The Maelstrom of Violence

[Bob Butler 54]

I can sympathize with blacks and homosexuals who have been stereotyped and the victim of prejudice.  You can say that it isn't my fight.  I don’t have a duty to go out and correct these things.  However, quite arguably, I have a duty not to be part of the problem.  (See Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience for the logic.)  If I have stereotypes and prejudices I feel an urge to stifle them, not to act on them to the best of my ability.  It is akin to tribal thinking.  One route to self improvement is to avoid vile stereotypes and the accompanying prejudice.

This is not a universal urge.  There are neo confederates and neo nazis among others who will play with prejudice and embrace tribal thinking with glee.

I’m a boomer, however.  Boomer hatred is common.  There are many people here who have boomer stereotypes and exercise boomer prejudices quite openly.  This is often not though as important as racial, cultural or gender stereotypes,  but it is comparable.  Some people build stereotypes and exercise prejudices.

I’m not totally innocent of this.  Thing is, part of being a blue boomer suggests trying to fight such things as prejudice and stereotypes.  Still, there are thing I do think of the younger generations.  Much of them fall under the category of “they do know know, they were not there.”  They have not felt the lynchings, bled over the coat hanger abortions, or carried a live draft card.  That takes some of the edge off the stereotypical thinking of the young, but it doesn’t help at a detailed level if someone is locked in, unwilling to listen, if someone lacks the imagination to figure it out.

I should be known for saying there are reasons for major cultures, subcultures.  They didn’t appear from nowhere.  The world views and values behind the cultures once were accurate, once produced favorable results.  There are places still where the old cultural memes still produce favorable results and are very well thought of.  Just watching the ‘debates’ here can show you that if you’d care to listen.

And generational gaps are quite akin to cultural gaps, political gaps, racial gaps, or gender gaps.  Humans are quite good at stereotypes, hatred, tribal thinking and hating the other guy.  I’d suggest that getting involved in any of them involves you in identity politics.  It is very human to divide between Us and Them, seeking to oppress Them in one way or another.  Simply, if you think you are joining an identity conflict without joining an identity conflict, think again. Examine the mirror closely.

I see Kinser as quite legitimately fighting racial and sexual problems.  That’s not directly my fight.  Doesn’t mean I won’t pull the verbal equivalent of a trigger if someone wanders into my sights.  Even then, if Kinser wants me to not fight his fights, I won’t.  That doesn’t mean I don’t have opinions and won’t voice my opinions on the matter generally.  Kinser is hardly the only one with such problems, his isn’t the only approach, he hasn’t the authority to enforce that his approach is to be the only one.

And I’ll be muttering about his not having been there, he didn’t know what was necessary, he didn’t see the problems of the time.  That’s the real essence of generational prejudices.  Every generation is apt to pick up different lessons learned.  It is better to try to learn the other generation’s lessons than to practice stereotyping, prejudice and hate.