Text 44837, 103 rader
Skriven 2006-12-25 13:46:32 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
  Kommentar till text 44597 av bob klahn (1:275/311)
Ärende: Re: Insults
===================
*** Quoting bob klahn from a message to CAROL SHENKENBERGER ***


bk>>  You do realize you are an extreme case, don't you? And don't
bk>>  tell me you have a lot of friends who have dated interracially.

 CS> Um, anyone with a military background will have alot of
 CS> friends who've dated inter-racially.  Yes, it is a subset
 CS> of the population that are military, but inter-racial
 CS> couples are *quite* common.

bk>  Ok, the military background does cover it. And inter-racial
bk>  couples may well be common, I see them all the time, but they
bk>  are still a minority by far. Interracial marriages are far less
bk>  common, less than 2% last I saw.

Outside the military, that may be.  Insuide it, umm, up it to closer to perhaps
30%?  Military housing out here shows closer to 50% but that's Japan and
possibly not average.  Afterall, you wouldnt percieve a german lady married to
a white american as 'inter racial' but you'd see it as inter racial if one of
the 2 were Japanese or filipeno/a (o for male, a for female).

Since we are about 30% female in the military, yes, mostly it would work out as
men married to local ladies.  Happens the other way in the same percentage,
but not as obvious as there arent as many women in the service.

Last time I dealt with fraternization, it was 2 Chiefs fucking like bunnies.
The issue is she was married (he was not).  It was not an issue that she was
white and he was black.  It was a problem because she's one rank higher than
him and she was indiscreet enough that the situation became public (and she's
married!).  They blamed the guy for being weak willed but kinda understood. 
The 'girl' is 52 and could pose for playboy still.  Lovely trim muscular
blonde.  On my side, I didnt blame her.  The guy makes Shannon look like lumpy
meatloaf.  (Ah, if I didnt want to lose Don, I'd have jumped his bones myself!
Talk about some major well shaped meatloaf! Sadly, guys built like him don't
go for girls like me (WHHAAHH!!!).  Ok, I keep Don and am very happy but I got
eyes!).

bk>  not white/black.

Humm, we are not 'one big dusky race' yet as Thomas Jefferson foresaw, but it's
not even mildly shocking now to see.  Had a black CO who's wife was white. 
Had a white CO who's wife was black.  Have a black department head who's wife
is black.  Had a recently transfered boss who is Asian and his wife is Asian.
Have a new boss I've barely met who is white and her fiancee is
American-indian/black mixed.  Lots of samples but it seems to run about 30% or
a bit higher out here.

We tend to be very colorblind.  The boyfriend I wish Charlotte still liked is
asian-black mixed.  Instead, she's swapped off to a white kid who's morals and
behavior I am NOT fond of.  He's a troublemaker.

 CS> culture shock is largely the difference in attitude about
 CS> racial issues.  Not that the military are perfect mind you,
 CS> but the mindset is radically less prejudiced as an average.

bk>  Yes, and that is my point.

Mine too.  You may not see it as far as I do, but Shannon probably can relate.
The difference is Shannon has been so much into this, he may not even see what
another not used to it sees, until he's gotten embroiled in something. I've
seen more than once him be accused of racisim but he's not that type.

For me, it's common for me to have to stop and think when asked if a person is
a particular color of skintone.  Happens all the time at work with 'seaman
so-and-so' who didnt show up for watch on time. Del (one of my best buddies,
filipeno sort) thinks it's funny in the extreme that I can tell you how tall
they are, if their uniform is normally too tight or loose, rough weight, and
shape of nose but be unsure of race.  I muffed one recently.  Gosh, I was sure
Joshuan was black!  oops.  Naw, guy's so pale he could make ivory soap
commercials.


 CS> The few who do not have that attitude, do not last long.

bk>  From what I have been reading, there are more racists being
bk>  enlisted these days, out and out skin heads and neo-nazis,

That does happen yes.  They either learn or get flushed out within a year of
entry.

My ship has a young man, totally American Indian.  Had 'issues' and spouted off
fast with some imappropriate lingo he learned on a reservation.  Got in MAJOR
trouble and it took him and us a bit to get the gist of what the problem was.
Now this young man was no skin-head, but he did have issues.  He was so used
to being picked on, he didnt realize he was in a place where an innocent 'hey,
whats it like growing up on a reservation' could be just a question.  Yes, he
grew up on a reservation.  Once he said that, folks asked what it was like.

He got in alot of trouble.  Now however, he can laugh about it.  'You mean that
really was all you were asking, paleface'?  (hehehehe).  He;s really funny
when he talks to Joel and calls him a paleface (Joel has a midwestern accent
with a hint almost of england so sounds very 'white' but is middle-dark and
very African at the nose shape).

Needless to say, the military can be quite different.  I dont like all that
well either of the 2 black ladies in my berthing and like both the white ones
but it's not a color issue.  I just do not like them all that well but we put
up with one another well enough.
                                       xxcarol

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