What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

So anyway, a little background. Lately there has been a big stink here in Victoria, Texas for what some people consider a racist remark.

[url=http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/jun/04/mc_citycouncil_060513_211435/?print]Victoria Advocate | News[/url]

Here's part of the article that appeared on the newspaper's website:

[QUOTE]Several residents are asking the Victoria city attorney for an explanation about a comment he made that they consider racist.

Mary Lou Canales was the first to bring the comment up during Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

She is concerned about the words City Attorney Thomas Gwosdz chose May 21 while speaking with former Mayor Will Armstrong. The comment was broadcast on the city's television channel.

"I just need some clarification from the city attorney ... why he said, 'Just be sure to sign it in Spanish,'" Canales asked.

However, Gwosdz did not answer her question Tuesday night.

"Public comment is not a time for members of this council to respond to the public," Gwosdz said. "It's time for the public to share their ideas or statements to the council."

In video footage of the May 21 meeting, while Councilman Jeff Bauknight signed paperwork to take office, Gwosdz and Armstrong were in the back of the frame signing more paperwork to accept the results of the May 11 election.

Gwosdz instructed Armstrong: "Just be sure to sign in Spanish."

"Huh?" Armstrong asked.

"Just be sure to sign it in Spanish," Gwosdz said louder.

"That's Spanish," Armstrong said after signing one document. "And I sign - "

"Here in English," Gwosdz said.

The council is required to sign English and Spanish versions of election ordinances. The ordinances are translated into Spanish by a certified translator with the elections office.

After Tuesday's meeting, Gwosdz said he made the comment in an effort "to add a moment of levity to an overly stressful meeting."

Clara Ramos, a Victoria resident, said she considers the comment racist.

"I find it more as a mocking than anything, like he's mocking the Hispanics," she said. "How does someone sign in Spanish?"

Benny Martinez, the area director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the community will wait for an answer.

He said he would not tolerate racial remarks.

Mayor Paul Polasek said the situation is "unfortunate."

"I think it's been misunderstood," Polasek said. "I don't think there's any intent to be derogatory."

Ramos would not comment whether she had a plan of action to follow up.

Before the council cast its final votes Tuesday on an ordinance to fund the June 15 runoff election, Councilman Emett Alvarez asked whether Gwosdz wrote the Spanish ordinance already.

"I was curious what the citizens had to say about signing in Spanish," Alvarez said. "I don't see Mayor Armstrong's name in Spanish. I don't see what that's all about."[/QUOTE]

A few days after this happened, the local newspaper came out with a poll to see what residents thought constituted a racist remark.

[B]What constitutes a racist remark?[/B]

A. If even one person is offended..........17%
B. If it offends most reasonable people....40%
C. If the commenter intended harm.........42%
D. Other, please specify........................2%

So, Warpathers, my question to you is: what constitutes a racist remark?

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

B and/or C

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=SirLK26;1012297]So anyway, a little background. Lately there has been a big stink here in Victoria, Texas for what some people consider a racist remark.

[URL="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/jun/04/mc_citycouncil_060513_211435/?print"]Victoria Advocate | News[/URL]

Here's part of the article that appeared on the newspaper's website:



A few days after this happened, the local newspaper came out with a poll to see what residents thought constituted a racist remark.

[B]What constitutes a racist remark?[/B]

A. If even one person is offended..........17%
B. If it offends most reasonable people....40%
C. If the commenter intended harm.........42%
D. Other, please specify........................2%

So, Warpathers, my question to you is: what constitutes a racist remark?[/quote]


My answer to that is talk to the offended parties and find out what it is they are offended by. Reason being what might be offensive in Texas might not be in Maine.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

Hurt feelings. **** 'em.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

I offened all races equally so I don't care. These people are just being stupid and half of them are probably here illegally.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

If people in general worked as hard towards tolerance as they do to find a way to be...offended, it would be a better world.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

If there is a rule stating that these legal documents have to be signed in English and Spanish (not that I get the difference), what is so harmful about a person asking another person to sign the Spanish portion in Spanish?

I feel like a racist remark would be anything where one person clearly shows ill will towards the race of another person. This is not one of those instances.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=mooby;1012320]If there is a rule stating that these legal documents have to be signed in English and Spanish (not that I get the difference), what is so harmful about a person asking another person to sign the Spanish portion in Spanish?[/quote]

Point is, there is no difference.

