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Immigrants (i.e., those who self-selected to seek a new life in a new country) are very different from people who were kidnappped and sold as chattel to come to this country.
By gemini10 on September 17, 2010 5:51 PM
Thanks Dona
sorry was feeling bad!
I understand. I had that experience about 2 weeks ago.
Have a good weekend and have fun!!!!!!
“We are the doers of good, of god’s work and are all knowing. it’s called the GOP.”
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!! You’re such a card, dibs.
On that note, th train is approaching Philly. Have a great weekend everyone.
You too Dibs.
DH, Re Chinese kids, M4L and others know better than me, but it seems they grow up hard-wired with Confucian ideas that sort of run through the DNA and part of that is a deep, deep respect for education. Other things too, but that is something really strong about their ancient culture that they bring with them wherever they are. The kids are expected to do well. I think it is a little different for other Asian kids, but they share that. And Indian kids too. There is an expectation that predates anything to do with the US that kids do really really well in school. About Chinese kids, they weren’t allowed to go to college during the Cultural Revolution. It was all part of Mao’s idea of shaking up the world, the society, rattling the Chinese out of their deeply tradtional and conservative ideas. But when the Gang of Four was out of power, Chinese adults, streamed out of China to universities all over to go to school. I saw hoards of kids going to school in Japan.
DH- I’m gonna say there are several reasons. The first is that slavery destroyed the family life of Africans, and the lack of permanent cohesive family units- because at any time a family member could be sold off- broke down whatever structure could develop. Despite that, Blacks in America persevered and when slavery was ended, their expectations were that they would become fully part of the country. to that end, most of their hopes were destroyed- from the Klan, Jim Crow and outright bigotry, Blacks were denied full rights for scores of years.
Then add the extensive covert racism that still exists in this country- Blacks in this country have raised themselves up over and over again- we even have a Black President, and Blacks hold many high positions in government, business and education, but the predominant perception of them seems to be that they are all criminals or welfare queens. Ishtar listed some of the many ways Blacks were kept down in this country- It wasn’t the poverty, it was the social and psychological devastation that did the damage. It happened over decades, and it will take decades to fix.
I can only think of one example that explains it better- look at post-war Germany. Logically you would think this country and Europe would have trashed Germany, especially considering the horrible things they did. But we poured money into Germany (and Japan), helping them to rebuild. That never happened after the end of slavery. Blacks were basically kicked out the door and left on their own, or given “assistance” that was too little and condescending to boot. The fact that Affirmative Action wasn’t even passed before the 1960’s only exemplifies the treatment Blacks have received at the hands of the government- MM is right. Too little, too late.
Donatella, the club’s been around for a long time. We are the doers of good, of god’s work and are all knowing. it’s called the GOP.
BWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Cough, cough, eyes running) Deep breath……. BBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
That was priceless!
i’m out guys – have a nice weekend!
ugh you people, y’all need a nice hard drink in you right now.
*gulp*
*rob*
Or a hard something else.
On that note, th train is approaching Philly. Have a great weekend everyone.