MLKjr Day: Meeting the Diversity Challenge

[HornEd]

Like most nations where Klipsch speakers may be found, the U.S. was not founded without unequal treatment to one or more segments of its population. Curiously, diversity tends to have a potential for great strength if diverse peoples would only let it be so. Certainly Adolf Hitler had that point brought home by Jessie Owens in the 1936 Olympics... and Navajo "Wind Talkers" got the point across to Japanese battlefield elitists in WWII... and Yao Ming even denied Shaq points three times in a row while making some of his own... the MAIN point is that by recognizing our collective strengths we gain the opportunity of creating a better lifestyle in our own "audio castles."

While I may have not always agreed with Martin Luther King, Jr., a least he held a mirror up to society, black and white, that we may see our selves in a different way. Granted, a round of near endless debate can revolve around the quality of the looking glass and such distortions that may ensue... the important part is reflecting upon the reflection no matter how imperfect, that we may each adapt our understanding and consideration toward the riches that diversity affords us. Without diversity and adaptation in nature there would likely be no Paul W. Klipsch to fold his horns and unleash a new heritage on an audio challenged world.

Hmmm, come to think of it, there might also be no Bose to recreate an audio challenged world!

It seems that this Forum may have more of a link to MLKjr Day than most... for it represents a place where folks can say just about anything this side of an original ForresThump... and Forum members can discuss it in a fairly flame free atmosphere... and we can all grow from exposure to such diverse approaches. I've got to believe that the spirit of MLKjr would find the spirit of this Forum to be vital, growing, and beneficial to Klipsch fanciers of any derivation.

I must confess, however, that I may soon cross the color line with my beloved black Legends... by painting them gray. The same colorful fate will befall the Mitsubishi RPHD TV. It seems that modern color theory holds that a neutral gray surrounding the HT image provides a better transition for any color eyes between the surroundings and the screen.

As a staunch independent of many decades, I readily acknowledge that I have learned much, pro and con, from conservatives, liberals, and other persuasions that I have encountered around this globe. My success as a think-tank operator was in our ability to apply cross-disciplined techniques to solve puzzles in a field where the nation's best specialists had come to a stalling point. Whether one applies one of the evolutionary theories or one of the creation theories to the nature of us human types, the clear fact is that we are all mongrels to one degree or another... and that the DNA that holds us together is much more alike than not.

It seems that the human condition is one in which exposing differences creates more interest than gathering up our individual strengths and reinforcing our own sphere of influence in life's continuing struggle... through the bloody war of dominance... or the economic battle for butter. Again, this Forum provides an example of widely varied political, religious, and audio persuasions... but provides troughs from which we can feed among the fact choices... and grow an ever stronger (and cost efficient!) audio environment with a greater respect for those who fashion their audio environment in another way. Totally tubular or solidly solid state... or somewhere in-between... we can find that tolerance opens eyes and feeds adaptablility in our own systems... be they familial or audio.

On this MLKjr Day, it is good to reflect how one pebble adroitly dropped into the sea of humanity... can build questionable ripples... that become waves of understanding... that create an opportunity at whose gates we daily stand. =HornEd

PS: Thanks to Fred Klipsch... and spirit of PWK... there is a company that cared enough to give us the very best Forum, by which we can exercise tolerant enthusiasm for every one who, in his own way, declares..."I have a dream!" Even if that one began his first post with, "I have a nightmare!" We have much to be thankful for this day... and much to do in this world.

[prodj101]

personally, I think MLK would be sick to see what has happend to the country. not to be offensive towards anyone, but I don't think he would like what the black race has come to. being black myself, I really don't like it. all I see at my school from the black students (generalization) are failing grades, and trouble makers. Than you watch comedians like Cedric the Entertainer, and all they can do is complain about how the race is being held down and being discriminated against for things they never did. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but if my school is an example, I can't blame people for holding stereotypes. I know I would if I were a different race. I'm not saying that black people have never been mistreated, but there is no excuse for the behaviours some people have today. I have lost all respect/interest in most rap artists due to this fact. they certainly aren't helping by spouting off about bitc#es they've had sex with, or hommies they've smoked. There is still alot of racisim in the world, and the reasons listed above are only reasons for racists to hold on to their beliefs. The way I look at it, if you can look at yourself and say "hmmm, gang colors, only rap music, terrible grades and disrespect for anyone not in my crew" you can go to hell cause you certianly aren't making it any easier for the rest of us.

