Posted on 04/25/2014 10:26:17 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In response to the verbal attacks pitched at him over thelast few days, Cliven Bundy has held a brief press conference to explain his perspective on 'slavery' and allegations of racism. Much as the world seems 'happy' to live a life of debt serfdom, Bundy notably remarked that he wonders if any of us are better off now "as slaves to charity and government subsided homes."
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO OF HIS RESPONSE
SOURCE:
“New Day” anchor Chris Cuomo asks Bundy : “Are you a racist?”
Bundy responded, “No, I am not a racist,” but that he “did wonder” if blacks had been better off as slaves. He went on to discuss Rosa Parks, saying, “I want her to be able to sit anywhere in the bus and I want to be able to sit by her anywhere in that bus.”
Bundy has made several other media appearances in the past 24 hours. He went on Alex Jones’s radio show, saying, “I’m not racist” and calling for the New York Times to retract its story. “I would appreciate that. They’re making it a racist-type thing.”
Bundy asks:
“Are they happier now under this government subsidy system than they were when they were slaves, and they was able to have their family structure together, and the chickens and garden, and the people had something to do?”
There’s one way to find out -— ASK THEM.
My guess is most would say “Yes”, we’re happy the way we are.
Good thing he has cleared all this up and has set the record straight and has all the media attention back on the primary issue focusing on the overbearing federal government denying Bundy of his rights.
thank you!
context...context...context!
“THEM” today, are NOT the “THEM” from yesterday.
There is no “THEM” who have had both experiences.
Regarding Bundy’s rhetorical question about whether blacks were better off as slaves vs. their condition today, I’m certain if you ask most blacks, they;d prefer their condition today.
After all, most of us are paying for their housing, food, education, etc. and unlike the slaves back then, THEY DON’T HAVE TO WORK. What’s not to like?
“If your happy and you know it clank your chains...”
Nowhere did Cliven Bundy ever state that there should only be two choices for those Americans of African descent.
Being a slave/sharecropper, or being on the dole in some urban slum, are definitely NOT the only two choices in life. For anybody.
Many of the sons, daughters, cousins, brothers or sisters of those condemned by poverty to remain in the ghettos, relying on the “loving kindness” of total strangers and some bureaucratic agency, have managed to pull themselves up out of that morass, that fever swamp, and proven themselves to be good productive citizens of the Republic.
Sure, some of the attitudes do come with them, But in a larger sense, those who have succeeded in escaping from the grinding poverty of their youth, have shed a good portion of that catechism of despair. Some might say they are “lucky”, but luck is hard work meeting opportunity.
And the option of hard work is available to everybody.
Yeah, well don’t tell THEM that - there are whole lucrative industries based on “my ancestor, whatever their name was, was a slave to someone else’s ancestor” and so therefore you ALL OWE ME.
So NOW the debate is about racism, not about government overreach! Way to go Cliven! You had the world rushing to you side, then you had to shoot off your mouth about something that has no real connection to your main cause, had ZERO chance of helping your cause, and ANYBODY with a tiniest lick of sense could have predicted this outcome - which is going to destroy your honorable and just cause.
No wonder you lost in court if THIS is how you defended yourself!
I don’t understand why decent, conservative people insist on blabbing off-topic comments that have no purpose...except to utterly destroy their efforts and their credibility.
For anybody out there fighting the good fight - STAY ON TOPIC!!!! That topic being THE ISSUE AT HAND. And just keep your mouths shut about side issues. When you open your mouths make sure it furthers your cause or SHUT UP!!!
Cliven Bundy said and I quote:
“I’ve often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy? They didn’t get more freedom. They got less freedom.”
No truer words have ever been spoken. And THAT is why the Left has their balls in an uproar.
When a black woman is one of the richest people in America?
When a black man was Secretary of State??
When a black woman was Secretary of State?
When black men have sat -- and do sit -- on the Supreme Court??
