So with the elections over, and the plans under way for what seems like a toned-down inauguration, you have to wonder a couple of things.

1.) How many KKK and Aryan Brotherhood members (and other neo-nazis) went into apoplectic fits which were so severe that they were reduced to mumbling nonsense (wait, don’t they do that anyway??) and dribbling drool down their chins 2.) How many went, wow… how wrong was I? And have begun to change their ways (because honestly that sort of thing is difficult to change overnight)

When I first heard about the movie American History X, I passed completely. Id heard that it was ultra-violent to start out, and an explanation of why racism exists in America today. And I soo did not want to see it. Mostly for the reason that I didn’t care to see ANY explanation of continued ignorance. Then someone I respect told me I *had* to see it. Soo.. I did. And it IS ultra-violent in the opening scenes of the movie. I doubt I have seen anything so disturbing. Ever. It sets the tone however, and the rest of the movie does not disappoint. It too is disturbing. But not in the amount of blood or violence, more in the way that racism and prejudice proliferates in American society. A society that we call “educated”.

If you haven’t seen it, the movie is important on several levels, but mostly to understanding the enemy. The utter defeat of racism and prejudice will only come through wisdom and understanding, and you can’t have either of those without understanding. Understanding the enemy. Make no mistake here though, the enemy isn’t people – it’s ignorance. Whether willful or otherwise, it’s still ignorance.