It's about time somebody said it...

[missroserose]

Amen, Bill Cosby!

I've never been able to say this in public, being as I'm a "white" and therefore "priveliged" person, but it's about time people (and here I'm saying "people in general", not just black people) quit blaming others for their problems and started making an effort to improve their own situations.

Mass props to B.C. for having the courage to say it publicly.

Comments

[vindaloo-vixen.livejournal.com]

Yep, I agree with Bill. And with Rose about Bill.

It'd be (sadly) wrong to say there was no racism in the world, or that racism doesn't cause any such problems. But you can't give up and blame that for everything. Nor is it true that no human definitely causes problems for another. But there's a difference between acknowledging those facts (and it doesn't have to be racism per se, but that's the topic Bill was springing from, so I'll go with that) and just pointing to some intangible to absolve yourself of anything from lack of ambition to simple social objectionability.

A lot of people - mostly younger - they've picked up the notion somewhere and run with it. Over the years through various places I've lived, schooled or worked, I've seen people who have found aspects of their heritage/class/family/whateverother that they must act upon - yet strangely only the ones that manifest themselves obnoxiously. This isn't showing fielty to one's roots, this is just abusing them to 'act up'. I'm white, but because I have a speech impediment and some physical damage, I can't always move gracefully or speak properly. This can sometimes make people think that I'm someone to be brushed off before embarassment sets in, or that my brain doesn't function at any kind of efficient level. Did I stop up and just ascribe everything I didn't do to that? Blow my attempts on getting anywhere on 'the Man' and public perceptions of, well, whatever and what-have-you? No. I kept on. Sure, I'm not Queen of the World or anything, but I'm doing all right.

Sorry, it's late and my words are garbled, but I think ye see what I mean. Ahem. Bill right. Rose right. Ratbat tired.