The blacker-than-thou paradox divides

St. Petersburg Times ^ | February 13, 2002 | BILL MAXWELL

[johnny7]

... albeit one who openly admires Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell.

Very rare. Most blacks despise Thomas and Powell. They are highly-educated, speak perfect diction and can focus on the topic.

Everytime I see Clarence Thomas on the news he looks heart-broken.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

To LIBERALS, being a responsible, educated, contributing American (black, white, red, yellow, brown or any combination of those) is a sin.

[johnny7]

I think the term “liberal” is not an accurate description of these bastids anymore.

They haved morphed into a version of Hitlers National Socialist Party.

The Estrada filibuster(sp?) and the Carl McCall “snub” are two good examples.

Even the a-hole Sharpton is being targeted by them... his own party!

If Hubert Humphrey or “Skoop” Jackson ever saw the dems today, they would become Republicans!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

They're communists.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Poverty in the nation*** Is poverty pre-ordained? I think not. A married couple, both working full time at a minimum-wage job that pays $5.15 per hour, would earn an annual income of $20,600. Keep in mind that few adults earn wages as low as the minimum wage and those who do earn a higher wage after a few months on the job. If a married couple both working at the minimum wage had no children, they would not be poor; if they had two children, they wouldn't be living in the lap of luxury, but neither would they be below the poverty threshold.

Let's look at poverty in female-headed households. Divorce and death of the father might explain a small part of why there are so many female-headed households. But the bulk of it is explained by people having children and not getting married in the first place.

Having children is not an act of God. It's not like you're walking down the street and pregnancy strikes you; children are a result of a conscious decision. For the most part, female-headed households are the result of shortsighted, self-destructive behavior of one or two people. They might have bought into the nonsense of "experts" like John Hopkins University sociologist Professor Andrew Cherlin, who said, "It has yet to be shown that the absence of a father was directly responsible for any of the supposed deficiencies of broken homes." The real issue, according to Mr. Cherlin, "is not the lack of male presence but the lack of male income." That's a call for fathers to be replaced by a government welfare check.

According to a NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll, the leading cause of poverty identified by both the poor (75 percent) and non-poor (65 percent) was drug abuse. Again, it's not like you're walking down the street and you're struck with drug addiction; to use drugs is a conscious decision. Drug-users tend not to be very productive. They drop out of school, abandon their families, have scrapes with the law and don't hold down jobs. Would anybody be surprised that poverty is one result of drug usage?

Most middle-class Americans, including black Americans, are no more than one, two or three generations out of poverty. How did they manage this feat; what's the secret for avoiding poverty?

I think it's a no-brainer. Finish high school and take a job, any kind of a job. Today, but not when I graduated in 1954, if a person graduates from high school, with even a C average, there is a college or some kind of skills training program somewhere for him, and often financial assistance to boot. So if a person doesn't take advantage of today's available opportunities, particularly those during the boom of the 1990s, and engages in self-destructive behavior, whose fault is it?***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Educator says blacks underachieve - "Do you think so low of yourself….?" *** ''I don't like you segregating us like this,'' one student told White during a question-and-answer session. ''You know what I mean, calling us bad or whatever. I think you should have something like this after school.''

White was unswayed: ''You're in school. I run this school, and I meet with you when I want to.'' Parents in the back clapped and nodded. ''That's right!'' said a few, calling out as if they were in church. White said he knew that some students in the crowd were making straight A's, but he wanted them to help boost the performance of the others.

One student asked the superintendent if any other Indiana school districts were hosting similar convocations. White is one of only three black superintendents in Indiana's 293 school districts. White superintendents tell him they would be accused of prejudice or profiling if they targeted black boys to improve their academic performance. ''To me, it's the truth,'' White said. ''The truth will set you free.''***

[F-117A]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Our kids are failing; where's the shame? *** I've tried to be impervious to "group think." But I've recalibrated my thinking regarding collective guilt and shame. Why? Because I'm ashamed of the low achievement today of most black kids in school systems nationwide. Black people collectively should join me in my shame. The point being not to wallow in it, but move to do something about it.

…………….. What happened? The Edwardses, and other black Cy-Fair parents, asked the district to challenge their children, to raise, not lower, the bar. Most importantly, they took responsibility for preparing their kids to compete. They partnered with area churches to enlist parents in their effort. They disseminated information about tutoring, enrichment opportunities, how to get into college and shared common stories and strategies. They also give large credit to Superintendent Rick Berry, who then was new to the district, for accepting the challenge. Now, the district has "recognized" status due largely to black students now passing the TAAS test in the 90 percentile.