[jt1stcav]

Amen, brother! And Rodney King said it best when he said:

"Can't we all just get along?"

In this, the 21st Century, we all should be getting along, not just in this country, but throughout the world. With global terrorism, impending war with Iraq and disagreement with N. Korea, it's a shame we as a people can't look past any indiffernces and simply make ammends. We still have to suffer with the KKK or Neo Nazism here in the USA...when will we ever learn?

I'm afraid, never in our lifetime.

[prodj101]

I think an attack by aliens like in that one movie might help pull people together a bit.

[HornEd]

Curiously, race as supposedly determined by skin color or anatomical features are not sufficiently clear as to merit scientific acceptance of race as a difference between people. Strange how such a small difference physically can contribute to so much difference in the minds of so many.

As I have said before on this forum, a journey to Monrovia in Liberia taught me an interesting lesson beyond dragging my blond hair and blue eyed presence into yet another culture in which I was stereotypically looked down upon. The land that was to become Liberia was sparcely settled by native tribes when boats unloaded former slaves in the United States upon what was to become their new home. It was a big idea during President Monroe's administration to return former slaves to their home continent. Unfortunately, that is a far cry from returning them to their original homes and their original lifestyle.

Anyway, when I visited Liberia, the decendants of the former slaves were the aristocracy and the decendents of the local tribes were the ones looked down upon. The issue was not one of color... it was one of one group of humans trying to feel more important by looking down on another group of humans to their detriment. Mind you, this example is not one intended to be demeaning to people of color (whatever the Hell that is supposed to mean!) but rather a realization that finding someone to pick on is a human trait whether we are talking about lily white Northern Ireland or the reason for building the Great Wall of China.

Progress is forcing us to live in a Global Village... it is about time we learn to be the villagers this globally warming world needs to fight the meaningful battles of survival together. =HornEd

[Dale W]

#1 This topic may go on for pages or may end quickly due to the effort and energy already exerted on an issue that may never be resolved.

#2 I'm olny one person in the grand scheme of things, but thats were it has to start and thats how i live my life. Treat your fellow man the way you want to be treated.

sounds so simple, too bad it's not. I'll do my part, you can count on that.But some need to think they have to rally around a cause to be respected amoung there piers. Sad existance indeed.

PRODJ: I don't care what colour your skin is, if your an ******* thats the way others will treat you. If your a decent man you should be afforded the privledge of being treated that way. I am sorry if others don't see it that way.

[prodj101]

"PRODJ: I don't care what colour your skin is, if your an ******* thats the way others will treat you. If your a decent man you should be afforded the privledge of being treated that way. I am sorry if others don't see it that way."

you didn't get the point of my post.

[Dale W]

PRODJ: I got your point, i don't think you got mine. Or it was mis-read.

What i'm saying is you can olny do what " you " can do. What others think as a whole is hard to overcome, but as one person you can try make a difference by the way you potray yourself.Rome was'nt built in a day and no race problem will be solved in one either.

[HornEd]

Dale, your one person doing the best he can approach is commendable... would that it were contageous. But the "Proj Point" seems to be that if we as a disparite bundle of humanity were attacked by a deadly, non-human foe we could reach beyond our differences and pull together as one human race.

One of my favorite festivals in all the United States occurs once a year in San Antonio, Texas. It is staged on the grounds of the Institute of Texas Cultures that remain from the World's Fair held in San Antonio 34 years ago. There are over a hundred ethnicities that celibrate their differences in the Texas Folklife Festival... differences in food, dance, beliefs and attire... and while there is no shortage of beer... there is a distinct shortage of the ugly that occurs after prejudice has run its natural course.

