On Racism and other isms.

by liberal japonicus

This is prompted by wj's query about what kind of racism I've seen in Japan. A caveat, I was finishing this up and I went back thru the comments and found I had skipped over a section, in particular, Donald and Russell's comments to the comment that started this out. I thought about going back and revising this, but it was too hard. So please don't take any of what I say as a direct response to what was written. I will address one point, Russell said that he wasn't 'hating on black people'. When I discuss this, I'm not accusing anyone of hating on anyone else. If racism were simply hatred, it would be a lot easier to deal with. But it isn't, it is a systematic way of looking at things that ends up causing problems. Anyway, onward.

I've said any number of times here, I think everyone is racist, including me, and overcoming that requires constantly checking what you are thinking and saying and doing. Or doing, saying and thinking. Because thinking about one's thinking is most important for the individual, but stopping the doing and then the saying, in that order, is most important for society. So if anyone takes umbrage at what I point out, know that I'm saying I'm subject to the same flaws. Recasting what I say as 'so you're telling ME I'm racist' is wrong. I'm saying that WE are all racist.

If you disagree with that, fine, but nothing I have seen in my 60 years on earth nor has anything anyone said here convinced me otherwise. I think because it is baked into our society and our lives in so many ways, and because it can be reinforced by any sort of communal differences, it's not going to disappear.

The argument of class v. race is an interesting one, but class is so protean that you aren't going to be able to trap the differences. That's because upper class enjoys pretending it's lower class, pulled myself up from my bootstraps, it was all me. Those designer distressed blue jeans don't sell themselves.

I've been reading through Adolphe Reed, who is a class not race theorist. Here's a paragraph

So, we saw Rennie Davis traipsing around behind a pudgy, improbable guru and Abbie Hoffman exposing himself in the pages of People and Viva to reassure us that his underground tour—inspired by flight from a prison term for selling cocaine—had shown him balance in the "heartland of America" and a new awakening on the horizon. Jerry Rubin, lauding the "inner revolution," was equally sanguine about the lessons of his meandering journey within, announcing that he could now revel in his ever-youthful, evanescent Self—which thereupon became a stockbroker/consultant. Bob Dylan resurfaced as a fundamentalist Christian gospel singer; Mike Klonsky lingers as a de facto agent of whatever faction rules in China; and the FBI—four years before the Nyack, New York, Brinks robbery—proclaimed the Weather Underground to be no longer even worthy of prosecution. Obituaries of Marcuse, Sartre, and Paul Goodman were written also as obituaries of opposition. At the same time, on the other side of Du Bois's veil, Eldridge Cleaver—ever the media creature—returned to America as a latter-day Cold Warrior, holy roller, advocate of wife-beating (a mellowing of his earlier defense of rape?), and designer of pornographic pants. Huey Newton's name came to evoke suspicions of drug-dealing, murder, and extortion, and Bobby Seale was showcased as a nightclub comedian and cookbook author. H. Rap Brown returned to public view as a Muslim small businessman, consuming his time in prayer to Allah, Martin Luther King became a holiday and a postage stamp, a meal ticket for his widow and hobby for Stevie Wonder. In each case the message rings clear; opposition is the property of the image of "the Sixties," and it is, therefore, like bell-bottom pants, dashikis, and long hair, no longer appropriate.

While I think there are some interesting points, he seems to be animated by a spirit of no one is doing things right but him. Reed famously dismissed Obama with an example here

Yet the past 4 years of racism and resurgence leaves him convinced that he was absolutely right, and Obama was wrong. Sure, Obama should have pushed harder, he didn't always pick the right fights, but to fail to acknowledge that he wasn't hemmed in by this undercurrent that is now pretty clear for most to see, is to be blind to one's own blind spots. Reed's a racist insofar as he doesn't think race matters. And while that makes racism as protean as classism, classism is supported by the way everyone values themselves and then envisions that everyone else thinks like they do. Race, on the other hand, can dictate how people value (or fail to value) themselves, but I don't think it requires massive societal changes to get people to see value in what they bring (cf my post about the covid vaccine creators)

And a side note about sexism, it's also a problem, but since society has had a lot longer to deal with that, there has been a lot more time to find ways for women to develop alternative strategies. None of this is to suggest that racism is somehow worse than classism or sexism (or vice versa), but for me, it does suggest to me that racism is what society has to deal with first, with the caveat that mileage will definitely vary. Colbert's line (that I'm sure he didn't think of, he just amplified it) of 'I don't see color' doesn't really work as a punchline for classism or sexism. I guess a common fear among conservatives is that young people will start saying 'I don't see gender' (oh noes!) but this is where intersectionality is important, even though some don't want it explained to them.

