Friday, April 22, 2005

Another "Survey"

Here's another survey based on, you guessed it, FEELINGS.

After reading the linked article, I found it a bit mushier than most. Not to say that Blacks and Hispanics don't feel unwelcome, which I'm certain is true, but that the wording is very very broad.
Eighty percent of African Americans and half of Hispanics in our poll say that racial discrimination in Metro Boston is a somewhat or very serious problem.
"Somewhat or very" is a very vague statement.

I'll also show a touch of derision here for Harvard. Surprise, they made another survey on how unfair life is. Another precious study on how some people feel bad some of the time. I'm willing to bet that most people studied aren't that bothered by the whole thing.

Boston is a fairly pale town indeed. I don't see why people are getting upset that Blacks and Hispanics feel unwelcome. I'm quite certain that my ancestors when they arrived in New England felt just as unwelcome. I'm also sure that my Irish ancestors felt unwelcomed, not to mention directly and physically threatened when they arrived in the US.

My point. All groups have had that feeling. All groups are not exactly welcome when they are a micro-minority in an area. People don't like change, and having new ethnic groups move into a neighborhood is seen as threatening. At least you don't have to worry about organized violence like many of our ancestors did.

I'll also point to Indian and Pakistani immigrants, among many others that have charged into the area and have had few issues. Did anyone ask how they felt? I doubt it. I'll wager they weren't comfortable at first either.

The end result, IMAO, is that this study is nice and all, but nothing to get upset or worried about. If they feel unwelcome, well, life isn't a padded cell, there are sharp edges everywhere, get used to it.

1 comment:

Granted said...

Plus, what kind of basis are "feelings" for a public policy? When I heard this one on the radio I picked that word out of the mess. So they feel ostracized? Was that because of something done or a funny look? Is there demonstrable evidence of this discrimination or did you overhear part of a conversation and decide that it was prejudice at work? Stuff like this crawls up my spine.