Preaching Indifference: A Sensible Cure to Conflict

What does the election of our first black president imply about the state of racism in the United States? To speak with complete honesty, I don't know, and I do not care. I think Barack Obama's victory resonated with scores of disenchanted blacks as their own personal victory as well. No one ever mentions that he is the child of an interracial couple and was raised by his white grandmother, but that's ok. I think some people really needed that victory, so who are any of us to take it away from them?

What I would like to take away from not just blacks, but practically everyone in this country, is the acknowledgment of diversity. I know how that sounds, but it’s very difficult for me to elucidate what I mean. I shall try my best.

Diversity has been an overwhelmingly significant source of conflict in this country since its establishment, and nothing anyone has ever done has come even close to solving the problems that arise from it. I believe there is one explanation as to why this is the case - every action that is influenced by diversity, be it with positive or negative intentions, brings attention to the fact that it exists at all. With issues related to diversity consistently on the news pages (same-sex marriage, affirmative action, feminism, etc.), we are just as consistently reminded that we are surrounded by those who are different from us and that something must be done about it! This constant reminder, I believe, only perpetuates the very "problems" that we are looking to resolve.

I have no issues with diversity or with those that are different from myself. In fact, I have the exact opposite of issues with diversity - complete and utter apathy. I've always been a big believer in tolerance and neutrality. However, I find these terms are a little too neat, perhaps a little too politically correct, to describe how I actually feel. What I preach I like to call indifference. I am the most indifferent individual you will probably ever meet. I simply don't care. I don't care that you're black, white, yellow, or brown. I don't care that Jesus Christ is your lord and savior and that she worships the sun god. I don't care that he likes taking it in the ass and that she's a rugmuncher. I don't fucking care. None of these characteristics will ever have an impact on the way I perceive someone. There are only two things that can and will affect my perception of someone: their words and their actions, and that's it. Even then, I try my damnedest not to even have perceptions of people. That facilitates the development of certain expectations, and I fervently believe that expectations arouse more trouble than even diversity.

Black history month, gay pride marches, various cultural events - all of these things have something in common: they perpetuate the conflicts that diversity creates. Any action on part of the government or other bodies that looks to resolve diversity-related conflicts clearly only have one audience. That audience is those who are going to stir up trouble when faced with diversity. That being said, I think we can safely assume that everyone else doesn't have an issue with diversity. So, I must ask, why all the advertisement? Why the marches and extravagant celebrations? You're advertising to those who have no issue with you and to those who are going to hate you for who you are. It makes no sense to me. What I really wish everyone would do is just stop giving a fuck, like me. All of these self-important, "look at us, we're different than you, respect us", obnoxious showcases have got to stop.

The government, most surprisingly, has not been the least helpful in any of this. Decades’ worth of retroactive legislation seeking to right wrongs committed in an otherwise forgotten era of constitutional adherence have engorged the interests of those who really bear no entitlement to such compensation. Some states and local governments have managed to have the presence of mind to ignore and stray away from affirmative action and various related mandates, but alas, the distinct boundaries drawn by our early federalist principles are vanishing in the looming shadow of the so-called “federal” government.

I feel I’m beginning to delve into something completely else, so I’d like to end while I still appear to be ahead. The preceding issues bother me. When I am bothered by present situations, I like to take comfort in unheeded wisdom of great minds that would construct a better human condition if only our omnipotent decision-makers would acknowledge them.

"Legislation is powerless to eradicate racial instincts, or to abolish distinctions based upon physical differences, and the attempt to do so can only result in accentuating the difficulties of the present situation."

-Supreme Court Justice Henry Billings Brown

vocab words: engorged and elucidate