SoapBox Day for Civil Rights Activists

Today is an important day for me as a humble civil rights activist. So, today is a SoapBox Day. No humor. Just a humble one time a year reflection.

As a civil rights activist, I studied better civil rights activists to see why they were so successful. Gandhi, MLK, Mother Teresa and Cesar Chavez. As well as not so famous civil rights activists like Dr. Phil and Oprah. Almost forgot to include the 13th Dali Lama so I can get affirmation of why I am so happy. (Excuse the edit).

They all advocated for a cause greater than themselves. They all favored non-violence. They found what was common despite their individual differences; while not interfering in their individual non-commonality. And because of it, they united masses of followers who believed in that greater common cause to fight social injustice.

On the other side of the equation, dividers do just that. They divide groups by classification to keep them from uniting. Create division within so they fight with other; instead of speaking in unity. Like Bush, the great divider has done. And don't forget his major source of inspiration, Satan. (aka Dick). Divide and conquer at all costs to keep people from uniting. That way, Bush and Satan could continue to promote their secret agenda of a new world order with things like "free trade agreements". They are not free to workers in America and their hidden, but not transparent agenda is the creation of this new world order for the benefit of the super-rich.

So I remain convinced that we, the people need to fight division and divide and conquer strategies. And the major tool of division remains these classification schemes. Race, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, religion, geographic location, economic status, etceteras.

Anything to keep groups of people from uniting tends to perpetuate social injustice. So a few in power can use their authority to control and prevent our unity.

So, I will continue to believe classification schemes will continue to keep us divided as a nation. And I oppose classification schemes as that civil rights activist. There is only one classification I support. Your birth. If you are born in America, you are an American-American. And that simple classification unites us.

So if you are born here, your uniting classification based on your birth is American. Just like mine. We need to avoid dividing ourselves by tolerating classification schemes. Or even worse, classifying ourselves by claiming to be some variation of X-American. Finally, the worst is allowing others to classify us. The major offenders are the governments themselves.

By claiming to be an American-American, we are united and can speak in unity for social justice because of that one simple fact. Or one step further, claim to be A World-American. Speak out for our unity when others try to divide us American-Americans by classification schemes.

When the census workers come to your house and ask your classification, just claim I was born here so I am merely an American just like you. Refuse to answer or ignore Census questions not related to your birth. And that's the only way we should all want to be classified. And more than likely, they will refuse to allow you to merely be an American. They will do the same thing as they did in 2000 and merely claim your native country is Other. Welcome to the United States of Other.

Whatever any governing body tries to classify you, merely ask them what power and authority made them suddenly anthropologists entitled to violate state and federal non-discrimination laws.

For example, if you are are pulled over in Kansas by a local law enforcement official, make him explain to you how they have been instructed to be able to classify your race/ethnicity. Also ask law enforcement officials why they are above federal and state laws as they ignore the law by knowingly, wilfully and intentionally violating the Kansas Act Against Discrimination and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when issuing ticket citations. And one of my personal favorites, why do we have precinct committee members based on one's sexual organs-their gender? Shouldn't we elect the best qualified people without regard to their sex organs and seek compliance with the Kansas Act Against Discrimination?

And rhetorically, do sexist Ombudsmen hate women? Why are there not more Ombudspersons? Why do we have sexist titles like Madam Secretary in the federal government? What's wrong with just being Secretary of some cabinet post with adding some sexism to it?

When any organization asks you to classify yourself, merely state: "Sorry, I am not an anthropologist." Or, "I cannot. I do not have any scientific basis to unjustly divide myself by making a self-declaration of ambiguous terms like race/ethnicity". Tell them "you decide based on my skin color for me".

Or ask them if why you can't resort to how society judges you--as a native American born in America. Being born here makes you native to America. Where you reside is the common definition of being a native of that geographic location. Your birth does not make you a native to some country or continent based on some distant connection to some immigrant many years ago.

Or go to the other extreme if you are a bible-thumper and claim, don't know? What nationality, race and ethic group was Adam and Eve? All I know is I was made in the image of God. Not sure where God was born. Although most of us men know God had to be a woman or there would not be shopping malls.

If you are in court, ask the judge to determine your race/ethnicity for you. They really like that. Surely, their legal education and solemn oaths to uphold all laws like the Kansas Act Against Discrimination and the Civil Rights Act should make judges qualified to also be anthropologists.

Or, for those that want be to be classified based on your skin color, take a picture of your skin and go to some hardware store. Ask them to scan and tell you what your skin pigments are. And then, paint your walls that skin color so you will be invisible in your own home to surprise your significant other when they come home. Boy, will they be surprised by your ingenuity so much, they might suggest you better go paint the doghouse because more than likely, you will be living there for a while. Finally, when someone asks you to classify yourself, just hand them your paint sample.

Has there been social injustice because of classification schemes. You betcha. And social injustice will continue as long as we allow these dividing and conquer schemes to continue.

So in ending, I hope Barry regardless of some of his stupid economic theories, merely classifies us and him as belonging to only one class. The American Class.

Jumping off the soapbox. Back to being a smart ass tomorrow.