(no subject)

[bitterlawngnome]

Wherein I torture myself with moral quandaries long expired.

25 years ago I was pres of a student union and in that capacity was asked to participate in a hiring committee. All was well until one candidate - already a much-beloved teacher - sat for his interview and found it necessary to use choochowchingchong voice (you know the one; it’s the one that no Asian person has ever used) to describe questions from his Asian students. All I could think was, you fucker, you’d never use that voice if there was an Asian person on this hiring committee. So when it came round to my turn I said something like - using that voice presents the appearance of racism, would you care to respond to that perception? Dead silence in a room full of white middle class supposedly liberal people.

I still wonder if I did the right thing.

Comments

[brian_bogue]

you did the right thing. I suspect he was indulging in a bit of unconscious racism. A sort of culturally induced response common among all peoples. At that time, in that place, given his probable age it would have seemed a natural thing to do. You how ever were correct in challenging him on it. If people, particularly the young, this sort of racial, or social, stereotyping will continue to be considered the social norm and be accepted, when in my opinion it shouldn't.

[armiphlage]

I question whether or not calling out racism, sexism, and other things does any good. Sometimes it just emboldens the bigot so they double down. But it's the right thing to do, so I always do it, and you are right to have done so too.

[cmcmck]

You did, undoubtedly.

[lauradi7dw]

The right thing, and probably brave as well.

[otter]

You absolutely did the right thing. "Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable".

[leafshimmer]

I think you absolutely did the right thing.

[bukephalos]

In a setting like that? Absolutely the right thing! And probably anywhere else as well. Why do you still wonder about it? Did the silence from the others seem like they were judging you from raising the question?

[bitterlawngnome]

Yeah it was pretty clear that everyone else in the room was aghast.