I recognize that there are many white people who now feel like the system is unfair to them because there is a small portion of some institution and opportunities that may not be available to them.
Wrong is wrong. Always.
Discrimination is wrong. Always.
Period.
Quote:
Multiply that reality and sentiment by 100 and extrapolate it over decades and generations. That may give some insight into what fuels a lot of emotion.
Why decades and generations? My life experiences are not defined by what happened to my parents or my grandparents or my great grandparents.
Why should we have to battle through generations of pent up anger while we have a black man in the White House.
At what point can we realize that we are moving on?
How long must we continue to pay for and make provision for the sins of a decade ago... a generation ago.. a century ago?
If there is discrimination in anyones life today then they should speak out and we should all do what it takes to bring that discrimination to an end.
But neither my feelings nor anyone elses should be based upon a decade ago, a generation ago or a century ago.
Wrong is wrong. Always.
Discrimination is wrong. Always.
Period.
Why decades and generations? My life experiences are not defined by what happened to my parents or my grandparents or my great grandparents.
D4T. I think you might want to rethink the position that what happens to your parents does not greatly affect your formative years. To a great extent, I am who I am because of my parents and I thank God for it.
Also, one consistent point I've made is that in dealing with particularly the older generation in the black community, you're not dealing with what happened to parents and grandparents, you're dealing with what happened to that individual.
Quote:
Why should we have to battle through generations of pent up anger while we have a black man in the White House.
At what point can we realize that we are moving on?
How long must we continue to pay for and make provision for the sins of a decade ago... a generation ago.. a century ago?
If there is discrimination in anyones life today then they should speak out and we should all do what it takes to bring that discrimination to an end.
But neither my feelings nor anyone elses should be based upon a decade ago, a generation ago or a century ago.
If your position is that what happens in one decade has no bearing on the next, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Are we moving on? Absolutely. I am very encouraged by the changes I see in every generation.
And people do speak out against discrimination. It does still occur, but thankfully it is getting better.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
D4T. I think you might want to rethink the position that what happens to your parents does not greatly affect your formative years. To a great extent, I am who I am because of my parents and I thank God for it.
Also, one consistent point I've made is that in dealing with particularly the older generation in the black community, you're not dealing with what happened to parents and grandparents, you're dealing with what happened to that individual.
That's not what you said... You said multiply it by generations.
Quote:
If your position is that what happens in one decade has no bearing on the next, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Are we moving on? Absolutely. I am very encouraged by the changes I see in every generation.
And people do speak out against discrimination. It does still occur, but thankfully it is getting better.
Of course it still occurs. But I am saying that when it occurs... let's not multiply it by decades & generations. Let's deal with it for what it is.
If one comes to the table "loaded" with decades and generations of what has happened in the past then they come to the table ready to prejudge the actions of the other individual.
That's not what you said... You said multiply it by generations.
Of course it still occurs. But I am saying that when it occurs... let's not multiply it by decades & generations. Let's deal with it for what it is.
If one comes to the table "loaded" with decades and generations of what has happened in the past then they come to the table ready to prejudge the actions of the other individual.
That... is prejudice.
Prejudice and discrimination is wrong. Always.
When I said multiply it for generations, I was not implying that it has been told for generations...I was saying that it had been happening for generations. From slavery to Jim Crow and beyond, there were many, many generations who were denied almost everything because of their color. That's what I meant when I said take the frustration you feel about a small amount possibly being denied to you, multiply it by 100 and extrapolate it over generations.
It's just something to think about.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
When I said multiply it for generations, I was not implying that it has been told for generations...I was saying that it had been happening for generations. From slavery to Jim Crow and beyond, there were many, many generations who were denied almost everything because of their color. That's what I meant when I said take the frustration you feel about a small amount possibly being denied to you, multiply it by 100 and extrapolate it over generations.
It's just something to think about.
Well... to quote you. We will agree to disagree.
I take each account for what they are. Right, wrong or indifferent.
IMO... That facilitates more progress in putting old wrongs behind us and deals with present wrongs for what they are.
