A Distortion of Values and Results

April 5, 2009 | Natural Law

[Natural Law]

A discussion of values with any teenager, twenty-something, Gen-Xer, or Boomer will leave you scratching your head. The operative word would have to be equivocation. Nothing is inherently right or wrong. Everything is situational or conditional. The ends always justify the means, depending only upon who is or is not acting. Killing an unborn child is a private matter. Generational theft is fine so long as their generation is OK. Freedom of religion is fine so long as you don’t actually act on it in your public or political life. Sex between any two consenting individuals is simply a personal choice, regardless of the age or gender of the individuals. Acting in self defense might be OK, unless of course, the aggressor has a “legitimate” problem with you. Sacrifice is something everyone else is supposed to do, etc.

There is, however one crime that will get you fired, banned, blacklisted, picketed, boycotted, sued, extorted, threatened, assaulted, and even prosecuted without any due process. That crime is racism. Not all racism, mind you, only certain acts and beliefs held by the white majority, even when in certain situations whites aren’t the majority. The most heinous manifestation of that crime is the use of the “N-word”. See, we can’t even say it anymore. Sure it is a hurtful word and its use is insensitive and even offensive, but no body has a right to not be offended. The supreme court has held that it is offensive speech that needs protection. In the hierarchy of evils that confront us today is relatively minor, but contemplate the clamor if a major radio personality or politician used the “N-Word”. Heck, what would happen if the moderators saw the word in a post or thread title?

I am not a racist. The fact that I feel compelled to state this in the context of this article because I dare address the issue of racism from a white perspective is symptomatic because to too many I do not have the right to address it. Unless I am a member of an oppressed minority I haven’t earned my stripes.

No body will like everybody, get used to it and get over it. One of the mantras of the right is that not every culture is equal. This must the inner city black culture with its incredibly high levels of violent crime and incarceration, welfare dependency, illiteracy, men having sex with under aged girls, and out of wedlock births. Affirmative action has not worked, it has only served to lower the standards and the perception of the beneficiaries. But speaking out against those who condone or justify it is not the most evil act in our society, unless you are a teenager, twenty-something, Gen-Xer, or Boomer.

We now have an incompetent left wing affirmative action ideologue as president because we, as a society, are so afraid of being painted as a racist, with all of the accompanying baggage that comes with it, that we were prevented from asking the hard questions or examining the candidate with the due diligence we would a candidate of any other race.

[Marie2]

Yes, it is the “spirit of the age.”

[Scarchin]

This is something that I, a teacher of teens, have noticed with increasing alarm over the past 15 years.

I usually assign a short essay in which I ask them to discuss morality. When I started doing this fifteen years ago, there was about a 50/50 split between relativists and absolutists.

Today, essentially all of my students fervently assert that morality is "whatever you think it is."

When I ask "So, was Hitler wrong or did he just have a different opinion?" they uniformly refuse to condemn Hitler. At most the student will say "I think what he did was wrong, but he believed he was right. It's a difference of opinion."

They do the same with slavery, abuse of women etc. They refuse to condemn or label an act as intrinsically wrong.

I see this as an outgrowth of statism/multiculturism.

No wonder they snickered at Bush when he used the word evil.

We're in for some dark times.

[Julia H.]

That is frightening.

I say you should flunk the entire class for no reason. If the students complain, say “who are you to judge my difference in opinion?”

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Of course you are right but that only accentuates the success of the Left in the las 80 years. Class division, be it by race, sex, sexual preference, or religion, has always been a Leftist goal. PC is just the latest tactic.

We now have an incompetent left wing affirmative action ideologue as president because we, as a society, are so afraid of being painted as a racist, ...

Worse that that I know many seemingly intelligent white people who eagerly voted for him as an historical gesture that we, as a nation, are not racists. It was more than fear of the negative, it was with enthusiasm. Did they know what he stood for, who he was, who his lifelong friends and mentors were? Of course not. He is black and therefore they are not racists as validated by their vote.

[Nowhere Man]

I was born in 1966, but I sort of see myself as part of the "niche generation" called "Generation Jones" than a true "X'er." If you can remember the Moon Landing and black and white only console TV's, you're a "Joneser."

That aside, I was watching RTN a few weeks ago, Retro Television Network, one of the benefits of digital TV, channels can have two or three others piggybacked on their signal. One of my favorite old shows they carry is "The Bold Ones." The 1970 episode was where a Black kid was charged with murder but he didn't do it. The episode was where a crack team of lawyers came in to defend him. He was so jaded that he yelled out in court something like "because I'm a ni****, the justice system is against me," paraphrasing of course but he said the "N-Word" all the way. I also remember it being said in "Roots," (1977) I think that was the last show I recall using the "N-word" openly. Getting back to "The Bold Ones," they also had an episode (1969) where a crack team of doctors were examining and later monitoring the astronauts about an "alternate history" Apollo 12 where the episode was about the first Black man on the Moon.

