Prattville Dragoons Commander's Column for July 2020 - Recognizing Race and Racial Tolerance

Commander's Column –  Recognizing Race and Racial Tolerance                

Elsewhere in this newsletter, compatriot Tyrone Crowley provides a history of the term racist and the evolution of its connotation.    I recalled that it was fashionable just a short time ago by the PC progressives in an effort to break down socially constructed barriers to maintain that there is no such thing as race.  This article (https://www.sapiens.org/body/is-race-real/) attempts to minimize a racial construct as a “tenuous flexible” assumptive exercise, using anthropological double speak like “local populations” to discount any notion of the logical clarity of race.  They use outlier exceptions as the grounds for discounting the fact that due to geographic and cultural factors, races have developed over the millenniums such that not just outward appearance lends itself to the grouping of racial populations but for example sciences such as forensic musculoskeletal  and cardiovascular differences between the races can be used to place race discounting any recognition of outward markers.   It is simply humorous delusional fantasy to disregard and ignore the inherent differences between the races akin to placing credence in one’s ability to ”self-identify” as a different race or sex and be granted such recognition.  

So if the notion of races is a social construct then why do recent studies by the University of Toronto “indicate that racial bias may arise in babies as young as six to nine months of age”? (https://www.utoronto.ca/news/racial-bias-may-begin-babies-six-months-u-t-research-reveals)  Without any supporting evidence except limited sample populations in their own studies, the researchers said “that lack of exposure to other races may be the cause.”  The research correlated babies happiness and learning as enhanced when exposed to their own races placing this entirely on familiarity with their own and not on negative experiences with other races.  The study seems to draw this conclusion without substantiating evidence and ignores other possibilities such as instinctual causation such as is observed within species in the greater animal kingdom.   But, even so, should the importance of the child’s consistent ethnic cultural factors be discounted or minimized in their thriving, their happiness and learning?   Do the Japanese or Chinese or Korean or Indian or Nigerian people believe that diversity is an imperative to make their societies stronger, better, more successful or fulfilling for their citizens?

We were watching the television recently in the wake of this Black Lives Matters pandemic and noted an opinion piece presented as an advertisement where a black woman wanted “us” to not see her by the color of her skin and in the same breath wanted us to appreciate her black culture and embrace their “African-American” experience.  (An aside, please check out this post by the Hodge Twins regarding the use of thee term African-American - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC7IpgJNe8 .)  The entire American corporate industrial complex bent over backwards patronizing the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the death of the drugged career criminal in Minneapolis.  The virtue signaling white guilt pandering reached a sickening crescendo as exemplified by the CEO of Chick fil A in deference shining his black television host rappers’ shoes in repentance for the shame of the country’s systemic racism.   (The Hodge Twins have something to say about the farce of “systemic racism” in America too.)  But if race does not exist, why is it suddenly taboo to proclaim that All Lives Matter and not just those trumpeting the anti-establishment (socialist anti-capitalist), anti-law enforcement Marxist LGBQT agenda of the Black Lives Matter peaceful demonstrators?  Why does this Time article (https://time.com/5846072/black-people-protesting-white-people-responsible-what-happens-next/) condemn “whiteness” as THE source of “racial pain” and instituting an American culture built on oppressive white supremacy if races do not even exist?  

Recently got a call from a member of the camp and he said in our conversation that while his work and daily life brings him in touch with black folks routinely, he doesn’t know of any who are demanding the removal of Confederate flags and monuments.  In my experience with the SCV at community festivals and parades, it is heartening when black passers-by take the time to stop and see what the SCV is about and our camp’s involvement in community service and revealing to see black children approach us for Battle flags.   Our camp member in our phone conversation said he was near the Rosa Parks statue recently and didn’t feel the proclivity to rip it down from its foundation as BLM and Antifa rioters have done to historic Confederate memorial monuments across the country.  Therein lies the point of these ramblings.  It is imperative that we all appreciate each other’s cultures and foundational heritages and the good work we do within our respective neighborhoods and communities. That does not entail pandering racial cultural appropriation kneeling down on congressional steps in African garb.  Nor disrespecting the veterans who have fought and died defending our country, its founding principles, and its freedoms by kneeling during the national anthem or desecrating the flag in some misplaced protest over racial injustice.   It also doesn’t mean militantly scouring the landscape for symbols of American history to destroy labeling those as morally bankrupt in the light of 21st century woke enlightenment.   It is permissible to enjoy the company and fellowship of those with whom you share a common heritage, like minds in terms of political and moral philosophy.  It’s okay to enjoy breaking bread with those who embrace a love of familial Soul food or Cajun food or Lowcountry  or Appalachian food– Southern foods all.  Southern cultures all.  Neighborhood churches.  This is a worthwhile diversity.  Not quite the  ugly “subconscious, pernicious, and insidious racial biases” that are supposedly instilled in us as babies.   It is time to be a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.