I am not a racist person. I very rarely hate anyone, but when I do, it has nothing to do with color of skin, or ethnicity, but rather because they did something horrible and I've yet to work up the ability to forgive. That list of people I hate is quite short; two names. Only two names on that list, both people that did terrible things to me that I have yet been able to forgive. Both of those people are white.
The list of people I consider a friend is much longer and contains people of all colors and backgrounds. I have dated white people, black people, and Hispanic people. My stepmother is Japanese. My dearest friend is Indian (as in from India). I am more Native American than not. Basically, I just don't care what color someone is or is not; it doesn't make a difference in my ability to call one a friend or to be called a friend in return. I have never been the person that race mattered too and I never will be that person because It. Doesn't. Matter.
And so knowing all of that about myself, I have a complaint to make. I am absolutely tired of people assuming that because my skin is white, I must be racist. It's a crock and I'm, for one, rather tired of hearing it. And while this is a rant about people thinking white people are racist simply because they are white, this goes equally for everyone. If you're calling someone racist because they're Hispanic, or black, or Asian, I'm talking to you just as much as anyone else.
I was recently in class with a black girl. We got along quite well until our class started discussing racism and bigotry in law enforcement and it all went downhill from there. We were asked whether racist behaviors are found in only one race or if they're more broad range than that. This girl responded with something along the lines of "of course racism is everywhere, but white people are more racist than anyone else and that's a fact."
Um, no. White people aren't any more racist than black people or any other people. I told her my thoughts on her statement because statements like that drive me insane. We went back and forth for a while and then she got incredibly antagonistic and rude over the entire thing and continued to make outrageous claims about how white people have always been responsible for oppresion and slavery because white people hate people of color and on and on. Apparently to her way of thinking, if you aren't black you're white and white people are the sole reason slavery ever existed, be it in ancient times or currently and it was because white people have always been racist assholes not for any other reason. Eventually I got tired of listening to the ridiculousness with no basis in fact that was being tossed out and just left it well enough alone. I was tired of being labeled as being more racist than anyone else because I'm white, when I had done and said nothing that could even be construed as racist during our discussions.
But, the entire thing really irritated me. For someone that claimed others were racist, she was sure doing a fine job of acting prejudiced herself and failing to see it. And that's nothing new. I have noticed that many of those who claim another group is racist are generally the people who tend to hold some racial bias themselves. And that's what really aggravates the piss out of me; we're racist because we're white, but you can say whatever you want about us and that doesn't make you racist?
Lately it's just been all to common. I call Michael Vick a heartless bastard for his actions and I'm automatically racist because apparently I'm not allowed to call out another for disgusting behavior if he or she isn't white. I gripe about the fact that a contractor (who happens to be Hispanic) painted our door and instead of letting us know so we could remove the door decorations, they just tossed them on the ground (one is now MIA) and I'm racist. I say I don't think affirmative action is the best policy to fight discrimination and I'm racist.
Basically, anything I say makes me racist because I'm white, but others can rant about how white people are this that and the other and that's not racist. Frankly, I don't care if you're white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or Plutonian. Judging another because of the color of their skin is ridiculous. Twisting and distorting what someone says in order to call them racist is ridiculous. I don't judge you for what you had no say in, so please return the favor and remember that just because I'm white doesn't mean I'm a member of the KKK, that I hold racist attitudes or that I hate you. When I say something about someone of another color, or gripe about something someone of another color did, it is not because I'm racist. It is because I don't agree with their actions. And last time I checked, that wasn't the same thing as being racist.
So, for the love of god, if you are one of those people that I am ranting about (and again, I'm not just talking about black people here, but everyone who is guilty of judging based on color), just think before speaking next time. How much do you really know about that person beyond the color of his or her skin? Are you sure that you're painting them in the right light, or are you just too busy painting them with that race brush to bother really looking?
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oh my god, it's so true, and it's getting ridiculous.
regarding the idea that slavery only existed because of white people--did anyone bother pointing out to this girl that
1)african people sold other africans to the whites back in the 1700s because it was a way to have regional power, and that a major reason the slave trade was so effective was BECAUSE of the cooperation of the local, guess what, black, population?
