybe you kind of have a point but how does this benefit me? And how does it benefit you? Shouldn't we be out talking in the real world where it counts?"
- Depression: "what good does talking about this do? It doesn't change the world, it doesn't change anything? Why bother? I come to fandom to get away from these sad real life things."
- Acceptance: "wow, huh. Maybe there is a problem. So, what do I do now?" or my personal favourite, "oh, I know everything now, I don't need to read further."
Which hey, leads us all the way back to denial again. There is individual change and growth but as fandom, as this undefinable entity, as a community? I cannot see that much progress in this last year when there have been a pretty consistent race discussions, unlike years before.
Right then. In short, dear POC? STFU and stop spoiling our fun!
The Triumph of Narrative
Feb. 23rd, 2008 11:48 amVia racialicious
The most successful political narratives are not only clear and compelling, but make us feel as though we are part of the story as well. It isn't necessary for the story itself to address us directly as citizens. Some do—for instance, when John F. Kennedy told Americans to ask what they could do for their country, he was explicitly encouraging them to join in his efforts to create a new era in American history. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, didn't portray his candidacy as a movement or ask voters to do anything in particular, but the bygone America he described always resided in regular folks, drawing his story around the voters.
The most successful political narratives are not only clear and compelling, but make us feel as though we are part of the story as well. It isn't necessary for the story itself to address us directly as citizens. Some do—for instance, when John F. Kennedy told Americans to ask what they could do for their country, he was explicitly encouraging them to join in his efforts to create a new era in American history. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, didn't portray his candidacy as a movement or ask voters to do anything in particular, but the bygone America he described always resided in regular folks, drawing his story around the voters.
Via racialious
DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- Alexis Goggins climbed aboard a special bicycle and maneuvered through hospital hallways, beginning the months of physical therapy she needs to recover from six gunshot wounds.
To many people, the soft-spoken 7-year-old is a hero after she threw herself across her mother just as a gunman was about to shoot the woman in an SUV.
"An angel is what I call her," Seliethia Parker said of her daughter.
After more than two months in the hospital and six surgeries, Alexis was recently released. She returns twice a week for physical therapy.
DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- Alexis Goggins climbed aboard a special bicycle and maneuvered through hospital hallways, beginning the months of physical therapy she needs to recover from six gunshot wounds.
Alexis Goggins laughs as she stretches her back on a big red ball during physical therapy.
1 of 3
"An angel is what I call her," Seliethia Parker said of her daughter.
After more than two months in the hospital and six surgeries, Alexis was recently released. She returns twice a week for physical therapy.
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I believe...
Feb. 23rd, 2008 02:26 pmFrom:Devilstower at Daily Kos
I believe there is both worth and glory in the achievement of individuals. However, I do not believe in the elevation of selfishness into a virtue. What I want sometimes comes -- as it rightfully should -- behind what many others need.
I believe that noble self-sacrifice is not something that is demanded of only a few on the battlefield. It's something that's demanded of almost everyone, almost every day, in ways both great and small. That includes when I pay my taxes.
I believe that we almost never have the government we need, rarely get the government we deserve, but nearly always have the government we earn. That is, the quality of our government is exactly equal to the effort we're willing to expend. If we are convinced that government is intrinsically evil, or hopelessly corrupt, our neglect will be reflected in bad governance -- and we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.
I believe that the government is not separable from the governed. Pretending that we are governed by some "other" -- be it secret organizations or evil aliens -- is only an excuse to not put in the work needed to make government better. Like it or not, in America there is no line between "us" and "them."
I believe that elections count, that my vote matters, and that all politicians are not created equal. I do not believe in dark cabals or conspiracies that keep the numbers in elections from representing the actual votes cast -- that includes both theories of massive vote fraud and theories of voting machine malfeasance. I do not believe every politician will, once seated in Congress or the White House, instantly transform into a servant of the status quo. Our system, while neither as open or as fair as it should be, is far too open and fair to be controlled like a puppet by a few shadowy figures. Pretending that the outcome of elections is either preordained or pointless is another reason to complain when we should be working to fix things. (oh yeah, I also do not believe in wacky theories about zillion dollar offshore slush funds full of money from ambulance-chasing lawyers that gets fed to thousands of people so they can sneakily insert it into the pockets of pet politicians. Sheesh.)