I'm not sure there was really any racist intent, the guy probably should have kept his mouth shut though.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

"Some people wake up in the morning looking to be offended"

-Dr. Wayne Dyer

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=Mattyk;1012301]B and/or C[/quote]

Yeah, I would agree with you here. If the commenter intended harm, it's obviously racist. If he didn't intend any harm, but it still offends reasonable people, I would say it's still racist.

The attorney, Gwosdz, did say he was just trying to "add a moment of levity to an overly stressful meeting." I don't think he was intending any harm.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

This is America, though. I'm just wondering why the f*** it's a law that we have to have documents signed in Spanish.

What did Sweet Daddy D say? Oh, never mind.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=Mattyk;1012324]Point is, there is no difference.

I'm not sure there was really any racist intent, the guy probably should have kept his mouth shut though.[/quote]

Yeah, not all stupid remarks are necessarily racist

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;1012333]Yeah, not all stupid remarks are necessarily racist[/quote]

I know that.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

If Gwosdz was really trying to be funny, he is the WORLD'S...WORST...COMEDIAN. When you try to make a joke and your audience just goes, "Huh?", I think comedian is out as a career path for you.

And Hog1, your comment was so true.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

So the attorney has apologized.

[quote]In an effort to mend bridges, Victoria City attorney Thomas Gwosdz apologized Tuesday for a comment some saw as offensive...

"It didn't come out the way I expected it to," Gwosdz said. "I regret what I said. It was certainly not meant to give offense, but apparently, I did by accident."

Benny Martinez, director of the area League of United Latin American Citizens chapter, said he accepts the apology. "We have good reason to be sensitive because for years we have been criticized in a derogatory manner,[B] and it really hurts our feelings when people do that," Martinez said.[/B] We do accept your apology. I know we can work together."[/quote]

The bold. LOL. Get a life.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

I didn't find it insensitive or racist, oddly enough.

But to be fair, that area belonged to Mexico first and many Hispanics have been in the southwest long before the Europeans settlers came around.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-televisionmt1thewrap99011-20130621,0,3215823.story]Paula Deen Dumped by Food Network After N-Word Admission - chicagotribune.com[/url]

I would LOVE to hear peoples opinions on this. So I guess we no longer can have freedom of speech or express our opinions in our homes? Thoughts?

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=CultBrennan59;1012920][url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-televisionmt1thewrap99011-20130621,0,3215823.story]Paula Deen Dumped by Food Network After N-Word Admission - chicagotribune.com[/url]

I would LOVE to hear peoples opinions on this. So I guess we no longer can have freedom of speech or express our opinions in our homes? Thoughts?[/quote]

"She accused Deen of using the N word as recently as in 2007, while discussing an idea for a 'plantation'-style wedding."

Is it just me or are we focusing on the lesser thing here... a what style wedding??

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=itvnetop;1012924]"She accused Deen of using the N word as recently as in 2007, while discussing an idea for a 'plantation'-style wedding."

Is it just me or are we focusing on the lesser thing here... a what style wedding??[/quote]

The news tonight has kept bringing up how in court they asked her if she used the N word before. And her response was along the lines of "oh sure, of course I have. In my own home...like the time I had a black man put a gun to my head and I told that story to my husband"

I'm surprised the news outlets I saw tonight (NBC local, NBC nightly news, Access Hollywood) didn't bring up her plantation style wedding comment. That was public, so that makes more sense to fire her than what she said in her own home.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=CultBrennan59;1012920][url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-televisionmt1thewrap99011-20130621,0,3215823.story]Paula Deen Dumped by Food Network After N-Word Admission - chicagotribune.com[/url]

I would LOVE to hear peoples opinions on this. So I guess we no longer can have freedom of speech or express our opinions in our homes? Thoughts?[/quote]

Are you kidding me? It wasn't a personal conversation between her and someone else in her home, this was an idea she openly expressed, obviously around co-workers which is why an employee was the one who pressed charges.

Freedom of speech in your own home is your own business, but from the accounts I've read she made no qualms about openly using the N-word. Hell, the woman admitted that she used it.

