LEAVING EL PASO?? Where is the real eppie, and what have you done with her? ;)

Hahaha....i know it's like blasphemy! I need to venture out and "see the world" for myself! lol. We'll see what happens.

They are, generally speaking. And it is highly irritating. The justification is, usually, that because anyone who wasn't white had to endure much, much worse up until very recent times, it's "time to turn the tables". This makes me angry because what someone did before I was born is not my fault, so don't punish me for it.

It would be nice if eventually racism died out, but since it's been around since the dawn of time, it probably won't.

There isn't really anything to be done about it, though, except to lead by example...it isn't ok to make racist comments about anyone. So speak up when anyone of any origin makes a racist comment (not saying that you don't do that).

I guess I don't see what's "racist" about any of these terms - would "black girl" or "Christie" (I think that's the black Barbie doll?) or "chocolate/mocha" or "cocoa puff" or "looks like we're finally getting a fondue pot on campus" or "gospel choirs are like Kenny G for black people" really be racist? I mean, they'd be stupid and racially motivated, but that's not really the same thing as "racist" . . . maybe you picked a bad example, but I don't see how it connects with your conclusion. This is without getting into the fact that, although the movie probably sucked, it's fine to portray an 'outsider' being treated as such - in fact, it's probably good.

With that said . . . racial cracks against white people are "OK" (read: accepted) because they carry no power. It's just like why there aren't any 'slurs' against heterosexuals - it's not like there's been 'straight oppression' at any point. Hack comedians like to joke that blacks get February for Black History Month because whites get the other 11 months, but that's basically true, and it kind of explains something I think you're missing.

Here's the thing: most people (especially white people) think that the true pinnacle of racial equality will occur when people simply do not see color. This is kind of stupid, since it's almost impossible for it to happen. True equality will be equality in every way - such as making race-based jokes about white people, and removing the power from similar jokes about minorities.

Yeah...I really appreciate KSig RC.

Indeed.

Once people stop 'seeing' color, they will find something else to be prejudicial about.

In some cultures that frame of mind already exist.

Humankind has a habit of wanting validation.

We will always have a need to find a way to be distinguishable from someone else.

Dayum that's a deep comment on so many levels... :cool:

They do carry power because some "White people" find them offensive. I don't understand purposefully offending or hurting someone.

It's not that kind of power.

It doesn't matter what species of power, it still hurts people. I don't need a speech, before anyone gives on. I understand the difference. I don't understand that attitude that "white people" can just suck it. I don't understand hurting people on purpose.

Now you know how I feel as a Black woman sucking it, up...

No, sweetie. What you don't understand is what we're talking about.

I don't understand how KSig RC can say that racially motivated jokes or name-calling aren't considered racist. Racially motivated remarks are racist, no matter what race they are from or against. I don't think anyone would be ok with my walking up to them on the street or in the mall and saying "Hey there, Count Chocula" or sneering when they walk by and making some comment about fried chicken and koolaid. Negative comments about another race, gender, sexuality, nationality, etc...shouldn't be tolerated, and I don't find them at all amusing.
I think it's just as bad that people can't comment on someone's race or skin tone without others automatically saying they're racist. There's nothing wrong with identifying somone by saying "The blonde over there" or "The boy with the red hair"...but as soon as someone says "The black girl with the blue coat," people just think, "Oh, you aren't supposed to say stuff like that." Why not?

Well, let's try this via analogy . . . do misleading statements or actions constitute fraud?

Well, they could . . . or not. It depends on context, intent, injury, etc.

I'll start there - if that helps eliminate confusion, then we can talk about the rest.

Also - do people really need me to explain why being offended is not disempowering in and of itself? Really? How do you explain stand-up comedy?