Comments on: From stamp tax to stamp blacks http://willtoexist.com/from-stamp-tax-to-stamp-blacks_220/ scribblings from a deist transhumanist libertarian minarchist citizen soldier Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:45:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Trevor http://willtoexist.com/from-stamp-tax-to-stamp-blacks_220/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Trevor Fri, 08 Jul 2005 19:47:12 +0000 http://willtoexist.com/?p=220#comment-1011 Dayna, Follow through is everything, whether you are Mexican or standard issue white boy. Racism is an inherent belief that your own ethnic group is superior to one or more other groups. What you're describing in your response to me is bias, not racism. Just so we're clear. Everything else made perfect sense to me. I like to try and look past someone's skin tone and judge them as an individual. I hope others will give me the same benefit of the doubt. Just because I'm a cracker ass cracker doesn't mean I can't make the party a little more fun with my terrible dancing and foolish attempts to entertain others. You are right when you say that we have choices - we can either brush off the things that offend us or allow them to consume us. The first choice is the more constructive one, since life is short and there are plenty of people out there you might enjoy being around - why bother with the ones that piss you off? Unless they're actively trying to kill you, of course. Take care, Charlie. Hope to see you around again soon. Dayna,

Follow through is everything, whether you are Mexican or standard issue white boy.

Racism is an inherent belief that your own ethnic group is superior to one or more other groups. What you’re describing in your response to me is bias, not racism. Just so we’re clear.

Everything else made perfect sense to me. I like to try and look past someone’s skin tone and judge them as an individual. I hope others will give me the same benefit of the doubt. Just because I’m a cracker ass cracker doesn’t mean I can’t make the party a little more fun with my terrible dancing and foolish attempts to entertain others.

You are right when you say that we have choices – we can either brush off the things that offend us or allow them to consume us. The first choice is the more constructive one, since life is short and there are plenty of people out there you might enjoy being around – why bother with the ones that piss you off? Unless they’re actively trying to kill you, of course.

Take care, Charlie. Hope to see you around again soon.

]]> By: Dayna http://willtoexist.com/from-stamp-tax-to-stamp-blacks_220/comment-page-1/#comment-1010 Dayna Fri, 08 Jul 2005 19:31:35 +0000 http://willtoexist.com/?p=220#comment-1010 Sorry it took me so long to respond. I can't speak for other Mexicans, since we never really discuss racism (until now, thanks to Memin!). No forms in Mexico ask what race you are. Racism exists here but it isn't really related to the color of your skin. It's about money and status. If a black man were to show up at a party driving a jag, wearing an armani suit and expensive clothes, everyone would love him. If the same man were to show up wearing regular clothes, driving a regular car (or getting there by taxi), people would just treat him the way they treat just about everyone else. I for one, think that separating people by race is just another way for some people to feel superior. I think I'm babbling... I need food. What I'm trying to say is, I think discussing race issues is as useful as discussing which celebrity is getting divorced. If someone paints a Mexican with a big sombrero, huaraches, sleeping all day (oh wait, they already do that!) I can either get mad at them and claim "that's racist!" or laugh about it and say "hahah stereotypes are hilarious!". The first reaction would give the cartoon power and could make it racist. The 2nd reaction would make the cartoon less important and there would be no racism. I hope that made sense :p Sorry it took me so long to respond.
I can’t speak for other Mexicans, since we never really discuss racism (until now, thanks to Memin!).
No forms in Mexico ask what race you are.
Racism exists here but it isn’t really related to the color of your skin. It’s about money and status. If a black man were to show up at a party driving a jag, wearing an armani suit and expensive clothes, everyone would love him. If the same man were to show up wearing regular clothes, driving a regular car (or getting there by taxi), people would just treat him the way they treat just about everyone else.
I for one, think that separating people by race is just another way for some people to feel superior.
I think I’m babbling… I need food.
What I’m trying to say is, I think discussing race issues is as useful as discussing which celebrity is getting divorced.
If someone paints a Mexican with a big sombrero, huaraches, sleeping all day (oh wait, they already do that!) I can either get mad at them and claim “that’s racist!” or laugh about it and say “hahah stereotypes are hilarious!”. The first reaction would give the cartoon power and could make it racist. The 2nd reaction would make the cartoon less important and there would be no racism.
I hope that made sense :p

]]> By: Trevor http://willtoexist.com/from-stamp-tax-to-stamp-blacks_220/comment-page-1/#comment-945 Trevor Sat, 02 Jul 2005 17:07:14 +0000 http://willtoexist.com/?p=220#comment-945 Dayna, thanks for your perspective on this. I'm surprised no one has accused me of being in the KKK for posting my opinion. That's usually the quality of dialogue in this country when it comes to dicussions about race or ethnicity, in my experience. I'm curious, do most of the Mexicans you know have an opinion on the way Americans discuss race issues? If so, what do they think? I would imagine that outsiders think of us as idiots in that regard. Dayna, thanks for your perspective on this. I’m surprised no one has accused me of being in the KKK for posting my opinion. That’s usually the quality of dialogue in this country when it comes to dicussions about race or ethnicity, in my experience.

I’m curious, do most of the Mexicans you know have an opinion on the way Americans discuss race issues? If so, what do they think? I would imagine that outsiders think of us as idiots in that regard.

]]> By: Dayna http://willtoexist.com/from-stamp-tax-to-stamp-blacks_220/comment-page-1/#comment-939 Dayna Fri, 01 Jul 2005 18:23:43 +0000 http://willtoexist.com/?p=220#comment-939 Thank you :) I agree with you 100%. I'm a Mexican female, I grew up in Mexico reading these comics. Never did they once make me think that black people were inferior in any way. The main character, Memín is a kid who has a rich, white friend and 2 other poor Mexican friends. They are friends, regardless of the color of their skin and status. He is loved by everyone in the comic, he loves his friends, he does his best to help them out whenever he can, he's a good "person". How is that racist? Saying these stamps are racist is ridiculous. Making such a big deal about it is even worse. There are far more important issues we should worry/do something about than a stamp. Thank you :)
I agree with you 100%.

I’m a Mexican female, I grew up in Mexico reading these comics. Never did they once make me think that black people were inferior in any way. The main character, Memín is a kid who has a rich, white friend and 2 other poor Mexican friends. They are friends, regardless of the color of their skin and status. He is loved by everyone in the comic, he loves his friends, he does his best to help them out whenever he can, he’s a good “person”. How is that racist?

Saying these stamps are racist is ridiculous. Making such a big deal about it is even worse.
There are far more important issues we should worry/do something about than a stamp.

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