The legacy of 'W'?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I'm not trying to "jump on you" or be racially insensitive because that's not my stick, but I think often times we allow the media to feed us images of a candidate and we're really in the dark about who they really are and what they're really about. Either of his books are good reads and pretty insightful about him as an individual and a candidate.

Well, I'm not the type to allow the media to influence me at all. Hell, I even said in an earlier post here that I would vote for Obama, not because he's black or white or purple or green, but because of his views. I generally lean to the right even though I am an Independant, so for me to say that obviously means there is no racial implications. For as cliche as this sounds I don't see color, never have never will. My mother raised me around all sorts of different races so I just see people. However, after I went to college in Arkansas, I realized that the world is very racist. Sure it sucks, but it's reality. I know for as much as I would like to see people not make racist decisions, I know they still will. This means he will be on an uphill battle. If you really feel that Illinios is just as racist as say, Alabama, in regards to african americans, then really this little debate won't go any farther cause it's far from true. Just like the bible belt has issues with women in power...hell they think it's in the bible to not have women in power, so if they vote for a woman, they are "going against God" in their minds. I really feel that whoever the republicans throw up won't need to overcome these issues.
For as much as I don't want to turn this into a racial debate, it appears it has been. I will try harder not to even bring it up. Whenever race is brought up the quality of discussion goes dramatically down cause there is always someone that gets offended.
I hope that everyone involved and everyone voting doesn't see race, I hope they see issues.

[12thMan]

[quote=jsarno;329189]For as much as I don't want to turn this into a racial debate, it appears it has been. I will try harder not to even bring it up. Whenever race is brought up the quality of discussion goes dramatically down cause there is always someone that gets offended.
I hope that everyone involved and everyone voting doesn't see race, I hope they see issues.[/quot

Jsarno, this may not be the best forum to have a racial debate, but I do think because we skirt around the issue of race so often and we're so leary of offending folks that we never bring it up and we never truly take any meaningful steps forward. Typically, the issue never comes up unless there's an O.J. Simpson case or a Rodney King type incident, or more recently Imus. But by then, usually feelings and emotions are so inflamed and raw it's too late to discuss anything in a civil manner, it's more venting, accusing, and resentment at that point.

We need to talk about race, and let it get emotional so long as people understand on the front let's engage not enrage. In all honesty, it's nearly impossible to have a full, I mean a truly full discussion about politics and even religion without the subject of race being included.

I'll get off this soapbox for now, but just to reiterate I'm not suggesting that we open this thread or any other thread to the discussion of race. I think it's one of those things that should be discussed and talked about in person or in a group forum. I'm not too sure that the internet is entirely condusive to that.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Jsarno, this may not be the best forum to have a racial debate, but I do think because we skirt around the issue of race so often and we're so leary of offending folks that we never bring it up and we never truly take any meaningful steps forward. Typically, the issue never comes up unless there's an O.J. Simpson case or a Rodney King type incident, or more recently Imus. But by then, usually feelings and emotions are so inflamed and raw it's too late to discuss anything in a civil manner, it's more venting, accusing, and resentment at that point.

We need to talk about race, and let it get emotional so long as people understand on the front let's engage not enrage. In all honesty, it's nearly impossible to have a full, I mean a truly full discussion about politics and even religion without the subject of race being included.

I'll get off this soapbox for now, but just to reiterate I'm not suggesting that we open this thread or any other thread to the discussion of race. I think it's one of those things that should be discussed and talked about in person or in a group forum. I'm not too sure that the internet is entirely condusive to that.

Great post. I thought about posting a thread not to long ago about the "N" word, but saw how other threads were going at the time and decided not too. I'm sure it's been discussed in detail during the Imus incident, but I felt it's a social issue that is helped through dialogue.

What I love about warpath is that we've got a pretty open minded core group that usually tends to guide the conversation in a productive manner. No one tolerates bigotry, and that's a damn rare thing to find.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

Great post. I thought about posting a thread not to long ago about the "N" word, but saw how other threads were going at the time and decided not too. I'm sure it's been discussed in detail during the Imus incident, but I felt it's a social issue that is helped through dialogue.

What I love about warpath is that we've got a pretty open minded core group that usually tends to guide the conversation in a productive manner. No one tolerates bigotry, and that's a damn rare thing to find.

You know..- and I don't want to open this can of worms - the 'N' word is far more complicated than the actual word itself, and it's not as black and white as people try to handle it, approach it or discuss it. I'm not the 'N' word expert, by any means, but I've been around the block a few times. Sometimes it's about context, sometimes it's about ignorance, and sometimes it's actually is about race and only race. In fact most of the time it is, but it's something that needs to be discussed, especially if you have children.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

You know..- and I don't want to open this can of worms - the 'N' word is far more complicated than the actual word itself, and it's not as black and white as people try to handle it, approach it or discuss it. I'm not the 'N' word expert, by any means, but I've been around the block a few times. Sometimes it's about context, sometimes it's about ignorance, and sometimes it's actually is about race and only race. In fact most of the time it is, but it's something that needs to be discussed, especially if you have children.

It's something that has to be talked about. Otherwise it's left in this gray area of unknown, and that's a major obstacle against progression. When this article came out, I considered starting a thread and hearing the opinions of others on it.

NAACP delegates ‘bury’ N-word - Race & Ethnicity - MSNBC.com

I think we're starting to see a lot of Americans avoiding the word altogether. The Michael Richards incident started the dialogue up again, and Imus took it to a whole new level. When Paul Mooney stopped saying it, I was in shock.

Here's something that really convinced me on the issue way back in the day. This is when Pryor had visited Africa....



Sorry for Hi-jacking this thread... I'll behave from now on.

[jsarno]

[QUOTE=12thMan;329309]

Originally Posted by jsarno

For as much as I don't want to turn this into a racial debate, it appears it has been. I will try harder not to even bring it up. Whenever race is brought up the quality of discussion goes dramatically down cause there is always someone that gets offended.
I hope that everyone involved and everyone voting doesn't see race, I hope they see issues.[/quot

Jsarno, this may not be the best forum to have a racial debate, but I do think because we skirt around the issue of race so often and we're so leary of offending folks that we never bring it up and we never truly take any meaningful steps forward. Typically, the issue never comes up unless there's an O.J. Simpson case or a Rodney King type incident, or more recently Imus. But by then, usually feelings and emotions are so inflamed and raw it's too late to discuss anything in a civil manner, it's more venting, accusing, and resentment at that point.

We need to talk about race, and let it get emotional so long as people understand on the front let's engage not enrage. In all honesty, it's nearly impossible to have a full, I mean a truly full discussion about politics and even religion without the subject of race being included.

I'll get off this soapbox for now, but just to reiterate I'm not suggesting that we open this thread or any other thread to the discussion of race. I think it's one of those things that should be discussed and talked about in person or in a group forum. I'm not too sure that the internet is entirely condusive to that.

I absolutely agree. It's just that while some of us here see it the way you described, there are also some that the mere thought of racism gets them very upset. I just want to avoid to upsetting anyone as much as I can. We are all here for some form of entertainment, and getting pissed off at some yahoo just makes things difficult.