General Diversity Questions 61-70

THE QUESTION:
GD68: What do people feel is worse: Blatant racism, such as KKK rallies, or institutionalized racism, such as cops targeting/pulling over blacks, people thinking there will never be a black president, lack of jobs for minorities, worse schools for minorities, etc.
POSTED APRIL 21, 1999
Skitherbud, San Diego, CA.
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THE QUESTION:
GD67: What do people of various demographic backgrounds think is the single most-important factor in continuing race-based tension in the United States? Racism? Economic disparity? Lack of communication and/or understanding? Other factor(s)?
POSTED APRIL 16, 1999
William Y., 54, African American/mixed heritage <yatesw@brevard.cc.fl.us>, Indialantic, FL

ANSWER 1:
I think the reason for much racial tension is the inability to respect and treasure the cultural differences between races. It is also the failure to be willing to let go of grievances and to say I’m sorry for older ones. My ancestors, for instance, were slave owners (can a man really own another man?). I found some African Americans who were doing research on their ancestry who bore my surname. I felt it was important for me to apologize for the wrong my ancestors inflicted upon their ancestors, and I did. Much healing and understanding took place on both sides.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
54-year-old white American male <feagin@home.com>, Columbia, MD

FURTHER NOTICE:
I believe the major impediment to racial cooperation is the habit militant fringes of all races have of blaming everything on race. A poor black person has more in common with a poor white person than he does with a middle-class black person. People would see this if “racial advocates” didn’t make a living stirring up trouble and then getting people to support their cause and in the process providing a nice income for the “advocates,” too. I feel that until minoritis adopt a saner and more rational approach to race relations, the real problems will remain unsolved, for example the government official who was forced out of office for using the word “niggardly.” This instance reinforced my feelings that, as a white male, I may be attacked for anything I say or do, and as long as a minority or female is involved, I’m wrong no matter what.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
G.B., 32, white male, Detroit , MI

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Economic disparity. The haves are scared by have-nots,. and the have-nots resent the haves.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
B. Hale, white have <halehart@aol.com>, Hartford , CT

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
In my view, racial tension has an awful lot to do with economic inequality, especially in terms of relations between whites and African Americans. Years of slavery and legal racism (which ended less than 40 years ago) means a disproportionate amount of African Americans to this day are poor. Unfortunately, many white Americans have this pull-yerself-up-from-yer-bootstraps attitude that African Americans have to take 100 percent responsibility for eradicating poverty, and because there’s no longer any legal ways that African Americans are not “equal,” many whites fight to eliminate social programs like welfare and Affirmative Action and equitable school funding to help African Americans get out of poverty.

If the United States is truly going to atone for the evils of slavery and things like Jim Crow laws, the country needs to take responsibility for eradicating poverty as best we can. Laws that make everybody “equal” are not enough, and alone this false kind of “equality” fuels racist white sentiments that African Americans aren’t successful because they are lazy, ignorant, etc.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
Rhiannon, 28, white female <rock0048@tc.umn.edu>, Minneapolis , MN

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I think the single-biggest reason racial tension and racism continues to exist is that even many non-racist people have the false belief that racism is “normal,” “natural” even “inevitable.” If it were normal, natural and inevitable, it would be inborn. But it isn’t. Racism must be taught and aggresssively forced and reinforced. Believing racism is “normal” is not only false, it makes apologies and excuses for racism. It is also a defeatist and fatalistic attitude that helps perpetuate racism. The same lame excuses were used for slavery: “People have always been this way; it’s only natural.” But just as slavery has ended almost everywhere, there is no reason racism cannot be ended, or at least become rare. It may not happen in my lifetime, not until we get rid of these defeatist attitudes, but I hope it will in my children’s.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
A.C.C., Mexican and American Indian, San Antonio , TX