2)in areas where whites are a minority, such a thing as white slavery still exists?
it's the whole n-word argument too. all of a sudden it's okay to say it if you're black, but otherwise it's a no-no? either no one should be saying that word, period, or everyone should be allowed to use it, if it's allegedly lost its meaning and they've taken it back. and if you're not okay with someone else calling you that, you shouldn't be saying it. a deragotory term is a deragotory term, end of story.
--stacie
We did point those things out to her and she griped about us going far back in history when that had nothing to do with the fact. I couldn't figure out the logic in that one and that's when I decided to just leave it alone. You come to a point in a conversation when you realize that no matter how many supported facts you put out there, someone that isn't willing to listen won't listen and there is nothing you can do about it. It's sad that people can ignore the realities in order to hold on to their assumptions and totally ass backwards beliefs.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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hehehehe. to be perfectly honest that's how i feel about fundamentalist christians that beileve in creationism and try to argue against evolution....no matter what you say, nothing gets through to them. i think god would have to show up and be like "hey guys...lay off" before any one like that got the point.
--stacie
I am quite sure that even if god himself appeared and said lay off, some of them wouldn't. do it simply because he didn't say it in the bible.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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That may be correct but what it does say in the bible- people didn't believe in miracles until they saw it with their eyes Exodus 4:4-9. Don't doubt yourself you're fine.
Well lets see. I dis agree up to a certain point. Remember everyone has a free will they would definitely not listen. Some peoples will is stronger than others. They can be very opionated to a point of negativity bouncing off you and me. For me I have learned to turn it into positive. I have learned to be versatile in a lot of situations I have a better judgement in dincerning peoples action. In other words know when to do things before you do it and know when I'm stepping over my boundries. I'm not claiming to be perfect i'm just adding my 2 cents in the matter on how things can be bad one minute and good the next. Now comrade I will not debate anything or argue anyone's comments or theories. I have changed situations that were negative into positive. Many times, in which I believe all bad things can turn into good, with a little kindness and determination. I know you understand what I am saying It seems like people have fun negatively with others,. I will stand firm on what I believe one day you will see it. Laughing or not
I am one of those reverse racist. Actually I have no idea what that is suppose to mean. I appear white but am hispanic and in all my experiences the most boring, ridiculous people to be around have been white/angalo saxon/ caucasian people. So I call myself reverse racist, mostly as a joke, because everyone thinks that racism is hate toward black only people and I do not like white people.
I try to give everyone a chance...That girl in your class is racist.
With that said I would like to mention that you are one of the best white people I have ever met.
~RR
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
Thanks dear. That makes me feel better, especially after having the other commenter decide this post was racist.
I was like that (reverse racist) too in a way when I was 13/14. After I was raped, I hated white men with a passion. They were all worthless bastards to my way of thinking during that period. It took nearly a year for me to wake up and smell the roses and realize that not all white men are raping bastards.
Racism is racism no matter how you slice it. People should take the time to remember that and stop the whole "you're racist because you're black/white/purple/green, but I'm not racist for saying that" song and dance. I'm glad you got the point of the post.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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Thanks thumbs up
Been there not once but 3 times. I got the roses too. but I sold all 24 of them and donated the money to our sbg at my college. this happened 27 years ago. People who say I'm a racist john doe is a racist, should be careful and look into the mirror ask themself are you a racist. Bet ya they'll say no but look hard you may see that reflections you failed to see. This is to apologize I had so many replies I tried to answer regarding my comments on your blog I got lost along the way. I figured this out now. You're a good person and I notice why you write that way. I have the same class you probably took at ku but mine is online. Hold your head up high if you believe in yourself that's all that will matter.
If you were a racist, you would certainly be the last to know.
I do notice, however, that most people who say they're not racist usually take one situation, say for instance, a discussion with one girl, then somehow expand one opinion to an "us" vs "them" discussion. Usually, non-racists don't use one person's opinion to reflect on their entire race. Even if a group of vocal people of a particular race espouses an opinion, non-racists usually determine that it is the opinion of that particular group, not that particular race.
