A Victim of Victimhood

This may not seem like a funny post, but those of you who know me have learned to cope with my sense of humor. Yesterday, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said, “This crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis, appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing.” He continued, “I do not know any black or indigenous bankers so I can only say [it is wrong] that this part of mankind which is victimized more than any other should pay for the crisis.” Excuse me while I pause to wipe the tears of hilarity from my eyes.

As a resident white person with blue eyes, let me be the first to apologize.

Dear President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva:

I wish to tell you, from the bottom of my heart, how deeply sorry I am for the current financial crisis. But I don’t believe the apology should stop there. I am much sorrier for the soft, politically correct racism that allows you to assume that there is one color of people who requires setting apart for special treatment. I am sorry for anyone who allows a child of one race to believe that they cannot become a doctor, scientist or banker. I am sorry for whatever made you think your insinuation that color is equivalent to job prestige is okay. I am sorry for subsidies, special programs, and any other unearned benefits to one race over another that taught children they are not good enough without the charity of others. I am especially sorry for the soft racism of low expectations that necessarily put you in charge of a country. I am sure there is an indigenous leader who could have done better, if people like you had not convinced him he was less than and dependent on you. On behalf of the white people, we are so, so sorry that we allowed you to be racist. But this apology isn’t for you. It’s for those people you pretend to be speaking for while you continue to condemn them to a life of believing themselves incapable victims of circumstance.

Sincerely,

Just another person who doesn’t care about color

Let’s take a quick skip down memory lane…Do you remember in May of 2005 when President Vicente Fox of Mexico said, “There is no doubt that Mexicans, filled with dignity, willingness and ability to work, are doing jobs that not even blacks want to do there in the United States.”

I honestly do not know what makes such disgusting racism acceptable, especially from people leading large countries. But I do know this: it’s time to start teaching the same curriculum to all children. It’s about choice and accountability. You reap the rewards of the actions you sow. Kids truly do have the opportunity to achieve anything they want to. The only think holding them back is leaders who teach racism and hopelessness as a matter of course.