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I think that the biggest factor in today’s society would be a combination of cultural differences and class struggle, usually marked by economic disparity. Race has become a very convenient means of dividing people along cultural boundaries, so we can attribute certain negative opinions we have about a culture onto people of a given race. Add the class struggle, and things get worse. Think of the stereotypes you hea: White people are all rich and racist, and they make sure black people are kept poor and out of businesses. Black people are all on welfare and do drugs all day when they are not doing drivebys. Asians are all ninja math wizards who live with their entire family in one house. Latinos are lazy and dishonest. All of these stereotypes are based on culture and class struggles. Of course, when you get right down to it, it is nothing more than the latest version of the “us vs. them” mentality. We just draw the lines a little differently every once in a while.
POSTED APRIL 17, 1999
John K., 25, white middle-class male <the-macs@geocities.com>, Cranford, NJ
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THE QUESTION:
GD66: What are the opinions of people who do not ride motorcycles of the people who do ride them (i.e. Harleys or sports bikes, Ninja style, etc.)? Is there a stereotype or preconceived notion of what these people are like, and of the different types of riders, such as Harley riders vs. Ninja-style riders?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
Deb, 39, white female, married with children <debrag@clemson.edu>, Pelzer, SC

ANSWER 1:
I am a non-motorcycle rider and must admit I probably do have an incorrect stereotype of Harley riders. For the most part, I see them as lower-class individuals, or I guess dirty people. It seems like I see so many Harley riders who are just plain scummy looking. I realize this is not right, and I need to void that stereotype from my head. I have met some Harley riders who were very nice people, and they were also wealthy people. These types of Harley riders disprove my stereotype. On the other hand, I look at people with Ninjas and other crotch rockets as cool people. I have driven a Honda 200 and really liked it. These bikes are also not as noisy as Harleys. I am working on trying to erase those stereotypes from my head because I realize they are not always correct.
POSTED MARCH 30, 1999
Robert R., 22, male, St. Joseph , MO

FURTHER NOTICE:
The stereotype that comes to my mind when I think of Ninja motorcycle riders is of jocks and frat boys. Around here at least, this is not necessarily just a stereotype but rather those are the people I see riding those types of motorcycles. I used to think of Harley riders as just Hells Angels on two wheels. In the last 10 years, though, Harleys have become trendy enough that they’re ridden by serious biker types and rich corporate weekend warriors. My question to Harley owners: Do your cycles have to be so loud? I’m tired of having to plug my ears when one drives by me on the street. Or even if I’m driving with the windows down and one passes me, often they’re so loud they hurt. What’s the purpose of this? Do they not come with mufflers? Or do you feel more powerful when you’re louder than everyone else on the road? It’s not just older Harleys, either. I’ve seen brand new machines that could shatter glass.
POSTED MARCH 30, 1999
Brian <killykill@geocities.com>, Minneapolis , MN

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Bikers are non-conforming, risk-taking attention-seekers. I associate them with tattoos and cigarette smoking. Ninjas are rocket-sleds for extreme risk-takers.
POSTED MARCH 30, 1999
B. Hale, hog-free <halehart@aol.com>, Hartford, CT

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I threw this question out to a fast-lunch (they rarely get one) crowd in the ER. Harley riders were described as everything from unemployed Vietnam vets to a $150,000-a-year urologist (and yes, we have one). But when it came to the Ninja bikes, there was a unanimous description; “Not a motorcycle, it’s a donor-cycle.” Personally, I’d love to have a Harley if I could afford it. The Harley owners I know are very meticulous and detail-oriented. But the Ninjas, umm, no thank you, I don’t need a crotch-rocket.
POSTED APRIL 1, 1999
Alma, white lesbian <pridewks@seacove.net>, Kempner , TX
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THE QUESTION:
GD65: To smokers: Why do you inflict your smoke on other people in public places such as malls, restaurants, bus stops, etc.? I don’t like breathing cigarette smoke, but it seems like I don’t have a choice sometimes.
POSTED MARCH 26, 1999
C.P., 21, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

ANSWER 1:
I don’t think anyone is doing this to you intentionally. What happens sometimes, especially in restaurants in resort areas, is that non-smokers will prefer to eat/drink outdoors, which effectively puts them in the smoking section. I go out of my way not to smoke near anyone who is eating or has food on the way, even in the smoking section, as this is common courtesy. However, I am always surprised to see people seat themselves a seat or two away from me while I’m smoking when there are other seats available farther from me, and then get upset by the smoke. I honestly don’t know the answer to the bus stop question, but it is against the law to smoke in malls here. I think the problem you wrote about is a lack of consideration on the part of some smokers, but there are those of us who do respect your right to breathe clean air and are trying to keep our distance. And remember that smoking is a bad habit, but not a character flaw.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
Randy, smoker, male, Key West, FL