When a black would-be despot sits in the White House?????
When countless black men have risen to the top of the ranks of the richest in professional sports and show business?? Men like Hank Aaron. Men like Bill Cosby who... (Never mind. As we all know, Bill's either an Uncle Tom or Oreo Cookie, depending on which black race pimp you listen to.)
And, how about Liberation Theology?
Liberation from WHAT? The chance to achieve and succeed??
Give me a break!!
Let me make it clear right up front: I am NOT a racist. I supported Herman Cain in his run for the Senate and supported him in his run for the WH. And if Allen West goes for it, he, too, has my support.
I also consider Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams two of the finest economists and minds extant today. In case you don’t know them, both are black.
Sowell, Williams and Cain – among others -- have spoken out against those fellow blacks who castigate and vilify America for a slavery now long in our past. And ALL thinking men and women oppose the periodic calls for reparations. (When he ran, I supported Alan Keyes. I even spoke in his stead on the RTKABA at a Capitol rally and was asked to fill in for him on his radio show at the time. Sadly, while I still consider Alan a good man, I have had to rethink my support since he came out FOR reparations.)
The fact is that the modern descendants of slaves brought here in chains in admittedly miserable, soul-gutting conditions now calling for reparations need to remember something:
They should not only be glad to be in America, they should be glad to be ANYWHERE!
Had their ancestors NOT been brought OUT of Africa – many by Muslim slave raiders --the blood of those ancestors would have run into the earth over there several centuries ago, victims of the OTHER black tribes that captured them in one of the interminable tribal conflicts STILL ravaging that sad continent and these modern day would-be "plaintiffs" would not even exist.
And I would remind you that slavery is STILL practiced in parts of Africa (mainly by – American BLACK muslims LISTEN UP!! -- MUSLIMS) and Asia today. How ironic that disgruntled American blacks are embracing a system that participated mightily in their initial bondage – and would, if Islam takes root here, probably put any who cling to their Christianity back INTO BONDAGE – or to the sword. In fact, as the majority of muslims consider black folks as “sub-human”, many of you black muzzies will get the axe.
95% of the African slaves who were transported across the Atlantic went to South and Central America, mainly to Portuguese, Spanish and French possessions, and that less than 5% of the slaves who crossed the Atlantic went to the United States, it was remarkable that the vast majority of academic research, films, books and articles concerning the slave trade concentrated only on the American involvement, as though slavery was a uniquely American aberration.
And should the great-great-great grandchildren of SLAVE OWNING BLACKS also be subject to PAYING these reparations? If so, how do we find THEM?
And I have traced MY family back to the SLAVS. Although the term looks to be related to “slave,” depending on your source, it either means “glory” or “worshipper.” But my family research indicates that many of my of my ancestors LIVED lives of virtual slavery to some despot or other. Do I qualify for reparations? From whom?? And it begs a question: Are most of us now living here headed into a modern form off that servitude? But that’s a topic for another discussion.
The official US Census of 1830 lists 3,775 free blacks who owned 12,740 black slaves. Furthermore, the story outlines the history of slavery here, and the first slave owner, the Father of American slavery, was Mr Anthony Johnson, of Northampton, Virginia. His slave was John Casor, the first slave for life. Both were black Africans. The story is very readable, and outlines cases of free black women owning their husbands, free black parents selling their children into slavery to white owners, and absentee free black slave owners, who leased their slaves to plantation owners. -"Selling Poor Steven", American Heritage Magazine, Feb/Mar 1993 (Vol. 441) p 90
Of course, a full telling of Black History would not be complete without a recitation of the origin of slavery in the Virginia colony: Virginia, Guide to The Old Dominion, WPA Writers' Program, Oxford University Press, NY, 1940, p. 378
A few more salient points on the subject:
Until the US declared independence, the Colonies were REQUIRED by the King of England to embrace slavery.
The Northwest Ordinance (1789) prohibited slavery in federal territories.
