People have been talking racism for centuries. People continue to be racists. How do we solve this problem. Everybody has dealt with it, politicians, spiritual leaders, community activities, and the problems of racism continue.
First, we have to admit that racism is a problem and that it's a psycho-social problem.
But racists are like alcoholics. In Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, first the people have to admit they have a problem. Admit they are out of control alcoholics, admit they they are out of control gamblers before they can solve the problem.
The problem with racism and racialism is that everybody denies it. Everybody is in denial.
That's why Sinbad's statement about Michael Richards is refreshing. All these others are denying being racists. He's the only person who made the public statement that everybody is that.
He's correct. Everybody is a racist. And until everybody admits that you're not going to solve that problem.
The great actor Marlon Brando, for example, stood with the blacks at the March on Washington, made his great statement of commitment to the Native Peoples of the First Nations, when he rejected his Oscar--great for Marlon. But he didn't have any problem making anti-semitic remarks about Hollywood Jews--similar when people glibly speak of New York Jews.
And, as for Americans racial profiling of Muslims in America. This is racism. But it's also a dilemma for Americans who are at war with "Muslim terrorists." How to tell the difference between the Muslims who are "good American citizens" and the Muslims who are terrorists, but from the point of view of (certain) Muslims "freedom fighters."
This is the same history with the Jewish people and their great independence struggles. From the point of view of the Jewish people Moses was a "freedom fighter," but certainly from the point of view of the Eyptians a "terrorists." However, because Moses is also a Biblical and Torah hero, we accept him as Spiritual Leader.
Racism is a dilemma and it's a problem, historical and postmodern problem.
But until we all admit, that for whatever reason, historical, psychological, biblical, economical, etc. we're racists, then we're not going to solve the problem of racism.
Much racism is historical. Let's say if I'm a Latina visiting Paris and I come upon gypsies, I don't have any racism towards gypsies, because they're not my history. However, the French start telling me all kinds of racist and outlandish tales about gypsies. The French are racist because they're part of the French racist history. I don't have any reason to be racist towards the gypsies. They're not my history.
Much of racism is historical. Old wars. Old feuds. Whoever is the lower people on the totem pole of civilizations.
The French used to make a distinction between black Americans and other blacks--Africans, islanders, etc. I don't think this is true now in modern France. Perhaps among some French. The French are very anti-immigrant many of them.
People are constantly coming up with reasons to justify and rationalize their racism. Their scapegoating of other peoples.
In Racists Anonymous we all have to admit first, like the Great Sinbad, that we're all racists.
Admit that first, like with the alcoholics and gamblers. Even if we appear to be such nice and sweet people, even if we're adopting African and gypsy babies, even if we're being as good as the good Germans or the good Mexicans or the good Cubans and the good Muslims or the good Jews or the good Blacks or the good Latinos or the good Gypsies or the good Turks or the good Russians or the good Italians or the good Spanish or the good French or the good Americans or the good Christians or the good Buddhists--well, most of the Buddhists seem to be pretty good--or the good anybody, let's just first go to the international Racists Anonymous podium and say,
I am ______________, and I'm a racist.............
And then we can figure out how to solve this problem. And let's come up with some practical solutions, not just generalities.
Some of us might even follow the "Twelve Steps" based upon the Alcoholics Anonymous guidelines:
First you admit you're powerless over racism, you don't have control of yourself, and racism has made you unmanageable.
Second, you need a Power greater than yourself to restore you to sanity--because racism is an insanity. Admit that.
I'm not going through all these twelve steps, but you can find them easily online at any Alcoholics Anonymous websites.
The Power greater than ourselves is always a Spiritual Power, or God, as we understand Him.
