Sincere Fictions Pt. 2
Sincere Fictions Pt. 3
The conclusion to JC's Sincere Fiction series. Read, and be inspired.
Any fiction that we promote and circulate through discourse should not impede progress, but encourage it. If the dominant myth is believed by the multitude, this myth must be majestic. The truth is the only thing we as people should be concerned with, but if we must use a fiction as the driving force of our society and our politics, only tall tales similar to Plato’s Magnificent Myth are allowed.
Plato’s Magnificent myth- conjured
up in his philosophical/political dialogue “The Republic”- was meant to keep
the three distinct classes in check, so that the state may maintain its unity.
This portion of the immensely deep book concerns creating a perfectly just
society (such a society only exists in people’s minds of course). The myth is the sole and primary false tale
to be discussed amongst the people of this imaginary state.
The Magnificent Myth is titled so
because it truly is magnificent. The myth itself is magnificent- the people of
this great state are all descendants of Mother Earth. She fashioned some of us
with bronze, some with silver, and some with gold. The metals represent the
three classes. The state must secure the preservation of these metals and
retain them in the proper categories. If mixed or used improperly the state
will dissolve. The essential magnificence lies in what the myth wishes to
preserve, or the purpose of reciting this myth to the people. This tall tale is
meant to replace all preexisting national traditions, legends, and fairy tales,
whether they are harmless or have corrupting capabilities. Strengthening the
loyalty to the state and to each other is the ultimate goal. The intent is to
express the kind of community it is, or wishes to be, rather than state matters
of fact.
Disregard the message of Plato’s
Ridiculous Myth, the intent is our focus. In contrast to the sincere fictions
of the America, this fiction signifies what that society wants to become, not
necessarily what it is. We already believe that enough has been done to rectify
the wrongs of slavery; that there is nothing more to do when it comes to
discrimination. We believe that Supreme Court decisions, executive mandates,
and legislative laws that have ruled against discrimination means there is
nothing more to worry about. The sincere fiction isn’t an obscure concept that
we are striving to achieve, it is the reality right now!
Our Magnificent Myth in America is
concerned with keeping the status quo, and ensuring government programs don’t
go too far in their anti-discriminatory efforts. For this reason, we claim the
failure of the black community to be self-inflicted. When we speak of the state
of blacks in America rarely do we mention that we are actually referencing
black people. We say “urban communities”, “inner cities”, or “poor people”. This
way, we don’t attribute the sad state to white and black, but to right cultural
values and wrong cultural values, or failures by individuals.
The myth is meant to protect the dominant
clan, keep the family unobtruded and comfortable. One of the reasons mentioned
for keeping people of color out of traditionally white settings and
institutions. The introduction of an Afro would compromise the comfortability
of those in the group. It is said that we have a natural affinity towards other
individuals of the same color, so it follows that in a traditionally white
institution, a person of color will feel out of place, an outcast in a country
that claims to be color-blind.
Instead of blaming themselves for
contributing to the racist society, there is a blame-the-victim approach to
dealing with negroes in this country. The differential treatment is supposedly
based on non-racial grounds, on a social system based off of merit, instead of
an effort to continue systematic racism. Then we use this loose notion of
freedom to justify discriminating against people for various reasons, whether
it be race, gender, or sexual orientation. If we ever reconciled the sincere
fiction in society, it would spell the end of our white male dominated culture.
Whites do not recognize
difficulties with living in segregation because they can only see it from their
perspective. Privilege in invisible, therefore, the privilege given to the
dominant culture isn’t discussed, analyzed, or criticized. Only when threats to
compromise said privilege are the inherent benefits noticed. This is why we
have cries of reverse discrimination, a concept reeking of bold-faced racism at
its finest, with a tincture of fear over losing previously enjoyed privileged
status.
Anytime a family has a
dysfunctional uncle or a derelict brother, they tend to cover up their defects,
and give all sorts of extraneous explanations for the shortcomings of their
uncle, or brother. This is exactly what goes on in white society. They cover up
their racist brethren to protect the sanctity of the family. They go through
great lengths to preserve this ideal, to act as if the derelict brother is a
perfectly normal human being. Well, guess what, that derelict brother is racist
as all fucks and needs to be taken to therapy, or taken out back and shot in
the head.
Yes, we know that white people
today aren’t to blame for the slavery of yesterday, but we can’t sit here and
act like they haven’t benefited immensely from that system, while afros were
left to toil in their desolate situations. They relinquished property-based
control over afros, but they still hold all the control over the overruling
system.
Our sincere myth is a two-pronged
ideology that lobbies against positive social shifts and promotes injustice as
justice. Anti-discrimination efforts are misinterpreted as hindrances to
freedom and the American way due to our sincere fictions. Pointing out these
apparent injustices supposedly subverts our glorious American Way. In real
life, discussing the ostensible race problems in this country would help us all
out. I reiterate: it is not enough to
idly stand by and let discrimination and racism occur. Not being racist is
nowhere near enough. Let us get to a point where these sincere fictions no
longer occupy a space in our national discourse. If we’re going to be claiming
outlandish ideologies as facts, let’s strive to get to the point where they
aren’t so outlandish anymore. Let the fiction unite us, not divide us into
quarreling factions with no sense of prudence or proper judgment. Let our myth
not inhibit, but inspire. Convert the sincere fiction into a magnificent myth
that will require the truth to reign, with reason and the love of our fellow
brothers and sisters as our compass.
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