Andrew+P's+OpEd+Article

Thoughts on the Special Privileged People of the World media type="file" key="andrewp-muckraker-2011.mp3" (I'm not putting a picture because the conversation with Morgan Freeman that inspired me to write this is linked at the bottom. Plus, I typed the conversation too.) I hear about this all the time, especially when we take state tests asking the students what ethnicity they are. “Why are there 10 Latin American countries listed, some random islands I’ve never heard of, a few Asian countries, and only one Caucasian option for all the white people?” I mean seriously, how many people from Guatemala are taking the SAT test in California? There are more countries that have white skinned people than almost any other type, and yet we are all bunched together as “Caucasian.” The Great Land of Caucasia is not even a place so why do people insist that I am of that heritage. My roots are Italian, but apparently that doesn’t matter to the state because I am not necessarily “underprivileged” or “striving to better myself” just because I am not from a place that would have required rising up above the odds to be successful. There are no special scholarships for “Caucasian” people, or at least they are not as abundant as scholarships for other races. There is a United Negro College Fund, but it would be too racist to have a United Caucasian College Fund. “Oh, your skin color is black; you automatically qualify for a scholarship.” “Oh, you are 1/64th Native American; sorry for stealing your land back in the day, here’s your scholarship.” The whole idea behind having scholarships for a particular race and excluding others is wrong. It is essentially handing out money due to a predetermined factor that the individual had no control of. But good for me the National Italian American Foundation has got my back right? They provide scholarships, strengthen economic ties between the U.S. and Italy, and they even monitor the portrayal of Italian Americans by the news and media industries. Thank you NIAF...for making it seem as though Italian Americans are not actually Americans and need to be looked out for. There is no organization monitoring how regular white people are portrayed, so why is it that we Italians need one? Finally, it is absurd that only certain ethnicities are allowed to have school sponsored clubs. The primary example is the METCHA (I couldn’t find any spellings of it so I’m not sure if that is right) club. This club exists to celebrate the heritage of Mexicans and their pride in their country. But what would happen if the Caucasians wanted to make their own club? I can already hear it.....“WHAT!?!?! YOU RACIST, HOW DARE YOU!!!!” Oh really? So because I am white and had no control over it that means I can’t have a club that celebrates MY heritage? Seems to me that because of uncontrollable circumstances I simply don’t get to have what other people can have. Last year, the leader of the METCHA club and I had a discussion about this, and she said, “White people can’t make a club because there are too many types and nationalities of white people...and that it would be racist.” I’m just going to come out and say it, it seems like all of these organizations exist because at one point or another in the past the “Whites” wronged other people and now they are trying to make up for it by giving them special privileges and organizations that will allow them to be on even footing as their ancient white oppressors. Well I’m sorry about the past, but I just want to be able to be proud of my white heritage without being “racist” or “insensitive”. The dialogue that inspired me to write about this topic came from Morgan Freeman when he was asked about how he felt about Black History Month. Interviewer, “Black history Month you find...?” Morgan Freeman, “Ridiculous.” Interviewer, “Why?” Morgan Freeman, “You’re going to relegate my history to a month? What do you do with yours? Which month is white history month? Interviewer, “hurmduarumhgummmmmm...I’m Jewish...” Morgan Freeman, “Ok, which month is Jewish History Month?” Interviewer, “.....There isn’t one” Morgan Freeman, “Oh, oh, Why not? Do you want one? Interviewer, “No, no I don’t.” Morgan Freeman, “I don’t want one either. I don’t want a Black History Month. Black History is American History.” Interviewer, “How are we going to get rid of racism--“ Morgan Freeman, “Stop talking about it. I’m gonna stop calling you a white man, and I’m gonna ask you to stop calling me a black man. I know you as Mike Wallace, you know me as Morgan Freeman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s