“Sexual violence as a Tool of Genocide”, written by Andrea smith, addresses the issue of rape and its effects on both men and women. But she focuses on the effect that rape leaves on women of color. And the disadvantage they face compared to victims who are white. She says rape is a form a colonizing; where Natives are seen as objects of sexual desire instead of people with equal value. Ultimately Smith addresses the problem for Native Americans and how their perception is inevitable in our white eyes, “dirty and sinful”. (P. 112)
My first “hotspot” for Smith’s essay was when she talks about what being a Native American is to her, “..to me means cigarette burns in arms of children, double checking the locks on my cars, keeping a loaded shotgun by my door, and car bodies and beer cans on the front lawn.” Wow! I really hope that that is not the said truth for the majority of Native Americans. When I think of today’s Native American I don’t stereotype them into being head dress wearers and peace pipe smokers. But if I did, I wouldn’t say I was wrong because that was their culture. It’s where they came from, it’s their heritage. But if that heritage changed to that messed up nightmare Smith described above than that is a true tragedy.
“Hotspot” dos came not on a page but through the entire essay. I’m happy to be a white man in at least the 21st century where there is more equality than prejudice. “White men” after reading this essay don’t come off to well. They’re the reason for women’s suffering everywhere. The white man taught the colored men how to denigrate their women. Unfortunately for those ignorant white men that was the practice they grew up in. Not to oversimplify and sound like a Neanderthal but those were the times. If you have to blame anyone for the injustices suffered by women across the world you can blame white men rightfully so. But ignorance is bliss and I would think had those men lived where I did and I where they did I would be the ignorant white man and they the onlookers who know better. They’re a product of their time sadly.
MLK Jr.’s written letter to those eight clergymen was such an awesome read. What a smart guy! His reasoning for writing the letter was to inform those men that his sit-ins and ant violent protests had just cause. He breaks done bit by bit what they said and completely destroys their convictions. If those men could have been alive today to reread what they said and then reread what MLK said they would have seeked penance a thousand times over. I mean, it’s crazy how recent all that was comparatively speaking. MLK’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail” was so well written that it was fun to read. I mean the man was a scholastic poet. It was beautiful.
“Hotspot” one came when MLK said, “history is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily.” I thought that was so well spoken and true. That being said, it doesn’t make stripping an entire population of their natural born rights acceptable. I just thought that MLK hit the nail on the head with this statement. Why would a white man with all his rights and opportunities give them up so easily to another man? Thanks to MLK shining his light on that filthy situation, each group, deservedly so now, has their rights.
The second “hotspot” from MLK’s letter was when he talked about, “the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than justice;” compared to a KKK member. MLK says how that situation can be bewildering to him. How he hears white moderates say they support him but yet do absolutely nothing. You have to pick a side and stand by it. Not pick a side and hide away. I can definitely see where MLK was coming from when he said this. It would be extremely frustrating. At least if you’re my enemy your honest in your convictions, though they may be wrong, at least you’re a man fighting for something. But a man who just coasts through his privileged life and never tries to break the mold is pathetic and weak.
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