Harry Reid in hot water over quote

[Low C Sharp]

If we debate them will you cry racism when a Republican agrees with those points?

If anyone agrees with those points, it means that they inhabit the planet Earth and speak English.

The question is why anybody, Republican or otherwise, would get their panties in a twist over a senator stating an obvious truth. The sun sets in the West each night, the Pope is Catholic, and no one who looks and speaks like Snoop Dogg could have been elected president in 2008.

If a true statement is intended as an insult -- like "Your ass is fat" -- then it makes sense for the target to get upset about it. And of course, some terminology has the insult built right in. But if there's no insult, there's no story. Accurately describing the racist world we live in is not a racist act.
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VAPORIZER VOLCANO

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by bignasty

How about when someone ACCURATELY lists teen pregnancy rates, crime rates, and graduation rates in a particular community?

They do...it's called the nightly news in Baltimore.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

If anyone agrees with those points, it means that they inhabit the planet Earth and speak English.

The question is why anybody, Republican or otherwise, would get their panties in a twist over a senator stating an obvious truth. The sun sets in the West each night, the Pope is Catholic, and no one who looks and speaks like Snoop Dogg could have been elected president in 2008.

If a true statement is intended as an insult -- like "Your ass is fat" -- then it makes sense for the target to get upset about it. And of course, some terminology has the insult built right in. But if there's no insult, there's no story. Accurately describing the racist world we live in is not a racist act.

Harry Reid said "Negro dialect" and that phrasing has many things built in. However, Reid's point is an unspoken understanding that many Black folks said from day one and many white folks tried to deny from day one.

Either way, I don't sense that the general population truly gives a darn about his comments. This is all a diversion tactic and an attempt to sell that darn book. It is the media and politicians who are keeping this going. That would also be the case if this was a Republican.

I always say that Blacks (and other power minorities in this country) would go crazy if we put a whole lot of thought and reaction into every potentially offensive thing that is said and done. You have to take most things with a grain of salt and just nod your head at it. That seems to be what Obama did. Of course, Blacks don't all have to agree with my take on it and there's no rule about how long it should be discussed and when folks should move on. I stopped being the Black leader last week.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Harry Reid said "Negro dialect" and that phrasing has many things built in. However, Reid's point is an unspoken understanding that many Black folks said from day one and many white folks tried to deny from day one.

Either way, I don't sense that the general population truly gives a darn about his comments. This is all a diversion tactic and an attempt to sell that darn book. It is the media and politicians who are keeping this going. That would also be the case if this was a Republican.

I always say that Blacks (and other power minorities in this country) would go crazy if we put a whole lot of thought and reaction into every potentially offensive thing that is said and done. You have to take most things with a grain of salt and just nod your head at it. That seems to be what Obama did. Of course, Blacks don't all have to agree with my take on it and there's no rule about how long it should be discussed and when folks should move on. I stopped being the Black leader last week.

I would think most people would be offended at the truth behind the statement rather than the statement itself. I love how many people claim that racism plays no part in people's dislike of Obama, but as a former Republican from a very conservative area, I still get tons of emails, FB posts, etc from acquaintances...and yes, family and friends, that are blatantly racist about Obama and his wife. America (now for some of you, I know this is not a surprise) isn't as color blind as we all like to pretend.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I would think most people would be offended at the truth behind the statement rather than the statement itself. I love how many people claim that racism plays no part in people's dislike of Obama, but as a former Republican from a very conservative area, I still get tons of emails, FB posts, etc from acquaintances...and yes, family and friends, that are blatantly racist about Obama and his wife. America (now for some of you, I know this is not a surprise) isn't as color blind as we all like to pretend.

GASP!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo....tosses himself out of a basement window!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

GASP!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooo....tosses himself out of a basement window!

I know....it's shocking isn't it?! Jimmy Carter tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen!

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I know....it's shocking isn't it?! Jimmy Carter tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen!

Speaking of Mormons...

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by bignasty

Is Harry Reid color blind?
It is funny how some people flip flop on the issues.

No one is saying he is. The point is that his statement was about the racial climate in America and not a racist statement about Obama. There is a not so subtle difference.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

No one is saying he is. The point is that his statement was about the racial climate in America and not a racist statement about Obama. There is a not so subtle difference.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

How ironic...

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by bignasty

How about when someone ACCURATELY lists teen pregnancy rates, crime rates, and graduation rates in a particular community?

The problem is when that particular community is targeted while teen pregnancy, crime, and low graduation rates in the general population are ignored. It reminds me of that new LMN movie about the teen pregnancy pact among the white girls. That movie would look completely different if it was Black or Hispanic. People would not be shocked. There were teen pregnancy pacts at my Black high school in the late 80s and early 90s.

Whites are still the population and power majority in this country. Blacks have disproportionately high rates of particular social problems including crime and poverty. That's not to be confused with media inaccuracies like "Blacks commit most crimes" and "Blacks receive most of the social welfare."

If people want to talk about statistics and ACCURATE interpretations of statistics in their proper context, fine. If they want to offend, fuck off.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by bignasty

I think you are confusing "targeted" with "accurately reported."

My post went completely over your head.