As a white person, I've certainly heard my fair share of racist comments or jokes. Well, the way the author sees it, we "whites" can do one of three things when such a situation arises. We can ignore it, the most common road taken, which makes us complicit in the racism. We can confront the person, which isn't easy and doesn't usually change anyone's mind. Or, and this is the really interesting one, we can align ourselves with the minority being talked about.

For instance, if someone was to say, "Oh, those damn Mexicans, always stealing shit." I could say, "Well, I'm half Mexican." That would embarrass them, but more fundamentally than that, it would make them begin to doubt their assumptions. I look white, but I am really half Mexican. (This is not true, by the way. But it could be, and that's the point.)

I already do this when anti gay comments come up, sort of. "My sister is gay," I always say immediately. The gay community is always being told that coming out is the most powerful weapon they have. It's true, and this is exactly why. When people realize that many of the people they interact with are gay, they start to realize anyone could be gay. It diffuses the power of their assumed majority. And when people start to doubt that everyone with white skin is "white" by definition-- well, the whole system starts to implode.

Studies show that it only takes 5-10% of bills being counterfeit before people begin to mistrust money. If 5-10% of the so-called "white" population started identifying themselves as half black, or half Mexican, or what have you, people would begin to mistrust their judgements of people based on skin color or appearance alone.

And wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

The guy who came up with this theory also advocates using your whiteness to subvert the system. For instance, to drive your car into a neighborhood where cops routinely harass black people, but bring a video camera and take notes on the cops. Of course, I personally wouldn't feel safe doing that, but maybe if I were an intimidating looking white guy, I could pull it off.

Interesting discussion, though. Most decidedly interesting.

After class, I went to the bar with some friends, including Probst, Huck and this guy Buddy. Buddy is in thesis mode and I don't have any classes with him, but he's Granola Girl's boyfriend and often hangs out with us, so I know him fairly well.

One of the things he said struck me strongly. He was talking about certain poets that "every" graduate level Poetics student should be familiar with. He was saying that if you weren't familiar with these poets, you couldn't place people in their proper context, and it was just ludicrous.

Then he listed a bunch of poets that I haven't read.

I got into a debate with him. I don't read poets based on their names or reputations. I read them based on their poetry. I get exposed to poetry in classes, or in anthologies, or on the bookstore shelves, or what have you. And I get the book and I read the poetry for itself. I have read a lot of poetry this way.

He feels that this is the wrong approach. He thinks you should study poets based on the influence they have had on other poets, their historical importance, what have you. He believes that there's a canon of poems which serves as a basic foundation for a poet at the graduate level.

Of course, there is merit to this. The best way to improve your writing as a poet, aside from writing, is to read poetry. The more poetry you read, the better you get. I'm not denying this, and it does remind me that I need to be exposing myself to more poetry. Plus, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the schools of poetry out there, exactly for the reason he stated: so you can place poets in a context.

I was sort of annoyed at his attitude, though. He bluntly said that if you're on the graduate level, you need to have read X, Y and Z poets. Well, his list is a subjective list, and I don't think he should judge me, or anyone, based on our exposure to X, Y and Z. What the hell else is grad school for, if not to learn and be exposed to new writers?

The important question is: how do I know which poets I'm supposed to read? He suggested that I read interviews with the poets I already read, or writers who I respect, and read the people they talk about or list as influences. And damned if I don't think that's a good idea. Damned if I'm not going to give it a shot.

But I didn't like the feeling of deficiency the whole conversation gave me.

Oh, I should also mention what sparked the convo. Buddy was on the editorial board of the lit mag last year. He was saying how he thinks it's the best issue ever, and no other issue would ever be able to top it. He based it on certain "big names" that are in there which he thinks has an importance "that will continue over decades."

Well, what he doesn't know is that our editorial staff sat down at the beginning of the year and had a whole meeting about how we didn't like the last issue that much, and all the things we thought were wrong with it. I actually think the attention to names rather than poetry might have been problematic, because there's some weak stuff in there.

Of course, Probst and I didn't say anything like that, we just talked about our issue being something we are proud of. Buddy said he'll look forward to reading it. Hmm. We'll see.

I am on hour 31 or something of staying awake. Rather than go to bed and wake up again to get to work at the ungodly hour of five, I just pulled an all nighter and said to hell with it. I crashed once while at work, and had to consume a metric buttload of espresso to keep myself up. So I'm still up now, but I'm headed for one hell of a crash; I know it already.

At about four this morning, I started playing the Sims. I ventured into the Journaler household and decided they needed a disco attached to their house. So I built one. I only played for a little while, but damn!

The very first thing that they did was hire a stripper. (Okay, that was my doing. I confess.)

Wiggle that butt!

All the girls in the house seemed to appreciate Candi quite a bit. (You'll notice that Xeney and Mar are applauding for the cake, and Jen is applauding Candi herself. Hmm.)

Forget stee, we want Candi!

After she finished her little dance routine and butt wiggle (which is hilarious, by the way) she began wandering around the party, chatting up the guests. All of a sudden, she bent Jen over and started making out with her!

Check out stee, the voyeur. He has an affinity for all things gay, I believe.

Well, Mo Pie was visiting at the time, and she did not like to see her woman kissing a stripper. She actually slapped Jen across the face and made her cry, then declared she wasn't in love with her anymore!

It's like a Mexican soap opera.

Then Mo Pie left the party in a huff! I couldn't believe it! It got even more interesting when Candi began comforting Jen, who was still crying.

I'm so sorry. Can we make out again?

Jen eventually fired her, wanting to mourn her lost love in peace.

Perhaps you noticed who was missing from the stripper photo above (besides John Scalzi, who is still in the bathroom). Yes, stee. He wasn't very interested in Candi. But when Buck popped out of another cake, suddenly stee was right there.

Corina, Jen, stee, Mar, Mickey, Colleen, Eleanor and Xeney watch the stripper. His name is Naked. Buck Naked.

Even though Brad Pitt was at the door with flowers just for stee. Oh, poor Brad!

Hello? Hello-o-o?

After Buck was finished with his routine, you know the first thing that he did? That's right. He bent Jen over backwards and started making out with her!

That little black dress is so hot...

I don't know what it is about Jen and strippers, man. Maybe there's something she's not telling us.

Would you like to be one of the Mo Pie Sims? I am making a new household, and it needs one more member. (You'd be living with Kim, Russell Crowe, Greyson, Jim Morrison, Abby, Marilyn Monroe and krystyn.) So I guess this is a mini contest to see who gets to be a Sim.

In order to enter this contest, just... um... do... uh... okay, just write to me and tell me why you want to be one of my Sims. I'll pick a winner somehow.

None.