Howdy Folks,
Welcome back to another addition into my blog series revolving around Marc Aronson's "Race". In this third post, I will be discussing my personal opinion on the reading alongside analyzing how Aronson continued to develop his argument that race as a concept is something that has developed since the beginning of human society and has always been rooted in the minds of society as a result. This section is only one chapter long and is somehow still incredibly detailed and important. Overall, the section was an important and enlightening one. Without further ado, let's dive in to summarizing or analyzing the section!
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Welcome back to another addition into my blog series revolving around Marc Aronson's "Race". In this third post, I will be discussing my personal opinion on the reading alongside analyzing how Aronson continued to develop his argument that race as a concept is something that has developed since the beginning of human society and has always been rooted in the minds of society as a result. This section is only one chapter long and is somehow still incredibly detailed and important. Overall, the section was an important and enlightening one. Without further ado, let's dive in to summarizing or analyzing the section!
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One big point in history that Marc Aronson focuses on is Hitler's Nazi regime in 1940's Germany. Aronson makes it clears that due to discrimination, Jewish people were blamed completely for every problem the Germans had through eugenics in Aryanism. It was claimed that Jews were the "racial tuberculosis of nations" (Page 205). This led to the race of Jewish people being blamed completely for everything that could have been possibly done in German society. Newly bread racism led to Jewish people being killed in what the German people saw as justifiable actions. One powerful quote that meant a lot to me while reading was:
"If blacks were being killed, they must have provoked whites. If Jews were being killed, they must have brought it on themselves. Hitler's choice of victims was perfect" (Page 210).
I think this quote leads to a lot of insightful thinking about just how ridiculous this social construct of race has gotten. The fact that an excuse can always be made for the persecution of those races is one thing. But another is that no matter what, those who are different or outstanding from the "normal" or majority (In this case, white Germans) will be blamed or attacked or persecuted because of their difference. And once again, it all ties back to the same idea of "if they are not like me, they are my enemy" that Marc Aronson has slowly repeatedly brought up. According to him, different is always seen as bad. And once again, more historical evidence perfectly pieces into his arguments and helps develop them.
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Charlie,
ReplyDeleteI think this post, though short, is very insightful and has left me thinking deeply about the possible repetition of history. It's pretty scary to think that another Holocaust is possible, especially considering the "Never Again" reminder and how it was ignored with the Rwandan genocide and more. Do you think something like the Holocaust will happen again, perhaps in our lifetimes? Keep up the good work!
-Porter
P.S. I really appreciate that you opened with "Howdy".
Howdy Porter,
DeleteThank you!!! I'm glad you thought so. I definitely agree: its's a terrifying thought. I think it is absolutely a possibility for another racially powered genocide to occur, but I'm not sure to what extent and at what point in time.
Howdy, partner!
ReplyDeleteI thought your insight into "Hitler's choice of victims" was spot on. Good job relating it back to one of Aronson's main arguments of the book. I'd like to know what you thought about Gandhi's philosophy of self-respect and the impact it had in other parts of the world.
Howdy Brianna,
DeleteI'm glad you thought so. Aronson has done such an excellent job showing his argument, making it easy to really connect with. I personally think Aronson did an excellent job of implementing the Ghandi "self-respect" philosophy. The example he gave with the caste system really helped me understand that in order to earn freedom from prejudice of the British, they first had to remove their own prejudice for themselves.
Hi Charlie,
ReplyDeleteit was my first time reading your blog and I absolutely loved it! Your blog was easy to read and catch the important parts of the chapter you read. You introduced the “big point” that the author focused on, added a quote, and explained your thought. You concluded with a prominent comment of your initial thoughts on the topic of genocide.
I wonder too, what WILL ever stop these violent acts? I wonder if racism would ever just disappear and this world could ever be peaceful without judgement. Do you think there are any actions that people or even organizations that could stop the violent acts that could possibly prevent such events?
Hey Grace,
DeleteThank you! Glad you enjoyed it! Sadly, after reading Marc Aronson's book so far, I personally believe that racism will always be a prominent issue that will likely never go away. It has always been a constant in human society, and it's doubtful that EVERYONE would change. I do think it can be greatly reduced, but it will always be present.
Hi Charlie,
ReplyDeleteDoes Aronson include any ideas about how to prevent such genocides from occurring in this section of the reading? Is it enough for us to recognize how they happened in the past to help us avoid them in the future?
Hi Mrs. LaClair,
DeleteWhile Aronson does not directly address the idea, he definitely provides enough information on how these genocides could potentially start. In previous sections, he has built up exactly how the hatred of Jewish people by the German people has accumulated and in this section he describes how it really just exploded. I think Aronson is giving us that to show how we can recognize signs or racial prejudice and acknowledge them early.