Is it really a question of Semantics?

So I’ve been reviewing and processing a couple of bad racist experiences that I had some time ago.

Arguing on FetLife will do that.

At one point I was having a conversation with someone and I said something like “there’s a difference between political correctness and racial awareness ya know!” Now… I probably could have used better or more clear language. And I found myself at the time not being able to make myself understood which has bothered me ever since.

There are good people out there who think that they are aware but are really just being politically correct.

I find a similar thing to this when people (including myself) talk about the spectrum of trans people or size or age… Maybe what I’m searching for is something that is about an awareness of general humanism? I am tempted to reach for “anti-opressionism” but I’m not sure that is right…

Something about the subtle perpetuation of societal constructs among people who one might think should know better? Hmmm… Now that’s got me thinking about a post I wrote about the language around Getting Fucked…. ya know… the lack of speech around certain things and what influences that and why.

I find myself perplexed at my inability to make the differences clear. To be able to articulate and provide examples.

Frankly, when good people are told that they have done wrong, they are not receptive and refuse to believe. Yes, sometimes ignorance does play a part but that is really more a situation of correctable lack of knowledge.

I’m talking about speech or action which seems appropriate but that doesn’t seem to actually be a part of an internal understanding…. See? I’m not doing well (and should have a cocktail – where’s that Chivas?).

Ummmm….
SIMPLEX – knowing that h2o is water and being able to parrot that
COMPLEX – understanding that it is two hydrogen and one water
MULTIPLEX – being able to apply the understanding of the formula and elements to h2o2

yeesh! Clearly I need to go eat food or do something mindless like playing civilization…