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Most white truckers are at least *kinda* bigoted--even those who are otherwise likeable--and I'm really sick of hearing all the hateful rhetoric. They direct most of their senseless hatred toward Mexicans, but anyone who's not white, heterosexual, and male is fair game. Their justification for the blatant, ignorant racism goes something like this: "When our ancestors came here, they at least learned the language and tried to fit in." --> BULLSHIT! The non-English-speaking immigrants of the past DID NOT try to learn English any more diligently than Mexicans try to learn English today. "Our" ancestors stuck with their own kind and held on to their native languages and traditions, just like Mexican immigrants do today. That's why we have so many Little Italys and Chinatowns, etc. --> I encounter lots of hate on the road, though it's rarely directed at me. Most people assume I share their
hate, either because I'm white or American or non-Muslim or whatever, but all bigotry disgusts me.
at least they're not trying to grab your junk, though, right?
ReplyDeleteIsn't that stereotyping?? The real issue that bothers many people is the illegal immigrants and the people who illegally put them to work. And yes, they may be exploited. And yes, they have discovered how to get free medical help. And yes, they pay no taxes. We pay their way but that is not justification to hate them. While many trucker drivers may be guilty of expressing their hate so are sportscasters, newscasters, and many others.
ReplyDeleteCareful Ryan, the truckers with the biggest hate are often the one's that will try and feel you up, especially after a 6 pack of beer!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I’ve taken a class called “Race and Racism” where we discussed many of these issues. Just to let you know some of the information from that class… Many groups in our history did put forth concerted efforts assimilating into American culture. The Italians are a great example of successful cultural assimilation. In fact most people considered them "white" these days. Another example: the Irish. They've managed to assimilate well. They were considered low class, trashy people when they first arrived in America as a group. The thing that these two groups had in common that made their assimilation successful is that they wanted to be a part of America. The Mexicans are not assimilating into American culture as readily as the previous two mentioned groups. They differ, as a group, because they don't desire to become American. They simply want to work here, make money here, and then go back home to retire in luxury. The truckers are probably unable to articulate or comprehend what is going on properly. Too bad for them.
I, too, get the feeling that I am involuntarily included in sets of negative attitudes about "others", more often than I would like. It happens at the bar I work in fairly often. Whether it's some guy complaining about "queers" or another guy complaining about "ghetto" people or "white trash" people, it is often assumed by the person talking that I feel the same way. From WikiPedia: "Stereotypes are ideas about people of other particular groups, based primarily on membership in that group. They may be positive or negative prejudicial, and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors. Some people consider all stereotypes to be negative. Stereotypes are rarely completely accurate, based on some kernel of truth, or completely fabricated. Different disciplines give different accounts of how stereotypes develop: Psychologists focus on how experience with groups, patterns of communication about the groups, and intergroup conflict. Sociologists focus on the relations among groups and position of different groups in a social structure. Psychoanalytically-oriented humanists have argued (e.g., Sander Gilman) that stereotypes, by definition, are never accurate representations, but a projection of an individual's fears onto others, regardless of the reality of others. Although stereotypes are rarely entirely accurate, statistical studies have shown that in some cases stereotypes do represent measurable facts."
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