Who Is 'Racist'? (Thomas Sowell)

http://www.creators.com/print/conservative/thomas-sowell/who-is-racist.html ^ | April 24, 2012 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

Whatever the ultimate outcome of the case against George Zimmerman for his shooting of Trayvon Martin, what has happened already is enough to turn the stomach of anyone who believes in either truth or justice. An amazing proportion of the media has given us a painful demonstration of the thinking — and lack of thinking — that prevailed back in the days of the old Jim Crow South, where complexion counted more than facts in determining how people were treated. One of the first things presented in the media was a transcript of a conversation between George Zimmerman and a police dispatcher. The last line in most of the transcripts shown on TV was that of the police dispatcher telling Zimmerman not to continue following Trayvon Martin. That became the basis of many media criticisms of Zimmerman for continuing to follow him. Only later did I see a transcript of that conversation on the Sean Hannity program that included Zimmerman's reply to the police dispatcher: "O.K." That reply removed the only basis for assuming that Zimmerman did in fact continue to follow Trayvon Martin. At this point, neither I nor the people who assumed that he continued to follow the teenager have any basis in fact for believing that he did or didn't. Why was that reply edited out by so many in the media? Because too many people in the media see their role as filtering and slanting the news to fit their own vision of the world. The issue is not one of being "fair" to "both sides" but, more fundamentally, of being honest with their audience. NBC News carried the editing even further, removing one of the police dispatcher's questions, to which Zimmerman was responding, in order to feed the vision of Zimmerman as a racist. In the same vein were the repeated references to Zimmerman as a "white Hispanic." Zimmerman is half-white. So is Barack Obama. But does anyone refer to Obama as a "white African"? All these verbal games grow out of the notion that complexion tells you who is to be blamed and who is not. It is a dangerous game because race is no game. If the tragic history of the old Jim Crow South in this country is not enough to show that, the history of racial and ethnic tragedies is written in blood in countries around the world. Millions have lost their lives because they looked different, talked differently or belonged to a different religion. In the midst of the Florida tragedy, there was a book published with the unwieldy title, "No Matter What ... They'll Call This Book Racist." Obviously it was written well before the shooting in Florida, but its message — that there is rampant hypocrisy and irrationality in public discussions of race — could not have been better timed. Author Harry Stein, a self-described "reformed white liberal," raised by parents who were even further left, exposes the illogic and outright fraudulence that lies behind so much of what is said about race in the media, in politics and in our educational institutions. He asks a very fundamental question: "Why, even after the Duke University rape fiasco, does the media continue to give credence to every charge of racism?" Harry Stein credits Shelby Steele's book "White Guilt" with opening his eyes to one of the sources of many counterproductive things said and done about race today — namely, guilt about what was done to blacks and other minorities in the past. Let us talk sense, like adults. Nothing that is done to George Zimmerman — justly or unjustly — will unlynch a single black man who was tortured and killed in the Jim Crow South for a crime he didn't commit. Letting hoodlums get away with hoodlumism today does not undo a single injustice of the past. It is not even a favor to the hoodlums, for many of whom hoodlumism is just the first step on a path that leads to the penitentiary, and maybe to the execution chamber. Winston Churchill said, "If the past sits in judgment on the present, the future will be lost." He wasn't talking about racial issues, but what he said applies especially where race is involved.

[loveliberty2]

Prayers for a long life for Dr. Sowell!

The Creator blessed him with a superior intellect, as well as an effective ability to share his insights with others.

He truly is a man for this season in the struggle to preserve individual liberty, calling out the tactics of those who would mislead, divide, and gain power over all, in the name of "helping."

[rlmorel]

PING FOR LATER.

[jazusamo]

BTTT

[Tenacious 1]

Great article.

I'm not a Dr of phsycology. But there are cultural links to be found between the underwhelming minority population in the country and overwhelming prison population. And contrary to NAACP belief, it has little to do with racism.

I would go a step further and suggest that the culture prevalent in the inner city that promotes gangs, street cred, anti-authority and welfare are all residual (if not immediate) symptoms of entitlement mentality because of the “wrong that was done” so many years ago.

There are a lot of proud criminals in jail. Out of ignorance or learned behavior, this is all that was expected out of them. Their cultural leaders are Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Reverend Wright, etc. The only hope they troubled and violent youth stuck in this cycle is that prominent black leaders not only begin to stand up and call it like they see it, but that other socially responsible black leaders support each other and influence the likes of the NAACP, ACLU and democratic party.

