I echo Kathy's thoughts and am feeling very excited that this conversation is drawing so much participation.
  One thought about your racism/oppression analysis, Daniel -  Yes indeed, people have always oppressed one another throughout history.  I wish more of us had your historical analysis!  I think it's important for us to understand how race (which you rightly call "simply the latest tool to use" in oppression)  was constructed and institutionalized here in the U.S. and has been exported around the world.  It is often called the "peculiar institution," unlike other forms of oppression.  Knowing this can help us not only begin to dismantle it, but also help those coming from other countries beter understand why and how they are boxed in.  A Turkish person becomes white when she lands at JFK; a Thai person becomes "Asian"; a Chilean person becomes "Hispanic"; a Ghanian person becomes "Black".  Race dehumanizes us all.  Yet we can't simply become colorblind, because the structures of our society remain unchanged.   Better to analyze how and where we fit into this racially
 constructed society, so we can come together and transform it.
  Margery
   
  "Dr. Kathleen P. King" <drkpking at gmail.com> wrote:
  Daniel-
Wonderful articulation fo the complexity of these issues
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us

And yes Eric, It pains me terrificly that it was the US flag flying above those camps and that  if flies over some wars that this country has been involved in.

Thank you both - 
Kathy


-- 
Dr. Kathleen P. King, Professor of Education
President, Transformation Education LLC
Email: Transformationed at gmail.com  
Tel (201) 916-0575  Fax  (201) 458-9736      
"Lifelong Learning in a Digital Age"    



Margery Freeman
  The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond - Northeast Regional Office
  718-918-2716; cell: 504-813-2368

       
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