FURTHER NOTICE:
As an ex-smoker I can assure you I never intended to “inflict” my smoke on anyone, any more than you consciously intend to “inflict” me with poisonous exhaust fumes while driving your car. I can understand some people being offended, and would ask that smokers be more courteous to those around them. On the other hand, to all of you non-smokers, I would say, lighten up already!
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
Greg P., male, Rock Island, IL

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Here in Minnesota, smoking is prohibited in public buildings such as malls. In general, this is strongly enforced. I’m not sure what the situation is where you live. Restaurents have smoking and non-smoking sections, so unless you sit on the border I don’t know why there would be a problem. Finally, I smoke, but I am not going to feel guilty about smoking outside while I wait for a bus. I am very considerate of others’ discomfort of cigarette smoke. If I see that my smoke is blowing in someone’s face, usually I’ll move. Why punish all smokers because of a few inconsiderate ones?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
Brian, male <Hellcityhell@yahoo.com>, Minneapolis, MN

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I’d like to add a question: Why do smokers not only feel they have to blow their smoke in other people’s faces, but that they also have to do it in places it is not allowed that we non-smokers specifically go to so we can get away from a smokey environment? The prime example would be when I go to a night club where smoking is not allowed, and there is still a large majority of people there who light up and sneak smokes whenever they can’t be spotted by staff or security. I will be sitting right next to them and they will light up and blow it in my face, and if I were to complain they would get all snotty with me. I have asthma and really do not appreciate having to deal with wheezing when I go out for a night of fun.
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
D. Meerkat, white, male, 26, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I’ve been smoking for five years and am completely addicted. I don’t smoke at malls (it’s been against the rules at most of the malls around here for a couple of years) but I do smoke at restaurants (in the smoking section only), and I used to at bus stops. I don’t necessarily like making others breathe that smoke, but my craving for a cigarette usually overrides my usual politeness. Also, I’ve always seen people do those things, so I figured it was all right (poor reasoning, I know) and I didn’t mind when I was a non-smoker (I know, I know, my opinion doesn’t represent everyone’s). I’ve probably smoked thousands of cigarettes in public, and no one has ever asked me to move away or put it out. They haven’t so much as coughed – some well-mannered people! If anyone indicated discomfort or annoyance, I would not mind putting the cigarette out or going elesewhere to smoke. I’m just glad I have the choice. Wouldn’t laws prohibiting smoking at outdoor bus stops be scary?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
S.R., white female, 21, Austin, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I don’t smoke but it bothers me that smokers have become pariahs for the political gain of certain elected officials. If you are berating individual smokers for lighting up in areas set aside for non-smokers, then you have my blessing; but the trend in public policy I see, and the tone of your question suggests, that there should be no smoking allowed in any public place. This I cannot accept. By lighting up in public, smokers expose others to second-hand smoke, which can be unpleasant and even with sufficient exposure unhealthy. But in the PC-mandated frenzy to condemn smokers, let us not forget that the same could be said about habits practiced by everybody everyday. Have you ever gone out in public with a cold or the flu? While one person smoking one cigarette is unlikely to have any serious health effect on those around him, an ill-timed sneeze could be deadly to someone around you with a weakened immune system. Have you ever driven a car? I’m sure the guy behind you with his defoggers on wasn’t crazy about sucking up your car’s exhaust.

The point is that we all have to live and work together in modern society, and that means finding reasonable and practical ways to accommodate the needs of all people. If malls or restaraunts want to cater to smokers by providing smoking areas, is it really such an imposition for you to avoid these areas when possible or tolerate them when not?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
Mark, 32, white, married male, Alexandria, VA

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
To add to this question: Why do smokers seem to think throwing their cigarettes (usually lit) out of their car window is OK, but throwing trash out is littering? Don’t you realize this is also littering, not to mention dangerous to motorcyclists?
POSTED MARCH 29, 1999
D.R.E., Fairfax , VA

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Believe it or not, some smokers consider tobacco a pleasant odor and do not easily understand why some people find it so offensive. Personally, I object to most people’s perfumes and other weird scents, but I deal with it.
POSTED MARCH 31, 1999
Kiki, St. Paul, MN
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THE QUESTION:
GD64: Discrimination in the United States has evolved from white-on-black hate to Hispanic-on-black hate, black-on-Jewish hate, Christian-on-gay hate, etc. In other words, we have learned our bigotry well. Do people see this as a progression toward equality through trial and error, or as a downward spiral to a free-for-all?
POSTED MARCH 24, 1999
Alma, white lesbian <pridewks@seacove.net>, Kempner , TX

