Harry Reid in hot water over quote

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by srmom

I guess the Census Bureau thought it was OK too.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6814629.html

I'm sure everyone who watches the news knows about this.

That does not mean that it is "OK."

Originally Posted by srmom

What a strange world we live in. It would be nice if people could just agree to what is offensive and what's not, and then help us all keep up with the changes.

People can just get their heads out of their asses and think before they speak more often than not. I don't know about you all but I know when I'm about to say something that is potentially offensive and I know when I've just said something that I shouldn't have said/that can be interpreted a certain way. And I'm not talking about offending members of certain GLOs, sports fans, and other things so socially insignificant and inconsequential.

We should understand that things can and will be misinterpreted and taken out of context. So we need to be careful. And if people are offended by what we say but we feel no need to void everything we said for the sake of being too PC--just say something like: "I don't apologize for the point I was making--I apologize for the poor wording. Let me express my point more appropriate and more adequately."

[Ghostwriter]

Hear, Hear!! Dr. Phil

Wonderfully stated.

When all is said and done both Reid and Lott should have known better then to say what they did. I don't believe what either said should result or have resulted in their having to step down from their position. However, the fact that Lott was forced to by the Dems and Reid is given a pass by essentially the same people is what rankles me. Blatant hypocrisy!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Hear, Hear!! Dr. Phil

Wonderfully stated.

When all is said and done both Reid and Lott should have known better then to say what they did. I don't believe what either said should result or have resulted in their having to step down from their position. However, the fact that Lott was forced to by the Dems and Reid is given a pass by essentially the same people is what rankles me. Blatant hypocrisy!

I guess since it takes one to know one we should just listen to the Republicans then and trust that Reid is a racist....right?

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I guess since it takes one to know one we should just listen to the Republicans then and trust that Reid is a racist....right?

Your use of sophistry is telling. Sounds to me your like minded political hacks are the ones making all these inflamatory statements. Clean up your own house before you say someone elses is dirty.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by bignasty

More hipocracy.

Harry Reid has been crying raci$m for months. Does your takes one to know one analogy apply to Reid when he cries raci$m? Should we all just trust Reid?

Maybe so, but is Steele going to step down too? And BTW, if you couldn't see that my post was tongue and cheek, you are as dumb as your posts sound.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

Hear, Hear!! Dr. Phil

Wonderfully stated.

When all is said and done both Reid and Lott should have known better then to say what they did. I don't believe what either said should result or have resulted in their having to step down from their position. However, the fact that Lott was forced to by the Dems and Reid is given a pass by essentially the same people is what rankles me. Blatant hypocrisy!

But what they said was fundamentally different. Lott suggested that a notable figure who opposed integration was correct to do so, and Reid seems to have used the word "Negro" while explaining why he thought white voters would find Obama appealing and nonthreatening.

As frequent readers of this forum might have noticed, I frequently come unglued about the issue of media double standards for Republicans, and even I'm not on your team here.

Reid's comments are probably worth talking about in their own right and do reveal something about his thinking, but not the same thing that Lott's did.

[srmom]

That's my point though, in the case of the census bureau, they researched what words to use, checked with their advisory counsel, and based on the respondents from the last census used the word Negro in order to reach out to the people who identified themselves that way. Yet, by trying to accomodate those people's self identifications, they stepped in it and insulted others.

It seems like there is no way to win. They were not trying to be offensive, in fact, they were trying to be sensitive, yet they are being raked over the coals for their insensitivity.

Like the thread a while back about "differently abled" or "handicapped" or whatever the proper term is now, it is constantly changing, and even though a person or organization is just trying to make a point or say something, they can be accused of insensitivity even when that was not their intention at all.

I wish people would A) be let in on what is appropriate and what is not, so to not offend, and B) that those offended would be less sensitive and over reactive to those who intended no slight. Sensitivity and just plain sense can go both ways.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by srmom

That's my point though, in the case of the census bureau, they researched what words to use, checked with their advisory counsel, and based on the respondents from the last census used the word Negro in order to reach out to the people who identified themselves that way. Yet, by trying to accomodate those people's self identifications, they stepped in it and insulted others.

The academically inclined people who work for the Census Bureau knew better than to include "Negro" just because a relative (population) minority of people choose (for whatever reasons) to identify themselves that way. In fact, I don't trust that they truly researched that and were unresourceful enough to not know that they have to go beyond what some people SAY to find the foundation of what they really MEAN.

I need people and agencies to wear their "smart hats" more often. Some will have to find it and dust it off. But, wear it.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by srmom

I wish people would A) be let in on what is appropriate and what is not, so to not offend, and B) that those offended would be less sensitive and over reactive to those who intended no slight. Sensitivity and just plain sense can go both ways.

But getting to be the person/group who determines what's offensive and "punish" others for it involves power, and I think people enjoy power.

It's not that I don't think what you're asking for is desirable; I do. And I actually think that in most functional groups or institutions, it's exactly what happens.

But when it comes to big political and social moments, there's far too much currency in passing judgment and controlling language.

[KSig RC]

Why would census information change the plain meaning ("He doesn't speak like a Negro") and whether it is 'offensive'?

Seriously, what is/isn't offensive is not some great context-based conspiracy to mess with white folks. Inane or stupid comments exist free of context. Those that are contextually stupid are not hard to parse on their own, either. I promise.

[DaemonSeid]

We are having a meeting next week...memos will go out to the proper officials from the Black representatives as soon as we confirm our vote on what we want to be called this century

While you wait, please enjoy this classic

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

We are having a meeting next week...memos will go out to the proper officials from the Black representatives as soon as we confirm our vote on what we want to be called this century

While you wait, please enjoy this classic

Hambone hambone, have ya heard?!?!

[DaemonSeid]

Maybe she brought up the point about Trent Lott was BECAUSE that was among the 1st comparisons that came up in the news media.

She may have been the 1st to bring it up on GC BUT it was all over the news outlets the last few days.


YOU need to go back and read...better yet go do some googling and see what you find.

BTW Max...how ya' boy enjoying retirement???

[DaemonSeid]

You're saying Trent Lott was an unknown politician?

wow.

Do YOU think NEGRO is appropriate?

[starang21]

everyone on this site has at some point in time said something that can be interpreted or misinterpreted as offensive to someone of another race behind closed doors.