I do love how some people point out how many friends of other races they have with a specific account of exactly what races they are. Reminds me of Stephen Colbert and his "black friend" contest.
Unless you can directly sample a large enough group of black people who have this particular opinion, and not rely on what your opinion of what blacks "generally" think, then this writeup of yours is pretty racist.
You missed the point dear. I wasn't talking about only one incident, or about everyone of a particular race. I'm talking about people that continually say things like that, whether it's that one black girl, a white boy, or anyone else. That one incident was merely an example of what I am talking about. Many people of many different races are far too quick to assume that one is racist without knowing anything about them other than that they belong to a particular race. THAT is what this post was about. Getting "this post is pretty racist" when this post was never about most blacks, or most Hispanics or most of any group generally thinks is absolutely ridiculous. I'm sorry you missed the real point and have come away having decided I am racist. It's things of that same nature that I was bitching about.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I am not sure this is what that person speaks of but would the story have been the or had the same effect if the girl was not black. Was there a pupose in metioning this?
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
Who is your comment too me or leftfield? If it's me, I need clarification cause I'm not sure I get what you're asking.
If you are asking me if I had a point in mentioning her race, I didn't have so much a point in mentioning it as I did an attempt to make the situation clear so as to avoid those comments asking what race the other girl was. I have a tendency to confuse people when I rant by leaving out stuff that I didn't feel was important but that someone else needs in order to understand the situation.
The rant would have been the same had she been my sister, an alien from Pluto, purple, green or any other color.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I think the point was that people of all races can be well...racist, not just white people. Just like some people from all walks of life you might run into a few assholes. ;)
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18
Your inference is that people who do not march in rigid lockstep with you, do not have the right to speak out against racism and discrimination. Far from taking a stand against racism, hatred and discrimination, you advocate for it. Those and other wrongs are only dealt with through open discussion. You find such open discussion politically inconvenient, so you attempt to demean it by inferring that it is "racist" you seek to control what can be said, and not be said. You are the racist, the bigot,.
You espouse the same mindset that all who seek to exploit and enslave human beings do. You want to do the thinking and speaking for all. You don't believe in the civil rights of self determination, justice and equal rights for all.
It is no more racist to say one has black, brown or what have you friends, than it is to say you have white friends. You need to deal with your own narrow mind, before you attempt to criticize others.
I'm Native American, Wampanoag. My husband is Cape Verdean, which means he is Portuguese of African ancestry. We both have seen the racism of others, and that includes the racism of Middle Easterners, Hispanics, Asians and even African Americans. Hatred, prejudice is a human flaw, not one created by one racial group. Slavery is as old as the human race, and it is no less cruel and exploitatve when Middle Easterners, Africans, Asians, Hispanics or any other race perpetuates it. I've heard the far left wingnuts attempt to infer that the slave trade in foreign countries was more benign, that is the same sort of rationale the KKK would use, it's called making excuses, denial.
At the university I used to work at, a Palestinian adjunct professor assumed I was Hispanic. She made a racist statement to me, about the black man who had left the office as she was entering. Her assumption was that I would share her racist attitude. She didn't know that the man was my husband. After filing a complaint against her for her racism, I was approached by others on the staff, and students of all colors who had their own negative experiences with her and her prejudices.
The thing that is needed to be dealt with is hatred, no matter who is the one guilty of hate. There is no room for it in society. One thing I have learned is that no matter whether it's the far right, or the far left, they are ultimately the same thing. Authoritarian, fascistic and desirous of destroying human rights and freedoms.
Equality is a two way street, no one should be more equal than others. If you aren't capable of understanding that simple concept leftfield, then you need to take a civics class and gain in understanding. What you advocate is the same thing advocated by the same types who imposed Stalinism, who imposed Nazi-ism, who imposed slavery, who rationalized Maoism. It is you who hate, it is you who are racist.
Great point Fallon, and sorry you had to deal with that ignorant girl. It's always surprising that as old as we are, we should know better...but sadly not all of us do. The whole "lets play the race card" is very outdated I think..