[IMG]http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/6/19/12/enhanced-buzz-14390-1371659466-6.jpg[/IMG]

[I]And when asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.
“I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America … after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women … I would say they were slaves.[/I]”

This sounds like a woman who is unabashedly, unapologetically racist and hides behind her Southern roots as the cause.

You Southern a-holes lost the war. Time to move on.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

This after her whole "diabetes" scandal. I think the final nail in the coffin for Paula was her "apology" For something like this, you don't post an obviously edited, unlisted, private 45 second YouTube video and consider that an apology

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=SmootSmack;1012945]This after her whole "diabetes" scandal. I think the final nail in the coffin for Paula was her "apology" For something like this, you don't post an obviously edited, unlisted, private 45 second YouTube video and consider that an apology[/quote]

Totally half assed apology. If she had come clean and been genuine about it people may have cut her some slack.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1012926]Are you kidding me? It wasn't a personal conversation between her and someone else in her home, this was an idea she openly expressed, obviously around co-workers which is why an employee was the one who pressed charges.

Freedom of speech in your own home is your own business, but from the accounts I've read she made no qualms about openly using the N-word. Hell, the woman admitted that she used it.

[IMG]http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/6/19/12/enhanced-buzz-14390-1371659466-6.jpg[/IMG]

[I]And when asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.
“I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America … after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women … I would say they were slaves.[/I]”

This sounds like a woman who is unabashedly, unapologetically racist and hides behind her Southern roots as the cause.

You Southern a-holes lost the war. Time to move on.[/quote]

3 News outlets I watched yesterday (NBC local, Nightly, and Access Hollywood) were all set on the whole she used the N-Word and it came across when she was asked in court if she used the N-Word. She was being honest in court and said that she has in her own home. NOW I've seen other outlets and internet sources saying what you said above. Thats different, and you are right, therefore this argument is over.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1012926]Are you kidding me? It wasn't a personal conversation between her and someone else in her home, this was an idea she openly expressed, obviously around co-workers which is why an employee was the one who pressed charges.

Freedom of speech in your own home is your own business, but from the accounts I've read she made no qualms about openly using the N-word. Hell, the woman admitted that she used it.

[IMG]http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/6/19/12/enhanced-buzz-14390-1371659466-6.jpg[/IMG]

[I][B]And when asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.
“I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America … after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women … I would say they were slaves.[/B][/I]”

This sounds like a woman who is unabashedly, unapologetically racist and hides behind her Southern roots as the cause.

You Southern a-holes lost the war. Time to move on.[/quote]

The n word of course is horrible in itself, but this type of thinking of just seeing a black waiter is just so disgusting and offensive she should never be on tv again. This type of thinking is why most young, open-minded southerners cant wait for the greatest generation and their children to die off. The thought of a that being a great idea is hurtful to my community, co workers and friends.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=Chico23231;1012965]The n word of course is horrible in itself, but this type of thinking of just seeing a black waiter is just so disgusting and offensive she should never be on tv again. This type of thinking is why most young, open-minded southerners cant wait for the greatest generation and their children to die off. The thought of a that being a great idea is hurtful to my community, co workers and friends.[/quote]

I agree with this 100%.

And D-Rave, I'm assuming your comment about Southern a-holes is directed at Paula Deen and other outspoken racists, not the South in general. In Chico's words: [quote] This type of thinking is why most young, open-minded southerners cant wait for the greatest generation and their children to die off. The thought of a that being a great idea is hurtful to my community, co workers and friends.[/quote]

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=SirLK26;1012967]I agree with this 100%.

And D-Rave, I'm assuming your comment about Southern a-holes is directed at Paula Deen and other outspoken racists, not the South in general. In Chico's words:[/quote]

Yeah. I've spent time in the south (hell, my entire family is Southern, I'm only the second generation not having been born and raised there) and it's a beautiful place with some wonderful people.

Then there are people like this...

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1012973]Yeah. I've spent time in the south (hell, my entire family is Southern, I'm only the second generation not having been born and raised there) and it's a beautiful place with some wonderful people.

Then there are people like this...[/quote]

And people like this...

[url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2007/summer/the-last-word#.UcXpVPnrx50]Racist Kennesaw, Ga. Shop Owner Embraced By Community | Southern Poverty Law Center[/url]

Why "people" like this are even allowed to mingle with normal human beings is beyond me. The guy needs to shipped off to a different planet.