I remember once when my life was somewhat in jeopardy when I tried to explain the importance of prejudice to a gang of Puerto Rican and blacks in New York City's Lower East Side. I had been invited to their gang headquarters as someone who they thought was above racism to talk about how they could make a difference in their ghetto. When I said prejudice should be an important part of every human being's day, every eye in the apartment glowered at me.

But, I believed my words to be true then as I do now. For if it were not for pre-judging the events of our day, we would be bogged down in an endless procession of decisions to make. Prejudice gives us the opportunity to make decisions ahead of time that speed our final decisions as the actual event occurs. Now, when it comes to pre-judging people, it is incumbant upon each of us to double-check that our prejudice is correct and the behavior it suggests is appropriate. Clearly, people who do not validate their prejudice when the reality of the prejudice presents itself wallows in ignorance... and, so, breeds ignorance beyond whatever trivial differences may exist between people.

Sadly, slavery still exists in some parts of the world... including parts that may be reached by the Klipsch Forum. There are some people who are prejudiced into believing that my ancestors were at fault for there having been slavery in these United States. Actually, all my grandparents were born in Europe... and slaves or slave makers that they might have been... were likely found among the Germanic tribes or Norman invaders of England. Slavery is a social disease that has affected mankind in most of the known world one time or another. In effect, a vestige of slavery exists each time we exert undue influence and subject our will upon that of another. Then again, maybe that is called "marriage."

The "culture shuffle" of dominance has probably gone on for millions of years... especially in light of the oldest hominoid skull being dated at seven million years old. The opportunity for discovering truth and understanding is greater today than ever before. It is up to us to enlighten our brother and sister of our common bond to fight and make alien the force of societal ignorance. I am proud to have Prodj as a fellow Klipsch Forum marcher this day. =HornEd

[Dale W]

PRODJ: I'm sorry, if what edhorn said was your point. Then yes i did miss it.

I totaly agree with you, I've said all along to my family and friends that the whole problem with the human race is we have no common goal, we exist day by day drifting from thought to thought but as a collective whole we are working for no cause !!! except to eat and house ourselves.

If olny we could all ban together and work towards achieving a commom goal without some monatary reward being the motivation, then we could take a step forward as a race of beings instead of trying to dominate one another.

[HornEd]

You bring up an interesting point, Dale. And one that has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. I am one of those people who doesn't believe in goal directed behavior... and much of my early fortune was made because of it. Goal directed behavior, to be successful, means keeping your eye on the goal rather than where that goal is taking you. In effect, it can be like prejudice not being checked when the occasion for having had it arises.

Goal directed behavior is a jackass with a stick tied to his head... with a carrot dangling out in front. Left to its own devices, the jackass will go around in a circle to the right or the left depending on which front leg is slightly shorter. No, my friend, try as we might, goal directed behavior doesn't work for most humans... any more than it does for most jackasses.

I believe in "process oriented" behavior... that's when your paying attention to what you are doing and where it might lead you. More than one wise man has said that it is the journey not the destination that is most important... and I agree. As "process oriented" behavior works well on this Forum. The amount of information and the quality of the posters helps us chart our course through the upgrade path... and our knowledge and enjoyment is enriched every step of the way... or we will soon know the reason why... and then toss a few more sheckels in our cart and trudge along that upgrade path... our eyes wide with the prospect of a better earful.

Thus, in our dialogue with our fellow humans, "process oriented" behavior bids us to take note of those whose lives we touch and go on into the night knowing that we have left each each opportunity better than we found it. Doing good is neither a knee-jerk exercise nor a reason to be self-fullfiled... it is doing what ought to be done... thoughtfully... especially when no one else seems to be doing it. It is the ability to resist flaming the poster who offends you... and successfully daring him to set aside his prejudice long enough for you both to understand the situation. It is the process by which peace is more than a time when resistance is futile. =HornEd

[Dale W]

HORNED: I fear were just splitting hairs on the same thought. At the very least we can agree that a direction and or purpose is needed to make forward progress. How you see fit to travel the road will determine the man you have become in the end. Success can be measured in many ways, with no two men agreeing on that either.

[j-malotky]

Would'nt the world be a great place if we were all truly equal?