P.S. the two babies in your profile pic are soooo adorable :-)
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http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/npsm18
Thanks dear. And it wasn't just that one girl, but people like that. And they are too common these days, whatever race they are from. It's annoying and it's ridiculous.
And thanks:) Those are my spoiled absolutely rotten nephews.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I've met people like that, and it really is getting ridiculous. I think it might have something to do with the fact that when racism was prevalent (not that it's not now...) whites were almost always seen as the superior race.
"Whites were almost alway seen as a superior race" probably should read more like whites almost always acted like they were always seen as the superior race.
Once upon a time in a far away land, Egypt thought they were the best, Years later Roman empire can to be the superior.
Ridiculous indeed.
~Thankful
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
A lot of different areas and communites seem to have that problem. Unfortunately we come across them quite often. Reasons behind their actions
1. Their upbringing and beliefs
2. Lack of understanding.
3. Situations deeply rooted they fail to realize.
4. Their looking for a scape goat.
5. Duplicate another's actions. (Being Taught those actions)
I come from a state of many ethnic backgrounds. Some races were taught to hate the next one. A lot of times I have to be a referee to calm the situation down, getting to know the next person's ways and cultures helped. Communication on why, who, how that helped The most sad thing is they inter marry and the next person their fighting with is their own family. So to you I say don't take it personal. It really sucks how anyone can be nice one minute than mean the next..
My parents taught us never to hate anyone but it's okay to hate their actions. Well I have a sibling who hates the whole race for one person's actions. When ever we get together I have to remind him of what my dad said. My younger siblings and I have friends we invite of that race. We have family who intermarried into that race. Believe me it's not the color I'm speaking of.
It's hard to forget ones action against you, but look at it at another angle; may be you would believe differently. My list was super long on those types of people; I would call them my "Problem Children" Over the years I forgave them, one by one. The hurt emotions and all the bad things they did I let it go; when I met God. My one brother doesn't go to church but he will always say "my tita, I understand what Dad meant, on not hating and the difference between the person and the actions". He fell in love with our friends and their families. They come from another polynesian race just like me. Thats why I said it's not your color. blame it on the race.
I get where you are coming from and I do try not to take it personally, but sometimes it just gets aggravating and you have to say something about it. This is just something that really bothers me because no one should be held to a different standard or automatically assumed to be racist because of their color. And when I say no one, I mean no one. Black people, white people, Asian people, purple people; none should be assumed to be racist simply because they belong to one race.
I suppose part of why I don't get why that's so common (assuming another is racist) and why no one says anything about it is because I don't understand racism either. What purpose does it serve? Does one feel better hating another because they're a different color? Do racist people sleep better at night thinking they are somehow superior? Like I said, I just don't get it.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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But 2 rights don't make a wrong and 2 wrongs don't make a right. I heard clearly your point and understanding. There were circumstances you may have not known about which people come off the wrong end. And they will reflect their negative attitudes at you without thinking. Hey could be the other way around. So lets say your point is well taken. But this is corproate america everyone has their opinions, too bad it can't be much nicer towards each other. Now I'm talking about people not race or color.
I'm not sure what this comment is in response too. I hadn't yet responded to your comment.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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are often held accountable for things that people of our races do and I know that we all have at one point done this to each other, maybe unintentionally, but really we all have done it---and i have to say-----that nowadays
it happens to me a lot (me being judged because i am a muslim) people have already built up thier own image of a certain race or group of people and really, i do not blame them-i just wish they would be willing to change that image that they have of me and other races
someone mentioned history wise how black people were the ones who sold their own black people but...i do have something, just a little thing to pick on that and i need more time to put my thoughts and give a reasonable reason for why i thnk that we might be mistaken in saying that oh weren't the blacks who sold their own to the whites, it's not as simple as that...yeah, ima get back to this comment and edit it to add what i ahve to say about that
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
of course it's not as simple as that, but i wanted to bring that up because in her post fallon said that the girl in question said things like white people are responsible for slavery, which isn't entirely true--it's not as simple as THAT either.
my point was really that assigning arbitrary blame to one group of people for something is ignorant and that all the facts surrounding the issue should be taken into account. it's like when people used to think all germans were nazis even though that was far, far from the truth.
