Racism and reasons for hope

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Thursday January 27, 2005 19:47

by Michael Hennigan - Finfacts.com

Marginalisng racism will take time and its the young generation will make the difference

When I worked in the US as a student I had a German colleague who lived at the nearby Fort Kit Carson Army Base with her GI husband.

One day in conversation with her , I remarked that Henry Kissinger had been born in Germany.

'He's a Jew,' my colleague said and then swiftly put her hand to her mouth, having left the cat out of the bag.

On Tuesday in a pub, a friend referred to someone he had met and mentioned in passing that the person is Jewish. The information on the ethnicity of the individual had no relevance to the conversation.

My friend who is not a bigot had made an instinctive reference that is a clearly a reflection of something that he shared at some level with my former German colleague.

On the day that the Taoiseach announced that the Government is to set up a strategic monitoring group to oversee the implementation of the first National Action Plan Against Racism, I am optimistic that today's young generation provide a lot of hope.

Last week, my seventeen-year-old daugher Katie, who is a native of the Philippines, was with a group from her school in a coffee shop - some friends and some not. One of the group called her a 'randomer' and asked her why she doesn't go back to her 'own country.'

In an instant, one of the group threw a punch and knocked the offender onto the floor. Katie did not know the guy who came to her rescue.

It takes a very long time in a society to marginalise racism. We will always have ignorant people in our midst but there is also reason for optimism.

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Comments (4 of 4)

Well done

by jackwhite

Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:18

that young lad!!

Ignorance must be adressed

by arthur

Fri Feb 04, 2005 23:53

Michael the answer is quite simple ,those that bothered to enlighten themselves of the current advances in mitochondrial dna are aware that all living humans today are related to seven women that made their way out of Africa about seventy thousand years ago.
It will only be when the civil authorities educate ,either in history lessons in schools or in the churches the now updated facts of our genealogical history.
It is widely understood in some circles that climate exposure causes genetic modifications to skin pigmentation that is purely dependent on envioremental conditions on the part of the earth where we live and natures software selects not unlike Darwin's natural "natural selection" the most suitable skin colour for the location.
I see little prospect of the religous groupings being of any assistance in tackling racism as they would have to confront some contradictions that preceded Biblical stuff.
Michael still keep up the good work,and just bash them that need it ,with some facts that are available to anyone who seeks them.

oh jaysus cripes

by eeekkkk

Sun Jan 30, 2005 15:54

i'm being tortured by mindless pd youth suggesting violence as a solution to racism

come back when you know how to correctly deploy a '?'

And Violence is the solution...

by StephenF

Sun Jan 30, 2005 15:52

or what is your point?

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Racism and reasons for hope

Comments (4 of 4)