silverthorne | *Sigh*

Okay. Tolerance is a good thing. Cultural diversity is a good thing. Letting people keep their traditions is a good thing.

...I just received a 200-page-thick workbook for the nurses in post partum.

It is pages and pages of how to deal with people from different cultures. Everything except how to deal with white people.

Thing is, most of it? Is common sense and general ettiquette that even the dreaded 'white people' know. Or at least it was at some point. Lord knows I was raised that way, because most of what I read was 'no shit, I knew that already'. The rest of it, if you listen to your patient in the first place and work with them (and the patient communicates and just doesn't get all closed-mouthed), should come easy enough.

The nurses though will have to go to classes for this. Memorize it all. Take tests. Get certificates for it or do it all over again.

Just so someone's toes don't get stepped on.

I'm all for being polite and meeting people in the social middle.

But this? Shit like this, when it's required reading because if we don't do it, some numbnut somewhere will take exception to the way you bow your head to them or something else which should be pretty damned trivial in the face of trying to take care of a sick patient, will sue the crap out of the hospital for racial discrimination.

The fact that we even need books like this just make me want to hide from everyone on the fucking planet until they remove cranial mass from rectum area.

This is when I start losing faith and losing willingess to listen to 'white people are horrible' things. This right here.

Everyone has got to bend a little, or we will all break.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It is assumed that I am either caucasian or not American due to my beliefs? That is how this sounds.

I might also point out that just because you live in America, it doesn't make you either an American, or white/caucasian.

I missed where coming to America, as well, meant you had to give up your "parent" culture either.

And you missed the part where I said I don't expect people to give up theirs, either.

But when you're on an open ground with more than one culture, and everyone is insisting on their home culture as the way to be treated instead of a common ground culture that everyone is equal in when dealing with each other, then you have problems.

And this is what it's all about. Along with white people being the favored targets for being bigots because they were the most recent race to repeat the mistakes that all races make.

I don't disagree that education is needed; my problem is the assumption that only the white folks need the education, along with the idea that you know maybe we ought to concentrate more on being americans than white black japanese, etc. If this is going to be an equal thing, then everyone needs to get off the damned high horse, everyone needs to go through the education process, and everyone really ought to start thinking in 'we' terms. Instead what we're getting is tide-turning and going the other way.

But this isn't open ground. This is a stolen country to begin with, with a reputation for enslaving people. Even today. It's just now our own people.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with the hospital covering their own ass. I mean, if you just look at it that way, it's a corporate thing and not a pesonal attack. because it's not. It's covering their own ass. Then, if someone sues, it's not on them but others.

But why should we concentrate on being Americans? I don't understand that. I'm native/welsh, born in america and practice witchcraft with roman and egyptian beliefs. Yes, I'm American but I see no reason to focus on being part of a culture that I dislike. I work to change it, truthfully. Perhaps that's why I see no reason to force others to be part of it.

There isn't a we. Even in other countries there is no true we. Irish Protestants against Catholics. Japanese males against women. It happens in every country. There are lines. People want an identity. They want to feel as if they have something that is theirs. Embracing their culture is very often something people do to stay true to themselves.

You're holding what the CORPORATION wants against the people. This isn't some black person telling you to understand them. Or a Japanese man upset you didn't bow right. It's a company, a highly susceptable insurance backed company, covering their ass. An American is not likely to sue because a flag wasn't waved in their face or some shit.

And...I'm scottish and irish, which is nice, but I was also born in New Jersey, have lived in two other states, and whether or not my ancestors helped to 'steal' this land, I'm here now and this is the only home that I know. Every bit of land, except for the first little patch where humans first lived, has been 'stolen' from other humans--that includes your native and welsh ancestor. The first came across the Bearing Sea. The second from up north. Neither race originated in the place you identify them with. And the wlesh, at least, had to deal with whatever natives were already there.

Why should we concentrate on being Americans?

Because we all live here, maybe? Because the more we go 'I live on this spot of land, but I want nothing to do with the people I share it with', the more likely the place will fall apart completely and we'll end up with warring factions. Again. Which does no race any good at all And this time, there's no new land to run to when we want to get away from the next big and ugly fight.

Because there are lines, and maybe if people would quit making them, we wouldn't have to 'cover our asses'.

I realize that cynicism over the nature of the human race is pretty damned common, but by the same token, if we don't work to change that, it will indeed always be that way. Making more lines will not change it. Erasing it might, and it's about the only thing we really haven't tried yet.

And again, I have no problem with people embracing their culture, but to be honest, embracong what you are, and learning to deal with people outside of your own circle are two different things. And I honestly believe that yes, when you are dealing with the world at large, there should be a common ground that isn't influenced by culture or race, or at least one that can handle 'hey, we're different, but I'm not going to be an ass and get all butt hurt because you don't know how to treat me according to my culture'.

And yeah, before you point that out too, I realize that people cling to their identities so hard that most will not consent to that. But I still feel it's worth striving for.

I'm not going to go around in these circles. I'll be the first to admit that I would rather not associate with most in this country. Culture aside, I don't see most on my level and I have no desire to lower myself.

Egotistical? Hell yeah. Bitchy? Yep. I don't deny that. Culture aside, most don't want to associate with everyone/anyone. This isn't cynicism over the human race. This is setting your own bounds. And life MUST have bounds.

Now, if you're working in a place like a hospital, then you have to accept the crap. People are dicks. Suck it up and do your job. This is not the full sum of who you are. It's a job.

That said, having read the other comments, is it possible that the handbook/training was given to those that a supervisor felt needed them? I mean, otherwise, it's discrimination and you should be calling the ACLU about it.

There's a difference between setting boundaries and looking down on other folks and their ability to not be assholes to each other if they would just bother a little bit.

Oh, I do 'suck it up and do my job'. In fact...I think this is the first time I've complained about my job other than the occasional 'where is my truck' and 'god I'm wiped'. Other than that? I work hard, keep my trap shut, don't gossip, and don't try fucking with folks.

...well, okay, except the drivers that have a problem with a girl doing a man's job. Them I usually smile at and tell them how long I've been doing the job they think I cannot do.

And I've kept it for close to a decade. So...must be doing something right.

Honestly? It's usually the other folks that are rude. Hanging up in the middle of sentences. Getting angry and impatient when I run down the list of questions of things I need to know to put down for certain items before I can take them up. Cutting people off in the middle of sentences. And don't get written up for it, either.

I repeat, go to the ACLU then. If you want there to be change, actively work to enact it.

I do. I don't go there, but I do my own work.

I should make that clearer--we have an ethics line.

Sigh

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