But returning to the original prompt, there's a phenomenon here in Japan where white people here suddenly become aware of the 'micro aggressions' and begin to take umbrage at, well, everything. It's a real conundrum because the saying moves to doing quite easily, but the accusations are often 'This upset me' rather than 'this is something that will translate into actual problems so it would be nice if I could get you to stop it'. This intersects with the Japanese love of harmony and any disturbance of that is viewed as problematic. This can leave pretty atrocious ideas in place as long as they do not disturb the surface harmony. This can sometimes be like one of those Thanksgiving family dinners from hell, where everyone is compelled to keep away from the topics that are going to result in broken crockery.

As I have said before, I'm not sure if I'm taking the best approach, I leverage my father's side of the family and some often draw overly broad conclusions. 'Ahh, that's why your Japanese is so good' when they find out I have Japanese antecedents. Err, no, though I do realize that knowing what I was eating when I was a kid and wanting to communicate in the language of my grandparents has given me a leg up. But there are kids now who know a lot more than I did FOB just from a diet of manga and anime and often know a lot of things about Japan that I don't. For people with whom I want to continue to engage with, I try to suggest that what they are basing their notions on isn't quite right, but I definitely pick and choose who I open that can of worms with. I know more than a few people who get mad when the taxi driver speaks to them in Japanese. Or speaks to them in English. Or speaks to them. Or doesn't say anything. And I don't want to be one of them.

This sense of aggrievement can be taken too far, and privileging the injured, while the right thing to do, can often encourage people whose injury is slight to overstate. That it is often white people who are doing that troubles me, and often times, I see this vicious cycle where a person becomes angry and behave in ways that they feel justified but has Japanese pull back from them and a feedback loop occurs that eventually results in the person actually having a lot of cause for complaint, especially when they are running up against Japanese administration, which will never admit it is wrong.

These administrative issues can really be bad news because once the powers that be decide how they want deal with an issue, there is often very little that can be done. But they happen in a restrained fashion and are set up so that if you get angry and lose your temper, you've lost.

The kind of horrific events, like a George Floyd or an Ahmaud Arbery don't happen here for the most part、 which has Japanese feel that there isn't a problem. And you often get a phrase kubetsu ha sabetsu ja nai, which means making differences is not discrimination.

All this results in a situation where I don't have lots of horrific stories about racism. What I see is this tilt that makes sure the house wins. In fact, a casino is really a really good metaphor: The casino doesn't hate its customers, but it certainly isn't trying to make them rich. A 1% edge to the house that accrues over time.

These sorts of posts are difficult not because I lack things to write about, they are difficult because it is so hard to finish them. I realize that some readers here could assume that I am obsessed with race and they wouldn't be wrong. I tend not to claim I am bi-racial because I don't know what that means. But for me, thinking about racism is a way for me to figure out who I am. In fact, it seems like for me to get to that point, all roads run thru a consideration of it. If you are interested in considering it with me, join in. I'm not sure if it's a better discussion that talking about the state of the Democratic party, but it is a different one.

Comments

[bobbyp]

Sebastian,

Under dictator Cuomo's rules, if Yankee stadium was in a red zone, gatherings there would be prohibited, but St. John's could still have up to 10 people gather together in a corner for choir practice.

Please explain to us how this constitutes religious discrimination.

[Hartmut]

Over here in Germany there are cases where people liken themselves to those who resisted the Nazis during the 3rd Reich when they spread anti-vaxxing propaganda. And a mother taught her child that she was like Anne Frank when they celebrated her birthday with many attendants in secret because they feared that someone would inform the authorities that they blatantly violated the regulations for partial lockdown.

