Racism

I've touched on this in tidbits over the years, but never really talked about it all inclusively.  With all the BS going on as of late, can't help but to think of the subject.

Seems like the last decade, this subject in one way or another has been at the forefront, pushed by MSM and / or , certain groups with agendas.

Growing up, I was a minority or felt like one in many cases.    My earliest memory is in California which had a large Hispanic community in the area I lived.  It didn't affect me personally especially as a child, but I was still aware of it.   Then we moved to Guam where I was definitely in the minority group.  I was treated differently by the locals many times and found myself in more than my share of scuffles even in Grade School, simply due to the color of my skin.  As I started HS, I was in Hawaii for almost 4 years.  We were definitely looked down upon by locals with a prejudice I've rarely seen since.  Found myself in dozens of scuffles over those years simply because I was white.  In every single instance, the locals started it.  They rarely went 'one on one'.  And in all but one case, I came out on top.  The one I didn't come out well with was my Freshman year when I was attacked by two Seniors, both being 40lbs or so larger than me.   They both enlisted in the Army to get away from a lawsuit we had against them. Several years later we finally settled: they lost.    After that, we moved to MN where I saw zero racism for the first time in my life.  Going to my last two years in HS and a year of college, we had a mix of different races, though predominately white.   I saw zero issues those years.  From there, I entered the military where things got a notch interesting.

My experience in the military is similar to everyone else's that I've spoken to on the subject.  The military of today is not the same as existed fifty years ago.  My belief is the military does not embrace racism.  There is no favoritism based on race.   In my twenty years I never saw anyone get preferential treatment based on the color of their skin.  Now, this isn't to say it didn't exist.  It did, but only because people 'brought it with them.'   They were raised in environments where it existed and it was pretty much in their 'blood' already so to speak.  I saw a lil bit of it within the white community but it was rare.  In some cases, most of the situations I saw were in the black community.  Most times it was after the uniform came off, it became noticeable.  Night and Day. The way folks would act in uniform and out of uniform were sometimes 180 degrees different.  Not all. Not Most.  But...too high of a percentage.   Hell, I remember back in the early 80s the big thing was these yellow signs folks put in their rear windows.  Remember the "Caution Baby on Board" signs?   Yep .. except these said "Proud to be Black".    Was that racist?  No, not in itself. But I remember thinking .. and still do .... if I had one that said "Proud to be White", all hell would have broken loose.  White Supremacy!  KKK!  Get the point?   Well actually my point is ...  I noticed some seem to draw a line.  Over the years I noticed other things which I found interesting.   In the military , you have different career paths, specializations, etc.  In the ARMY , it's MOS. In the USAF, it's AFSC.    Specific to the USAF, it became apparent to me quickly ... that certain AFSCs were predominant with certain ethnic groups.  Many AFSCs had minimal minority groups in it.   Once one realizes it, and if you're someone like me, you analyze it.  For instance, 702s ( think office workers) had an extremely high percentage of minorities.   The test score to get in to this career was .. minimal.   Yet, in Security Police (my first stint) we had less blacks but more Hispanics, but still predominately white.   But, the test score to get into SPs was about the same as 702s (low!). During SP Tech School, I noticed a lot of blacks worked to get 'out' of the career field, by failing during M16 qualifications, etc.  I asked myself 'why' then, but never got the answer.  Still don't know it.  Did they just not want to be 'cops?'  While in the SP field, we worked with a lot of guys that did maintenance on Missiles.  The guys doing the electronics, low count of minorities.  Guys doing the grunt work (transporting, etc) higher percentage.   This was my first three years and it was just something that I keyed on.  Didn't think much of it, wasn't an issue... but became apparent.  Why was that? I always assumed less cared about all the computer and electronics that had to be learned, but I never got the 'real' answer.   My next 17 years would be spent in Electronic Warfare.  For that, I spent a few years in highly specialized schools and training.  Hell, in my specific shred, there were only 300 of us in the entire USAF.  Of that 300, there were a few handfuls of folks that we might quantify as minorities.   Does that matter?  Of course not.  But it was something that became glaringly obvious.  Now, in our career field, there was zero racism.  Period. Promotions, jobs, etc ... were based on performance.  There was zero favoritism based on skin color, as it should be.  ZERO.   That being said, if you went to other areas of the base, you might notice.... there were higher percentages of folks that were minorities especially at CBPO which ... was mostly 702s.   When you go from one extreme to another, its just a basic fact and one might key on it.  I did.  Does that make me a racist?  Nope.   Now here's the kicker and it's not really pertinent to this subject, but here it goes.  In my twenty years, I never personally experienced racism, BUT .. I experienced 'sexism'.   Numerous times, I saw where females got preferred treatment over their male counterparts.  It was rarely in the promotion area due to how the USAF goes about promotions, but I did see where females got a higher selection rate with 'below the zone' promotions.  Were they just sharper in front of the board when answering questions  .. or ...   did they get favoritism?  I can tell you I experienced multiple situations where the female should not have been doing the work I did because they couldn't handle the same physical requirements the males did.  And more than once, I heard females complain about things and wanted preferred treatment.   I've even bumped heads with them over it.   I never pushed it too far, because we know how'd that work out.  I enjoyed my career and didn't want to screw it up, so I'd back off.  But a fact is a fact.   But, racism?   Never had an issue.

