Black History Month

In the interests of equality, I move that we institute White History Month, to complement Black History Month. How 'bout it, folks?

See how ridiculous the flip-side sounds? Most people would sign me off at this point as an inveterate racist. Oh, well. We can't have folks pointing out the inherent absurdities in such institutions, can we?

There is no such thing as "black history," any more than "white history." There's just history. The whole notion of setting aside a special historical celebration on the basis of one's melanin content in the skin is idiotic. It's interesting that self-proclaimed civil rights heroes glorify such "progress," when it exists in direct contravention of all that the early advocates of those rights upheld.

I see a parallel in this with the homosexual rights movement. "We demand equal treatment!" bellows the "gay" activist, "Which is why we also demand special rights that go beyond those of the average Joe." And so it is with modern race relations. "We demand equality!" Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton screech, "Which is why we also insist upon special recognition not bestowed upon others." What a crock. This isn't about equality; it never has been. It's about favoritism, victim status--which is worn like a badge of honor--and thought control.

Harriet Tubman aided runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. George Washington Carver invented numerous useful household items from peanuts. Frederick Douglass spoke out publicly against slavery, traveling the country and giving speeches.

Did the goodness and accomplishments of these fine people stem from their blackness? I don't believe so, anymore than I think that George Washington was an upstanding man because he was white. The aforementioned people--black and white--thought great thoughts and did great deeds. That's what makes them special--not their skin pigmentation.

It's funny how so many habits crop up in the name of tolerance and egalitarian ideals which result in more divisiveness. Black History Month, as only one of many examples, is an affront to people of all colors of the rainbow. It's an insult to black people, because it implies their greatness lies within being black, not within their individual characters. It's an affront to white, red, purple and green people because it implies their history and their accomplishments are second-rate, unworthy of special recognition.