Emulsification, Racism, and Getting Along
Nicole Chardenet recently wrote a rant post titled "How's Your Privilege?" In it, she talks about how a Pakistani student complained about racism in Canada because she was assigned an idiot for a roommate.
"Idiot" may be too harsh a word.
"Clueless" may be more accurate and well describes them both.
I don't know either girl's name, so I'll just call them Bubblehead and Drama Queen. Is that racist of me?
Tough.
Drama Queen was offended because Bubblehead's Rule #1 was No Curry Cooking in the dorm room. Well, no freeking poop!
Have you ever been in a dorm room?
Bubblehead was clueless because she actually uttered the Rule. Forget for a minute whether she even had the right to unilaterally make rules.
If Drama Queen intended to cook curry in a dorm room, she would be clueless as well.
Making a news story of it is insane.
Questions for the CBC:
Slow news day?
Out of curiosity, what story ran after it?
"Traumatic stress syndrome in tiddlywinks competitions?"
Or maybe it was, "How to Break Wind in a Crowded Elevator Without Soiling Yourself?"
I know, it was "Nose Hairs of the Rich and Famous!"
In a way, it speaks highly of Canada that there were not enough "if-it-bleeds-it-leads" stories that day.
But, still. CBC, what the hell were you thinking?
We live under a false belief
Somewhere along the way, we decided that everyone must cater to our wants. Our needs, desires, and even whims, are paramount.
If others don't understand that, then there's something wrong with them.
Scoop time.
Nobody gives a crap about what you want.
Get over it.
Life is about negotiating what we want in relation to what everybody else wants.
Anyone with a modicum of mathematical knowledge understands this. It is impossible that everyone gets all their needs met all the time.
If I get more of mine, you get less of yours. It's a zero-sum game most of the time.
That means there's a give and take involved.
Sometimes, I just don't care enough to push back and you get your way. Sometimes, you don't, and I get mine.
Most often, we push and pull until we arrive at a compromise.
Rarely, our needs will be in perfect balance. That's a theoretical state, mind you. I've never known it to happen.
There is a Shared Onus
Every one of us has an obligation to get along. None of us have the right or power to unilaterally impose excessive demands.
No, not even you bosses out there have that right.
I once had a boss tell us that we had to do inventory that weekend. He told us late Friday afternoon. Many complained.
His response was, "As long as you work here, you will bloody well do what I say!"
I took him at his word and left. My customers soon followed.
At best, imposing our will is an impotent short-term solution. At worst, it's downright counter-productive.
Put another way, "Karma is a bitch."
The Case of Canadian Racism
Is Canada racist because Bubblehead declared a curry-free zone?
No.
So, then Canada must be a racism-free zone, right?.
No, again. That's a quantum leap of logic.
Bubblehead is not representative of 35,000,000 people. By the same token, out of those 35,000,000 people, we must have a lot of racists.
It's a mathematical certainty.
Get over it.
Not one of us can speak for the rest. Not even Justin has that right.
Was Bubblehead right in not wanting curry cooked in the dorm room? Damned right she was.
That doesn't mean she can impose a rule preemptively and unilaterally.
That's clueless.
Had Drama Queen cooked curry in the dorm room, she would be just as clueless as her roommate. To go on national television claiming that she was a victim of racism is asinine.
That makes Drama Queen clueless as well.
Perhaps , the most clueless is the CBC for running such idiocy.
Actually, maybe the true Most Clueless People in this story are us.
We're giving this stupidity legs.
Two girls barely out of their teens think the world revolves around them.
I'm surprised by the surprise.
Minor Rant Mode OFF.
Credit where credit is due
I already mentioned Nicole Chardenet's post that triggered all this. It's here if you don't feel like scrolling back up.
Nicole's post riled me up. Ben Pinto's post, " 'Cause That's How We Are," pushed me over the edge.
Read 'em both. It'll be worth your time.
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Comments
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #27
Yeah, I wouldn't swear at you.... mind you, I wouldn't sweat at you either. I guess auto-correct knows best
Larry Boyer
7 years ago #26
don kerr
7 years ago #25
Yeah. About that confession thing. Never understood the Roman Catholic approach. Convenient sure but I think the Jewish faith has a superior approach with an annual day of Atonement. While an avowed atheist I am not entirely against hedging my bets on occasion. Look out now...here comes a tag Aurorasa Sima
don kerr
7 years ago #24
You wouldn't 'sweat'? Thinkin' that's probably an auto-correct thing? Paul \ Nyah, nyah....tagged you again:)-
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #23
I wouldn't sweat at you,!!!!
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #22
sometimes, I think that just thinking is a lost art
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #21
lol, let the Nellies do what Nellies do, Don Kerr. I think the tagging issue is more for a ton of mentions for strictly promotional reasons. That CAN get annoying
don kerr
7 years ago #20
That's simply a perception. You can never have too many Canadians. Now, Irish? That's a topic for debate;) Pascal Derrien (oops, there I go tagging again!)
don kerr
7 years ago #19
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #18
Some people would call that "reverse discrimination", Robert Cormack. It's not. It's just discrimination
Gloria (Glo) Ochoa
7 years ago #17
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #16
Robert Cormack
7 years ago #15
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #14
To quote yet another bunch of Canadians... "You Ain't Seen Nuthin Yet" (Bachman Turner Overdrive, AKA BTO)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #13
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #12
You, know, Donna-Luisa Eversley, Canadians have the reputation of being super polite. We are, sort of. In reality, I think we are Earth's answer to Vulcans. We keep our emotions in check so that we don't choke the living crap out of people who annoy us. When that veneer of civility breaks away, we become ornery cusses!
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #11
LOL, No Jess, is not a racist... she just knows how to make her father-in-law happy.
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #10
That's the reason I don't watch news at all.
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #9
That's true. On the other hand, sometimes, we trip over our own feet trying to remove any possible source of such accusation. What's next? Exotic dancers having the right to wear heavy robes to conceal their bodies? I thought it was silly a while back when Ontario passed a law allowing women to go topless in public. After all, men can. I don't know if that law is still active, I DO know that I enjoyed my time in Ottawa the following summer. I really, really, enjoyed it. Yes, I am a boob man. Sue me.
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #8
RE: "If you make me poutine and I complain that it was awful, you might well call me a racist :)" Damned, straight!!! LOL
Lisa Gallagher
7 years ago #7
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #6
Yup, this was definitely a MINOR rant. Like Kevin Pashuk wrote, we Canucks don't get easily excited, but when we do, there's nothing MINOR about it. I don't know if Drama Queen or Bubblehead appreciates the exposure. One of them may end up curing cancer, but for now, they are laughing stocks.
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #5
Yes it did, Kevin Pashuk, and a polite Canadian rant it was, Loved it BTW
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #4
I don't know if Drama Queen or Bubblehead appreciates the exposure. One of them may end up curing cancer, but for now, they are laughing stocks.
Paul "Pablo" Croubalian
7 years ago #3
Oh, Vindyloo!!!! My son married an Indian girl who makes it for me every time I visit. The naughty girl won't give me her family recipe. She says I need to visit to eat it.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #2
Randy Keho
7 years ago #1