tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133147170181934597.post4433739944131444601..comments2023-10-31T06:01:21.781-04:00Comments on love,elizabeth: What the @#$%...? (Or, You Should be Dancin' yeah!)Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11889294120616809157noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133147170181934597.post-42178034304279888772007-05-18T00:17:00.000-04:002007-05-18T00:17:00.000-04:00I wanted to thank you--the comments you left on my...I wanted to thank you--the comments you left on my blog were very encouraging.<BR/><BR/>As for your unanswerable question, I think the "system" is in us, that the root of the problem is that humans categorize things by nature. It's been hardwired in our brains, ever since the days when we were still figuring out how to bang rocks together and we had to separate Things into "things that will eat us" and "things we can eat." Just as we reach a certain age where we realize boys and girls are different, we eventually (not immediately) notice cultural differences, and we categorize. <BR/><BR/>Another part of human nature is that we fear what we don't understand, and when we don't understand the culture that we've suddenly categorized as alien, we dissociate ourselves from it--because it's easier to be careful than to try to learn about it, accept it, and embrace it. Even though there's really nothing to be afraid of, the animal part of our brain is saying, "They're like us, but different. Could be dangerous. Stay away."<BR/><BR/>It's not unlike the boys and the girls keeping to opposite sides of the dance hall at junior prom. We're afraid of each other. And it takes a smart, empathetic person to bridge the gap and make a connection.<BR/><BR/>But that's not really an answer. Just an opinion.<BR/><BR/>And as for how you would explain that to kids...I have no idea.Jared Latorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921511450592108257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133147170181934597.post-47285732008715220852007-05-18T00:13:00.000-04:002007-05-18T00:13:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jared Latorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921511450592108257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133147170181934597.post-73052591331439858932007-05-16T21:51:00.000-04:002007-05-16T21:51:00.000-04:00I have no words of wisdom. I'm multiracial & went...I have no words of wisdom. I'm multiracial & went to a couple of schools where the minorities were the majority. No one cared that my grandpa was black. They saw me as white & they hated me. I'm saddened to hear that it hasn't changed. If it's any consolation, age brought the knowledge that "all" black/white/asian/latino/indian/etc. people are not "mean," despite my experiences. There are just mean people (lots of 'em!). I'm sure your kids will get back to colorblind again, too.bundle-o-contradictionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09865012831340920898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8133147170181934597.post-9013763702019012672007-05-14T00:22:00.000-04:002007-05-14T00:22:00.000-04:00Well, I can attest to the not dancing thing at thi...Well, I can attest to the not dancing thing at this age. Son does not dance. The only people who dance at his school are the ones going steady and I think it's merely an excuse to rub body parts together. Dancing is seen as drawing attention to one's self. It would be more preferably to actually STICK A FORK into your eyeball than bring attention to yourself. I can't talk about racial divide because my kid's school is so horribly lily white. But I will say that I think that kids are looking for ANY thing to cluster together in their own safe little groups. Creating their tribes. Race is not an issue in my son's school, but they divide themselves anyway. The druggee skaters. The non-druggee skaters. The jocks. The rich kids. The cool kids. The goth kids. They are looking for a tribe and I think it has nothing to do with race. They will divide themselves up REGARDLESS.<BR/><BR/>It's really sad and I have no answers as to why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com