ANSWER 1:
I do not think bigotry is, in general, practiced by one group on another (i.e. in one direction only) and I question whether bigotry evolves. Discrimination, on the other hand, has obviously changed over time with demographics, because in order to practice meaningful discrimination, you must have wealth and/or power. As ethnic groups move large portions of their populace into the middle class, not only do they acquire the wealth/power to practice discrimination for their own benefit (thus lessening the net effect), they also become defined into the norm, and thus less subject to discrimination from others. In that sense, I see a gradual creep toward equality. The bigotry of many whites, for example, toward blacks has always been more measurable, since they have had control over economic and social institutions through which widespread discrimination was practiced. But even today you do not have to dig too deeply into the archives of this site to find predictable evidence of some black Americans responding understandably to the bigotry they have faced with anger and resentment toward all whites.

As for evolution of bigotry, I guess I have always assumed that the racism toward blacks, Hispanics and Asians today is no different from the racism toward Irish, Italian and Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries – the same ignorance-fueled fear and mistrust of anything or anyone different from yourself. Maybe if there is a difference, it is that while once it was socially acceptable to preach this hatred openly, today most people are sufficiently well-educated to know that doing so today even in vague and euphemistic terms risks making you a virtual pariah.

Finally, I feel compelled to address your use of the phrase “Christian-on-gay hate.” There is nothing in Christ’s teachings about hate. All these things have tragically been done by foolish and/or evil men in the name of Christ – but they are not Christian.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1999
Mark, 32, white male, married, Alexandria , VA

FURTHER NOTICE:
It’s all just a variation on a theme that has existed since the dawn of civilization. Ever since the tribal period of our shared human past, when different tribes came into contact for the first time, the Us vs. Them mentality has existed and flourished. It does not matter how truly similar we all are. In the end, if we perceive differences, we believe they exist. Race is just the latest excuse for defining divisions that really result from cultural diversity. One tribe cannot understand the beliefs and rituals of another tribe, so it decides that the other, less understood way must be evil and wrong. This will continue in some form until the end of time. Only the nature of the division and the definition of the differences will change.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1999
John K., 25 <the-macs@geocities.com>, Cranford, NJ

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I see racism in the United States as neither a progression nor downward spiral, but as a constant. Global racism has existed since different races first encountered one another. For instance, when the Japanese first encountered whites, the Japanese thought whites were dirty and disgusting. Arabs once figured black people were scorched and frizzle-haired because of the hot climate they lived in, and that the pale Northerners were not quite “done.” They thought that only they themselves were just right. Racism is one of those unfortunate things that will continue through people’s ignorance as long as there are different races.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1999
Cherie, female, former anthropology student, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Certain people have always (and probably will always) consider themselves better than groups of people who are different from them. I believe global communications are helping expose us to different cultures, opening our minds to diversity and making it harder for intolerant people to get away with crimes against others (i.e. the Ku Klux Klan, Matthew Shepard’s murderers, etc.) What used to be covered up now makes national headlines. I think it’s getting better.
POSTED MARCH 25, 1999
N. Smith, 44, white lesbian <ranebow@iname.com>, Butler , PA
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THE QUESTION:
GD63: I operate a youth program open to all young people 12 to 20 in Fort Wayne. As with other programs funded by grants, I must report the demographics of the youth in the program (age, race, sex, economic level, single-parent houshold, etc.). We all say we want people to treat each other based on individual attributes and qualities, but first, we must identify their differences to prove we we don’t treat them differently. Does anyone else find this ironic, or worse, counter-productive? I hate having to identify race or economic status of the young people in my program to justify whether we are serving the “right” portion of the community.
POSTED FEB. 23, 1999
J.D. Littlefish <littlefish_jd@hotmail.com>, Fort Wayne, IN
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THE QUESTION:
GD62: Why is understanding other cultures important?
POSTED FEB. 17, 1999
Lance C., male <gmc@almatel.net>, Broxton , Ga

