It's not that people are trying to hide something, it's that some people just don't care. You're not any different to me than an American who calls himself white, or an American who calls himself Asian. I'm not fearful of "race", I've accepted the reality that it is and should be irrelevant in the United States of America.
Ideologically, we are the same. But realistically, the only thing that makes us the same is the fact that we're human. That's it. If the two of us are going to be pre-judged by the way we look regardless if you answer a question about race or not, then it makes no sense to blindly live by the ideology and ignore the reality of the situation.
People like you hold this country back.
Oh, this is going to be good. LOL!!
You'd prefer to focus on "keeping things diverse" and "respecting differences", emphasizing anything that even remotely sets us apart, rather than uniting Americans (or mankind, for that matter) towards one common cause.
In other words, since you believe that we're all "equal" from A to Z, we should all ignore our differences and assimilate ourselves into being similar? Sorry, that's not how that works. As a gay & black man, I've tried that on many different levels and I quickly learned that you can only get so far in life acting like the things that make you different do not count or matter. Too many times, I've pretended to be straight only for someone to see me walk into a gay bar, on my own, months down the road and treat me negatively from then on. Plus, I can't hide the fact that I'm black so all of those stereotypes are casted upon me before I can even open my mouth.
Respecting differences doesn't tear our nation apart.
The refusal to allow people who are different the right to live their lives is what tears us apart. The fact that people blindly live by ideologies about everyone being equal when realistically we're not all born in the same neighborhoods with the same financial and social opportunities as the next person is a big reason why our nation is in such disarray. What's worse is that many people who were privileged enough to grow up in better surroundings see government attempts to provide basic human necessity to those less fortunate as a handout to a bunch of lazy people who somehow don't deserve it. Perhaps if they were willing to see the differences surrounding the way people are forced to live, this wouldn't happen as much? But I digress...
Essentially, you have to learn when to stop singing "Kumbaya" on infinite repeat and know when to roll up your sleeves and do something to make sure your ideology has some substance.
I'm not saying "I'm colorblind", I'm saying that there is no point (and there never was) in "race" having such a high value of importance.
You're misinterpreting my answer.
I don't hold race at a high value, or at least at a level that bothers me to such degree that I prevent myself from progressing forward. If I was really bothered by race, then the last three boyfriends I had wouldn't have been White. My best friend and business partners wouldn't be Puerto Rican and Cuban. I wouldn't have been the only black kid in a predominately white school district all through grade school, high school and college. I didn't ask for this to happen... it just did. That's because I'm willing to accept people for who they are on several other levels before race becomes an issue.
Like I stated before, if you're going to be judged by the color of your skin regardless if you answer the question or not, then it makes no sense to ignore it. If anything, perhaps someone may initially see me for my skin color or declared sexuality and quickly realize that I'm not the person they surmised to be? Perhaps someone who had preconceived notions about those who are different, managed to truly enjoy their company regardless of them, thereby changing their attitudes towards similar people in the future? That's why I jokingly made that list about how I didn't play Basketball or was allergic to a job application beforehand because I am not your societally, stereotypical black male. That's why I have lots of straight friends who know that I sleep with other men and are not afraid to hang out together like best mates because I don't act like your societally, stereotypical gay male either. I don't worship Madonna. I actually have music not sung by a "diva" on my iPod. I don't try to hit on every single guy I see. I don't act repulsed when I see a good looking woman. I don't need a room to be full of shirtless guys, all buffed and muscular in boxer shorts, ready to grope at my disposal... but I certainly wouldn't turn it down either!! :wink:
