Abolish Women's and Black History Months in favor of Human History Month? - General

[url]http://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-the-united-states-government-abolish-women-s-and-black-history-months-in-favor-of-human-history-month#share[/url] Why honor achievements from just one race and gender when every race, gender and age-group deserves recognition for great human accomplishments? We shouldn't discriminate against the other gender or races who've also aided in bringing humanity forward and I believe it's time to remove gender, age and race-discrimination from all aspects of life, starting with federal special observances. In addition to removing Black History and Women's History Months in favor of Human History Month, I'd like to have the month of recognition moved from February ( the shortest month - Black History Month ) and March ( Women's History Month ) to January so as each new year comes we can reflect on great human accomplishments from one to many years prior. Discuss? Sign? Agree? Disagree?

Uh, do you understand why we recognise black history and women's history? Both of these demographics have faced discrimination for a long time, up until around 100 years ago women in western society had very few rights (eg with women not being able to vote), and only around 50 years ago were black men and women finally considered equal to the rest of us. And still to this day there is discrimination against these groups in our society. If you're a woman your average pay would typically not be as high as the average pay of a man, and if you're black then you're more likely to be arrested than a white man or woman. Having a single holiday to 'reflect on great human accomplishments' is ridiculous because such a month of recognition would not give sufficient recognition to the adversity that many demographics have had to struggle with to get to where we are today.

Now I as the average white male is feeling discriminated that I'm considered the roots of all evil for something that happened in the past. I'm in favor of OP's suggestion as I'd rather we celebrated as a combined people rather than focusing on our differences.

Hmmm... Por que no los dos?

to nationally recognize different races and "pay tribute" to them in itself is racist. to be worshipped for what you are born as is ethically wrong. furthermore, the only way to eliminate racism is to stop talking about it. black history month is a very racist concept. i also wasn't aware of women's history month, but it sounds equally sexist.

Even though I'd never personally participate in any of these sorts of holidays, I see BHM as more of a reminder to not dick on someone for their race like we used to than a celebration of blacks or something. It really doesn't seem to me like it's supposed to be all about "HEEY YEAH LOOK HOW AWESOME BLACK PEOPLE AND WOMEN ARE, FUCK YEAH" which is just monstrously condescending, more than anything.

No. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("This is not debating" - MaxOfS2D))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=Primigenes;41698554]What are you even talking about? Black History Month isn't about paying tribute to other races. Its about honoring and celebrating the achievements of black men and woman throughout history in the face of racial adversity.[/QUOTE] so basically, it's not about paying tribute certain races, its about paying tribute to black men and women.... sounds like you're contradicting yourself here. fixing social problems is done through ignoring them. if you disagree, perhaps then we should put school shooters on ad boards with a "KILL COUNT: 100" under them. maybe we should end child porn by posting links to every site that contains it. maybe we should give all the attention to the problem so that people can be made aware of it and become a part of it. but i would disagree with that.

[QUOTE=Primigenes;41698554]What are you even talking about? Black History Month isn't about paying tribute to other races. Its about honoring and celebrating the achievements of black men and woman throughout history in the face of racial adversity. Also where on earth did you get the idea that by not talking about something that thing will disappear? Since when did we fix problems by ignoring them? The same thing goes with Women's History Month[/QUOTE] Not talking about problems that have a physical manifestation will not make them disappear Racism is a social concept and is not bound by the same rules, by constantly trying to make up for the actions of a small amount of people (In the 1860s, as slavery was at its highest, 1.6% of US citizens owned slaves, reported in the 1860 census) we come up with pipe dreams like reverse racism which somehow theorizes that two wrongs make a right. I refuse to acknowledge with getting passed over for someone potentially less-qualified when applying for college as a "good thing" based on the actions of less than 1.6% of people. [QUOTE=willtheoct;41698696] fixing social problems is done through ignoring them. if you disagree, perhaps then we should put school shooters on ad boards with a "KILL COUNT: 100" under them. maybe we should end child porn by posting links to every site that contains it.[/QUOTE] No, we fix that by fixing out mental health care system. [quote]Those maybe we should give all the attention to the problem so that people can be made aware of it and become a part of it.[/QUOTE] Doesn't work like that

