MEN ARE STUPID. SO ARE WOMEN. Basically humanity is one giant mass of fools who find reasons to divide themselves, create cliques, create as much distance between themselves and “others” as possible... and the means we use to do so are positively inane.
For example, we use the differences in skin color to create “pride” in our races. Whether it is Black Pride or White Supremacy or Hispanic Machismo, various groups of humans use their genetic similarity to band together as “one”— against all the “others” — and frankly, it is stupid.
Take for example the latest kerfuffle over Don Imus. Here is an old white man trying to be cool and hip, and failing miserably. His stock in trade is as a curmudgeon, and in trying to be something he’s not, he ends up insulting Black America, using language that is heard across the radio spectrum and in films and TV daily. But he’s a white guy using language that is “reserved” for black rap artists and actors.
Then there is the great she-devil, Ann Coulter, she of the far right who would sell out the U.S. Constitution in order to keep our freedoms. I’m not sure how that would work, but those on the fringes of the Republican Right seem to think it is a good idea, so therefore, I’m duty bound to dislike it. Coulter can get away with calling a presidential hopeful — Sen. John Edwards — a “faggot” because, well, I don’t know why. It doesn’t make sense to me why she is allowed to use such language, but Imus can’t use the language he did, which frankly, doesn’t seem all that much more insulting.
If there really was a Velvet Mafia, as the Christian Right would have us believe, it seems to me that the homosexual community, whatever that is, would be up in arms over the use of such a pejorative statement by one national figure, about another national figure. The deafening silence on the matter leads me to believe that there isn’t the Gay Mafia that the fundamentalists like to rail against.
Religious leaders always need something to push against, they must have an enemy to fight, so that they can rally their followers and keep the money flowing. Historically, the differences between Sunni and Shia are a matter of interpretation. The initial difference resulted from a dispute over who should be the leader of Islam after Mohammed.
Thousands, if not millions, have died over a difference in interpretation of a succession plan. This is surely not any God’s will, it is humans being stupid.
But we excel at that. Take for example the turf wars of our national gangs. Here there are groups of young men killing themselves over perceptions of “their” turf.
All parts of society have their turf wars though. The middle class does it with their belief that they are superior to the poor, because they can live in suburban enclaves of gated communities and send their kids to American Girl birthday parties.
The upper class, or should I say the monied class, believes they are superior because they can buy homes that far exceed their needs and drive cars that cost what some homes do.
Republicans want to claim the moral high ground against the Democrats. The Libertarians want to claim superiority over both because their plan “is better.”
All of this infighting among humans comes at a tremendous cost, not just in terms of the loss of human life, but at the opportunities to understand each other. To make real connections and expand our lives.
We get so caught up on the details that we lose the ability to enjoy the experience. I find I’m frequently unsure of myself in conversations because I don’t want to offend. I’m not sure if it’s OK to call someone black, Asian, Muslim, Catholic or Jewish. I don’t see why it is sometimes acceptable to acknowledge someone’s heritage or race, and at other times, uncomfortable.
Why is it so hard for us to accept that there are differences and to just talk about them? To confront honestly the facts about what is real, today, seems to me to be fastest way to break down the walls between us, and yet, it seems that when we do that we are opening ourselves up to accusations of bigotry and racism.
It is a shame that we are so easily hurt. We need to remember that first and foremost, we are human... except for Ann Coulter, and maybe Don Imus.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 8, 2007. Read the original PDF.