Ward Connerly's Response To His Critics

The Declaration Foundation ^ | 01/28/03 | Ward Connerly

[goldstategop]

This is Ward Connerly's letter in the aftermath of the uproar from the Campus Left, the UC Regents and Democrats in the California State Legislature. As he makes clear in his response to his critics, its easy to equate segregation with purblind and unadulterated racism, especially the legal structure as established in the Jim Crow South. No one in their right minds would defend such a degrading and un-American system of treating some people as less than the human today because of the color of their skin. Connerly's point rather is state-imposed segregation is certainly wrong per se but not all segregation is necessarily inappropriate. Just think for instance of the voluntarily self-segregated private associations to which many of Connerly's critics belong to. Are they ready to give up their membership in them? Its ironic that Connerly's critics so readily condemn him for pointing out their own habits are less than sterling in the matter of promoting racial integration. That must have struck a quite a nerve for the critics to jump in such fury on him as they did.

[Carry_Okie]

Brilliantly written. I was cheering as I read it.

This is how to handle liberal fascists: whether racists, envirals, educrats, or homo-lesbo-pedo-trans-sexuals. Calmly stuff their evil lies right back down their throats without mercy. They won't hate you any less, but they will respect the power of your integrity and those who watch in fear will cheer and take heart.

[mhking]

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.

[Carry_Okie]

Read and cheer.

[Mudboy Slim]

Ward Connerly is an American Hero...MUD

[chance33_98]

Thanks for the ping Carry_okie!

[forester]

With such a view, I wonder how the signatories to the letter reconcile the California Latino Caucus, an entity whose membership is limited to "Latinos?" How about the Congressional Black Caucus, the Black and Chicano Student Unions on our campuses, Black Freshman Orientation at UC Davis (and other campuses), Chicano and African American Graduation Ceremonies at UC, so-called "theme houses" where students self-segregate based on race and ethnicity, race-based fraternities and sororities, Black Alumni Associations, Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and many others too numerous to mention. It is indisputable that these organizations are "segregated" by race and ethnicity.

My wife and I always wondered why this point has never been publicly made. My niece is the product of an inter-racial marriage, so we have a little more than a passing interest in this issue. Attitude (content of character as MLK would say) is what we gauge people on at our house. Thanks for the ping.

[Boot Hill]

There will be no mercy shown for a black man that dares to defy leftist ideology. Ward Connerly is a case on point. WC displays a character rare to find in this day and age.

--Boot Hill

[VeniVidiVici]

Superb! Ward Connerly is another example of a black man the left wants to keep down because he is a danger to their cause. He speaks the truth; and the truth shall set you free!!

Very powerful. I shall email to all my liberal relatives.

[FreeReign]

Finally, let me address the issue of my initial reaction to this controversy when I was informed of it by a reporter for the Oakland Tribune. She said several students "demand" that I apologize for my comments "defending segregation." "What do you want to tell them?" I said, "Tell them to go to hell."

Government segregation, government race based quotas -- two similar ideas that should go to hell.

[farmfriend]

If you did a mass ping it must be worth the read.

[Carry_Okie]

People have asked me if I am a racist because I am an obvious conservative. If I think them thoughtful I tell them, yes. They seldom ask what I mean.

I spent my entire young adult life as a white kid on the streets of Oakland. In a place like that, you either learn to be aware of who is around you, what they might do, what they could do, and don't have an escape planned, you will get hurt. I used to listen to the conversations among black jocks in the locker room at Laney College (the local JC). Their attitude was apalling, especially about those white girls with whom they were having sex. (It's a good thing I suspected some were lying or I might have be responsible for failing to have reported a few crimes.) That experience still induces me to react warily to seeing a mixed couple (black male/white female only). That doesn't mean I didn't have black friends, it just means that I was cautious (and still am).

To this day, if I meet a black man in a strange place, I cannot react to that person as if they were white; they have to show me, by their behavior, that they mean me no harm. One could call it conditioning, but I consider it to be racism. Interestingly, the same is not true of those blacks I meet who are clearly African (such as Ethiopians and Somalis of whom I have met many) or black women (unless they clearly have an attitude). The same is true of Latinos to a lesser degree, but not of Asians (although there are those of the latter who by their appearance and actions induce similar caution).

As far as I am concerned, this makes me a racist. I simply cannot treat two people of differing skin color as if they were the same until I have some indication to suggest that I won't get burned. It is a legacy of my youth, and though it makes me sad, I don't apologize for it.

[SierraWasp]

"They won't hate you any less"

You are so right! I'll never forget when I first took office, he came to lobby me for something to do with the County and his business. I knew he was close to the Governor and half expected him to maybe be defensive, or arrogant.

Wow! Was I ever wrong to think that! What a truly "big" human being... and just downright pleasant to converse with! This reminds me of one of Lincoln's "10 Cannots." Something about little men trying to bring down big men to make themselves feel bigger.

These crummy critics of his are truly mental migets!!!

[editor-surveyor]

"This is how to handle liberal fascists..."

But will they understand it? :o)

[lewislynn]

These crummy critics of his are truly mental migets!!!

Hmmm...I'm pretty sure George and Jeb could be considered critics of him.

[farmfriend]

I believe you have made similar points along the way.

[Carry_Okie]

My professor of government was an Oxford educated, conservative scholar, who read ancient Greek, translated Montesquieu, and was a poor black kid from Florida. He is now Dean of the Madison School of Government at Michigan State. They are few, but they are an inspiration for any black man with the intelligence and guts to drive to be the best, as well as the patient faith it takes not to hear those who would steal that dream.

[Carry_Okie]

My wife and I always wondered why this point has never been publicly made.

I assume that's a rhetorical consternation.

[Carry_Okie]

Well, they might understand "Go to hell," even if they don't really get it about the "hell" part.

At least, I think so.

[SierraWasp]

What, other than Jeb not wanting to deal with a Prop 209 type issue during his campaign, would lead you to believe they don't really agree with him when it's more convenient?

The man makes waves and that makes for awkward situations, not what the brothers actually think of him as a person. Ambition can blind people ya know. Even Reagan told that black lady who was gripin at him over some relatively minor personal issue that he couldn't do anything about it if he didn't get elected, right?

You really get yourself wrapped around every little inconsistency you spot in any Repellican, don't you? Why do you hold them to such higher standards than any Demonicrat? Is it because no Liberaltarian has ever gotten themselves in a prominent enough elected position to ever have to face such awkward moral dilemas?

They do exist in real life, you know and they really create embarrassing lose/lose situations for basically good people. Even in the military, where everything is supposed to be cut and dried, by the book so to speak, these situations pop up if you ever get promoted to one of the higher levels of command.

There's nothing wrong with being judgemental and condemning inconsistency, I do it too. But why do you consistently aim your contempt at members of my former party, ONLY? Do you only expect perfection of Repellicans? If so, WHY?

The only thing I can think of, is that you are bitterly obsessing over something personal in the past that some thoughtless Repellican did, or didn't do that offended you deeply and you cannot get over it... EVER!!!

Get well soon.