ANSWER 1:
You could also ask, “Why is avoiding misunderstanding and hatred important?” If you do not understand why someone else is doing something, then you are very likely to make a negative judgement about them. This can easily lead to condescension and dislike, or outright hate. And that can lead to oppression and violence. Secondly, from understanding another culture’s perceptions and discoveries, you can often make innovations in your own culture. Strangely, from the discoveries made in the Crusades into the Mediterranean, the Renaissance was born. Algebra comes from the Middle East, from Al Gibre (sp?). Many of the ideas of Enlightenment, from which the U.S. was constructed, came from Greek and Roman thought. One of the reasons the United States is strong is because of its large immigrant population. I assume that if you do not have black hair, dark brown eyes and brown skin, you are a child of one of those immigrants.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
White male <delorimier@yahoo.com>, San Francisco, CA

FURTHER NOTICE:
It is important to learn about other cultures because of history. History shows us over and over again that wars, mass exterminations and persecutions on both a national and individual level are largely due to either lack of understanding or misunderstanding.Without cultural understanding, from which respect and appreciation arise, it is easy and convenient to make a judgment on differences. Hence it becomes easy to refer to Native Americans as “nits,” or to Jews as “vermin,” or to Viet Namese as ” gooks.” Behaviors soon follow. The other reason is simply that knowledge of other cultures makes life more interesting. How boring would the table be without pizza, moogoogaipan (sp?), baclavav, etc.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Mox, 49 <tekippe@mailcity.com>, Tampa

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
In my opinion, the most important thing about understanding other cultures is the ability to be tolerant of and tolerable to other cultures. If you know where another person is “coming from,” you are less likely to be offended by them. You are also less likely to commit social offenses around others. In short, it allows us all to coexist more harmoniously.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Michell, white chick, 31, Panama City, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
America is changing, and we must learn to get along with everyone. We must learn to be aware of how our words and actions can be perceived and how they can hurt if we don’t understand another person’s point of view. Understanding another’s culture is not just for the benefit of another person, it is to prevent others from hurting and using you as well.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Renee C. , female <weldedlife.com>, San Francisco, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
It’s good because it helps me understand more of the world and – by comparing the “other” with my own – it helps me understand more of my culture, too; and to see where it is in the world. We’re all in the world, which is a big place, and we may have to bump up against other people, and it’s good to have knowledge outside our own back yard. And because I’m curious and nosey. I do African-style hand-drumming and am able to meet ordinary-looking black guys who are hugely respected as the carriers and handers-on of their songs, rhythms and history, and who tolerate and encourage my efforts to play what they play; I have a Japanese e-mail pen-pal, and I can ask him how life is in his country, how he feels seeing English people at a “Remember Hiroshima” vigil, and whether/how Japanese workers speak to bosses. He asks me about things here that intrigue and puzzle him – like are we all individualists and are Japanese all groupists. It’s just fascinating, and it makes me see how Y? Forum started.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Steve H., 54, white single English male <steve.hill@stevehil.globalnet.co.uk>, Leeds, UK

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
The United States is becoming increasingly multiracial. Tolerance and sensitivity is a major issue. Many European Americans have either no tolerance for difference or view difference as synonomous with negative. It is important that as Americans we all understand the many contributions minorities have made to the mosaic of this country. Why shouldn’t we all learn about each other so that we can respect and be sensitive as human beings living in the same country?
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Taliba <aja6311@unix.tamu.edu>, female, Houston, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
You can learn a lot about who you are by learning about who you’re not. You understand night a lot better by understanding day, illness by understanding health, childhood by understanding adulthood, one religion by understanding another.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
B. Hale <halehart@aol.com>, Hartford , CT

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Iit is important to study other cultures because, by having done so, we realize we are all the same. After having taken the time to study the indigenous activities of these cultures, we can than see the parallels to our own. And with any small use of our heart or soul, we can realize that within all cultures there are those who accept and those who reject differences. In the end, I think the only difference important in people is not their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religious belief, but their use of love or fear to face the world. All groups have their good, evil, bad, benevolent, prejudiced, poor, rich, etc. Let the good uplift the good, and let the fearful condemn the fearful.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Matthew, male, New York, NY

FURTHER NOTICE 8:
Because it’s a sure thing that you’ll be dealing with someone from another culture someday, some time. And when you do, it will help you not be offended by the way that person looks, acts or talks, and it may help you avoid saying or doing something that would offend that person. Other than simple human courtesy, avoiding unnecessary offense has business, social and political advantages that seem pretty obvious.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Andrew, 35, white male <ziptron@start.com.au>, Huntington , NY