--stacie
really nicely :)
actually if anyone takes history they would realize the kind of trade and barter/exchange relationship that was going on between the natives in africa and the foreinger europeans and americans involved in the trade of slavery and why it became so lucrative and why people were willing to give up thier own people
(in most cases they were not giving their own black brothers but people of enemy clans and ethnic groups} and the kinds of things that they were getting (technology wise and especvially alcohol and medicine was so enticing)
so yeah, i know you were trying to just sort of make a point but i just wanted this thing to be cleared up too
and definitely this is so idiotic/ignorant of the girl that she said that white people (all of them) are responsible for slavery
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
I now believe this is another subject. Correct we cannot change what happened in the past, that is not relavent here, what is; Dealing with peoples attitudes. How we can deal with the present and adjust so we don't make the mistakes from the past.
There is a lot of incidents where families will take care of others before their own.. Like I told a friend I will not debate with you on the past of others and the choices they made. I prefer the present and how believing in ones self turning the negative into positive. I've had situations like your comments that dealt with my family selling many acres for a case of whiskey. I'm a pure breed hawaiian we have had issues, but what my ancestors did is in the past have been done already why cry on spilt milk.;we have our own problems here in hawaii with the past. But it's my present and my childrens future I am concerned about.
I agree with you to the extent that we can't look at what happened in history and then blame future generations for the actions of those ancestors. We also can't change what they did. But, we can examine and analyze what they did and try to learn all the whys and wherefores so that we don't make the same mistakes again. It might not change anything, but having examined all of those past behaviors and situations, we equip ourselves with more tools with which to meet the present and move into the future.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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Good job
and that is why i kind of think that the greatest problem today is that people take one individual or one group's actions to represent the whole gross religious/ethnic/racial group like people who have judged me as a suicide bomber and US hater just because I am muslim too
and that somehwat explains how wrong it was for the girl to keep thinking that just becaue you are white, you are racist.
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
That's one argument we've had out here on ProgressiveU more times than I can count. Someone will come along and somehow or another manages to associate the entire Muslim population with terrorists and sometimes, no matter how much you tell them they're insane; it doesn't help. It's unfortunate that so many have allowed the actions of a small minority to shadow every Muslim into that "terrorist" box without ever bothering to actually get to know those they're castigating as terrorists or even bothering to do a little research.
I have learned from my experience posting this blog though, that sometimes no matter what you do or say, you're going to be defined as whatever it is you are speaking out against by those who really just don't get it and likely never will bother to try. Which has been a help in it's own way. Next time I'll remember to shrug it off and remember that some will twist and distort whatever you say or do regardless of if they know anything about you or not. More unfortunate for them than for anyone else.
Posting this and having the discussions with you and others that we have had overshadowed any of the few negatives remarks that came my way and has reminded me of just why I posted this in the first place and why I continue to do the volunteer and activist stuff I do. There are people out there that do get the point. Leading by example goes further than any talking ever will. But, sometimes talking helps in its own way!
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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personally what happened was that with me---it was in high school when people clumped me in with and as a suicide bomber/US hater and with my sister-- she was in middle school when she experienced this
and after I chose to stop wearing the veil
people don't even know who or what I am, they can't tell but just because of my and my sister's head covering, they automatically assumed we had the same beliefs
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
It wasn't that she said all white people are responsible for slavery, as she did not say that. She just kept using slavery as the biggest supporting fact that she had for why white people are more racist than any other group. And when we would try to point out to her that that wasn't true, she would get all huffy about it and say that history had no point in the discussion, that we were wrong, etc, etc, etc. She took on this mentality that if the skin wasn't black, it was white and no amount of fact would wake her up to the reality that that isn't true. And because of that perception she had that if you weren't black you were white (whether you're Hispanic, Muslim, Egyptian, Indian, etc didn't matter; it was all white to her). And any of those groups that had slavery in their past just reiterated to her that white people were more racist than others. She just got really antagonistic about it and refused to listen and instead resorted to the 'I don't care what you say or that I'm totally overlooking the reality of slavery in history, you're white and therefore racist and you just don't want to admit that' attitude.
