[MPLS]: Minneapolis Public Education

[Michael Atherton]

Jim Bernstein wrote:

> The fact is the Scottish, English, Irish, Welsh, 
> French Canadians, Germans, Prussians, Bavarians, Rhinelanders, 
> Swedes, Finns, Danes, Norwegians, Italians (and all of the other
> Europeans not mentioned) were all white people - which made a huge
> difference in how they interacted with each other.  
> 
> While they may have spoke different tongues and had somewhat different
> traditions, they all pretty much looked the same and most had a common
> religious heritage (Christian) and many enjoyed a common political and
> social tradition.  
> 
> To suggest that Europeans at the turn of the century "were just as
> different from each other as the Somalis, Hispanics, and 
> Hmong are from today's Yankees" is simply oblivious to history.

Oh? I believe that it is your position that is oblivious to history.
For eons, "White" people have fought, persecuted, tortured, and
murdered each other in the belief that they were different or
better than each other.  Humans don't need race or culture to 
differentiate between In groups and Out groups.  

Europeans didn't believe that all pretty much looked the same.  Even
in this county Italians were called "dark."  As recently as sixty
years ago the German government proclaimed Aryans to be a superior race.
As to Christianity, Christians have killed each other for thousands
of years over trivial theological differences.  I think that you
might be old enough to remember that JFK's religion was an important 
issue in his election (he was Catholic).  Don't forget all of those
White folks that killed each other in the Civil War.

It is only the intervening years that have dulled the salience
of our "differences."

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park