Lest We Forget

Before the year 2013 ends it's time to remember that it also marks the 40th anniversary of the final US withdrawal from Vietnam. Even after all this time, it is believed that some 400,000 veterans of that war are suffering from PTSD and other psychological problems. It's ironic how "patriotism" has become a kind of public exhibition, and marketing tool, but this country still has not lived up to its commitment to its veterans. After 40 years, Vietnam remains the war that America keeps trying to forget but that refuses to go away.

This cannot be encouraging to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, who face many years not only of trying recover from their physical and psychological wounds while they have to fight the very system that sent them to war. It seems that when young people enlist the recruiters often promise them the moon. But when they have become veterans in need the response from the VA, for instance, is something along the lines "I don't know what the recruiter told you but" ... etc. It does make you wonder what kind of country we are.

Mandela's Legacy

Let us reflect on the passing of Nelson Mandela, a heroic fighter for freedom (in the true sense of the word) and justice. He will always be an inspiration and an example for all who struggle for a better world. Mandela's legacy is so great that even many right-wing pols here in the US, like Newt Gingrich, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, feel compelled to render him homage.

It barely merits repetition but there are people out there who maintain that Nelson Mandela was a "communist" and a "terrorist." I suppose those people think that racial equality is somehow "communist." As long as people like that exist the struggle for justice will need to go on.

How Offensive!

This is from Salon.com

A black female professor at Minneapolis Community and Technical College was formally reprimanded by school officials after three of her white male students were upset by a lesson she taught on structural racism.

The professor is Sharon Gibney and she teaches a Introduction to Mass Communication class. Apparently the white male students complained about Gibney even mentioning racism. Racism has often taken the form of whites claiming to be offended. In Jim Crow times they were offended at the thought of having to ride in the same cars or drinking from the same water fountains as black people. In recent times, the "Tea Party" is largely fueled by people being offended at having a black president.

I suspect that the three complainers are the kind of right wing punks who go around staging confrontations on for instance, college campuses just to draw attention to themselves. But it also points out another trick that racists have resorted to in recent years. The claim that they want a "color blind" society, but that doesn't mean a society without racial bias but rather one in which the reality of racism is swept under the rug. A return, in short, to Jim Crowism.