#94: Wake a Sleeping Baby (PART 3)

【Learning is Unnecessary Trouble?】
Don’t wake a sleeping baby.
 
This common Japanese wisdom is often invoked to mean:
 
On the one hand, to accurately describe our earnest plea for some rest by not waking a peacefully sleeping baby.
 
But on the other, to deter people from stirring unnecessary trouble by rocking the boat. 
 
Same saying; two different meanings.
 
The terrible truth is, not a small number of people consider it “Stirring up unnecessary trouble” to engage in valuable conversations with our youngsters on “Why discrimination is wrong.”
 
We sometimes come across a similar pattern in America, too.
 
For instance, when speaking of African American background, the agony of past slavery and on-going racism cannot be separated from our history.
 
Nevertheless, the states where majority of people still cling to the White privilege, including Tennessee and Idaho, restrict public schools from teaching historical facts that may make White American students feel uncomfortable.
 
Today, US population is comprised of approximately 59% White Americans, 19% Hispanic Americans, 14% African Americans, and 8% others. In contrast, White Americans comprise 73% in Tennessee, and 81% in Idaho.
 
Our society has diversified compared to the past, however, it remains a solid White majority nation. What’s more, the greater the dominance of White majority, we tend to see deeper penetration of the White privilege, and uglier degree of divisiveness fueled by inborn privilege.
 
And while the social rejection of discrimination has advanced significantly compared to the past, yet again, the minorities still can’t avoid the agony of having no choice but to succumb to the sheer force of numbers.
 
Today in Japan, even in this day and age, not a small number of Japanese people profess with a straight face that “Discrimination doesn’t exist much in Japan.” Many consider it “Stirring up unnecessary trouble” to engage in valuable conversations with our youngsters on “Why discrimination is wrong.”
 
If we’re talking only about racism, then perhaps, Japan may see less of it.
 
But make no mistake.
 
It’s not because of the proud reasons like “We celebrate diversity,” or “We accept people of all backgrounds,” or as the poet Misuzu Kaneko wrote, “We’re all different, and that makes us all wonderful.” Regrettably, it’s none of these reasons.
 
Truth be told, it’s almost because of the contrary, that “We’re a very closed society to the outsiders,” as evidenced by its population comprised of roughly 98% Japanese, 2% others.
 
In the next post, let’s dig even deeper on this point.

Read Next: Wake a Sleeping Baby (4)【Discrimination Doesn’t Exist?】
Read Previous: Wake a Sleeping Baby (2)【Success-By-Chance is Weak】

Complete Series: Wake a Sleeping Baby (1)～(5)
[1]   [2]   [3]   [4]   [5]  
 
Read Theme: Discrimination