[QUOTE=Bazsil;41698722] Doesn't work like that[/QUOTE] that is EXACTLY how it works. the black panthers don't decide to be black supremacists because they themselves were treated unfairly, they decide to be supremacists because their ancestors were treated unfairly. kids hear about the KKK and the BPP on TV and in news, and want to join the cause. people exposed to the propaganda that comes with history month think "wow, white people are horrible" and "i feel terrible to be white" and those same people, then talk about racism. then, younger folk who have never heard of the concept of racism, hear it for the first time and think "you know, i never considered that black or white people might be inferior to others, what an interesting concept" and then become racists.

[QUOTE=willtheoct;41698387]to nationally recognize different races and "pay tribute" to them in itself is racist. to be worshipped for what you are born as is ethically wrong. furthermore, the only way to eliminate racism is to stop talking about it. black history month is a very racist concept. i also wasn't aware of women's history month, but it sounds equally sexist.[/QUOTE] The only way to abolish racism is to bring it into light. They didn't care much about racism during the 1700s, and the 1700s were incredibly racist with all the slavery and shit that happened. Ignoring racism and sexism will only accomplish that the children of sexists and racists will continue spreading their sexism and racism uninterrupted and more people get oppressed. Bringing it to light will give the opportunity to educate sexists and racists to not be sexist or racist any more, thus stopping the chain of bad deeds. To the question of OP. What you seem to want is for white men to get more recognition, instead of only the black and women. But the problem is that every month is white men month, so let's give recognition to those who have opposed the racist/sexist community and oppression to succeed with great things. I wish the black history month and women's months weren't a thing. But that would require that sexism and racism isn't a problem any more in society, and sadly, we aren't there by many many years.

I'd say it shouldn't be don't talk about racism, but rather don't talk about [I]race[/I]. If people would look at a person and just think of them as just another person, rather then a "black" person, or a "white" person, we'd have a lot less issues with this in general.

I think Morgan Freeman said it best. [video=youtube;GeixtYS-P3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s[/video] Mike Wallace: "WELL DURR ..."

oh my god. we're not going to just stop bringing attention to a legacy of oppression because of this humanist bs what makes you think that "human history month" won't just end up plagued by the same white male supremacy as like... every other month?

[QUOTE=Tools;41697905]Now I as the average white male is feeling discriminated that I'm considered the roots of all evil for something that happened in the past.[/QUOTE] That's the thing though, it's not in the past - the oppression of blacks and women by "average white males" is still very much happening.

I can't seem to simply rate posts in this forum, but some of the responses in this thread are really great and it made me happy to see them.

Yeah ratings are disabled in mass debate

[QUOTE=Antdawg;41697760]Uh, do you understand why we recognise black history and women's history? Both of these demographics have faced discrimination for a long time, up until around 100 years ago women in western society had very few rights (eg with women not being able to vote), and only around 50 years ago were black men and women finally considered equal to the rest of us. And still to this day there is discrimination against these groups in our society. If you're a woman your average pay would typically not be as high as the average pay of a man, and if you're black then you're more likely to be arrested than a white man or woman. Having a single holiday to 'reflect on great human accomplishments' is ridiculous because such a month of recognition would not give sufficient recognition to the adversity that many demographics have had to struggle with to get to where we are today.[/QUOTE] yeah, they faced discrimination. they also experienced segregation, which is what you're doing by setting aside a specific month for a specific racial group. when can "black history" finally be integrated into history as a whole?

