two things to point out in our politics of representation discussion:

1. i think one of the main reasons why we should be so tolerant of one another is because we're all (generally) of: the same intellect, same age, same socioeconomic class, and upbringing. change one or several of these factors and i think tolerence has a knack for being the first to be compromised.

2. though i find our discussion on Micro level racism fascinating i often notice that Macro level racism is largely ignored or not put forth into discussion. Macro meaning the notion of the binary opposition between the West/ and Arabs (lumped with) Muslims, Macro meaning the international allowence for genocide in Africa, the acceptance and neglect of child prostitues in Tailand dying from AIDS, the prison industrial economy that is thriving in the USA on the systematic imprisonment of Blacks. the racism here points very much to the above, in the difference between socio economic status as understood as a lower GNP. while here we fight amongst ourselves over the notions of whether or not over sensitivity to racism is beaten to death- on the micro side, hells yes it has. but on the macro side it falls deathly silent.

for those in liberal arts hell:

Submit your Application for Degree form (available from the Faculty of Arts, Undergraduate Student Services Office, 6-7 Humanities) as soon as possible. The deadline to apply for Spring 2005 convocation is February 01, but students are encouraged to apply early (by November 08) to ensure that their programs have been checked well in advance of the beginning of Winter term.

Who: You - yes, you!
What: Live [Taped] Daily Show: Prelude to a Recount
Where: Andy's House
When: 10:00 - 11:00 (a two hour delay because Jeremy and Beck hate freedom have class)
Why: Because TV is your one true God

Howdy all, first time on board the 'damnyouparas' msg board. Looks good, my hats off to you Par.

Ng's, my email addy is gatorage@hotmail.com. Keep me up to date on how your album progresses. Christmas release correct?

I never said we had to start counting races. i just thought it was frustrating - from my point of view - that someone would use a majority of white people, and only blacks in the "bad guy" scenarios of a website. albeit, yes, it was a fairly obviously right-wing website... I just thought I'd point it out. Never once did I intend to suggest that we count races. Had I counted races, my life would've been entirely different, and probably a lot weirder than this. My whole life I've been surrounded by multiracial friends, and I celebrate that, but I don't make a concerted effort to befriend multiracial people - just in case you thought that might be my motivation (apparently I need to explain myself to the nth degree here) - it just happens. And I thought it was something worth pointing out that even though we're in this wonderfully diverse world, that we can have all these friends, and be these people of multiple ethnic backgrounds, there are still people who "don't get it." Who by their attempt at trying to fit in, exemplify those stereotypes of "ignorance" and "bigotry" or whichever other stereotype (or negative word) you would like to use.

and I'm sorry, maybe it is just me, but I still see not talking about things like antisemitism as being ignorant of the ongoing problem that exists. Sure, within our group, we have this wonderful thing where we don't think about eachother as races or genders or sizes or whatever, and we are just people... but those rose coloured glasses have to come off somewhere outside of that context. Perhaps I'm just trying to attone for the sins of my ancestors... who knows.

"so perhaps I'll just muzzle myself from now on."

Sorry, Alison, that wasn't really the (or, at least, my) intent. It's great that you and others are conscious of prejudices that exist. My feeling, though, is that we've gone over too far to the other side; that of self-muzzling "tolerance", where we restrain ourselves for some ideal of tolerance and, in so doing, create a prejudice against ourselves. My take was that, while it's important for diversity to be recognized, it shouldn't be (nor should it have to be) carefully measured and rationed out. I like to think (and hope) it's true that in our group it's not really issue; that just as we don't count the number of people with different hair colours or eye colours, we don't tally races.

"It's hard having at least three distinct races in your make-up, and not being able to identify fully with any of them."

I don't think that it is possible to fully identify with your heritage in this country, even if you aren't a mix. On the other hand, I don't believe that, no matter how far from our origins we are removed, we are (or can be) completely free of their influence either. I know, as far as I go, I end up delightfully in the middle between Indian and Canadian cultures (a fact that frustrates my cousins, but one about which they can do nothing.)

John Travolta's first in line.

Here is a link to the holly grail of old engineering junk. Probally won't find it interesting but its worth a look if you ae bored.

Old junk

If we're going to start talking about the wizard... Can we talk about other 80's nostalgia as well? I'll start by talking about old cartoon shows, when saturday was the day for kids to just sit back and watch cartoons. What happened?