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This is an interesting Timeline of the Democratic and Republican Parties history in America. On Racism in America I have been saying this for years. It is amazing what people choose to forget in the name of expediency. The simple fact that the only former clan member in congress (Robert Byrd) is a Democrat is amazingly instructive to me. I mean, after all the Klan was founded by a Democrat, Nathan Bedford Forrest.
On a somewhat related note – last night I read an article about how the word “racist” is getting diluted now that it's being used by people who didn't use it in the past:Dueling 'racist' claims defuse once powerful wordI think that race politics in America is very messed up in some regards. I have said it before - I would probably have more in common in terms of values with Ugandans than I would with certain white people in my own country.
“A racist is a person who discriminates or holds prejudices based on race. Discrimination is treatment based on category rather than individual merit,” said Tom Molloy, a 65-year-old retired financial services executive from Brentwood, N.H. “Barack Obama favors policies that will give preference to groups based on race rather than individual merit. It's called affirmative action.” –from 'Dueling “racist” article.
Racism, by this definition, is a form of stereotyping. Anytime we judge a group by a members of that group or an individual by the group that individual is a member of we are sterotyping. Not always wrong but usually unfair. Remember, stereotypes exists because there is a basis in truth to each of them... might be a very small % but always something to point to. The Prez, however, is just the latest in a long line of pols to use the affimative action ploy to redress old wounds. Remember Clinton apologized to Africa for slavery. Who sold the slaves to the white guys? Martians?
The rise in whites accusing blacks of racism is the inevitable result of years of black identity politics, which created a blueprint for whites who feel threatened by America's changing demographics, says Carol Swain, a Vanderbilt University professor and author of "The New White Nationalism In America." "We need to rethink what is racist and who can legitimately call whom racist," Swain said, citing the argument that blacks can't be racist because racism requires power. --same article.
I disagree that power is required... just the feeling one (or ones group) is being disadvantaged by the other group. Affirmative action seems to have not leveled the playing field but tipped it the other direction.Dr. King wanted to be considered for the "content of character" not skin color. Me too. Too bad the Democraps and the Reflublicans don't get it.
“We need to rethink what is racist and who can legitimately call whom racist,” Swain said, citing the argument that blacks can't be racist because racism requires power."With a black president, a black attorney general, and blacks holding various power positions around the country, now might be a time when we can concede that anyone can express attitudes and actions that others can justifiably characterize as racist."
That quote is rich. We have to argue now about legitimacy in terms? She makes a good point about the number of "people of color" in power positions. It is disingenuous at best for the black president to call white Americans racists since it was whites who voted for him that got him inot office. Blacks are still only about 13% of the population and even if he had gotten 100% of the black vote he could not have gotten elected without white people voting for him too.I am actually sick and tired of being called a racist for having an opinion that conflicts with a black guys opinion. The minority groups are perpetuating identity politics and now it seems that that strategy is starting to backfire on them. It's kind of hard to claim racism when you are sitting in a position of privilege or wealth isn't it?
I am actually sick and tired of being called a racist for having an opinion that conflicts with a black guys opinion. The minority groups are perpetuating identity politics and now it seems that that strategy is starting to backfire on them. It's kind of hard to claim racism when you are sitting in a position of privilege or wealth isn't it?
Agreed. Too bad they don't get it.
I dont think they ever will get it. Identinty politics and a sense of grievance are part of how some people identify themsleves whether the facts of their situation warrant it or not. Sad but true. 🙁
I dont think they ever will get it. Identinty politics and a sense of grievance are part of how some people identify themsleves whether the facts of their situation warrant it or not. Sad but true. 🙁
Not to play both sides here but I guess we are built on ID politics and sense of grievance... witness our own American Revolution. We identified as a different sort of crown subject (a citizen with God given rights) and a grievance (the crown not respecting, protecting, and promoting those rights)... darn, looks like we're right back where we started. 😮
I found myself rereading the Declaration of Independence recently and it struck me all over again how prescient the founding dathers were in what constitutes grounds for rebellion. I also think Jefferson was an excellent writer because the words still show heavy a burden it is to rebel and that they did it with a heavy heart. The Revolution was not an action taken lightly.
I disagree that power is required… just the feeling one (or ones group) is being disadvantaged by the other group. Affirmative action seems to have not leveled the playing field but tipped it the other direction.
A while back I had heard someone make the claim that when a group is not in power, it cannot be racist. I thought it was a made-up explanation then, and I'm surprised now to find that others have attached to it. It really sounds like something that was artificially devised so as to excuse bad behavior. Now, assuming for the moment that it is true that power is required....could it be applied within smaller governmental frameworks or groups? For example, if there is a white person working within Oprah Winfrey's business, would it be impossible for that person to be a racist since there is a non-white in charge at the top? How about a white person living in Harlem? How about a white person living in Mexico?It can get kind of ridiculous to hold to the power requirement. At its very heart, the PC movement is quite ridiculous, isn't it?
At its very heart, the PC movement is quite ridiculous, isn't it?
That is the heart of it right there. The whole PC movement speaks to restricting freedoms. For some strange reason I though freedom is what this country was supposed to be about. People can say all kinds of stuff I disagree with or even find offensive but where in the concept of Freedom does a movement like PC fit in? It seems to me that in the name of not causing offense through word selection we are losing sight of what America and freedom are really supposed to be about.But back to the topic of this thread. How odd is it that the Democratic party has successfully managed to portray themselves as the party of the disadvantaged and successfully ignored their party's own history. I have heard arguments pertaining to welfare being aDemocratic conspiracy that was designed to replace share-cropping but I dont believe them. Curiously, the effect is the same, the poor are still dependent and trapped into a cycle of poverty by the very programs that are supposedly designed to help them stand on their own two feet. Curious how that doesnt workd, isnt it?
How odd is it that the Democratic party has successfully managed to portray themselves as the party of the disadvantaged
Yeah, right. Is that why they trash Walmart every chance they get? Doesn't Walmart mainly cater to the lower class (who the Dems supposedly support)?
Yeah, right. Is that why they trash Walmart every chance they get? Doesn't Walmart mainly cater to the lower class (who the Dems supposedly support)?
How very un-PC of you ;D I cant believe you are portraying the national discussion as some kind of class thing, the Post-modernists and Democrats just want everybody to have the same stuff and opportunities. ::)
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