Bigotry is bad (was Re: [at-l] re: pooches)

[JoelShiver@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/10/99 9:42:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, pmags@juno.com 
writes:

> 
>  This story has nothing to do with canines, cell phones, hiking or the
>  Appalachian Trail.
>  
>  Or maybe it does?
>  

Good story.  It does to me.  You will find people on the trail, as in every 
aspect of life, e.g., policemen, secretaries, doctors, men, women, gays, 
lesbians, white people, black people, people of eastern origins, Greeks, 
Jews, Christians, Pagans, agnostics, atheists, etc., etc., who represent an 
infinite variety of personality types and characters. cross section of our 
culture.  There are mean people, nice people, loving people, hateful people, 
stupid people, smart people, etc., with infinite variations in between.  So, 
to say, for example,  "white people are so dumb" is a statement of ignorance. 
 Some white folks are dumb, but not all, and besides there's an infinite 
variation in the degrees of intellectual abilities among white people. As 
there is in all people.  Like, duh-uh-uh-uh.  And that was what was 
disturbing about what KC said.  But KC is no ignoramous.  She's got a heap of 
sense.  And that's why you can't take what she said seriously.  And I don't 
think KC hates all men.  I do know that not all Lesbians hate men.   One of 
my three dearest friends is a Lesbian.  She is also one of the finest human 
beings I know.  Always doing things to help others.  She loves me and would 
do anything in the world for me.  I also have a very good friend who is a 
Wiccan.  My father in law is a fundamentalist Christian and one of the finest 
people I know, an inspiration for me in my life.  The point of all this of 
course is that it is a mistake to stereotype people.  The irony is that not 
all bigots are absent redeeming qualities.  I know a couple of gay black men 
I'd rather have eat supper at my table than some white christian preachers I 
know.

You'll find all kinds of people on the trail.  If you don't hit it off with 
this person, then you'll probably meet someone soon that you'll like.  You're 
not likely to get along extremely well with everybody.

And that also brings me to the comraderie among backpackers and the people on 
this list.  One of the most intensley gratifying things about doing commuinty 
theater is the comraderie that develops backstage among the case and crew.  
It's a special bond that arises from the shared experience of the effort to 
competently accomplish a common, worthwhile goal.  These deep bonds develope 
between people of very diverse backgrounds and personalities.  (Excluding 
prima donnas, of course, who don't want to get along with anybody who they 
can't use to further their own ends or who won't kiss kiss their butts. Do I 
hear an echo?)  Cast parties are the best parties I've ever been to.  There 
ain't nothing like getting drunk with a roomfull of people you love.  Well, 
there may be some things that are just as good. <g>

I expect the same phenomenon explains friendships that develope on the trail. 
 I also can imagine that this feeling is intense at Trail Days, the 
Gathering, and will be at the Ruck.  That's why the banter among people on 
this list can get lively, typically without destroying the relationships.  
That's why so many here so easily forgive others for missteps.  It is a very 
cool thing.  It is the basis of friendship.  What happens is that you are 
able to get intimate enough with someone else to see their good points and 
learn to appreciate them for those while being forgiving of the less 
attractive aspects of their character or personalities.  There are a lot of 
different kinds of people on this list who have various thing to contribute.  
Very cool, indeed.

Joel Shiver
Rivertripper
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