I heard someone recently say something to the effect, “You can be fined or imprisoned for feeding the wildlife in Yellowstone National Park because it is bad for the wildlife. It will kill them as they become dependent on hand outs. Yet we actively push and encourage this practice for humans in this country and around the world. It's tragic that we care more about black bears than we do about minorities and the poor.”

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Once Dr. Sowell has spoken, there’s really very little left to be said.”

True

[MHGinTN]

Amen to that!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Democrats are, and have always been the festering pustule of racism in America.”

Democrats are suppurating infected butt warts!

[brityank]

[Author Harry Stein] asks a very fundamental question: "Why, even after the Duke University rape fiasco, does the media continue to give credence to every charge of racism?"

Because the Media never held Heimy-town Jackson or Tawana Sharpton accountable for the murder and mayhem they instigated.

[jazusamo]

Exactly right.

[Jack of all Trades]

Democrats are suppurating infected butt warts!

Heck of a bum-per sticker.

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the ping jaz. Dr. Sowell again right on the mark.

[rockinqsranch]

Disgusting, but true.

[SaraJohnson]

Letting hoodlums get away with hoodlumism today does not undo a single injustice of the past. It is not even a favor to the hoodlums, for many of whom hoodlumism is just the first step on a path that leads to the penitentiary, and maybe to the execution chamber.

---

This is the worst of all liberalism’s attacks on the Black race in the name of Marxist “change.” It severely terrorizes and abuses all people who come in contact with this. It is a well nurtured criminal insanity liberals name black liberation and pride.

Liberals are soul snatchers. Dr. Sowell has served life as a soul-snatcher-backer.

[GBA]

This is the first time I've heard/read that Zimmerman said "Ok" when asked not to follow the person he called 911 about. Un-be-freaking-lievable!

We have freedom of speech, but we don't have the freedom to withhold truth in an effort to create a crisis, stir up tension and division or cause chaos.

I fully expect Zimmerman and that elderly couple to file lawsuits. At what point do we have grounds for a class action suit?

We are all put at risk when our domestic tranquility is deliberately effed with like these corporate news stooges have deliberately done.

It doesn't get more blatant than with this case and there are plenty of specific offenders as well as deep pocket employers of said offenders.

Time to use this opportunity to make an example out of the many offenders and their deep pocketed employers.

They aren't afraid of abusing their fellow Americans with their political propaganda and psyops.

Clearly, it's past time to clear up that misunderstanding.

Now it's time to turn the mob they created against them!

[GOPJ]

Why was that reply edited out by so many in the media? Because too many people in the media see their role as filtering and slanting the news to fit their own vision of the world. The issue is not one of being "fair" to "both sides" but, more fundamentally, of being honest with their audience.

NBC News carried the editing even further, removing one of the police dispatcher's questions, to which Zimmerman was responding, in order to feed the vision of Zimmerman as a racist.

NBC News has more in common with racist whites of the old south than they might know... Old time racists would lie about blacks to justify horrible treatment of them... Modern day 'journalists' do the same - but to a different 'color'. Same hate, same justifications -same evil - they've switched the color of their victims.

It's as if the Germans started putting the French in concentration camps and ovens and couldn't understand why they weren't getting 'credit' for not killing Jews.

It's horrible.

Just as bad as it used to be... Shame on NBC - shame on the MSM ... they're no different = just changed the color of their stripes - color of their victims.

[GOPJ]

Harry Stein, a self-described "reformed white liberal," raised by parents who were even further left, exposes the illogic and outright fraudulence that lies behind so much of what is said about race in the media, in politics and in our educational institutions. He asks a very fundamental question: "Why, even after the Duke University rape fiasco, does the media continue to give credence to every charge of racism?"

Why indeed? (I'm guessing, but I'd say it's because journalist/liberals are closet racists and don't know how to deal with blacks except through the filter of 'all blacks must be perfect. Anything less would be an admission of racism'... The so called press is a big part of the reason race relations have stayed in la la land.

[TheOldLady]

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[jazusamo]

We have freedom of speech, but we don't have the freedom to withhold truth in an effort to create a crisis

Very well said. Good posts by the both of you, back to back.

It seems the MSM keep pushing the envelope further and further for their agenda. They don't give a whit about presenting a balanced report if one side of a story goes against that agenda be it for political, financial or their preconceived societal outlook.

It's way past time to turn this around and hold them responsible for outrages like this one.

[Jean2]

How true that is.

[oldbrowser]

White-africans, that may be the key.
Most blacks in this country have some white DNA. It's very likely that the source of the DNA is the long ago slave owner. So if they are the victim they are also the victimizer.