FURTHER NOTICE 9:
Understanding leads to tolerance and, more importantly, to the avoidance of misunderstanding, which leads to hostility by way of ignorance and fear. I believe this to be true of all human relations. I also believe it to be the basis for determining the progress or digression of each attempt at human interaction at every level
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
J.B. <cierron@hotmail.com>, Jacksonville, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 10:
I study cultures because it allows me to get to know myself better. It also allows me to be more tolerant and understanding of others, more varied in my responses to others and more appreciative of the cultural factors that shape individual identity. In the process, I deeply enhance my own appreciation of the privileges I have been given, and become more committed to ensuring that others are provided with equitable opportunities as well.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Celia, 45, Filipino-American female, Clinton, IA
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THE QUESTION:
GD61: To people of different demographic backgrounds: It seems that each decade has been marked by a theme. The 1960s was the “hippies,” the 1970s was “disco,” but what was the theme of the 1980s, and with the 1990s almost over, is there a theme for this decade?
POSTED FEB. 17, 1999
Michele P., 22, female <polit002@mailhost1.csusm.edu>, Vista, CA

ANSWER 1:
As far as I know, the consensus was that the ’80s was the “Me Decade.” You know, greed is good, Wall Street rules and all that.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Hanofer, Seattle, WA

FURTHER NOTICE:
The 1980s was a decade of pop music, punkers and yuppies. The 1990s will probably be remembered as dominantly “alternative” and “Gen X.” With so many different themes going on in the 90s, it will be hard to categorize. Think about it, there are “ravers,” “punks,” “gangsters,” “Dead heads (hippies),” and so on. The list of people’s “titles” are endless, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Female, white, 20 <Bettie10@aol.com>, Escondido , Ca

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
When I think of the ’80s, I think of yuppies, money, success, shallowness, etc.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
C, white female, 21, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
The ’80s was the “healthy body” decade, with jogging, exercise and natural food topping the list of interests. The 90s is the PC (politically correct) decade, with people using the proper words without actually changing their attitudes. I am hoping that the next decade will be the “back to basics” decade. where we realize that our families are the center of the universe, and our jobs and social life are secondary.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Tina M., 34 <tinamena@ao.net>, Oviedo , FL

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
A recent TIME magazine article, the one with the rap/R&B artist Lauryn Hill on the cover, addressed the question of what kinds of music best describes the ’90s. If you take a look around, elements of hip hop (the culture and music) have become extremely popular, so much so that it even surpasses country music in annual album sales. It’s not just the music of African Americans anymore. Just look at all the white R&B teeny-bopper groups who’ve adopted (and maybe even “bastardized”) the sound and the image. Of course, it’s always difficult to characterize a decade as one thing or another (Internet boom, economic prosperity, etc.). It’ll probably be easier to do in another 10 years…
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
Marc, 24, male, Baltimore, MD

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
The 80’s does have semi-official labels: the Me Decade, and the Greed Decade. A lot of wealth built on shady Wall Street and real estate deals. Conspicuous consumption. What’s in it for me. The ’90s don’t have a semi-official label yet as far as I can tell. The theme that gets kicked around is “Everybody is a victim, nobody is to blame, everything is relative.” The defining moments of the decade are O.J.’s acquittal on criminal charges, and the public brushing off the Clinton scandal.
POSTED FEB. 22, 1999
B. Hale, ready for a new decade <halehart@aol.com>, Hartford, CT

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
For the ’90s, how about the Paranoia Decade? We’ve seen scads of movies and TV shows about government conspiracy, The X-Files continues to be fantastically popular, every ethnic group has become violently hypersensitive, people don’t let their kids get out of sight, children can be arrested for kissing schoolmates or saying they’d like to bomb their school, the car alarm and self-defense industries are booming, radical and reactionary militias are forming in our backwoods, people are drinking bottled water by the gallon rather than trust what might come out of the faucet, and a city in California has even opened an “air bar” where people can come in and breathe clean air through an oxygen mask. By the way, please note that I’m not saying the paranoia is unjustified.
POSTED FEB. 24, 1999
Colette <inkwolf@earthlink.net>, Seymour, WI
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