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Maybe The Problem Isn't Racism. Maybe It's Just You.
Townhall.com ^ | June 29, 2012 | John Hawkins

Posted on 06/29/2012 5:48:39 AM PDT by Kaslin

Dear People Crying Racism:

We're all friends here, right? All right, maybe we're not. But, we can still have an open honest conversation, can't we? Okay, we may not be there yet, but someone has to open up the lines of communication and say what we're all thinking: Crying racism just doesn't work like it used to, does it? There was a time when someone like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton could scream "racism" and people were horrified and swarmed around like ants at a picnic trying to make that awful word go away. Now, you cry racism and it produces eye rolls and smirks. It's almost as if the person calling someone the bigot is actually the bad guy. Who'd have ever thought we'd get to that point in a country like America?

But that's just it, isn't it? Sure, this used to be a racist country. We had slavery, the KKK, segregation, Jim Crow laws...the operative words there being "used to." Slavery ended in 1865, segregation and Jim Crow laws ended in 1964, and although the KKK is still around, it’s a running joke. In other words, if you're 48 years old or younger, you've always lived in a country where whites are the only race the government can legally discriminate against via affirmative action and racial set asides. That's not to say that the racial discrimination against whites is remotely comparable to the discrimination that black Americans endured. It most certainly isn't, but it is racial discrimination against people whose only crime is being born the wrong skin color and that skin color is white, not black.

Of course, that just hammers the truth home. This isn't the same country as it was in 1865 or even 1964. The party of slavery, the KKK, segregation, and Jim Crow laws now has a black man representing it in the White House. The party that fought slavery, the KKK, segregation, and Jim Crow laws appointed a black justice to the Supreme Court. That party also selected the first black man and first black woman as Secretary of State, had a black head of the Republican National Committee -- and had a black man who for a while, was on top in the race to capture the GOP presidential nomination.

That doesn't mean there's no longer any racism. There will always be a few racists just like there will always be a few misogynists, misandrists, people who hate Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and diehard partisans who hate people of the opposing political persuasion. If you're hoping for a world where no one hates anyone else, you might as well hope for a genie to show up and give you three wishes. On the other hand, if you're hoping for a country where racism is no longer a serious problem, then you're living in it.

How can that be if there are still racists? Well, percentage wise, there are probably as many anti-Semites out there as there are people who hate black or Hispanic Americans and it doesn't seem to be slowing Jewish Americans down. Then how can all the criticism of Barack Obama be explained? Ehr, by the fact that he's the President of the United States? Is there anyone who thinks the never ending, extraordinarily nasty criticism of George W. Bush was based on his race? Of course not. So, why would it shock anyone that diehard, conservative, capitalistic Republicans disagree with a hardcore, left-wing, socialistic Democrat in the strongest of terms? If anyone thought Barack Obama was going to have Republicans singing his praises while he systematically attacked them and pushed policies that they consider to be unconstitutional socialism, then that person must have been kicked in the head by a mule.

Furthermore, to conclude that opposition to illegal immigration is driven by racism requires you to be completely ignorant of the fact that even large waves of LEGAL immigration have often produced backlashes in American history. In fact, from 1920-1965, this country dramatically restricted even legal immigration. When you understand that, it's not a surprise that most Americans aren't particularly fond of 10-20 million people who broke the law to come here, who take jobs from American citizens, and who fill up our jails, hospitals, and schools while other people pay the bills. Judging by American history, if there were 10-20 million Irishmen or Italians doing the same thing, there would be just as much resentment, if not more so.

In other words, "racism" has turned into a political hustle. You play a role in killing more than 300 people like Eric Holder with Operation Fast and Furious and the real scandal is supposed to be the motive of people questioning it. If you're here in this country illegally, using someone else's Social Security number, claiming that you have 14 kids to get a huge earned income tax credit -- anyone who has a problem with that is supposed to be a racist. People who are going that far are essentially engaging in "my race, right or wrong" tribalism that runs counter to everything this country has stood for in the post-Civil War era.

Here's something that should make a lot of people feel better, but probably won't. I'm a conservative Tea Partier who grew up in a small southern town. If you listen to the media, you'd think that's the ultimate breeding ground for bigotry in this country. Yet, southern whites don't drop the N-bomb in private conversation or talk much about racial issues. Conservatives don't talk about race issues all day or for that matter, much at all, unless they're complaining about being falsely accused of racism. As to Tea Partiers, the only time race ever comes up is if they're complaining about being smeared as bigots or if they're trying to figure out how to get more minorities to come to Tea Parties. We always claim to be fighting "wars" against things in this country -- poverty, obesity, drugs, etc., etc., etc. Well, the truth is that the "war on racism" is one of those rare fights that we've won.