[Girl from the North Country]

I have to say, I am starting to feel somewhat better about my (admittedly quick and lazy) acceptance of the narrative about the SCOTUS ruling on places of worship and their entitlement to preferential treatment under public health regulations.

[russell]

Also FWIW: malls in NY are required to have HEPA filtering HVAC systems in place in order to open.

A mall with no businesses open is basically a place for geezers to get their daily walk when the weather's bad, and a place for teenagers to hang out and smoke cigarettes and flirt. It's a very large open place, with HEPA filtered HVAC.

Per this article, all seating has been removed from the public areas of the Queens Palace Mall. All stores and businesses within the mall have to observe whatever COVID regulations apply to them.

As a total aside, just want to send a tiny shout-out to Queens NY, land of my birth and ancestral stomping ground of my people on my mother's side. Home of the Unisphere and the NY Mets, y'all!

But I digress.

We're all just trying to get through this. There are entire sectors of the economy and public life in general that are being crushed like a freaking bug by COVID.

Nobody's picking on religious communities. At least, not in particular, certainly not any more than any other demographic. They are being mightily inconvenienced, but they aren't being singled out.

We're all just trying to stay safe and alive until we get to the other side of all of this. Insisting on Your Inalienable Right to do everything exactly the same way you've always done it, at a time when that will probably kill some people, is... not attractive.

Just saying.

[bobbyp]

Barrett's ascension to the Court essentially reversed previous rulings on similar circumstances in Nevada and California. See Robert's dissent.

The majority has clearly indicated its proclivity for scientific illiteracy. The dangers of this ideologically driven nonsense are obvious.

[russell]

and hey, while I'm here, let's not forget Georgia, incidentally the ancestral stomping ground of my people on my father's side.

send $10 or send $100 if you got it. write some postcards, jump on a phone bank.

50-50 senate will get more done than a (R) majority senate. Not everything, just more.

every little bit helps.

[bobbyp]

Just what is this freedom thing anyway?

[wj]

Which are more similar to churches:
- malls and other venues where people are walking around?
- theaters, concert halls, and stadiums, where people come and sit in one place for a couple of hours?

Maybe it's just me, but if I had been writing the rules I would have put churches in the second group. Not even close.

And, having shut down that group completely, allowing churches to open (with limited attendance) definitely constitutes special treatment. It's discrimination in their favor.

[bobbyp]

Christianity and socialism antithetical? Well,
perhaps not.

Even if you disagree...a very thoughtful read.

[wj]

Really hard to decide who to root for on this one....
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/527680-donor-sues-pro-trump-group-over-failure-to-prove-voter-fraud

Maybe a case where cheering for the attorneys on both sides to bankrupt their clients...?

[Tony P.]

I have not read much beyond the comments here, so I ask this out of ignorance.

Did the SCOTUS hold that Cuomo's intent was to oppress religion? Or did they hold that intent was irrelevant, and only the effect was the problem?

Not that I expect the McConnell Court to respect its own principles or anything, but this distinction between impermissible intent and impermissible effects might end up figuring in other cases, involving e.g. voting rights, or affirmative action, or the ACA.

--TP

[sapient]

the McConnell Court

I believe it's now referred to as the Covid Barrett Court.

The opinion itself says this: "Citing a variety of remarks made by the
Governor, Agudath Israel argues that the Governor specifically targeted the Orthodox Jewish community and gerrymandered the boundaries of red and orange zones to ensure
that heavily Orthodox areas were included. "

The concurring opinions vary, but who cares.

Red and orange zones are based on prevalence of cases, so if particular places are targeted, well ...

Anyway, I'm neither a public health expert, nor a statistician, but since Cuomo is a Catholic (although not the Covid Barrett variety), and some of the dissenters are Catholic or Jewish, I'm skeptical.

I'm also find this quote by Gorsuch somewhat alarming (and telling): "Even if judges may impose emergency restrictions on rights that some of them have found hiding in the Constitution’s penumbras, it does not follow that the same fate should befall the textually explicit right to religious exercise."

He's referring to a case decided in 1905, not Griswald v. US (the famous "penumbra" case, which decided a married couple's right to contraception based on a right to privacy.)

