IMHO I’d be shocked if America passed reparations as there are so many I’m guessing who would be against it including very powerful forces (Corporate America). Also what complicates the matter is what if your origins in America didn’t even begin till after the Civil War, do you get exempted? All of a sudden it becomes a complete group guilt of all whites even if your ancestors were persecuted well before you existed. Where is my “we were slaves in Egypt” stimulus package or my “this is what happens when you kill my ancestors in the Holocaust” retirement pension money or “my family was raped and oppressed in a forced-labor camp (Russian Gulag)?” What group has not be enslaved, conquered, oppressed and marginalized throughout human history? None!! Like Native Americans who have sovereign nation protection to go with a handful of corrupt casino owners, do we do the same for BLM? Even if we did, just of handful of ruthless people would profit not the greater good. I’m all for BLM, but throughout history I don’t remember reading
how the oppressed got a lifelong bonus package on most occasions and their homes were featured in Architectural Digest or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Human history is replete with vicious behavior.
True, but as a real negotiation starts, you shoot for the moon and land somewhere between here and there, but further than before.
You’re correct though, there’s always the snowball effect, so if we get it right in the USA, other nations watching like China or Iran are going to see their peoples discontent.
I have a fellow Jazz performing friend from Siberia of all places, only met him once. He despises Putin, etc. But life is okay and he gets to perform somewhere out there by Lake Baikal.
But spray painting Mao’s picture or burning a Chinese Flag is like death wish. He served in the Russian military right out of High School and told me stories about his training in winter, etc. Best story was how during border patrols the Chinese were always doing their worshipping of a giant 100 foot flag and the second one the same size was of Mao. Every morning they cheered as they hoisted their symbolic murals/flags. The Russian commander got sick of seeing and hearing them so instructed his entire battalion to drop their pants and show their asses to the Chines Flag and mural of Mao. This continued and on the 3rd day the Chinese soldiers stopped. Allowing Mao’s memory to be disrespected is a terrible thing.
At any rate, what has-ends in the USA is always viewed as being the end of America, it will never recover, etc. Bull Shit, our diversity is always our strength to improve and what made the USA great. You don’t see millions racing to live in Iran, China or Russia. Last time I checked 6 million folks have left Venezuela. Socialist utopia is a complete failure. Cuba, Russia and China are there to collect on their debts with Drug money and Oil being exchanged. ( check out Ari Durgarte, super hot model working from Guadalajara now)
But imagine as we clean up the ashes and straighten some old vendettas out, that billions of people around the world start tearing down Mao, Putin or the Supreme Spinach Chins in Iran.
No joke. I travelled around and when you hear Palestinian HipHop you realize how influential our uniquely odd US culture really is.
Im optimistic because I’ve seen this show before. You just need to seek out the upside.
Thanks to COVID-19 Cirque du Soleil is bankrupt. Sad, but what’s coming will be fresh and new.
Still waiting for Country Western to have some white shaming songs. Then I’ll know real progress was made.
The old Dixie Chicks coming back as the Karen’s or something.