Thread: 'Tis A Good Week To Be Black

Originally Posted by sicboater

I think to qualify as racism it has to be an exclusionary act. Meaning that folks who voted would have to say

"I am purposefully not voting for this candidate because of his/her race" Rather than "I am voting for this candidate For his race"

The difference is subtle but sure to me. In one act, the act itself is directly and intentionally against some one. In the other it is indirectly against someone and lacks the pejorative feel of the first.
-Rob

I see. so, if I don't want to be labeled racist, instead of marching around shouting "down with [some ethnicity not my own]" and "[some ethnic minority] suck!" I need to march around saying how good my own race is? like, marching around and shouting "white power! white power!"

I ask merely for information. /sarcasm

saying something good about a particular race is every bit as racist as saying something bad. you are making an assumption about everyone in the group, whether good or bad, based on averages, whether real or perceived. that's collectivism, and i'm not ok with it.

Originally Posted by jockeys

saying something good about a particular race is every bit as racist as saying something bad. you are making an assumption about everyone in the group, whether good or bad, based on averages, whether real or perceived. that's collectivism, and i'm not ok with it.

It is obvious you are white and never been the victim of that collectivism that excluded you and your family from the rights of your fellow American. I am guessing you have no relatives that have been dragged behind a truck or lynched because of the color of their skin. Hey there, Mr Compassion, can't you see it in your heart to allow the down trodden the opportunity to rise?

Don't worry, Obama will work for all Americans.

Originally Posted by icedog

It is obvious you are white and never been the victim of that collectivism that excluded you and your family from the rights of your fellow American. I am guessing you have no relatives that have been dragged behind a truck or lynched because of the color of their skin. Hey there, Mr Compassion, can't you see it in your heart to allow the down trodden the opportunity to rise?

Don't worry, Obama will work for all Americans.

second page of the thread, and already the ad hominems are flying. nice.

Originally Posted by jockeys

second page of the thread, and already the ad hominems are flying. nice.

No ad hominem from me. If I had mentioned that your red neck was showing or asked you if you had a rebel flag on your pick up truck perhaps then you could make such a claim. I merely (sarcastically but with a loving spirit) questioned your compassion.

Brad

I just wonder if we have really come any farther as a nation to being any less racist. If a man was elected president because it was time to have a black man hold that office and people voted for him because of that then it was still racialy motivated. What I am saying is that maybe he was not elected into office because he was the best person for the job but because some people feel we need a black man to be president to help clear us of our white guilt.

Originally Posted by roughneck

I just wonder if we have really come any farther as a nation to being any less racist. If a man was elected president because it was time to have a black man hold that office and people voted for him because of that then it was still racialy motivated. What I am saying is that maybe he was not elected into office because he was the best person for the job but because some people feel we need a black man to be president to help clear us of our white guilt.

Do you feel "white guilt"? This man brought out more voters than any other candidate in history. That's alot of guilt. I like to think that Barack Obama was the best person for the job and it is a good thing to find the best man for the job happens to be a representative of a large group of some of the most disenfranchised people in our sordid history. Perhaps one day a native American woman may be elected president.

I think it's really telling the way people speak about Obama. Some, especially the media, really talk up this idea that it's a historic election because a black man was elected president. My question is, how does this help the idea of eliminating racism? The people that are so quick to cry racist are now saying "ha, gotcha! we put a black man in office", instead of "we just put a great leader into office". It's like people voted for him just for the symbolism.

Originally Posted by roughneck

I just wonder if we have really come any farther as a nation to being any less racist. If a man was elected president because it was time to have a black man hold that office and people voted for him because of that then it was still racialy motivated. What I am saying is that maybe he was not elected into office because he was the best person for the job but because some people feel we need a black man to be president to help clear us of our white guilt.

Do you really think 349-163 is white guilt? I have been a public servant all my adult life. I have been a Paramedic, an Infantryman, and now an RN. I have always tried to serve the people, but have never been proud to be one of them. I have gone to war for my country. I have held my dying friends in my arms. I have looked into the face of evil, and spit in it. I have never really been proud of who I am, a member of the human race, and American. Today, I can truly say I am PROUD to be an American.

Originally Posted by icedog

No ad hominem from me. If I had mentioned that your red neck was showing or asked you if you had a rebel flag on your pick up truck perhaps then you could make such a claim. I merely (sarcastically but with a loving spirit) questioned your compassion.

Brad

compassion is irrelevant. as alex so correctly pointed out, and election should be a logical, rational choice: who is going to do the best job of leading our country?


but it ain't. it's a big pep rally; all emotion and little thought. people voted for obama, whether because of his race (something he isn't responsible for choosing) or the fact that he made them "feel hope." what a load of crap. feelings and race cards are equally out of place in ANY election, and the main reason i don't care for him is because his entire platform seemed to be built on these two non-issues, rather than on his voting record which is the only thing that really matters.

It appears impossible in these forums to have a positive discussion about the victory of a black man.