I could just as easily call white people racist bastards as she came close to doing. My Native American ancestors were marched across the United States into piss poor living conditions after years of abuse and mistreatment by white folks. But, the reality is that the fact that they were white had nothing to do with what they did. And holding what those people did against every future generation of white people doesn't solve anything, make anything better or even make sense. Those future generations weren't responsible; they weren't alive, hadn't even been thought of. You can't justify your own racist behaviors because of something someone else did 200 years ago.
And she justified her behavior by saying that white people were more racist and continually pointed to slavery in the United States as ample enough evidence of that while refused to entertain the notion that she was wrong and was actually the one that was making outlandish and racist statements with no basis in reality. That's what really infuriated me about the entire situation, and it would have done so had she been any other color. You can't accuse others of being racist when the only basis you have for making that claim is the color of their skin. And that's what she was doing. She refused to look at the entire picture because had she done that, her previously skewed view of white people would have had to change to accommodate the reality that was slavery.
Anyway, I've rambled on enough. I merely meant to clarify the situation, not write a book.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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understand what makes someone think like that and have that sort of unreasonable belief'
see at college today (a community college in a mostly white suburban neighborhood, while i was waiting for the bus there were about 3 black people there waiting for it too...so then this white girl comes and since i am right there, i can hear their conversation and this is what is about.
the three black people were telling the white girl, thanks for sticking up for us about something and as i heard more I realized they were talking about another white girl who was addressing black people as "YOU people?"
the more i heard the story the more i found out that when they confronted her about telling her to call them something (she didn't want to give them any kind of classification or name) so anyways the one black girl in the 3 was saying she wouldn't mind being called anything/something but being called "YOU people" was like what the fcuk? i mean really that makes me see how black people sometimes build these kind of prejudices against everyone that is white but of course these people didn't because they were includinf the white gril and they even thanked her
i don't know, i am just telling you because this is related, and it happened today
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
I understand what you're saying and I do see how the mentality and such arises in some cases. I just don't get it though. How does one make it through life thinking that all people of X color are this, that or the other? I just don't see how it is possible as diverse as this nation has become to have not had that perception that all people of one color or another are racist or evil or disgusting or any thing challenged at *least* once. Can one seriously say that every single experience they have had with someone of another color has reinforced or prove that perception that everyone of that racial makeup is _______ (insert term here)?
Thanks for sharing your story.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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This is what I say, your race my race color it doesn't matter all people have down falls and quite a bit of shortcomings too We either deal with it or not. As for me I use to sit back as a spectator. But no more if I can make a change than I will. Like I said I know when to do it and when not to do it.. I think .over the years my understanding increased when I was put into a lot of situations gaining the knowledge I now retain to help me out. I make friends from all over. I gain their friendship through head butts and debates. I know it will happen till the day I die. But I will continue my positveness until then
{pride is arrogance not willing to learn Humility is kindness willing to learn the understanding) author unknown
thankyou.
black people were enslaving black people and have continued to enslave themselves before we EVER brought slaves over to America. i can't see how people say that "white people started slavery." HELL no. that is so not true.
discussion that i have to argue and explain and go into history and ancient civilizations because no matter what religion you are, we all "blacks and whites" are all from africa and then we moved and then to say that one group enslaved its people first and started slavery, really accomplishes nothing....i mean slavery existed in almost all civilzaations and empires of man kind in the ancient world
i thought it was enough to leave it at the fact that we all need to stop and think before we judge/make racist and stupid uneducated comments
i have to get back to this because i am too sleepy right now so excuse me if i am not making sense
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
Well I do know people's judgements can be hateful. Been there got it, but I always prove them wrong. Don't matter any more if they think a whole bunch of negative things. This is my actions to my theories I'll hit them with genuine kindness, not back stabbing after they get better. All the things people used to talk about me; made them look bad. Others would look real hard and think if it's true or not. I used to take it personal but not now. I'll cry and throw temper tantrums when I'm alone but will pick myself up and go front not back. After a while they'll come around and apologize, that's when it hits you and you're thinking what the hell is wrong with you are you okay or what. But thats a start of changes that will happen. I know this due to all the impossible people I've dealt with they said " watch out she's a b ch, he's a head. took me 1-3 years to change their attitudes. They realized I wasn't there to make their lives miserable, but actually be a friend.