I believe that government is worth making better, and that Government is not only vital, but also good. There are things that we can achieve as a community -- and it's a large set of things, not a small one -- that we can not achieve as individuals. This includes (but is far from limited to) our mutual defense, public education, the infrastructure on which we all rely, the protection of our individual rights, the protection of workers, and the protection of our environment.
I believe it's within the government's justifiable powers to take some of the taxes collected from those able to pay, and use it for the benefit of those less able. Not just because "as you do to the least of these" is a core tenet of many religions, not just because it's sound moral principle, but because it's absolutely required to generate the kind of society in which anyone would want to live.
Finally, I believe it is not too late. Not too late to do the right thing in our foreign policy. Not too late to do the right thing with our environmental policies. Not too late to change. And that if we stop blaming the Illuminati for our problems and get out there and vote, we really can take our country back.
I believe there is both worth and glory in the achievement of individuals. However, I do not believe in the elevation of selfishness into a virtue. What I want sometimes comes -- as it rightfully should -- behind what many others need.
I believe that noble self-sacrifice is not something that is demanded of only a few on the battlefield. It's something that's demanded of almost everyone, almost every day, in ways both great and small. That includes when I pay my taxes.
I believe that we almost never have the government we need, rarely get the government we deserve, but nearly always have the government we earn. That is, the quality of our government is exactly equal to the effort we're willing to expend. If we are convinced that government is intrinsically evil, or hopelessly corrupt, our neglect will be reflected in bad governance -- and we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.
I believe that the government is not separable from the governed. Pretending that we are governed by some "other" -- be it secret organizations or evil aliens -- is only an excuse to not put in the work needed to make government better. Like it or not, in America there is no line between "us" and "them."
I believe that elections count, that my vote matters, and that all politicians are not created equal. I do not believe in dark cabals or conspiracies that keep the numbers in elections from representing the actual votes cast -- that includes both theories of massive vote fraud and theories of voting machine malfeasance. I do not believe every politician will, once seated in Congress or the White House, instantly transform into a servant of the status quo. Our system, while neither as open or as fair as it should be, is far too open and fair to be controlled like a puppet by a few shadowy figures. Pretending that the outcome of elections is either preordained or pointless is another reason to complain when we should be working to fix things. (oh yeah, I also do not believe in wacky theories about zillion dollar offshore slush funds full of money from ambulance-chasing lawyers that gets fed to thousands of people so they can sneakily insert it into the pockets of pet politicians. Sheesh.)
I believe that government is worth making better, and that Government is not only vital, but also good. There are things that we can achieve as a community -- and it's a large set of things, not a small one -- that we can not achieve as individuals. This includes (but is far from limited to) our mutual defense, public education, the infrastructure on which we all rely, the protection of our individual rights, the protection of workers, and the protection of our environment.
I believe it's within the government's justifiable powers to take some of the taxes collected from those able to pay, and use it for the benefit of those less able. Not just because "as you do to the least of these" is a core tenet of many religions, not just because it's sound moral principle, but because it's absolutely required to generate the kind of society in which anyone would want to live.
Finally, I believe it is not too late. Not too late to do the right thing in our foreign policy. Not too late to do the right thing with our environmental policies. Not too late to change. And that if we stop blaming the Illuminati for our problems and get out there and vote, we really can take our country back.
"Leonardo" Blessid Union of Souls
And no sign of the original video anywhere, so have an AMV
"I believe" Blessid Union of Souls.
Where are they now?
Oh, the irony!
Feb. 23rd, 2008 05:33 pmOverheard:
Two protagonists, a white girl and her Asian friend.
Enter Asian friend looking upset.
Enter White friend:"What's wrong?"
Asian friend: "They called me Asian and everyone laughed at me!"
White friend:"That's so gay!"
*Blink*
Two protagonists, a white girl and her Asian friend.
Enter Asian friend looking upset.
Enter White friend:"What's wrong?"
Asian friend: "They called me Asian and everyone laughed at me!"
White friend:"That's so gay!"
*Blink*
The reason for safe spaces
Feb. 23rd, 2008 05:49 pmI saw this essay on an lj entry that was discussing race issues in fandom. Bearing in mind that the same issues turn up across the board in various arenas, I thought I'd link it here. May it provide some info.
What is the point of safe spaces?
What is the point of safe spaces?