RE: [Paddlewise] Taboo Subjects (was: paucity of minorities in kayaking)

Ralph wrote:

>>  A big reason why minorities don't take advantage of
the nature around them on water and on land is a matter of lack of
knowledge about it.

I keep hearing this kind of argument in endless astonishing mutations.
For example:

* I didn't know that there are woods and parks where you can get
away from mean city streets and take a walk through the woods.
(BTW, I used to live in NYC and, before I had a car, I took public
transportation to some nice places where there are trees, streams,
etc.)

* I see people (even people of color!) paddling on the river but I
never dreamed that an underprivileged person like me could find a way
to do that.

* I didn't know that for an annual fee of 10 dollars (not sure
about the amount) I can get a NY Public Library card and read and
borrow books there. (Oh but where is an underprivileged kid like me
going to find 10 dollars?)

* I didn't know that smoking is bad for my health. I have lung
cancer now but it's not my fault, since nobody told me smoking
can do this to me.

* I didn't know sharing needles and can give me AIDS.

* I didn't know having sex could get me pregnant.


It reminds me of what used to be called the White Man's Burden:
If only Big Shot Great White Man would educate me on how I can get
to a place with trees and streams, on how to find where I can learn
a skill, on how to avoid getting pregnant, on the importance of
wearing a raincoat when I go out in the rain so I won't catch
pneumonia... then I would be lifted out of my slough of despond and
become a happy and fulfilled person.

It goes on and on.

>> I hope you don't mean to cut off discussion of a subject

Good heavens, cut off discussion of this subject? There's no way
anyone can hope to cut off discussion of this subject. It is the
great American passion. Just turn to any newspaper or magazine,
or turn on the TV.

>>  As various minorities arrive into the mainstream there is
something more to life than work.

Really Ralph? I never knew that!

Jack Fu
47°38'N 122°08'W




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