Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 Tandy Xenix 02/17/86; site gilbbs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!lsuc!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!hplabs!qantel!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020
From: mc68020@gilbbs.UUCP (Tom Keller)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Slave labor built Siberian pipeline
Message-ID: <71@gilbbs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Mar-86 13:53:23 EST
Article-I.D.: gilbbs.71
Posted: Wed Mar 12 13:53:23 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 23:10:59 EST
References: <1720@bbncca.ARPA> <1122@mit-eddie.UUCP> <542@ihdev.UUCP>
Organization: Gil's Place, Santa Rosa CA
Lines: 44
Summary: more confusion...criticsing American is *NOT* equal to sympathizing with the Soviets

In article <542@ihdev.UUCP>, rastaman@ihdev.UUCP (Floyd Hydrozoan) writes:
> In article <1122@mit-eddie.UUCP> lkk@eddie.UUCP (Larry Kolodney) writes:
> >...
> >Isn't this the same sort of slavery we criticize the Soviets for?
> 
> Sure!  It will be just as soon as we make it illegal to be a Jew, or
> a dissident (You don't like the administration's policy on Nicaragua?
> Off to the road crew, scum!), or make it illegal to fall out of favor
> with the party.

   Or *FUNCTIONALLY* illegal to be non-white!  Come now, Floyd, do you honestly
expect us to believe that the inordinately high percentage of Black inmates
in southern (or northern, for that matter) jails is simply because blacks are
more likely to commit crimes?  Granted, the Soviets carry their situation
to greater extremes, but the principals are the same! 

   While visiting in North Carolina several years ago, I became involved in a 
discussion of the racism issue.  A young black woman pointed out to me that
she would rather live in the south.  She argued that while the "north" pays
much lip service to equality, the fact is that racism is just as prevalent,
we just lie about it, and keep it covered up.  IN the south, she said, at
least she KNEW where people were coming from.  If you were going to be hassled
for being non-white, it would be done openly and honestly.  

   I don't know if I agree with her completely, but being white, I don't find
my reluctance particularly amazing, especially as I am from northern California,
home of California Liberalism.  I have this nagging suspicion, however, that
she is correct.

   IN any case, thh whole point here is that while the Soviets may take things
to greater extremes, I cannot think of anything that the Soviets do, to their
own citizens, as well as to other nations, that we ourselves in the US do not
do, to some extent or another.

-- 

====================================

Disclaimer:  I hereby disclaim any and all responsibility for disclaimers.

tom keller
{ihnp4, dual}!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020

(* we may not be big, but we're small! *)