After leaving the military I headed to the commercial world, where I've worked for several companies.   Again, in my present career, I've never experienced racism on my part on anyone else's part.  Never.  That being said, in my Enterprise Computer area, there are few few blacks in it.  There are more Hispanics than blacks.   Now why this is, I don't have a definitive answer.  I have a lot of guesses but don't know the exact reason(s).   In my world we hire the most qualified. Period.  We pay and promote on performance.  Period.  There is no room for racism.  Period.   In fact, there's no room for sexism either.

In my personal life, it feels a little different.  I'm outspoken on certain subjects and have had others (very few) question my beliefs along the way.   One that rarely has come up is the subject of reparations.  I've stated before and now, I disagree with the concept.   Myself... my dad.. my grandfather....have never had anything to do with 'slavery.'.  I know of no one I've ever met or alive today .. that 'was a slave'.  Nor that's father was.  This is history from well over a hundred years ago.  In my opinion, the discussion has no grounds in today's world.   The discussion of it all ... feels racist to me.  Lets all move on.   The subject of Native American's and their 'lands' is always a hot topic.   I may not agree with how all Native Amerindians were treated a few hundred years ago, and many got screwed over.. but.. that ship has sailed.  There are many reservations in this country.   Many casinos on those lands providing income.   To continually discuss this subject, I see no value in it.  That viewpoint doesn't make me a racist.  Hell, I'm told I've got Blackfoot and Cherokee but ...   is what it is.   That's the past, this is the present.   The latest one that lights a fire is .. 'The Wall'.  This has been a hot subject for decades.  Most everyone agrees we need 'something' on the southern border.   It serves a purpose.  But bring this up to the wrong person(s) and ... one is labeled a 'racist'.  Really?  I call BS.   Hell, I live in Texas which has a large Hispanic population. I have zero issues here.   I have numerous friends that have Hispanic roots/blood.  Zero issues there.  I travel to Mexico a few times a year and have friends native to there.  Zero issues there.   Racist? No

BUT .. I've got to tell you ....   every once in a while a few things spin me up.  The burning down of Ferguson back in '14, by predominately blacks and the BLM movement that rose from that ... spins me up.  Does that make me a racist?  No.. but I think many/most of them ... are.    Then fast forward to the Minneapolis mess.   The George Floyd riots.   It's brought out the worst in many.  Many of them obvious racists.  Then these young white trash hoodlums that all run around with BLM based clothing.  Then throw in the ANTIFA idiots.   Many of them appear to be racists and embrace racism at some level.   Why do I bring this up?  The whole racism thing has me seething at some level.  It's so blatant.  So obvious.  And now the Atlanta situation; racism at it's finest.  Not by the officers but by the political forces in that city and many of the citizens of that city. Pure Racism.  I see it .. I know it.  You most likely know it.  And when it pisses you off at a deep level, you yourself almost feel like one watching it all.   Many of the those in the democratic party and groups like BLM .. are breeding the racism.  Promoting the racism.   I've told many over the years that back in the Obama era, he himself did that. Now, others are taking it to the next level.

Am I a racist?  No.  But it seems like racism is now everywhere around us and it's forcing us to pick sides. Many have an agenda to label others racists for their own benefit.  Pick a side ....what sides?  Well, I'd argue the 'sides' are really ....  (1) Those for this country as we know it or (2)  those that want to see this country in chaos by tearing down walls, de-funding the police, buring down the 'establishment'.    And along the way, they are pushing racism of sorts into the mix just the stir that pot up a notch more.

Fuck Racism.   I want my country back.