[QUOTE=DynamiteRave;1012567]I didn't find it insensitive or racist, oddly enough.

But to be fair, that area belonged to Mexico first and [b]many Hispanics have been in the southwest long before the Europeans settlers came around.[/b][/QUOTE]

Ummm ... the Hispanics were there before the Europeans? Okay ... carefully reread that and see if you can spot the error. [Hint: What language do they speak on the Iberian Peninsula?]

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;1013001]Ummm ... the Hispanics were there before the Europeans? Okay ... carefully reread that and see if you can spot the error. [Hint: What language do they speak on the Iberian Peninsula?][/quote]

If I need to be more clear then the dark skinned people were there before the light skinned, blonde haired blue eyed people.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/the-paula-deen-deposition-is-even-worse-than-you-thought]The Paula Deen Deposition Is Even Worse Than You Thought[/url]

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1013008]If I need to be more clear then the dark skinned people were there before the light skinned, blonde haired blue eyed people.[/quote]
I wonder who the Mexicans stole it from.......

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=Hog1;1013011]I wonder who the Mexicans stole it from.......[/quote]

You know what ethnicity blows my mind though? Brazlians. 1) Everyone there is gorgeous. 2) They're all fair skinned now.

Except my friend who has a darker skin tone but red hair. It's kinda strange.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1012926]Are you kidding me? It wasn't a personal conversation between her and someone else in her home, this was an idea she openly expressed, obviously around co-workers which is why an employee was the one who pressed charges.

Freedom of speech in your own home is your own business, but from the accounts I've read she made no qualms about openly using the N-word. Hell, the woman admitted that she used it.

[IMG]http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr06/2013/6/19/12/enhanced-buzz-14390-1371659466-6.jpg[/IMG]

[I]And when asked if she wanted black men to play the role of slaves at a wedding she explained she got the idea from a restaurant her husband and her had dined at saying, “The whole entire waiter staff was middle-aged black men, and they had on beautiful white jackets with a black bow tie.[/I]
[I]“I mean, it was really impressive. That restaurant represented a certain era in America … after the Civil War, during the Civil War, before the Civil War…It was not only black men, it was black women … I would say they were slaves.[/I]”

This sounds like a woman who is unabashedly, unapologetically racist and hides behind her Southern roots as the cause.

You Southern a-holes lost the war. Time to move on.[/quote]

If I'm correct what you posted as a quote from PD is what she was accussed of saying and its not known who is telling the truth.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1013013]You know what ethnicity blows my mind though? Brazlians. 1) Everyone there is gorgeous. 2) They're all fair skinned now.

Except my friend who has a darker skin tone but red hair. It's kinda strange.[/quote]

my lil girl has a tint of red in her hair. i have dark brown hair, her mom has black hair.

we have no idea where it came from.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=firstdown;1012307]I offened all races equally so I don't care. [B]These people are just being stupid and half of them are probably here illegally.[/B][/quote]

There is your answer to the thread. Lock it up.

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;1013077]There is your answer to the thread. Lock it up.[/quote]

The point of this thread was not to discuss what happened, but what you think a racist remark is. Thank you for adding your insightful, valuable comments to the thread. We couldn't(sniff, sniff)have done it(sniff)without you.(sniff, sniff)

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

Her supporters showed up to eat at her resturant. Looks like most of these people should find a different way to show their support.



[IMG]http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/streams/2013/June/130624/6C7998447-tdy_pauladeen4_still_130624.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg[/IMG]

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;1013013]You know what ethnicity blows my mind though? Brazlians. 1) Everyone there is[B] gorgeous[/B]. 2) They're all fair skinned now.

Except my friend who has a darker skin tone but red hair. It's kinda strange.[/quote]

Yes they are!!!!!!!

[IMG]http://forbezdvd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=firstdown;1013084]yes they are!!!!!!!

[img]http://forbezdvd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1.jpg[/img][/quote]

holy smokes!!!!

Re: What Constitutes a Racist Remark?
 

[quote=SirLK26;1013080]The point of this thread was not to discuss what happened, but what you think a racist remark is. Thank you for adding your insightful, valuable comments to the thread. We couldn't(sniff, sniff)have done it(sniff)without you.(sniff, sniff)[/quote]

No problem, you might wanna see a doctor about that nose problem.