GTA Experience

For this assignment I chose to ride the bus first and then read the text so that I could freely observe and experience the bus ride without having any presuppositions. Upon entering the bus I experienced exactly what I expected. I felt like I was on a form of city transportation. I felt the same way on the metro in D.C, the subway in Manhattan, and any other bus or train I use within the city. That feeling is one of defense. One may assume that I speak of self-defense physically, but it is more of a social, cultural defense then a physical one. I am uncomfortable, just as many others are, when they enter a social situation in which they are not regularly exposed to, or familiar with. For example, if I am in the mall and I see a bunch of marines congregating I navigate to an opposing direction from them. Why? Because, even though I am a Marine, I am not comfortable with the culture as a whole. That is not to say that there may be some marines within that group that I may enjoy very much, however, as a whole, the marine community has formed a reputation for being very coarse, and I do not understand why they act the way they do. As a result I try to stay away from that culture. This is what I believe is happening today in our society. There are perhaps more opportunities in our country today for minorities to succeed and to do well than there are for the majority. There is a multitude of government programs, aid, and help for minorities. Consequently, I do not think that racism, per se, is prevalent in America, but rather an overarching discomfort with the culture of minorities. For example, when the Spanish discovered the Aztecs they were appalled because of their customs, courtesies, music, and religious views, which are all aspects of one’s culture.
We see some of this aversion or dislike of another’s culture in the article that we read. However, today we have equal opportunity laws, among others, that require businesses and schools to meet certain racial requirements. There is also aid and help for minorities with regards to education as well as for those enduring hardship. As a result of these laws, it is not the case that minorities do not have the legal ability to engage in the same opportunities as non-minorities (as occurred in the article). However, in place of legal barriers, we see cultural barriers today, with minorities’ cultures keeping them mired in a self-perpetuating cycle.
Overall, the reading did not strongly influence my perceptions of my experience on the bus, because I have read similar articles before and I have solid, foundational, beliefs concerning racism and segregation. However, I did learn about some very interesting ideas. This weekend I interviewed and questioned a few people who were of a minority group. I asked them that if the minorities wanted to be treated more fairly why, when in social situations do they almost always seek out those of their ethnicity instead of trying to make friends with the people they wanted to accept them more. The response was that it was more comfortable for them to be with those of the same ethnic background, but that if one does want change they themselves are going to have to help by going out of their comfort zone. One can understand a culture as much as one wants but unless one becomes one with the culture he or she will most likely not be fully accepted by that culture. For example, if I go to Japan and live there for the rest of my life and continue acting like an American the entire time I am there, I will experience a lot of problems. I might offend them without knowing it, and I probably would not fit in. The same is true for all cultures, not races necessarily, but cultures. They must understand that America has a culture and the minorities should recognize that and understand it. International businesses are great models for this theory, especially when meeting with clients of another culture. Businessmen and women must understand the culture they are dealing with so that they will not offend the other. In conclusion, I believe that Americans will accept seemingly benign aspects of another’s culture even if they do not understand that culture completely. However, if that culture has evolved to evoke fear, discomfort, or negative perceptions in others than the majority will not accept it and reconciliation will be perpetually out of reach.