[QUOTE=Variant;41704843]yeah, they faced discrimination. they also experienced segregation, which is what you're doing by setting aside a specific month for a specific racial group. when can "black history" finally be integrated into history as a whole?[/QUOTE] when anti-blackness isn't a thing anymore. also how are you seriously calling black history month segregation? you know it was started by black people? like, it's a black movement, it's a black people's response to oppression. if you're saying that there wouldn't need to be a black history month in a truly non-racist world, maaaybe you're right kinda in a way? but that's just hypothetical and not really relevant to like, this century. basically [white people?] taking away black history month [from black people?] is not liberating or revolutionary or productive or good or non-evil

[QUOTE=vagrant;41704914]when anti-blackness isn't a thing anymore. also how are you seriously calling black history month segregation? you know it was started by black people? like, it's a black movement, it's a black people's response to oppression. if you're saying that there wouldn't need to be a black history month in a truly non-racist world, maaaybe you're right kinda in a way? but that's just hypothetical and not really relevant to like, this century. basically [white people?] taking away black history month [from black people?] is not liberating or revolutionary or productive or good or non-evil[/QUOTE] i feel that it's segregation in the same way that BET or blackpeoplemeet.com exists. it's really not that any oppression comes from another racial group, but rather from the same people that fought for equality; the same people that wanted to be able to live their lives as freely as anyone should be able to, and the same people that wanted to share the world with kind people regardless of skin color. then, they're like "nah, let's separate ourselves in the lunchrooms at school, by neighborhoods, in dating sites, television networks..." it's sort of like a voluntary segregation. i mean, i guess it's their freedom to do so, but something about it seems like it goes against everything that they've fought for. i don't know, it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. on the other hand, i only have a certain perspective that comes with not actually being black or living in the same area.

[QUOTE=Variant;41705054]i feel that it's segregation in the same way that BET or blackpeoplemeet.com exists. it's really not that any oppression comes from another racial group, but rather from the same people that fought for equality; the same people that wanted to be able to live their lives as freely as anyone should be able to, and the same people that wanted to share the world with kind people regardless of skin color. then, they're like "nah, let's separate ourselves in the lunchrooms at school, by neighborhoods, in dating sites, television networks..." it's sort of like a voluntary segregation. i mean, i guess it's their freedom to do so, but something about it seems like it goes against everything that they've fought for. i don't know, it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. on the other hand, i only have a certain perspective that comes with not actually being black or living in the same area.[/QUOTE] Shock horror people tend to hang out with their own kind! I suppose you'd say that it's sexist that mostly men go to pubs and women don't.

[QUOTE=Das Bo Schitt;41704364]I think Morgan Freeman said it best. [video=youtube;GeixtYS-P3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s[/video] Mike Wallace: "WELL DURR ..."[/QUOTE] The freeman is wise. But I agree with him. That statement is my exact sentiment too [editline]3rd August 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Slowbro;41704731]That's the thing though, it's not in the past - the oppression of blacks and women by "average white males" is still very much happening.[/QUOTE] And labeling a month after their existence is going to solve this how I can't think of a single way. It seems really meek and almost pathetic.

[QUOTE=FoodStuffs;41706086]The freeman is wise. But I agree with him. That statement is my exact sentiment too[/QUOTE] Except racism won't just go away when we stop acknowledging each others' race as he claims. Racism is in many forms and is everywhere, of course from hate speech all the way down to an employer giving preference to a white man over all other races for a job position.

[QUOTE=Variant;41705054]i feel that it's segregation in the same way that BET or blackpeoplemeet.com exists. it's really not that any oppression comes from another racial group, but rather from the same people that fought for equality; the same people that wanted to be able to live their lives as freely as anyone should be able to, and the same people that wanted to share the world with kind people regardless of skin color. then, they're like "nah, let's separate ourselves in the lunchrooms at school, by neighborhoods, in dating sites, television networks..." it's sort of like a voluntary segregation. i mean, i guess it's their freedom to do so, but something about it seems like it goes against everything that they've fought for. i don't know, it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. on the other hand, i only have a certain perspective that comes with not actually being black or living in the same area.[/QUOTE] when white people segregate black people, it's so the black people don't take anything from the whites. when black people make their own networks and do stuff for their own people, it's to escape restrictions from white people, or the estrangement that I imagine comes to a black person being surrounded by white culture [which is racist to them] black people aren't persecuting themselves don't worry about it.

