Dear Colleagues,

I have been following the dialogue concerning the outcome of the election with much interest. What we have going on is truly a battle

(war?) over the political, socioeconomic, racial, sexual orientation, and spiritual reality of "America". I like to remind folks that power is often mistakenly and simplistically associated with military might, economic superiority and other overt indicators. And, I agree that these aspects do allow countries and groups the ability to impose their will upon others.

But true power is in the ability to define a reality and impose it upon our family, friends, and neighbors. I regret to say that I know family members and friends who voted for George Bush. None of them are "stupid" or less intelligent than me. None are less capable of complex thinking. They do, however, operate from a reality that is radically different than mine.

The issue is not whether Bush supporters or right-wing conservatives are "intelligent" or not. The issue is a sociopolitical curriculum that has shaped their reality and allows them to act in the belief they are doing right. I am reminded of Elliot Aronson's work (The Social Animal) in which he concludes from social psychological studies that "people are not necessarily rational beings, but rationalizing ones". In other words, very bright people who possess a reality far different than ours, often use information that only fits their preconceptions.

Nearly all my work on racism has made me realize, for example, that the racial curriculum of White America is a curriculum filled with misinformation, falsehoods, and stereotypes about people of color.

Fears, biases and discriminatory behavior are based upon a racial reality that oppresses and harms people of color. This occurs through three channels: (a) schooling and education, (b) the mass media, and

(c) peers and social groups. I am greatly disturbed, for example, to hear that the Texas Board of Education has now approved only social studies text that explicitly define marriage as "between and man and a woman". If our children are "educated" or maybe miseducated in this manner, their reality will determine how they think, feel and behave about sexual orientation in the future. The eleven states that voted to "ban Gay marriage" or some variation of it (even Oregon) operated from a reality that allows for such discrimination. Unfortunately, they do not perceive it that way.

The question we should ask, therefore, is "How do we reshape or redefine the sociopolitical reality of "America"? There are many ways to do it, but we must do it in a united and concerted effort.

Derald

Derald Wing Sue, Ph.D.

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