[Split] Race in the U.S.

[Top Gun]

Not entirely surprised, all things considered, but it's often rather startling as to just how far down into inbred redneck ugliness he can sink.

[Sergeant Thorne]

Not entirely surprised, all things considered, but it's often rather startling as to just how far down into inbred redneck ugliness he can sink.

This is the most **** disgusting thing I've read here in a very long time. Seriously, what the ****.

[CUDA]

Not entirely surprised, all things considered, but it's often rather startling as to just how far down into inbred redneck ugliness he can sink.

This is the most **** disgusting thing I've read here in a very long time. Seriously, what the ****.

ya funny the whole pot and kettle attitude huh. He used the same standards and language to criticize woody as he claimed woody used.

[callmeslick]

gotta admit, I agree with CUDA and Thorne. One over the top nasty remark might warrant a call-out, but NOT another over the top nasty remark. There's a sort of fine line there......

[Foil]

"Don't make me come in there."

<mod>Seriously, keep it professional, boys. [That means keeping the personal shots to yourself, TG.]</mod>

[Sergeant Thorne]

Blacks are still enslaved by the likes of Jackson and Sharpton et al. Too bad the ghetto blacks never could cope when the plantation gates were opened and the overseer said , "you're free". A new master with chains made of welfare came and they smilingly put the new chains on as freedom and the right to make something of yourself was too scary a thought.

I think it would behoove us to try to look on the social plight of these certain segments of the black community with understanding. Making something of yourself has been "too scary a thought" for an awful lot of people all over. People that have been taken advantage of in their ignorance need to be educated--they need help. Ridicule ought to be reserved for those who refuse to be educated/helped.

At the same time, I think the extreme distaste for this caricature comes more from an unspoken, fundamental disagreement than any perceivable evil, malice, or racism from Woody. I think it's very likely that the colorful nature of this quote stems from Woody's desire to ridicule those who stand behind such failed programs as welfare, and hasn't much to do with black people in general.

[Tunnelcat]

I read this op ed in the local Portland Newspaper last Sunday. It kind of shocked me to read about what was still going on, even with kids in preschool. If young kids are doing it, you know they learned some of that prejudice from their adult peers and parents, who should have known better in this day and age.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index ... white.html

[CUDA]

I read this op ed in the local Portland Newspaper last Sunday. It kind of shocked me to read about what was still going on, even with kids in preschool. If young kids are doing it, you know they learned some of that prejudice from their adult peers and parents, who should have known better in this day and age.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index ... white.html

not necessarily. many kids are followers, they follow another's lead to be cool or they could have learned the behavior from other kids in school. young kids tend to be brutal with each other anyways, they pick on the stupidest things trying to make each other feel inferior and prop themselves up

[Tunnelcat]

not necessarily. many kids are followers, they follow another's lead to be cool or they could have learned the behavior from other kids in school. young kids tend to be brutal with each other anyways, they pick on the stupidest things trying to make each other feel inferior and prop themselves up

Kids can definitely be cruel to one another and they surely emulate that kid who's the leader and instigator of all things bad on the playground. But to learn that prejudice is an OK thing to actually practice towards another child, they have to either be rewarded for their bad behavior, learn it's OK from an adult, or worse, never be admonished by an adult when it's seen. I'm guessing a parent or relative, or sadly, even a teacher, can fall into all three categories.

[Foil]

I don't know that I'd blame adults so readily. Kids can experiment with various attitudes and make assumptions about race on their own.

With that said, it's not just kids.

I witness racism here in suburbia pretty often among adults, particularly when there are no minorities in earshot. Typically it's preceded by an "I'm not being racist here, but..." disclaimer or one of those "it's just us white folk here, you know what I'm saying" winks. It used to seem innocuous to me, but as I've gotten to know people out here, there's a distinct mindset about minorities, and it's pretty disturbing.

[Spidey]

You should hear what they say about white people around here.

And, they don’t give a damn who is in earshot. They just look at you like….”what”.

And no excuses or winks either.

[callmeslick]

regarding the kids thing.....and I apologize if I already cited this: Children are programmed at birth to react negatively to others who are 'un-like' them, and obviously skin color is the most obvious thing they see. One can hope that as they grow and learn, this tendency is lessened(research shows that tends to happen).

[Tunnelcat]

regarding the kids thing.....and I apologize if I already cited this: Children are programmed at birth to react negatively to others who are 'un-like' them, and obviously skin color is the most obvious thing they see. One can hope that as they grow and learn, this tendency is lessened(research shows that tends to happen).

And that's why the adults are around, to teach kids to respect and be polite to others who are different from them. It's when those supposedly superior adults perpetuate and reinforce a prejudice or stereotype that things go very wrong.

[Foil]

I witness racism here in suburbia pretty often among adults, particularly when there are no minorities in earshot. Typically it's preceded by an "I'm not being racist here, but..." disclaimer or one of those "it's just us white folk here, you know what I'm saying" winks.

You should hear what they say about white people around here.

And, they don’t give a damn who is in earshot. They just look at you like….”what”.

And no excuses or winks either.

So is one better or worse than the other?

Asked another way, is subtle racism fundamentally different from overt racism?

[Spidey]

That’s a hard one…

White people usually say things like …Lazy, Stupid, Ignorant, won’t pay their taxes…etc.

Black people say things more like…”That white ★■◆● got in my way in the store, and I was about to slap her silly.

I find black people’s remarks to be far more aggressive and downright belligerent and white people’s remarks to be more based in ignorance and prejudice. (except for the hard core haters, which I have no real contact with)

So no, I can’t really say which is worse…my point was more towards…if you don’t have contact with other people in their natural environment*, you might get the impression that your own race is worse.

*People are on their best behavior at work, school…etc.

[Foil]

So no, I can’t really say which is worse…my point was more towards…if you don’t have contact with other people in their natural environment*, you might get the impression that your own race is worse.

Understood, and thanks for the clarification.