Originally Posted by
Ma'ake
In my interactions with people from more diverse backgrounds (I wouldn't have had if I wasn't connected with my wife) I've had conversations with folks who focus on Founders owning slaves, States Rights people looking the other way as Jim Crow happened, and now BLM, and conclude the entire system has been rotten from Day 1.
Drawing in the bigger context, acknowledging history and reality, I point out the progress made. Women aren't property anymore, they can vote. Blacks have made enormous strides in terms of rights and opportunities, with tons of role models to look to.
Are where we need to be? Of course not. Is the Klan back? Well, some are, it was clearly on TV. But every day, in every interaction with people, you can make a difference, for yourself and your kids.
In my interactions with other cultures - African American, Native American, Latino, Poly - a stereotype of white people sometimes emerges. "Watch your wallet!" "Smooth talkers, you'll end up with less, they end up with more". In Hawai'i the conquering of the islands was from "missionaries, then merchants, and finally the Marines". Etc.
Two of my sons worked a very short time in door to door security sales in Texas a couple of summers ago. My sons were coveted because they could open doors in the hood with their appearances. But the whole thing was extremely scammy, and the A-holes running this thing were bragging about fleecing the stupid people in the hood (I've sanitized the language), even around my sons, because "you two aren't really black".
After a week, I flew my kids home, proud of them for confronting the predators & getting out of that sleazy operation. "Lesson learned: There are people and parts of America to avoid. Do what YOU can to dispel lingering racism, and don't let it defeat you".
Shapiro's approach is confrontation & contrast, pumping up a specific view within his tribe. I've had better results acknowledging the past & current issues, but emphasizing progress and pointing to a brighter, achievable future.
Here's the nut I'm having a harder time cracking - our economic system increasingly rewards not effort, but results. In the Information Age, this is the sequel to "Revenge of the Nerds", but the results are dramatically different economic outcomes (salaries & wealth), based on noodle power.
In WWII, in the Space Race, we as a people could embrace and support our "best and brightest", as it meant success as a nation from a specific threat from other nations. Today if I bring in a "free agent", an IT version of Kevin Durrant, the salary discrepancy is tough for those who've been loyal, been working their butts off, really good people.
The Space Race and WWII were won, they were tangible targets to achieve and celebrate. The drive for organizations to excel today - or at least not be left behind - means salary competition for the "best and brightest", and there's no end in sight. It's an ongoing, corrosive mix.
The real irony is a large segment of Trump's base are at heart good people, "steady Eddies", who are looking for him to create equality of outcome... for them. Hence the rhetoric against Amazon, "trade wars are good and easy to win", etc. The enemy often isn't another country - it's our fellow Americans.
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