Unfortuanately I am in the majority of the population who is the LEAST free in the good old USA. No, I am not black, I am a white middle aged divorced male. I have limited rights and choices in being a parent and have rigid job requirements since I am always one payment away from financial ruin and possible jail time.

If I was a so called minority, I could have gone to most any college I want. I would have had more low interest finace options to pay for my education. Maybe even for free.

If I was a so called minority, I would be in business for myself, financed with State money and given more preference in earning government contract work.

JM

[prodj101]

thats another thing. I see the amount of funding minorities get as a slap in the face more than help. it's basically saying, "because you're of this race, we're assuming your parents aren't smart enough to get a job and make enough money to be able to pay for your education." It should say "if you do not meet the income requirments for our school, we can provide you with financial aid, regardless of race or sex." as funny as it may sound, I actually turned down a chance to go to a jazz camp because at the time that really got to me. they say it like minorities are the only people in the country that have financial problems, when I personally know people that wouldn't be able to send their kids through college.

[HornEd]

Dale, I agree that it seems that we are headed in a similar direction... I was just sharing an approach to moving down the pathway of life that departs from the usual "goal oriented" method taught in schools of higher learning. It was not meant to detract from you as a person or as a scholar. Process oriented methodology was taught to engineers and scientists when they joined our think tank. Frankly, it was the secret of our success in solving problems that our "goal directed" collegues who worked for major companies or the government found too difficult. So, I was just trying to share an insight... not split hairs with a fellow Forum member.

I trust by your definition you are a successful man, Dale, certainly your posts reflect a great deal of integrity. =HornEd

[Dale W]

Prodj: Do you think there is any kind of happy median for grants ???

Now i live in northern alberta (canada) we have a serious native problem. Now what is the goverment suppose to do ? If we give them money (which we do and lots of it ) it's not enough and they whine about it. If we don't give them money they whine even louder.

On second thought maybe whine is a poor choice of words. Lets replace that with protest.Now these people can hunt and fish the land untill it's destroid then turn around and blame the problem on someone else. (white folk) It always seems to be someone elses fault that they drink and pass out in the streets or the house that the goverment gave them has no heat because they chopped a hole in the wall so the horses could drink out of the bathtub ( yes i've seen this time and time again) brand new cars totaly wrecked within a year. etc etc etc

But according to these people it's always someone else causing there problems. when will these people start being held accountable for there own choices, like the rest of us.

moral of the story is, we've paid off these people for so long that now we can't stop. They depend on it to survive, yet me as a white 38 year old middle class male, i'm paying the bulk of income tax to support this b/s. The rich don't pay and nethier do the poor. In canada our top tax bracket is 55% , last year i paid some $18,000.00 in tax yet my banker still wants my morgage payment every month.

What incentive is there when you can sit home and wait for your treaty check to come in, and live on a reserve for free while paying no tax !!

you tell me who's really laughing at who ?

horned: Spliting hairs is not a bad thing , the olny way we can hope to learn more about one another and understand is with constructive debate.

BUT I'M STILL STAYING OFF YOUR COUCH !!! LOL

[LOADEDTUNES]

DALE: I realize what point your trying to convey, minus writing a novel here most are not going to understand what you mean. I however do, and i'm in the same boat. My taxes were higher than yours and i just shutter everytime i watch a protest on the tube. Goverments think for some reason that throwing money at a problem is a solution but it never is.

You have to want to be helped and want to make something of yourself before the true meaning of a grant or funding can be realized. For those who throw it back in the faces of the giver under some pretence that the motive is wrong are truely undeserving from the start. The most racist people that i know are black and they are racist to one another more than to the white population. That of cource is not a generalization to the black comminity just to the few that i have business dealing with.

[cluless]

I'll probably regret this...tee hee...But what is life but one long string of..

Anyway...the minute you take something this inherently DIFFERENT and promote it as BEING THE SAME...aren't you ignoring the fact that it is unique and worthwhile in its own sense. Then to admit there is a difference, of any sort is to admit an imbalance. If we are all the same, who needs diversity..Just a thought

I guess what I am trying to say...VERY BADLY...If we all think of each other as equals...Equality should never be an issue...just a state of mind...ZERO thought process involved.