tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post914850215426256800..comments2023-12-08T01:00:57.240-08:00Comments on My Buddha is pink: Land of institutionalized denialRichard Harroldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-18744719345237367882010-03-24T03:45:32.005-07:002010-03-24T03:45:32.005-07:00@David H.
"my assertion is that this termino...@David H.<br /><br />"my assertion is that this terminology merely continues the cycle of division"<br /><br />I completely disagree. Words are just words. The problem arises via the fabrications we attach to these words, and the way we use these words individually and collectively to fabricate a notion of self that is fixed and unchanging.<br /><br />I suggest you look at the Buddha's teachings regarding name and form and the various ways we define self. Start with the Maha-nidana Sutta, DN 15. Access to Insight also has an excellent study guide on The Five Aggregates.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-67061660862449439902010-03-23T13:01:41.206-07:002010-03-23T13:01:41.206-07:00Richard, thank you for clarifying.
Yes, I think w...Richard, thank you for clarifying.<br /><br />Yes, I think we agree that making generalizations (especially negative ones) about other skin colors and genders would be quite inappropriate; the term "racist" or "misogynistic" would rightfully come to mind.<br /><br />As you appear to have correctly observed, I cannot possibly claim a lack of bias, in objecting to your blog post's characterization of "white males." Elsewhere in this discussion, you made reference to feeling "less white" to an increasing degree. Fully admitting my bias, as someone who matches the physical description, my assertion is that this terminology merely continues the cycle of division; essentially, the cycle of pain. In order to get to the root of the matter, I assert that it is necessary to uncover that which is truly odious here. Clearly the evil (if you'll indulge me in using that word) does not come from the lack of melanin, nor the presence of male genitals. So what concepts, what words, encapsulate the evils that you speak of?<br /><br />I believe the words that encapsulate this idea -- such as entitlement, lack of compassion, self-superiority, and so on -- are more universal throughout the history of our species. To tie them to a single descriptor... it calls to mind other attempts to refer to cultural phenomenon in terms of the stereotypical perpetrators.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-22258421540322928642010-03-22T19:16:32.078-07:002010-03-22T19:16:32.078-07:00@David H.
You are not coming across as argumentat...@David H.<br /><br />You are not coming across as argumentative. In fact, I would relish an opportunity to talk with you face to face, perhaps over a glass of wine and a nice meal.<br /><br />"If I may challenge you, in turn: would you feel comfortable phrasing this sentiment in terms of another combination of physical attributes?"<br /><br />No, I would not.<br /><br />White male may describe how you appear, and it describes how I appear. But I am not speaking of biology. I am speaking about a perspective widely held by this biology. I am talking about the white male politic. And as I said in my post originally: this isn't about you personally. That's why I said get over it. If you chose to take it personally, then accept your choice.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-76726913470082608582010-03-22T16:11:33.978-07:002010-03-22T16:11:33.978-07:00I suppose my response, within those parameters, is...I suppose my response, within those parameters, is: "this person has identified a specific gender of human beings, with a specific color of the skin. This happens to reflect my physical nature. What is being said of me, based on nothing other than my physical characteristics, and why am I being challenged to get over this generalization?"<br /><br />I suppose what I am trying to ascertain is what your connection to that term -- "white male" -- is. I want to understand what you are saying. My connection to that term is to understand it as a description of my physical attributes.<br /><br />I hope I don't come across as needlessly argumentative. To the contrary, this discussion is challenging in an enlightening way. If I may challenge you, in turn: would you feel comfortable phrasing this sentiment in terms of another combination of physical attributes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-34280314564962007052010-03-22T04:07:20.978-07:002010-03-22T04:07:20.978-07:00@David H
"I agreed with virtually everything...@David H<br /><br />"I agreed with virtually everything you said..."<br /><br />The implication being that you didn't agree with everything. That's fine. I don't expect everyone to agree with everything I write. It is not my role to produce blogs that please everyone.<br /><br />"and then those two paragraphs created a division"<br /><br />That is your reaction. You own it.<br /><br />"and my physical characteristics placed me on the unfavorable side of a false dichotomy."<br /><br />Frankly, I don't know what that means. But it appears you are disowning any responsibility for your reaction, asserting that your "physical characteristics" allow you no other choice. All I can say is that your reaction is yours, and it comes from inside of you. Unless we learn how to hit "pause" during our daily interpersonal transactions, the inertia of self and its attachment to delusion will continue to lead us to unsatisfactoriness.<br /><br />"Would I be correct in assuming that it is the actions of certain powerful white males who have aroused your ire?"<br /><br />No, you would not be correct.<br /><br />"I ask you to consider the possibility that you are making a generalization that extends beyond the actual target of your (well-deserved) negative feelings."<br /><br />Whether my feelings are negative or positive is a label with which I am unconcerned at the moment. My blog is about racism; it's not about people or a particular person. It's about a way of thinking about and perceiving the world and others. It is an uncomfortable conversation to have, because frequently our first reaction to this topic - and I readily admit that I have reacted this way often - is "I am not racist, racism is ugly, I'm not that way." Yet, we roll along within a cultural context that favors one race over others, and if we are a member of that favored race, we often enjoy these benefits without ever consciously realizing that we even have them.