Ps I'm still trying to get the hang of this and notice my mistake was getting the replies but wonder off to the wrong person I should be replying to
I completely agree!!
Iand actually, to top it all off, I've even had this discussion with a few of my friends, and they think that I'm rascist for calling them rascist..... Where does this circle end?
I really don't care what color someone is, and if I don't agree with something, I'm usually one to spek up, no matter what color I am.
In fact, I have quite a few black, and hispanic friends, and I've never had a problem with them... Whats the deal?
i really despise all that junk as well! its just so outrageous to make such general blanket statements. i had a class in my sophmore year of college that was on ethnicity and race. the class was split pretty even, half white, half black, hispanic, asian, korean, etc...well, my professor was puerto rican, and he walked into class the first day and said "if you're white, you're racist. end of story." my hand has never gone up so fast. haha it was horrible. he almost failed me because every time he would say things like that, i would raise my hand and counter him...not to argue just for arguements sake, but because i think it is a serious mistake to say such things ESPECIALLY in a classroom setting. it was horrible. great post. thanks! :o)
Wow. that is insane. Was he serious about it when he said it?
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I commend you for trying little did that idoit know he could have gotten into trouble with the board of ethics for a statement like that. Guess what they may have been made up of his peers. Sorry but unfortunately he probably got his butt chewed out by his female boss who was whit.e at least that's what I think. *clap* *clap* my hats off to you
I cannot agree with you more. It's that event with Don Imus. It was all over the news about how racist he is. And the human activist kept on repeating "racist" all over and over again. In my mind I was thinking, "You're seem racist than Don Imus...you're racist against white people." Then there was a call from a lady who said that she is white and does not agree with Don Imus' action. However, she doesn't think firing Imus for one statement that was supposed to be a comedy. Imus even apologized and everything. And the conversation went on and on. Then the activist accused the lady on the phone for being a racist too. Sigh. It sounds more like prejudice than racism now. Maybe they're both the same?
Racism is discrimination based on race; prejudice is a bias that prevents objective consideration of something. So, in a way I guess they could be the same. The way I always heard it though is that prejudice is the thought behind the action, racism is the action. Racism is more a combination of prejudice and discrimination, I guess.
Not that that really makes it any clearer huh? :)
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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i think that people assume that white people are racism solely because of all of the recorded history, but seriously, people in other countries have also been rascist back in the day, but it was not recorded.
i think that those who believe that white people are racist are ignorant and narrow minded
I agree, but I think we need to just stop using the word "race" all together. I have a black step-dad and even if I didn't I would never judge anyone by the color of their skin. Racism is shallow, narrow-mindedness, and I for one am neither. People love to throw out the word racist whenever they can, and it's not fair. They will overlook anything else you have said and try to discredit you by calling you a racist, even when they don't know your situation or care. It all comes down to ignorance.
If you're more native American than not, wouldn't you be non-white? Which would give you the lovely position to be in of not being white at all, which leftists like yourself obviously loathe. But in any case it's good to hear you say that you date every race under the sun and have a token set of friends of other races, so that you can prove to everyone else how totally not racist you are. Just remember to keep that air of moral superiority about yourself, I'm sure that every other race, whether they be black, Asian, whatever, will say that in America race NEVER matters to them either. Or at least here's hoping
I find it highly amusing that when talking about race, you aren't allowed to mention other races as they relate to your life. Makes a whole hell of a lot of sense to me. Guess the fact that I mentioned it just makes me more racist as does the fact that despite my Native American blood I look white and am always called white. Absolutely ridiculous
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I totally agree with your blog myself. Some people in the world feel like they have been a victim of racism just because their black and think that every white person is like that they develop a feeling of inferiority when they are surrounded by that
I just don't get it and it's definitely not only black people. I can understand when one really has had to deal with discrimination and gets frustrated, but to then apply that instance to every future person is extreme. Or to yell discrimination when there is no discrimination.
