[516] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: Racism and what-not
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Michael M. Torrice)
Thu May 3 18:17:23 2001
Message-Id: <200105032216.SAA00310@melbourne-city-street.mit.edu>
Date: Thu, 03 May 2001 18:16:48 -0400
To: Presley H Cannady <revprez@MIT.EDU>, mit-talk@MIT.EDU
From: "Michael M. Torrice" <mmt02@MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <200105032127.RAA14809@w20-575-101.mit.edu>
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>Artificial mental exercises that have no other intent except
>to cast doubt on how many people reliably classify themselves
>is not only an insult to one's intelligence, it's a waste of
>one's time.
Well the question is intimately linked to the issue of racism. If race
is an essential characteristic of a person, then you are accepting racism.
You are supporting the idea that race confers some meaning onto an
individual. A racist white hill-billy would say that race confers negative
meaning onto black people and positive meaning onto white people. Then
what makes him different from the person that says "who I _am_ comes
from my race"? They are both making conclusions from race.
Real identity stems from one's ideas and values. Think about how you
chose whom to hang around with and whom to avoid. Do you pick honest
people to be around with or would you have a friend that lies constantly?
Would you hang around people who thought poorly of a specfic race?
Or do you decide that some people are good friends because of their
skin color? Also think of the people you admire. Do you admire them
because they are ambitious? Do you look up to people because of
their actions or because of where their ancestors hailed from? A perfect
example is Martin Luther King. Is Martin Luther King admirable because
he is black or because of what he stood for and his actions? I think
the answer to that is obvious and needs no comment.
So I would ask all those who stated that their race, or how they were
raised, or how they are treated is essential to who they are as a person,
do you use the same criterion when associating with others. Do you
admire the person, who after being discriminated against and threatened,
goes onto become a successful person or the one who wallows in self-pity
and victimhood? (a prime example of such a person I admire for over-coming
adversity to become a successful person is Oprah Winfrey...she is a prime
example of how racism and adeversity can be overcome if you work hard and
set goals.)
-Mike
Michael M. Torrice
Treasurer, MIT Objectivist Club
mmt02@mit.edu
(617) 225-9239
