Posted on 02/09/2021 1:44:37 PM PST by econjack
I don't know about you, but i feel like I've had a boatload of blaming whites for everything's that's wrong with the world. A fraternity brother mine wrote the following paragraphs to a bunch of us. It was prompted by one of those nostalgic slide shows from the 1950's. My response follows:
At the risk of seeming like Debby Downer, I feel a need to write something in response to the video. So here goes…
I guess it’s OK to look back with nostalgia at images from the 50s; the video certainly reminded me of my childhood and youth. In 2021 I feel it’s also necessary and crucial to become more aware of a parallel universe that existed then and much of which still exists today. Did you notice that there was not a single person of color in any of that video?—just us privileged white folks. Yes, I am deeply grateful for my safe and happy childhood, my access to a quality education—and so much more. We had it good in lots of ways, but throughout the history of our beloved country, our privilege has been at the expense of people of color. It is time that we white people go deeper and learn more about what Jim Wallis (of Sojourners) calls America’s original sin—racism. It is not comfortable to examine that history, but we can’t change what we don’t look at, acknowledge, and repent of. For a start I can recommend Ibrim Kendi’s books (enter that name in Amazon) and Robin DiAngelos’s White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism.
Stay well, all, and get vaccinated!
========== My response =========================
Sorry, but blanket statements like this just don't cut it. I was raised in a small farm community that, at the time, had about 5000 people. We had very few blacks in town, but Charlie was one and probably my best friend. At age 11, he and I studied together to learn Morse code and electronics to get our amateur radio licenses. We both got our licenses and spend many hours together building stuff and then studying for our advanced licenses. At age 12, we took the bus to the FCC offices in Cleveland and sat for the General Class exam and passed. In high school, Charlie played offensive tackle and I was an offensive end. We used Morse code to call on/off cross blocks at the line during games. (We had one guy who played for another school who just killed us during the game. He was a little smaller than my garage. After the game, he introduced himself and told us he, too, was a ham radio operator.)
I know Charlie experienced racism during his time in school, and we talked about it. He pointed out that he never felt that way in school, but did so elsewhere, like when he went to Cleveland or Akron. I think it's worse today than it was when I was growing up, but one asks why. After all, racism is a learned behavior and there are other non-white people in the US that experience significantly less racism. Why is that?
The 800lb gorilla in the room is that racism is a two-way street, but no one every wants to talk about both sides of it, yet we need to. In my mind, the crime statistics we see for different demographic groups all seem to have a common source: the deterioration of the family unit in the US. To me, it is programs like the War on Poverty where benefits are greater if the home is a single-parent unit. I think this makes it financially easier to become divorced or otherwise split the family unit. It's been well-demonstrated that the absence of one parent causes all kinds of problems for the kids. We need programs that encourage both parents to raise their children, not push them away. The WoP is not a solution. It's a hand out rather than a hand up designed to help solve the problem...the current system perpetuates the problem and keep the poor dependent on the gov't. Even accounting for definitional and population changes, poverty is worse now than it was back in 1967. The solution to this and related problems is finding programs that repair the family unit in the US, not tear it apart. It also points out that the ultimate solution starts within the groups affected, not from outside forces. That's been tried and it simply doesn't work.
Saying that racism is a white problem is a deflection of the necessary discussion because it detracts from the fact that all parties involved engaged in racism. Rather than push the entire problem on white shoulders, the discussion needs to incorporate racism on both sides. Once that honesty sees the light of day, then perhaps we can work together to bring meaningful solutions to problem that work to end it, rather than program designed to perpetuate it.
Sorry, Bill, but it's bullshit to shove the entire burden of racism on whites. Doing so simply postpones the honest discussion necessary to find solutions to the problem.
No. I would rather have a black brown red green conservative than 1000 liberals ant day of the week.
I say we separate into those who know and expect which bathroom to use. That’s real simple.
There’s very little racism in this country but there’s a shitload of talk about it from idiots who don’t have a clue what racism is and it has nothing to do with skin color.
To the 99% who claim racism all the time it’s about anything that is not exactly how they think and the “think” part is very hard for them because they don’t.
What is this nonsense?
97% of blacks voted for Obama the first time, so good luck.
This entire country is fake.I feel like I’m living in an evil Disney park
” but throughout the history of our beloved country, our privilege has been at the expense of people of color...”
Not in my lifetime it hasnt. My grandfather wasnt a racist. My father wasnt a racist. Im not a racist. My son osnt a racist. Go to hell. You have to go back to a time the people of which are all dead and in their graves. Go to hell.
What I have came at the expense of no one. Did I mention go to hell? Anyone who can’t make it in America is a loser. And go to hell. If Blacks want to be finger pointing crybaby whinging excuse-makers that’s their problem not mine. Go to hell. One more time: Go to hell.
No, I don't get the point!!!
We had a society that worked. Now we don't. What's your point?
There is 3%. Wait are we allowed to post about the 3%? I’m so confused.
I got it. But we can’t just separate based on color. It needs to be on ideology only. Constitutional people need to separate. If that’s 30% or 40% idk.
If we are allowed to post emails we receive on FR, I got one on Penis enlargement. Is that allowed 😎
You should forward it to me for review.
We have a core morality and spiritual crisis.
A black reporter from a Columbus newspaper stood up and yelled: "You are a racist!" Dr. Fogel, a white man, asked if he had read the book. The reporter yelled: "I don't have to read the book. Your conclusion tells me you are a racist!"
At that moment, a black lady in the front row stood up, turned around and looked at the reporters and said: "Sit down, Sonny, you don't know what you're talking about and I resent the insults you are throwing at my husband!"
Crickets...
Really. I get 3 or 4 a week. Pump, pills ... I’m now 24” long. My wife will have nothing to do with me. Joke. EE you Crack me up
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