Letters to the Editor
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claddaguh
you write "White Americans are racist against black Americans in about the same percentages that black Americans are racist against white Americans."
uh....like .00012 percent of them? Do you have any facts to base your unfootnoted assertions? They sound a little sketchy.
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manos y manos
manos, you are either a complete white guilt knee-jerk libtard or the Rev. Wright's second-most dedicated fan. Which is it?
Do you REALLY expect white Americans to just forget every heinous thing Wright has screeched from his pulpit? "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain"? That it doesn't matter that Obama sat in his pews for 20 years in silent complicity? Oh yeah, he wasn't there for those rants, was he? And he's just like the crazy uncle everyone has anyway, so no big deal, right? Hell, even my GRANDMA was prejudiced! Forgive and forget, ey wot? Let's move on?
Doesn't work like that, manos, not in American politics. Hell, Trent Lott had to resign for praising Strom Thurmond at a birthday party, and Imus was fired from CBS for his 'nappy-headed hos' comment. But we're just supposed to forget screeds by Barack Obama's self-proclaimed mentor that make Lott and Imus look like babes in the woods because he's black? Oh, yeah, Jim Crow, slavery, The Man keeping the black man down, support of South Africa and Israel. That makes what he said all OK, huh? Prior prejudice and hate makes present prejudice and hate OK? The hatred is justified? Is that what you're saying?
You know, if we were still living in the Jim Crow era, as a white man even I would cut the good Rev. some slack. But we aren't. Blacks have more opportunities now in this country than they EVER had in business, government, the arts and sports, and racial discrimination is against the law in every corner of this land. Hell, Oprah, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Denzel Washington are not just successful. They're American icons and empires unto themselves. And their success stories would be impossible anywhere else but America.
Where is the oppression, I ask you? Where are those who bear scars from chains, or limp from hobbling? Any dog bite marks or bruising from high-pressure firehoses?
I'm reminded of the line from Platoon: "Free your mind and your ass will follow." Until idiots like you can remove the chains of past grievances, stop hating and join the human race, the racial divide in this country will NEVER be bridged.
And it most certainly won't be bridged by a flowery orator who wears the albatross of a black David Duke around his neck.
And puh-LEEZ, respond in literate and logical form as I have, and not like the libtard poor-prose epithet-spewing tinfoil hat moonbat I know you to be. Also, if you're going to insult me, at least try to be funny, coherent and partially sane about it.
Not holding my breath.
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Please
What is the point? Bigot equivalency?
If people can't push beyond prejudice, they're just being left behind.
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Very nice Manos.
I agree. My faith was shaken a bit but Obama did not damage himself too much in my eyes. We are all human and I prefer frailty to too much cynicism. Besides, look at the alternatives. Jeez.
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No, but a State Department breach by a Clinton staffer....
2nd breach occurs in the third week of February - 5 days later Drudge gets a foreign photo of Obama in Somali garb. He claims it came via e-mail from a Clinton aide.
The files breached were e-files.
Right before super Tuesday, and a big debate.
One person involved is an ex-Clinton official.
Who are the other two??
When all politicians fail to exercise their duty of care -what is the remedy?
Salon, Fox, CNN, MSNBC?? Anyone?
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Pyrrho
More power to ya. Take it easy man, I feel ya.
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doloresflower
You are right. I have no basis for asserting that white Americans are as racist towards blacks as blacks are towards whites. That is simply my own guestimate and based on my life experience. Having grown up in a strong Democratic blue collar town and witnessing a lot of racism, I know that many whites - even a lot of Democrats - are racist. Republicans I would imagine are generally much more so.
However, my analogy holds true unless blacks are far more racist against whites - which is possible, but has not been my experience. So I would not call my analysis highly scientific, but I nonetheless think it is an instructive analogy.
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Infidel1959
Reverend Wright was born in 1941, which means that he came of age during Jim Crow. His formative years as a young man. So maybe you could cut him some slack for his reality being shaped by the past. Wright also served in the military, so it's not true that he doesn't love his country. He was willing to die for it once.
Speaking of the military, I think we have bigger fish to fry. 2100 American soldiers so far have committed suicide after or during their tour in Iraq. Given that veterans often live for years with the trauma, this number will most likely rise. And that is even if we end the war now.
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@sousriscriant
Sousriscriant,
In my heart of hearts I know I discriminate. I am not fond of certain religions. People who get too much sun bother me because I know they are going to get skin cancer and age faster. Those at parties who can’t hold their liquor and slur their words get on my nerves. Short, fat, stupid, narcissistic, or freckled, I make distinctions all of the time and feel bad about it. I don't like W. Perpetually, I attempt to rein in my prejudices and treat everyone with respect. For the most part, I succeed.
Yes, like every other human on this planet I discriminate about race as well. And guess what, I am willing to vote for Obama in part because he is black. I want to elect a man who might heal many racial wounds. Who will be a great example for black people in the US and an example for whites too. He is man who would present a different image of the United States to the world. My vote is his chance and I am doing it for the right reasons but I am still giving a black man a chance and my support. He needs white people to give him a chance and they are willing to. Is that really racist?
Reverend Wright, has every right to say what he wants. But once his rhetoric and silly statements mix with politics we have the right to question them. And, like Pat Robertson’s statements, they don’t fly. Absurd and paranoid is how I would describe them. Still, he has the right to say them and I have the right to judge Obama for not denouncing them sooner. Is that racist? If it is then so be it. I would hope the Reverend Wright would give me a chance.
Is it cowardly to denounce anger? I would recognize it but suggest it is not worthwhile to wallow in it. Nobody really cares about anger, but we do have means to deal with it. The jails are already sadly full. Instead, seek help, you will find people will offer compassion and good deeds. Now the proletariat shall rise against the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy.