the other side of the coin (2)

[uuuno@nywork2.undp.org (Unitarian Universalist UN Office)]

BACKGROUND:  The 1960s presented an unusual convergence of circumstance 
that some may not have read a great deal about--the civil rights movement 
and incomparable US economic prosperity (Landry 87)  What happened was 
the first true advance of African Americans through job and ballot access 
because a collective self-examination ensued an the American populace 
looked at the Marshall Plan and forages into Latin american and Africa 
and said "You know what, why the heck shouldn't those marginalzed Negros 
in our country be treated equally"  Part of that examination occured b/c 
attempts to spread cultural imperialism led to responses like "Uh..what's 
so great about your way of life since those people don't get a break?"
Effective foreign policy was tied to effective domestic policy which 
translated to fairness.  This cycle did not repeat in the 70s 
(recessions, no properity) nor the 50s (prosperity no legistation) but 
could occur in the late 90s or the 21st century's first decade.  to 
anaylze "foreign" policy outside of the context of the huge influx of 
Latinos into the US, their discrimination coupled with the discrimination 
against African Americans is presumptuous, inaccurate and racist.

PROBLEM: Responsible topic wording efforts are based in the literature 
searches and methodologies borne of time-worn patterns.  These methods 
will include traditional mainstream thought but probably misunderstand, 
or ignore entirely the domestic dimension I outlined.  Thus, well-meaning 
topic designers end up saying, "Well, it ain't us, it's what the 
literature says is important" and a great portal for recruiting Latinos 
and redirecting our approach to CEDA is lost be the topic chocies value, 
policy, fact or otherwise.

SOLUTION: Inform those in the know beforehand (I did), encourage the 
drafting of topics to include this literature, or better yet this 
perspective (I did), and write topics (I'll try).


To this day, I'm irritated that the one year I'm not involved with CEDA 
or at nationals, the community debated affirmative action incorrectly 
(see West's Racial Matters) and Morehouse students lambasted CEDA in general.
Oh well, can't undo the past.  hope this summary is clearer.


Peace & Justice,



Will

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