A law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the US became effective in 1808.
Beginning in 1820, the Democratic Congress started passing laws allowing and encouraging slavery.
It was only after the Republican Party (many of whom were southern Blacks) was formed some 40 years later that the anti-slavery movement was able to move forward.
And the holier-than-thou Northern liberals are strangely silent on recent archeological evidence from NEW YORK CITY clearly tracing the financing of the slave trade to NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN!!
At the height of his remarkable boxing career, Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay), once declared, “I’m glad my great-grandpa got on that boat.”
And speaking of ancestors, my paternal grandmother’s daddy joined with the 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry early in the War Between the States (re-upped twice) and fought on the Union side at Chickamauga, Vicksburg, Jackson then joined up with Sherman for that infamous march to the sea through Georgia. My wife’s great-great grandpappy ALSO fought for the Union. While I revere the memory of my ancestors, inasmuch as that conflict was less about slavery than it was the economic exploitation and abuse of the South by the North, I fear they MAY have been on the wrong side.
Author Robert Hitt Neill tells of attending a Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Conference years ago with several other authors. Among them was Alex Hailey, celebrated author of “Roots.” Watching a TV news show, a group of them watched a demonstration in a Southern state against the “Rebel” flag incorporated into that state’s flag. The very next report covered a famine in Africa. Graphic images showed dead bodies, starving children with distended tummies and runny noses and dying people covered with flies, too weak to brush them away.
Mr. Hailey intoned in a low, serious voice, “Every time an American black sees a story like that, they should find a Confederate flag and kiss it.” He then pointed to the TV screen and continued, “Because these would be me and my descendants, except for American slavery. I thank God that my family and I are here instead of there.”
Next problem!
Dick Bachert
AFTERWORD:
A few additional facts on the subject:
Until the US declared independence, we were required by the King of England to embrace slavery.
The Northwest Ordinance (1789) prohibited slavery in federal territories.
A law prohibiting the importation of slaves into the US became effective in 1808.
Beginning in 1820, the Democratic Congress started passing laws allowing and encouraging slavery.
It was only after the Republican Party (many of whom were southern Blacks) was formed some 40 years later that the anti-slavery movement was able to move forward.
how dare he answer reporter questions... the MSM made this about race - orderd from the WH probably
Context doesn’t help him. He should never have said ANYTHING about this. It had no bearing on his situation, had absolutely no possibility of furthering his cause, and would predictably distract attention from his fight, and extinguish the ardor of his supporters.
No matter what he meant, or the context in which he said it, there was no upside to his stupid babbling.
His first incendiary statement was completely unsolicited and unprovoked. He foolishly thought the world was waiting to hear the wisdom of Cliven Bundy, instead of understanding people were supporting his one specific cause.
He let the media spotlight get the better of his ego.
No - this was not responding to a question - the original statement - it was a stupid desire to impress his audience with his philosophical “depth” and it was a colossal FAIL!
When someone says “and another thing about the Negroes” it is obviously unsolicited, and it is even more obviously about race. The MSM didn’t have to make it about racism, Bundy handed it to them on a gold platter.
This is spot on and I think the more people truly watch the video the meme about how the media entrapped him will be realized. He wants that Mic...he sought that platform to espouse his beliefs not tied to the issue at hand. I think people need to shed him as a messiah for this or any cause for that matter. He stepped in it royally
The problem is, even in context, his statements were pretty indefensible. I don’t the guy’s a racist, and the statements in context are not necessarily racist, but it shows an incredibly poor understanding of American history, and in particular of the horrors of slavery and its impact on slave family structures.
>>“I’ve often wondered, are they better off as slaves, >>picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, >>or are they better off under government subsidy? They >>didn’t get more freedom. They got less freedom.”
One in every three black males born today can expect to go to prison at some point in their life.
IMHO, The lack of ‘family life’ is the reason. And, I would ask which is worse: slavery or prison?
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