[russell]

Agudath Israel argues that the Governor specifically targeted the Orthodox Jewish community

The most restrictive rules - red zone rules - limit houses of worship to 10 people maximum. Which also happens to be the minimum for a minyan, which in turn is the minimum number required for most forms of public worship in traditional Judaism.

One could argue that the Orthodox community may have been specifically targeted, but in a supportive way.

[Sebastian H]

Not quite Russell, in many Orthodox traditions you need at least 10 men for a minyan, so essentially the rules meant that there would either never be a minyan, or women would not be allowed.

[sapient]

in many Orthodox traditions you need at least 10 men for a minyan, so essentially the rules meant that there would either never be a minyan, or women would not be allowed.

Yay. Maybe while the men are away, the women can escape. (See the great miniseries "Unorthodox".)

[liberal japonicus]

I’ve read about minyan and this article is quite interesting. It’s unfortunate that the orthodox jewish group(s) did not take this as an opportunity to reconsider the practices

https://sites.google.com/site/hashtaumd/contents-1/minyan

[wj]

there would either never be a minyan, or women would not be allowed.

Just FYI, in many Orthodox traditions, women are already not allowed. To the point that, at an Orthodox wedding, the men and women are together only when the vows are recited outside. Indeed, at the reception, not only are the men and women entirely separate, but the bride and groom dance "together" in separate rooms. (Although the groomsmen do, sometimes, hold the groom up on a table so that the bride can at least see him over the room divider.)

In short, 10 for a minyan is minimal. But sufficient.

[wj]

there would either never be a minyan, or women would not be allowed.

Just FYI, in many Orthodox traditions, women are already not allowed. To the point that, at an Orthodox wedding, the men and women are together only when the vows are recited outside. Indeed, at the reception, not only are the men and women entirely separate, but the bride and groom dance "together" in separate rooms. (Although the groomsmen do, sometimes, hold the groom up on a table so that the bride can at least see him over the room divider.)

In short, 10 for a minyan is minimal. But sufficient.

[wj]

No idea how that happened!

[sapient]

Religious cultures are super interesting - whatever floats people's boat, I'm for it.

But there's a better way - quarantine together all of you congregants! Get food delivered. Live together, die together, etc.

There are ways to behave besides infecting the rest of us.

[sapient]

Also, enlist your own as medical people. No sharing!

[Russell]

Not quite Russell, ...

No women would suck. But neither I nor Cuomo made the rule about it having to be 10 men.

Look, it’s more than clear to me that COVID has interfered with many parts of life, including worship services. Exercise of religion is constitutionally protected, the communities involved are free to bring their case, and in this instance they prevailed.

They’re luckier in that regard than all of the other communities that have been clobbered by COVID, but which cannot cite anything in the Bill of Rights to contest the regulations they are obliged to operate under.

I’m sympathetic to the folks involved, but when I look at what the regulations require, I don’t see religious communities being singled out for adverse treatment. If anything, the opposite.

So I don’t see that the SCOTUS ruling as having merit. YMMV, obviously, but I’m not seeing a persuasive argument here.

[liberal japonicus]

not a lawyer, but it sure seems like the majority that decided this was giving a signal to other religious groups that this is going to be the way to go. I wonder if that would provoke pope francis to state his opinions more. I also wonder if this is related
Guardian, but can’t paste the link from my phone

https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEDkQFfVomvsEoE4fc3kEtFMqFwgEKg4IACoGCAowl6p7MN-zCTClss0G?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen

[sapient]

This group doesn't seem to care much about whether or not they spread disease.

[nooneithinkisinmytree]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-lines-for-covid-19-tests-were-longer-than-the-lines-for-black-friday-shopping-11606507181?siteid=bigcharts&dist=bigcharts

For Amy Covid Barrett:

https://cavstheblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/laurie-lipton-delusion-dwellers.jpeg

Then, get in line:

https://laurielipton.bigcartel.com/product/los-paragueros

Also, welcome back, Sebastian.

[nous]

This thread seems to have slid towards different topics and may be winding down, but this NPR piece really gets at the way that all of these different racial structures and institutional approaches interact to create a carceral system that is badly out of balance.

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/28/933436082/bobby-shmurda-authenticity-conspiracy-flatbush-dream-deferred

Wish I had more time to give to it, but it's closing down on finals week more rapidly than I might wish.