<br /><br />"Re-reading your post, it's (of course) possible I misunderstood."<br /><br />Just as it is possible my point may have been unskillfully made.<br /><br />"Is there some way of expressing what it is that you don't like about the media's echo-chamber version of reality without resorting to a race/gender label?"<br /><br />This isn't about "the media's echo-chamber." This is about racism, an issue within which the media plays a role, but not the sole role. And to have a discussion about race, then race labels need to be looked at and investigated without fear. Gender labels need to be investigated without fear. How we react to this discussion must be investigated without fear.<br /><br />Our response ought not be, "Why does this person have to express him or herself this way? The way this person is presenting their argument bugs me, they should change how they present their argument." Rather, the response should be, "Why am I reacting this way to what this person is saying or feeling? What is the source of my reaction? Is the other person's response a reaction to something I've said, done or thought in the past? Something I am saying, doing or thinking in the present? Is there another way of thinking, speaking, or behaving that I can effect in the future that will be more skillful than what I've done in the past or am doing in the present?"<br /><br />I, for one, am looking into the mirror right now.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-35511359851709829172010-03-22T01:18:47.046-07:002010-03-22T01:18:47.046-07:00Re-reading your post, it's (of course) possibl...Re-reading your post, it's (of course) possible I misunderstood. Is there some way of expressing what it is that you don't like about the media's echo-chamber version of reality without resorting to a race/gender label?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-72753816940111538012010-03-22T01:12:04.765-07:002010-03-22T01:12:04.765-07:00Richard, the thing is, I agreed with virtually eve...Richard, the thing is, I agreed with virtually everything you said... and then those two paragraphs created a division, and my physical characteristics placed me on the unfavorable side of a false dichotomy. Would I be correct in assuming that it is the actions of certain powerful white males who have aroused your ire? I ask you to consider the possibility that you are making a generalization that extends beyond the actual target of your (well-deserved) negative feelings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-35010908212622528452010-03-21T17:50:49.031-07:002010-03-21T17:50:49.031-07:00@David H, sorry you feel that way. Despite the fac...@David H, sorry you feel that way. Despite the fact that I was born Caucasian, I feel less white every day. Racial identity is merely a fabrication (race is real, I am talking about identity), and like all fabrications, we cannot see truth unless we first get beyond the fabrication.<br /><br />@Nathan, your initial post on this really got me thinking, and then I began to see more clearly some recent events. It's something I've been contemplating for a long time. Deep bows to you because I believe you made the initial challenge. And that challenging also stipulated to do so in a not-contrived manner.<br /><br />It is a difficult conversation. It does, indeed, require fearlessness in the face of the mirror.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-74419531595861309272010-03-21T17:25:10.582-07:002010-03-21T17:25:10.582-07:00I hope posts like this keep getting out there, and...I hope posts like this keep getting out there, and giving (white) people more opportunities to reflect on their lives and how they live them. We have a hell of a lot of work to do - collectively - about race and racism. <br /><br />More fearless mirrors I say!Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-49408386813646460432010-03-21T17:24:13.046-07:002010-03-21T17:24:13.046-07:00It's ironic that, in a post that challenges ra...It's ironic that, in a post that challenges racial stereotypes, white males are told to "get over" being cast in a negative light. It's too bad, too -- other than those two paragraphs, this piece was worth reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-62496589663376545722010-03-20T20:48:52.522-07:002010-03-20T20:48:52.522-07:00This is a very interesting post. Thank you for sha...This is a very interesting post. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes I think we(as the collective humanity) like to believe that being in control and being free allow us to do anything we want, say whatever we want in whichever form or way and just be. We like to think that religious teachings, and especially Buddhist teachings, tend to constrict and restrict. Most people can't eve understand the word:surrender. And they think it's about giving up all control over their lives. I think you get my drift. So, we create this 'illusion' that freedom is being totally in control when in actual fact, it may just be the complete opposite. I find that one of challenges with today's society is that we do have intellect and a great deal of information. But even then, we lack wisdom and knowledge. Therefore, there is no real understanding. I have enjoyed your post very much because it makes people think and that is wonderful start. I am an Asian, Tibetan Buddhist, female. I love your Blog title and assumed that the writer was female. Oops, there we go again - assumptions. Haha. Have a great weekend!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03681456420351952289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-34357439398503740652010-03-20T16:51:00.689-07:002010-03-20T16:51:00.689-07:00@NellaLou,
Thank you!@NellaLou,<br /><br />Thank you!Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-18557675478553516652010-03-20T16:40:17.035-07:002010-03-20T16:40:17.035-07:00Interesting post...will have to go back through an...Interesting post...will have to go back through and read it more carefully though.Kamalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09454513145657849214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-84861369237507696402010-03-20T12:28:46.703-07:002010-03-20T12:28:46.703-07:00Excellent post RichardExcellent post RichardNellaLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247769132258539996noreply@blogger.com