[QUOTE=FoodStuffs;41706086]And labeling a month after their existence is going to solve this how I can't think of a single way. It seems really meek and almost pathetic.[/QUOTE] Because without any recognition of the racism in society will only breed more racism. The black history month is there to show that black people aren't sub-humans, but they are equal. It's bringing recognition to how bullshit racism is, and this will give racists another perspective. [QUOTE=Das Bo Schitt;41704364]I think Morgan Freeman said it best. [video=youtube;GeixtYS-P3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s[/video] Mike Wallace: "WELL DURR ..."[/QUOTE] I partially agree with Morgan. I agree that Black History Month is bullshit. Because black history should become as integrated as white history. This is sadly not true, and we need to keep the recognition of black history until it is. Racism will not go away because we sweep the trouble under the rug.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;41697760]Uh, do you understand why we recognise black history and women's history? Both of these demographics have faced discrimination for a long time, up until around 100 years ago women in western society had very few rights (eg with women not being able to vote), and only around 50 years ago were black men and women finally considered equal to the rest of us. And still to this day there is discrimination against these groups in our society. If you're a woman your average pay would typically not be as high as the average pay of a man, and if you're black then you're more likely to be arrested than a white man or woman. Having a single holiday to 'reflect on great human accomplishments' is ridiculous because such a month of recognition would not give sufficient recognition to the adversity that many demographics have had to struggle with to get to where we are today.[/QUOTE] Having this history weeks are plain ridiculous. Morgan Freeman once said, that he finds black history month ridiculous, and that everyone should get rid of racism by stopping talking about it.

[QUOTE=overpain;41706878]Having this history weeks are plain ridiculous. Morgan Freeman once said, that he finds black history month ridiculous, and that everyone should get rid of racism by stopping talking about it.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Antdawg;41706175]Except racism won't just go away when we stop acknowledging each others' race as he claims. Racism is in many forms and is everywhere, of course from hate speech all the way down to an employer giving preference to a white man over all other races for a job position.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=vagrant;41704558]oh my god. we're not going to just stop bringing attention to a legacy of oppression because of this humanist bs what makes you think that "human history month" won't just end up plagued by the same white male supremacy as like... every other month?[/QUOTE] i seem to recall that every month is all history month.. there is no removal of other races from history books or lessons. only the removal of non-black races during black history month. in canadian schools, we are taught how rich white people used the asian immigrants to dynamite tunnels for the railroad. we are taught about rosa parks. any month. to dedicate a month to differentiating between black and white adds to the problem. [QUOTE=Primigenes;41698942]And their's nothing wrong with that in the context of its creation.[/QUOTE] i find that to be racist. [QUOTE=vagrant;41704914]also how are you seriously calling black history month segregation? you know it was started by black people?[/QUOTE] are you implying black people can do no evil? they are just as human as the rest of us. no less, and no more. i'm leaving this discussion, there isn't much here other than racism, covered up by polite wording and tone. when you all learn to treat races equally then maybe you'll get it.

[QUOTE=Bloodshot12;41701889]I'd say it shouldn't be don't talk about racism, but rather don't talk about [I]race[/I]. If people would look at a person and just think of them as just another person, rather then a "black" person, or a "white" person, we'd have a lot less issues with this in general.[/QUOTE] In japan thats how we refer to people the many forgieners that live and visit japan of multiple races and colors we refer to every human being here as this person that guy or girl we dont use race when we dicuss eachother you wont hear i saw this black man or this white girl, its simply i saw this guy and you maybe describea few features like hair or clothing but not race.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;41706175]Except racism won't just go away when we stop acknowledging each others' race as he claims. Racism is in many forms and is everywhere, of course from hate speech all the way down to an employer giving preference to a white man over all other races for a job position.[/QUOTE] I think you're missing the point. The point is that if you stop consciously acknowledging the construct that is race, then eventually it will be no longer subconsciously recognised, and then there won't be racism. Because the very construct of "race" will have ceased to exist. Morgan's point was that we propagate the concept of racism, when we should be burying it. Do I think we're at the point where we can and should do this about Racism? Probably not, but it's something we [i]will[/i] have to do eventually. Sexism? Not even close. We've got a long way to go before this reaches a point where we should bury it and move on, because the root causes of it are far more intrinsic and basic than the concept of "race".