It really surprised me today talking with one of my patients about male nurses and how, while it's rare to have a male nurse around here, they tend to be more friendly than female nurses for some reason. She mentioned that she switched nursing services because they were sending black male nurses out and she looked at me and said "I think they were doing it just to be hateful and discriminate." I kind of gaped at that one. I just couldn't figure out how sending out black male nurses was being hateful and discriminatory towards her. Still haven't wrapped my mind around that one yet.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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I hate it when i accidentally run into a black male and they are like move white girl, isn't that being racist? I have a name just like they do, i dont say move black boy! It just really irritates me.
I totally understand where you are coming from. I am not a racist, I'm not even close to ever being one. I just hate how all I have to do is look at someone of the opposite color and they accuse me of being racist. They don't realize that when they act out like that, they are being racist. I just wish it wasn't so complicated with skin color...if only.
You guys should chill! I mean, black ppl was under the racist spell for a long time. May be it take longer for some ppl to forget. I know that they got their equality a long time ago and that they shouldn't take advantage of it to get their ways, but you guys should be the bigger ppl here to forgive them. I don't know... may be I'm wrong b/c I'm not white...
Why would you be wrong because you are not white?
You said maybe we should be the bigger people and forgive them.... why can it not work both ways so as not to be an issue and everyone forgive everyone and not assume but give chances to individuals? I agree that segregation and discrimination and all of the horribleness that black people especially were made to endure was wrong and it can never be made right. But, at some point, time to hold on to the anger has to end and everyone has to start working together. I'm more than happy to pitch in and do whatever, but I can't do that if not given the chance. And that, in the end, is what it boils down too in that regard. Not being given the chance to help make things better in certain situations because one is assumed to be racist for something they can't fix or change and had no hand in (being born a certain color). Those who spend any time with me know better. But, those who just assume and base everything off of that first minute assumption don't give one a chance to prove them wrong. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't and nothing changes that. Those are the people, white, black, purple or green, that I am speaking about here.
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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Some people use the definition of "racist" as someone who benefits from the system where one race has more privileges than other races. Not that I'm saying you should or shouldn't accept that definition, just pointing out that it exists. A lot of times, I just say that I'm anti-racist and that gets the point across to both camps.
The other thing that might be interesting for you is to discuss is white privilege and how that relates to white anti-racist people (or white people who are just not racist). I'd be really interested in your reaction to Peggy McIntosh's "Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" (http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html), although it may be something that you've already discussed. If not, a lot of the items seem somewhat dated, but I liked the general gist.
But it definitely sucks to be a person of integrity and have your integrity questioned.
Willa
I have never read that before, but I have to agree with much of what she said and most of the list that she came up with for ways in which white privilege affected her life on a daily basis. I wouldn't necessarily go so far, though, as to say that we're trained to be oblivious to that privilege.
It's something that I think many can't help but to see on a daily basis. It's more of a question of how one reacts when they do see it; is it "just the way it is", something one pretends not to notice or is it something one actually looks at and wonders about and attempts to right? How could one not at least know it's there when one can travel through town and see the disparity between living just by looking out the window in most places? I think it's more that people are more comfortable denying and pretending that the system of privilege doesn't exist even when they know it does. And when one doesn't actively acknowledge that such a system exists, one doesn't have to consider changes that one would deem inconvenient to them.
She also raises a good point about a change in attitude about racism not being enough to change the system that we currently live in. Which raises another question to me, what do we do to change it beyond the obvious? Unless we get to a point in which people are willing to concede the point and actively acknowledge that a system of white privilege exists; we won't get far. So... how does society get from seeing that it exists to having a desire to acknowledge it and accept that it needs to change?
In a way, affirmative action has sought to right the system, but I wouldn't really say it's been successful. It's a temporary solution that doesn't really address the problem in it's totality. It just addresses the portions it deems easy to address, while doing nothing for the portions of the problem that would render those "easy to address" issues moot points. .
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~Fallon~
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." Henry David Thoreau
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