I take each account for what they are. Right, wrong or indifferent.
IMO... That facilitates more progress in putting old wrongs behind us and deals with present wrongs for what they are.
I'm always willing to agree to disagree, but I am genuinely confused as to what we are disagreeing about. Are we in disagreement over whether multiple generations faced widespread exclusion and discrimination due to race?
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
When I said multiply it for generations, I was not implying that it has been told for generations...I was saying that it had been happening for generations. From slavery to Jim Crow and beyond, there were many, many generations who were denied almost everything because of their color. That's what I meant when I said take the frustration you feel about a small amount possibly being denied to you, multiply it by 100 and extrapolate it over generations.
It's just something to think about.
Tstew, I appreciate your input.
Your past generations certainly experienced everything that you mentioned. It's not easy to forgive and forget! Sadly, I think the racial divide may not completely end until the generations that have experience the true personal effects of racism have passed on. Then the only racism will be what a new generation reads in history books.
There's no real way to right the past wrongs, except to acknowledge it, apologize and move on.
Those that continue to use the race card as a crutch or excuse will be left behind. When black and white leaders chastise their followers when the race card is used, then you will find true racial healing. Until then, using the race card just keeps racism alive.
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
Your past generations certainly experienced everything that you mentioned. It's not easy to forgive and forget! Sadly, I think the racial divide may not completely end until the generations that have experience the true personal effects of racism have passed on. Then the only racism will be what a new generation reads in history books.
There's no real way to right the past wrongs, except to acknowledge it, apologize and move on.
Those that continue to use the race card as a crutch or excuse will be left behind. When black and white leaders chastise their followers when the race card is used, then you will find true racial healing. Until then, using the race card just keeps racism alive.
I've said pretty much the same thing before on here. What really gets me is when people act like real, painful, and crippling discrimination is ancient history. It seems that people like to go back to slavery when arguing that everything is ancient history and choose to ignore what the reality was for the generation right before mine and how the effects of that will inevitably still exist...and exist pretty strongly.
You've got people on one side who are absolutely too quick to cry racism in a discussion or situation, and you have people on the other side who are too quick to cry "race card" in a discussion or situation.
__________________
There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Chuck Norris lives in Houston.
Either the United States will destroy ignorance, or ignorance will destroy the United States. – W.E.B. DuBois
I've said pretty much the same thing before on here. What really gets me is when people act like real, painful, and crippling discrimination is ancient history. It seems that people like to go back to slavery when arguing that everything is ancient history and choose to ignore what the reality was for the generation right before mine and how the effects of that will inevitably still exist...and exist pretty strongly.
You've got people on one side who are absolutely too quick to cry racism in a discussion or situation, and you have people on the other side who are too quick to cry "race card" in a discussion or situation.
Right on brother! It's still real today and from both sides, but many are quick to play the race card, this why we should not overact or underact but wait things out til all info is brought to the light. Each situation should be judged on it's own. When something is frist broadcasted folks are quick to make a conlusion without knowing the details such as the Duke lacrosse case.
It's amazing how some will minimize racism when it comes from their race to another.
__________________
Today pull up the little weeds,
The sinful thoughts subdue,
Or they will take the reins themselves
And someday master you. --Anon.
The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.
Last edited by Truthseeker; 07-29-2009 at 08:16 PM.
I've said pretty much the same thing before on here. What really gets me is when people act like real, painful, and crippling discrimination is ancient history. It seems that people like to go back to slavery when arguing that everything is ancient history and choose to ignore what the reality was for the generation right before mine and how the effects of that will inevitably still exist...and exist pretty strongly.
You've got people on one side who are absolutely too quick to cry racism in a discussion or situation, and you have people on the other side who are too quick to cry "race card" in a discussion or situation.
I honestly detest it when I hear about a case where someone from my race performs a racist act. It still happens every day somewhere in America and around the world.
On the other hand, I detest it when someone is judged a racist when the situation had nothing to do with race.
I guess that makes me a detestable person!
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
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