I understand how some words can offend people but the Constitution does not have a provision where we have a right not to be offending. I'm not for tossing such words left and right all the time but we have to get over the "awe factor" and "the Oh My God, what he said factor." Getting back to 1960's TV, I remember a Star Trek episode where the Enterprise met President Lincoln and he called Lt. Uhura a "nigress" and Lincoln later apologized. She said, "those are just words," and in the 23rd Century, "we have gotten beyond being offended by words."

I seem to remember a quote from Michael Savage, the talkshow host, he said, "your father might have less money than you, but he was a freer man than you." Seeing this, among other things, I daresay my father in 1970 was freer than me.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I say you should flunk the entire class for no reason. If the students complain, say “who are you to judge my difference in opinion?”

That would be a great way to make the point! It would certainly cause the students to rethink the issue.

Regrettably, though, the administration wouldn't go for it nor would most of the parents. However, I would love to see some brave teacher do it!

[Nowhere Man]

When I ask "So, was Hitler wrong or did he just have a different opinion?" they uniformly refuse to condemn Hitler. At most the student will say "I think what he did was wrong, but he believed he was right. It's a difference of opinion."

As a descendant of a Russian Jew who suffered under the pogroms and my grandfather who was among the first to hit Omaha Beach at Normandy, this scares the crap out of me.

[Scarchin]

LOL! I don’t think they’d learn anything from it.

Additionally, I’m not upset with them. Their attitude is the logical consequence of 13+ years of public education and popular culture.

[Scarchin]

They have no sense of history BUT they sure do know that recycling will save the world!!!!

I’m only half joking. :(

[NewRomeTacitus]

I have no fear of the word “nigger” as it has no correlation to modern society. It is a dredge of previous era’s insults and those era’s definition of people who’s ancestors came from Africa (derived from the country now known as Niger).

Comedians of non-white origin have been by and far the main proponents of the continuation of the term. They use it to perpetuate supposed outrage while taking advantage of society tolerating duel standards.

These comedians don’t seem to see what Richard Prior was getting at: “Nigger” means being a fool for someone else and just that. Chris Rock doesn’t get that, Jamie Fox doesn’t get that. Prior was saying get off the plantation of expectation and be a productive person without being led by those who work against your interest.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Additionally, I’m not upset with them. Their attitude is the logical consequence of 13+ years of public education and popular culture.

Correct, of course, but aren't you drinking the same poison with that statement? I think you are understanding and compassionate but who will eventually set them on the right track?

Moral relativism is a clever ploy by the Left as it is an easy illusion to embrace. It also encourages empathy, which is rare as a characteristic of the left and another example of their hypocrisy.

I don't want to pick a nit as I am sure we are in agreement but am just pointing out how illusive and effective that tactic is. Your simply questioning it is a step in the right direction.

[Bainbridge]

What a great idea !
Then force them to defend themselves
against your action by using logic and
morally persuasive arguments.

[Nowhere Man]

I have no fear of the word “nigger” as it has no correlation to modern society. It is a dredge of previous era’s insults and those era’s definition of people who’s ancestors came from Africa (derived from the country now known as Niger).

I've also heard that it was the corruption of the word "Negro" which is Spanish/Latin for black although that is the technical term for the Black race as well.

Comedians of non-white origin have been by and far the main proponents of the continuation of the term. They use it to perpetuate supposed outrage while taking advantage of society tolerating duel standards.

Well, I've also heard "nigger" mean in some parts of the Black community where it is taken where you are still a slave to somebody or something and/or if you are a bad person like a criminal, drug dealer and so on. I've also heard it use as an affection form of greeting in the Black community too.

[NewRomeTacitus]

It is used as a form of affection, black to black (dual standards again). Yet no other races joke around saying “my honkey” or such in equivalent.

This word is most often used as another weapon in the liberal arsenal to ignite undeserved “white guilt”. How many people do you know owned slaves? It’s totally ridiculous.

The shameful thing is an illegal alien holding our highest office when truly great Americans like Thomas Lowell should be holding it.

[Natural Law]

"Yet no other races joke around saying “my honkey” or such in equivalent."

Largely as a result of history, we have a black community that perpetuates a collective identity. Thinking and speaking of ourselves or others in terms of a group or collective has a dehumanizing effect.

The values I spoke of need to reinforce the individual. With individual identity comes individual responsibilities and accountabilities. With individual identity comes the reinforcement of the superior value of a republican form of government over the collective concept of democracy.