Posted on 04/24/2014 8:11:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher around whom some Republicans and conservative activists have rallied in a high-profile fight against the federal government, made disparaging comments about African-Americans in an interview with The New York Times published Thursday.
Bundy wondered if African-Americans might have been "better off" as slaves, referring to them as "the Negro."
From The Times' Adam Nagourney:
“I want to tell you one more thing I know about the Negro,” he said. Mr. Bundy recalled driving past a public-housing project in North Las Vegas, “and in front of that government house the door was usually open and the older people and the kids — and there is always at least a half a dozen people sitting on the porch — they didn’t have nothing to do. They didn’t have nothing for their kids to do. They didn’t have nothing for their young girls to do.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Dissent shouldn't be silenced - that's what the Left does, and we are not them. Ultimately we either BELIEVE in our First Amendment right to speak our mind, or we do not. And if we DO profess to believe in it, then we must defend that right to do so jealously - even if it is not what we agree with.
We have been listening to the Left's crap for years, under their First Amendment protection. We disagree with it, but we understand it is their right. They, on the other hand, try to silence us and deny us our right to speak things that they disagree with. It's what they do.
Ergo, I say F*** 'em.
Ultimately, most of the people I've met out here - a good majority of them - I would trust beside me in a fighting hole. At the end of the day we're on the same side.
"Racist" is an overused word, and I won't buy that product.
If Bundy were to pull out a Klan hood and robe like that Esteemed Democrat Senator Robert Byrd...
...or, if he suddenly decides that he was an ardent admirer of the racist Nazis - like that Esteemed Democrat Joe Kennedy back in his day....
...or if he decides that he supports racist Nazi Gun Control laws SO much that he writes them into law - like that Esteemed Democrat Senator Thomas Dodd did in GCA 1968...
...well, THEN I'll call him a racist.
Separate issue.
Is he a “racist” for expressing a critical opinion, based upon his observation of one racial demographic, but NOT a “racist” for expressing an UNCRITICAL observation on another racial demographic?
Of course I agree. It would be pretty boring here otherwise.
That is exactly why its helpful (to me, at least) to put certain comments in context by understanding where the commentator is coming from.
I'm far more inclined to listen to an alternative POV from someone who's opinions I've learned to respect.
I don’t think Bundy has animus toward racial groups. In fact, he clearly thinks that illegals are very positive and deserve a legal place in our society. (I disagree with that opinion.)
However, his words on the videos that I saw were measured, in a humble, concerned tone, and were part of an effort to describe how he saw an overbearing government injuring people.
Sadly, he’s not read into the politically correct way to talk about race. (Best advice: never discuss it at all anywhere near a recording device of any kind.) He’s probably been a full-time rancher, and given his location in the middle of noplace, I’d say he doesn’t see much TV at all.
The images of “cotton picking slaves”, however, is not going to be forgiven by the media.
His issues, though, of range rights, water rights, overbearing government, etc., have nothing to do with his lack of media finesse. Those are real.
We STILL should oppose SWAT teams at BLM and Education Deptmts, and government ownership of half the west, and corrupt connected politicians using “public lands” to enrich themselves and their cronies.
That’s the bottom line for me.
I’m a big believer in One Team, One Fight, and I take in all opinions, even those I disagree with, and make mind up on something after viewing the reasons why someone sees it differently.
A lot of people out here have seriously intelligent political insights and a lot more understanding of how things work than I do. I try to learn from that.
Seriously, I really don’t care what they do to him now, take all his cows and burn his ranch down for all I care. Those comments told me everything I need to know about the guys character, he’s an arrogant condescending punk ass. And by the way: This guy’s a millionaire and people have been propping up this story as if he’s broke and the government is going to evict him when that is the furthest thing from the truth. Imagine that: People coming all around with guns to make a multi-millionaire some money. That is what this is REALLY all about! This MILLIONAIRE is cheap ass who doesn’t want to pay his grazing fees, and people incredibly are helping him for nothing! They really want to do something, how about they help people the government REALLY screws over, like people whose house and bank accounts are seized because they didn’t pay their taxes fast enough, who are one inch from being homeless because the IRS wants their money so they can give bonuses to each other.