But, some people just can’t bear the idea of declaring victory. Maybe they're using it as an excuse, as a political tool, or a way to fundraise. So, they gin up fake political controversies from nothing, shoehorn tragic, non-racial events like the Trayvon Martin shooting into the template, or grasp at nobodies blurting out the N-word like they're Congressmen as opposed to isolated, powerless hicks. They imagine "dog whistles" that don't exist and invent silliness like "white privilege" to explain how prevalent racism still is despite the fact that it seems to have been largely eradicated. Tell some white factory worker making $40,000 a year about how easy he's had it because of race compared to say, Barack Obama. Explain to him how easy life is for him in comparison to a black co-worker whom the plant won't fire despite poor performance because it’s afraid of a lawsuit. Tell him how much better he has it when a black doctor's son gets into college over his better qualified child, solely because of the color of his skin. Start asking some people under 40 outside of the effete, pampered liberal enclaves what advantages they've had in life because they're white and don't be surprised at how many people scratch their heads in puzzlement while they try to come up with something.

Long story short, this isn't an attack or any sort of racial grievance mongering. It's just an explanation of why people are more likely to tell you to “go screw yourself” than offer sympathy if you cry "racism" these days. Americans abhor racism, but they also don't like rackets, being falsely accused, or lame excuses for poor performance. So, if you're wondering why no one cares after you cry racism, then maybe the problem isn't racism, maybe it's just you.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: democrat; mediabias; racism

1 posted on 06/29/2012 5:48:48 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Liberals used to be fond of saying patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Now we can say shouting racism is the last. Except for liberals, screaming racism is usually their first and only line of defense.


2 posted on 06/29/2012 6:03:56 AM PDT by driftless2
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To: Kaslin
This idiot in the White Hut is making me a RACIST!!!!

I can't stand democrats of any race creed or color!!!!

3 posted on 06/29/2012 6:04:20 AM PDT by Johnny_cash
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To: Johnny_cash
They're not Democrats any more, they're Communists and Socialists. The Democratic party has been compromised. The race card has been overplayed, the deck is full of Jokers. Too bad, sooooo sad. Now let's vote ‘em out!
4 posted on 06/29/2012 6:16:17 AM PDT by derSchurfer (When the Rule of Law is ignored good citizens will take the law into their own hands.)
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To: Kaslin

To cry “Racism” is to cry “Victim-hood”. You see, a victim has no responsibility to their lot in life, they are utterly powerless and relinquish any control over what happens to them. It’s far easier to blame someone else, than to step up and be accountable for yourself.

Look at the facts. Blacks make up 13% of the population, but dominate our welfare programs, fill our jails, demand special priviledges that no other race dare even inquire about (Black TV, Black Congressional Caucus, Black Colleges, Black Scholarships). Is there a ‘white-only’ program that is recognized anywhere?

Let’s look at out-of-wedlock births - blacks again dominate. Is there a single “positive” trait in which blacks dominate? I fail to see “Rap” or even “Sports” as a positive - as these are simply successional private pursuits of an individual. How many Blacks have successfuly started a company (without special set-aside programs), have grown this company and are recognized industry leaders? Those very few who have (and I can think of none) should be the role models that Black families hold up - not the “gangsta” rap artists that are held up.

Respect is earned ... and I fail to see a whole lot of worthy individuals who have earned this respect, including our CINC.


5 posted on 06/29/2012 6:45:03 AM PDT by Hodar (A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.- Burroughs)
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To: Hodar

And if you take away that shield of victimhood,
you’re making them take responsibility for their “plight”.

That’s “mean” on your part, and enrages them on their part - “how dare you say it’s actually my fault!”


6 posted on 06/29/2012 6:52:53 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin

America was not ready for a black president and it is not the “whites” who weren’t ready (evidence in particular the actions of the Black Caucas yesterday). It is the majority of the black community, in particular, those who are looking for any opportunity to cry ‘racism’ who were not and still are not, ‘ready’. For America to be ‘ready’ for a black president, the color of his skin, whether black, red, yellow or purple, has to be checked at the WH door.

