January 27, 2008

So the readings for today touched on some of the issues we had been discussing in class regarding racism, classism, etc. There was an idea presented that disadvantaged minorities should just try/work a little harder to improve/solve their own issues. This is America, the land of opportunity; all one needs to do is lace up their boot straps and pull themselves up; everything else will soon fall in place. However, the article " Responsibility for Reducing Poverty" touched on key issues, particularly the fact of blaming the victim has to stop before any real progress can be made. I believe that when it comes to significantly reducing any of the "isms" , action will be required of everyone from the government down to the individual. When society passes these issues off as the responsibility of the individual and their particular community, it creates a divide and mentality of us against them; perpetuating the same division the systems put in place have already created.