America's natural resources (water, coal, gasoline, etc.) are not infinite

It goes without saying that America's natural resources (water, coal, etc.) are not infinite, but even in an era where groceries are not permitted to use plastic bags for customers, one might think that this realization has not really sunk into the consciousness of citizens.

Through the grapevine, I have heard the following story:

"At the YMCA, where I am a member and go regularly, I notice a guy, an older African-American, in the shower area who takes 40 minute hot showers and leaves a huge puddle of suds that practically clogs the nearby drain.  He'll go off without turning the shower off and return several minutes later.

Today I noticed him standing between two shower areas, both on and turned at full blast.  He wasn't even really using the other shower.

When  I asked if I were still using that shower head, he said, "yes."  I muttered something about "waste" but did not pursue the matter.

If I had and he had yelled at or threatened me, I imagined that the other guys showering would have said, "Well, you asked for it."   Or "you're not the Y.  Butt out of matters that aren't yours.  It's not your water."

To me, this smacks of 'don't snitch' (especially if the guy, who appears possibly dangerous, had lunged at or taken a swing at me)."


* * * * *

Conserving energy in the 21st century is everyone's responsibility, and this includes historically disadvantaged minorities.

Scars left by the civil rights movement of the 60s that no one speaks of

The civil rights movement of the 60s was a complex social phenomenon, as one who lived through can personally attest to.  I strongly believe in civil rights for all people in our country.  But one of the legacies of the civil rights was negative:  it coincided with, if not helped spawn, waves of urban violence that continue, justified in the name of oppression and prejudice.

Many took advantage of and hid behind the banner of civil rights to physically attack persons and their property, installing unspoken fear in the hearts and minds of not just white people but other minorities as well.

This chapter of modern U.S. history has been hidden.

People who are growing up in the early 21st century need to know about really happened to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of young Americans 45 years ago.  Anyone growing up in the '60s in any of the big cities with a substantial African-American population has to have been aware of the fear and violence of those years (and beyond), and I can only guess at the percentage of those people who were actually physically beaten and traumatized by young African-Americans on the rampage.

Racial prejudice is as complex a phenomenon as the civil rights movement of the 60s was.

One of the reasons for racial prejudice is the violent behavior so disproportionately high among African-Americans as compared to other groups.  Whenever there inter-racial violence, there is bound to be a desire for justice, translated oftentimes into vengeance.

As long as the disproportionately high violent crimes committed by African-Americans is hidden or even denied by the media as well as by African-Americans themselves, the problem will not be addressed, much less solved.

Blaming or putting the responsibility on society, the schools, police, white people, history, Jews, Asians, Hispanics, etc. instead of on themselves to raise their children with high standards of ethical conduct, African-American parents will continue to perpetuate the cycle of inappropriate, destructive, self-pitying behaviors (violence, drugs, low levels of educational attainment...).

* * * * *

The curious thing is that the problem of urban violence has continued to infect the younger generations after the Civil Rights movement.  Anyone who has been beaten up, harassed, threatened, or yelled at by a hostile person of color will be unable to forget the experience.

The Civil Rights movement has not been examined in its entirety.  The legacy was not wholly positive:  it left younger generations to see themselves as victims and to victimize others.  Violence was born of violence until one recognizes instead of denying it, renounces it instead of rationalize or even glorify it.  

* * * * *

I for one would be very gratified if one day before I die that someone or ones had the courage and determination to do research for a book on the U.S. civil rights movement that actually looked at victims of urban violence that have been overlooked, i.e., those who were spat on, kicked, beaten, robbed and called racial slurs by rampaging young African-Americans (who took advantage of the political climate and disorder to commit such offenses).

But at this point in my life, I don't think it will happen.

The truth is difficult and requires a lot of courage.

It starts by remembering.