The president and those he appoints (talking Holder here) have to be accountable based on the law of the land and the Constitution. Any white president or AG, especially a Republican one, would be in deep trouble politically right now. The Black Caucas would be screaming for resignations; however, when the exact same is going on with Obama/Holder, any attempt to hold them accountable is a matter of their color, not their deeds. Black first .... Holder carries some saying to this effect in his wallet. Black first is how the Black Caucas operates, black first is how the majority of the black community votes.

Until the country can vote for a man because of his character (thank you MLK), his experience, his love of country and willingness to put America first, and not pay attention to his ‘black’ skin, we are not ready for a black president. Obama has been a particular disgrace to the black community because he has used the racist card over and over, used his ‘blackness’ as an excuse for not being held accountable on issues that have nothing to do with his race. As a president (color not withstanding), he has destroyed the economy, trampled the country’s laws and Constitution, made ‘black’ the new transparency, and done nothing to advance harmony in the country. He has set the country back years in race relations by constantly being divisive and ‘racist’ himself. He is excused for all of this because of his skin color alone.

No, black America was not ready for a black president ... and to compound the problems, Obama was the worst possible choice because he made a career (and wrote a book) all centered around his victimization because of his skin color ... all while reaping the rewards of the country he obviously hates. His ‘hope and change’ was a message that if it meant every person in this wonderful country has boundless hope because of the opportunity for anyone, regardless of color, to change their own destiny for the better and he had governed this way, it would have made him a truly historical president. Instead, by dividing & desroying the country, he will go down in infamy .... and we’ll see if later generations of the black community will be so willing to claim this perversion of what the first black president should have been, as one of their own.


7 posted on 06/29/2012 7:10:43 AM PDT by MissMagnolia (Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. (M.Thatcher))
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To: Kaslin
People that cry racism are themselves racist, it is called projecting and the dems have perfected it.

My son joined the Navy after growing up in a very small town with no blacks. His first experience of racism was in boot camp from a black guy who absolutely hated him because he was white.

8 posted on 06/29/2012 7:13:33 AM PDT by thirst4truth (www.Believer.com)
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To: derSchurfer

Vote out the racists—Black or White—we are beyond this foolishness.


9 posted on 06/29/2012 8:47:32 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: Kaslin

BTT!


10 posted on 06/29/2012 8:57:13 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: MissMagnolia; sickoflibs; DoughtyOne; dragnet2; Jeff Head; Travis McGee; wardaddy; Liz; Pelham; ...

“America was not ready for a black president and it is not the “whites” who weren’t ready (evidence in particular the actions of the Black Caucas yesterday). It is the majority of the black community, in particular, those who are looking for any opportunity to cry ‘racism’ who were not and still are not, ‘ready’. For America to be ‘ready’ for a black president, the color of his skin, whether black, red, yellow or purple, has to be checked at the WH door........”

Nice rant, MissMagnolia!


11 posted on 06/29/2012 9:06:12 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: MissMagnolia; AuntB; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; DoughtyOne; Gilbo_3; Impy; stephenjohnbanker; ...
RE :”“America was not ready for a black president and it is not the “whites” who weren’t ready (evidence in particular the actions of the Black Caucas yesterday).

Dissing the BC is racist, uless you are a white Democrat then it's OK

Back in late 2009 I tried to warn a few people that electing a first black POTUS as progressive (liberal) as Obama is will set race relations back decades, because he will play out whites negative images of (educated) blacks (as socialist tax and handout kings) .

Unfortunately that is what Democrats wanted, If Obama can keep Republicans outraged with him, and he is doing a great job at that for sure, then Democrats can endlessly play the ‘victim of racism’ cards to use to mask all his failures. Libs thrive on racial division, it brings in the $$$ and votes.

BTW : I heard AuntB is mean to Hispanics who don't have 'papers' :)

12 posted on 06/29/2012 9:22:59 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Romney is a liberal. Just watch him closely try to screw us.)
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To: Kaslin; SandRat
When you understand that, it's not a surprise that most Americans aren't particularly fond of 10-20 million people who broke the law to come here, who take jobs from American citizens, and who fill up our jails, hospitals, and schools while other people pay the bills. Judging by American history, if there were 10-20 million Irishmen or Italians doing the same thing, there would be just as much resentment, if not more so.

ping

13 posted on 06/29/2012 10:29:19 AM PDT by GOPJ (Way to go Kraft. I now associate your brand with anal sex.(Oreo cookies) Freeper agere_contra)
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