Agreed - I didn't get that impression either. He was making an observation on what gov dependency does to people.
"...Sadly, he’s not read into the politically correct way to talk about race...."
Personally, I think that is a GOOD thing. American plain-speak and forthrightness is a virtue and is what is missing in our Country today. Maoist Political-Correct speak is the reason this has BECOME an issue. But yes, I understand your point.
"...not going to be forgiven by the media...."
Of course not, but again - they're the PROFESSIONALLY-offended I referenced in an earlier post. They're LOOKING for something to be offended by, every day, every minuted of their lives. To hell with them. We don't live our lives to please those wastes of oxygen. And if all we worry about is how to not offend them, then they've already won.
People have dedicated their lives to protect - and have died for - the rights of this simple old rancher to speak his mind freely. (You were a military chaplain, so I know you understand that all too well). At the end of the day, that matters more to me than all of the phony, manufactured outrage that these worthless sycophants in the media express.
This man has been MAULED by something much larger and more oppressive than any of us could have imagined. He's entitled to have his say. Even IF it's been indelicately put...
"...We STILL should oppose SWAT teams at BLM and Education Deptmts, and government ownership of half the west, and corrupt connected politicians using “public lands” to enrich themselves and their cronies..."
And we do, and will continue to do so.
And says we need to welcome those good hardworking Mexicans who come across our border, many of which he works along side with (on his ranch).
“...awful good people...we need to welcome them’
And some keen observations on how lucky we are to have an open border.
Good ranch help is hard to find.
Probably hang out and have a few Corona's together after the days work.
Acually, I’m glad he made the Mexican comments. It demonstrated to me that he isn’t racist. He was very accepting of illegals.
On the other hand, I don’t accept open borders or amnesty, either, so I have a major disagreement with Mr Bundy.
Actually, the sad one should be small government pro pathe to citizenship conservatives. He was their kind of conservative. Rand Paul maybe??
So to demonstrate that we aren't racists we would have to follow.....
Bad association.
To: xzins Thanks for that information, very useful. 132 posted on Friday, April 25, 2014 11:19:27 AM by sickoflibs (Obama : 'You can keep your doctor if you want. I never tell a lie ') [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies | Report Abuse] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FWIW, I do think that demonstrating no racial animus toward one minority racial group is circumstantial reason to apply it to the question of racism in general.
Mr Bundy's comments certainly weren't politically correct, but I suspect Mr Bundy isn't much in touch with TV and the media.
I think he associates with bovines for the most part.
They aren't offended...
I don't see it as much.
You don't have to hate every group but your own to be racist. A racist may just hate one or more specific groups,
He obviously likes the group that he interacts with regularly, illegals from Medico. And has a low opinion of one he doesn't interact with regularly.
Thanks again.
They just reinforced my point.
He is making or rather asking questions about an American subculture that has failed and is dragging American cities down
The topic is not racial, it is cultural. The fact the people in question that form the subculture are black is not really relevant.
The NAACP assumes a unity or homogeneity that does not exist. The black race includes multiple subcultures. One has failed
I really haven’t understood the “end game” here - the overall “cause”
Free grazing?
Change ownership of the land? (Wouldn’t that require a sale? -which means recognizing the current owner?)
We thought the “war on women” was bad?
If the right wants to embrace this guy - well then, here. It. Comes.
“Hi. I just got here. Could you show me to the food stamp office? My wife is having another baby.”
The only thing that qualifies as racism to me is animus toward another race because they are part of that race.
Therefore, it’s entirely possible to be untrained in proper rhetoric and not be a racist. Likewise, you might be able to say all the right words and still be a racist.
To me, racism is about hatred going on inside your heart.
Someone he trusts needs to tell him to stay the hell away from cameras and reporters,
I say that all the time to everyone.
Don’t discuss sexuality or race anywhere near a recording device. It can and will be used against you.
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