Posted on 06/24/2007 12:55:12 PM PDT by Trueblackman
My ex-wife is an immigrant - came here as a child in 1970 (we're on friendly terms). She does a lot of work counseling much more recent immigrants.
And she tells them flat out to learn how to think like a white man if they want to succeed in this country, because that is the culture here. But, then again, she has three degrees.
That NOT being the case, I quite agree it's not a topic for jokes at all.
And, thank you for your service!
TBM, speaking as a mom of a sailor, I’ll bet your parents are proud of you!! :-)
Thank you for your service! We owe you, and all our military - past and present - a debt of gratitude. Your fortitude and determination is what makes this country great!
Gob Bless!
sneakers
AND you might live the day.. within two days you'd be a statistic..
NAH! they'd kill you the first day..
Good Kevin.
Dakine, You are correct about the military as a means to upward mobility. As someone who has studied the history of Central and South America, I can tell you that it is true in other areas as well. Even more true down there as, to this day, the ONLY way an Indian or lower/lower middle class mestizo can rise in those societies is through the military. Sad as it is to say, Hugo Chavez wouldn't exactly be welcomed into the business world of Caracas, even if he wanted to go that route, due to race/class issues.
Thankfully, despite lingering racism, this is NOT the case for most "people of color" in the US, as evidenced by the large number (relative to other countries) of black professionals/MBAs who I meet on a regular basis. Nevertheless, among the lower middle and lower tiers of black America, what TBM (and colleagues of mine) states is often the case.
He said the local white power establishment paid attention to the local black(of course they didn’t use the word black) teenage boys, young men. They didn’t have a problem with the these boys bragging about their conquests the last night, last weekend, they encouraged bragging about their sexual prowess (not with white girls of course, want to make that clear). But Vernon was one of those quiet studious boys, head in a book all the time, and there were comments made about it, it wasn’t looked on with favor. Something wrong about a black boy wanting not to be ignorant, even if he was the son of two schoolteachers.
There was a hint in Vernon's story that it might have turned out poorly for him if he'd stayed in that town, but he went to a a black college, then came north to Chicago, and left that environment behind.
I guess the point of the story is that nowadays it's their fellow blacks that deride a young black man for trying to get ahead, they don't need a white mayor, a white sheriff in order to encourage young black men to waste their lives.
Anyway, I hope that your example might encourage some young men to get past the negative attitude and peer pressure. The ones that try to cut you down feel threatened by what you've accomplished that they have not, and they resent that.
I certainly thank you for your service for our country and I truly appreciate your positive attitude. I too am a Vet and over the years I have worked with many folks of various races. The best of them - and I use the term “best” relatively - the ones I got along with “best” are those who put aside their racialness and regarded themselves as fellow members of the human race.
Trueblackman, you are a man I’d like to know! I don’t really care about the color of your skin......mine is getting sort of wrinkled. You, obviously, have a great heart and that is all that matters! Come be my neighbor!
Earlier today I spoke with my MUCH older brother who was 4F in the days of the draft. (multiple pins in his arms). He said he always felt the military experience was something he’d missed in his life. He was fortunate to have fallback positions .. he worked and went to school at night (while married with four kids), and retired on the upper end of comfortable.
Those young men who need it most, who don’t have the strong family structure, are missing the opportunity to actually make something of themselves. It’s a tragedy few are willing to look at. The odds of their making it to 30 in DC/PG are not terrific. Too many either end up being 6’ under or behind bars before that age. You were blessed .. thank you for your service and well-lived life.
Thanks ThreePuttinDude!
Unless they are athletes or entertainers.
Poor whites aren’t much better. Poor people in general have a warped culture.
God bless you and those like you.
Thank you for serving our country.
America needs more like you two.
True Americans are always a joy to know.
I believe that people in the “black community” should cross over the border into America and assimilate. They are a perfect potential to become an American. They speak the same language, have the same religions, are accustomed to American ways and have helped build the country.
No longer should be have “Two Americas” communities, one white and one black. Come on in.
This type of information needs to get out more and more.
The first part of your Speech at the rally in Washington, DC in Sept 2005.
Keep up the good work!
*BUMP*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.