Wednesday, March 28, 2007
How offensive would you find blackface today?
Referring back to the post I made this weekend about the movie 300: my mom sent me an e-mail with a link to pictures of the Iranian Norooz (New Year's) Parade in NYC. Two images to view: here and here. Feel free to view the rest.
I was a party in Jersey five years ago and I was sitting with an Iranian professor of sociology and he asked me if, as a half-Iranian, I identified as Iranian or not. I replied that I hadn't identified as Iranian until when in second grade I innocently answered the question of what kind of name my last name was and ended up getting chased at recess because of it. The taunts of "Terrorist!" followed me all through high school. After speaking with him, I read his book: The Making of an Iranian Community in America by Maboud Ansari. Although a bit dated, it struck me as inherently true, and there were many things I hadn't considered. His explanation of dual marginality struck me, and I definitely identified with it, choosing what many seem to consider a marginal lifestyle myself.
At least our New Year is based on some astronomical event, like the spring equinox.
A few years ago, some dumbshit foreign policy grad student from University of Chicago had the gumption to tell me that he doesn't believe racism exists since we're all one race. Dumbshit. I agree that we're all one race, but racism is out there and it isn't going to go away for a long fucking time, unfortunately. I'll never tell my kids to deny their Persian heritage, but I hope I never even have to consider the choice.
The only problem I have with people celebrating their cultural heritage is when they use it an excuse to set themselves apart from the rest of us for either selfish or "moral" reasons.
I was a party in Jersey five years ago and I was sitting with an Iranian professor of sociology and he asked me if, as a half-Iranian, I identified as Iranian or not. I replied that I hadn't identified as Iranian until when in second grade I innocently answered the question of what kind of name my last name was and ended up getting chased at recess because of it. The taunts of "Terrorist!" followed me all through high school. After speaking with him, I read his book: The Making of an Iranian Community in America by Maboud Ansari. Although a bit dated, it struck me as inherently true, and there were many things I hadn't considered. His explanation of dual marginality struck me, and I definitely identified with it, choosing what many seem to consider a marginal lifestyle myself.
At least our New Year is based on some astronomical event, like the spring equinox.
A few years ago, some dumbshit foreign policy grad student from University of Chicago had the gumption to tell me that he doesn't believe racism exists since we're all one race. Dumbshit. I agree that we're all one race, but racism is out there and it isn't going to go away for a long fucking time, unfortunately. I'll never tell my kids to deny their Persian heritage, but I hope I never even have to consider the choice.
The only problem I have with people celebrating their cultural heritage is when they use it an excuse to set themselves apart from the rest of us for either selfish or "moral" reasons.
Drunken banking
It's very interesting to do online banking while drunk. I was doing arithmetic out loud. I'm going to read "bad" literature for the rest of the night. Maybe I'll get hungry enough to eat something.
It won't be safe to go out at night when the nerds of junior high unite!
The Onion has a review of the new Revenge of the Nerds DVD. When I was seven or eight, I went to see Ernest Goes to Camp (starring Jim Cleaver as Ernest P. Worrel) and one of the previews was for Revenge of the Nerds 2. It consisted of a fine study with classical music playing until a plush leather armchair swiveled around and Ogre let out his classic "NEEEEEEERRRRRRDDDDSSSSS!!!!!"
The Piraat's feeling pretty good. Tomorrow's Ska Night. I need it, sadly.
The Piraat's feeling pretty good. Tomorrow's Ska Night. I need it, sadly.
Fucking piece of fucking shit.
To top it off, three of the light bulbs of the four in my kitchen burnt out. And they're fucking long-life bulbs.
Remind me never to buy any car from a company that makes something called a Jeep Patriot. I guess that means no Mercedes once I make my millions.
Remind me never to buy any car from a company that makes something called a Jeep Patriot. I guess that means no Mercedes once I make my millions.
I run head-on into traffic in the afternoon. I've logged the longest miles alone at night inside my room.
Fucking shit day. First we get the announcement of a new dress code for our department only. We're already the best-dressed department in the building, and now we get the news that we have to wear shirt and tie every day. Stupid. The tie especially, since they have been shown to collect bacteria within a few wears and are rarely ever laundered. Plus, it's also been shown that patients do not make any differentiation in quality of care based on appearance.
I got my bike back from the shop. $227 for a tune and several new parts, and the fucking chain is skipping more than it was when I dropped it off. The chain derailed at least a half dozen times on the half-mile ride home. I thought it was marginally unsafe to ride in traffic last week when I took it in, but now it's definitely unsafe. The real pisser is that Critical Mass is in two days and I need to find a bike to borrow. Maybe I'll even buy a second bike since I ride enough and it would be nice to have a spare. It's a pain in the ass to drive or take CTA sometimes.
I've had a 26oz. of Piraat in the fridge for a month. Tonight's the night for it. I want to cry and punch walls.
I got my bike back from the shop. $227 for a tune and several new parts, and the fucking chain is skipping more than it was when I dropped it off. The chain derailed at least a half dozen times on the half-mile ride home. I thought it was marginally unsafe to ride in traffic last week when I took it in, but now it's definitely unsafe. The real pisser is that Critical Mass is in two days and I need to find a bike to borrow. Maybe I'll even buy a second bike since I ride enough and it would be nice to have a spare. It's a pain in the ass to drive or take CTA sometimes.
I've had a 26oz. of Piraat in the fridge for a month. Tonight's the night for it. I want to cry and punch walls.
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