Progress was not easy. District officials were initially skeptical and parents were disinterested and "lazy," DeBra Edwards said. "I can't blame this (failure) on the white folks any more because it's really not their fault," she said. "It's our fault. In so many cases our parents don't want this responsibility. It is easier for them to allow their children to become a part of the sports programs." And that is shameful. ***

[nanny]

All this is the result of marxist divide and conquer tactics. Not to mention the simple fact that it is easier and quicker to achieve power by stirring up hate than by developing competence

You are right that a citizenry that is not divided is harder to fool and harder to control. But I think you could substitute the word 'political' for Marxist - as this is not limited to the Marxist or to the democrats - but the Republicans have been doing a bit of the old racial politics themselves.

[farmfriend]

pinging

[truth_seeker]

"What they need is a Rush Limbaugh type."

Larry Elder is a pretty close substitute. Black lawyer, from south-central Los Angeles, now with a nationally syndicated radio program.

He identifies himself as a "little 'l' Libertarian." On most issues, he is conservative, and he is not an isolationist.

[mhking]

Any black who thought Hastings was a crook was labeled an Uncle Tom or a sell out.

Guess I'm one of those "bad names." [shrug]

Been there, done that; got the t-shirt...

We have black men to lead; unfortunately, those who would choose to ignore that have louder voices and more powerful and visible soapboxes that those of us who are leading by example.

But as opposed to those whose voices carry simply noise and are quickly forgotten, our voices carry power, and carry messages that reach below that surface veneer. We provide true support and a true vision.

And as more hear our message, it spreads. I'll admit that it's only a little at a time, but it spreads.

Help me spread that message; help me spread that vision.

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[AppyPappy]

I learned something new. The predominatly black schools in Roanoke were turning in low SOL(Standards of Learning) scores which was causing more derision in the media and government. Soon the test scores began improving and the event was heralded as success. How did they do it? Kids labeled "Special Ed" don't take the SOL's. We found it in our school when they suddenly labeled some kids from the trailer parks as "Special Ed" in an effort to jack up our SOL scores. They know the parents don't care as long as they get a free lunch. Not only that, Special Ed kids bring federal dollars to the schools.

So the answer is to find the lowest performers and slap a Special Ed label on them. What does that do to the kids? Who cares. The ends justifies the means.

[Mudboy Slim]

"...our voices carry power, and carry messages that reach below that surface veneer. We provide true support and a true vision. And as more hear our message, it spreads. I'll admit that it's only a little at a time, but it spreads."

Yep...it's all about winnin' over the hearts and minds, one-at-a-time and fer however long it takes...at some point, everyone can come to the realization that becoming ENSLAVED to the Federal Leviathan in DeeCee is a DeadEnd!!

FReepOn, my FRiend...MUD

[Tijeras_Slim]

Not only that, Special Ed kids bring federal dollars to the schools.

Special Ed is a huge industry, powered by Federal dollars. Naturally, where there are dollars and jobs up for grabs, the ranks of Special Ed students will grow.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Kids labeled "Special Ed" don't take the SOL's. We found it in our school when they suddenly labeled some kids from the trailer parks as "Special Ed" in an effort to jack up our SOL scores. They know the parents don't care as long as they get a free lunch. Not only that, Special Ed kids bring federal dollars to the schools."

That's INTOLERABLE!! Any "SpecialEdDesignation" should be scientific and deeply-involve the parents of the child!!

FReegards...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"...where there are dollars and jobs up for grabs, the ranks of Special Ed students will grow."

Only if the parents of these children knowingly allow their kids to be used as pawns fer the EducRATS...the PTA meeting at my kids' school would be RIOTOUS were this to happen to my child!!

FReegards...Slim

[Tijeras_Slim]

Only if the parents of these children knowingly allow their kids to be used as pawns fer the EducRATS

Agreed. But there are plenty of parents that are more than willing, especially since there are goddies attached in many cases.

I wouldn't worry about your child, Slims the world over are recognized as superior genetic stock.

[Mudboy Slim]

"...there are plenty of parents that are more than willing, especially since there are goodies attached in many cases."

That's the assumption I have a quibble with...are there really a whole lotta parents out there who don't want their kids to have all the opportunities that life offers?! One thing that I believe unites US all is our desire to see our kids live happy and fulfilling lives, and knowingly allowing YER child to be put on a SpecialEd track just so yer child's school can afford a few more non-teaching teaching consultants ain't something ANY PARENT should knowingly allow happen.

FReegards...MUD

BTW...yer right about the slims...LOL!!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Mrs. Slim is an Educational Diagnostician (administers tests that aid in Special Ed placement) and she has to deal with many parents who are so fixated on handouts of any kind, that they push for special services for their kids, even where unwarranted. We're seeing second and third generation special ed families.

True, these families are in the minority, but there's lots more of them than we'd like to see. And, in the interest of keeping the school administration and "advocacy" groups quiet, many teachers, principals, etc... go along with it.

Mrs. Slim is very glad she's retiring next year, she's had enough. After 25 years in Special Ed she's seen it go from being relatively benign to a self-perpetuating monster in many ways.