A letter to Trent Lott

[Madison]

Quote from mjw73:
Africans are discriminated against in most anglo countries.

Hillbillies aren't known to be very educated or motivated.

Quote from mjw73:

Because of slavery/racism/segregation/tribalism, african americans and whites live in completely different cultures.

isn't the concept of systemic racism dependent on prejudice, in that it attributes an attitude to an entire group of unknown people (the racists)? doesn't your statement above about "different cultures" assume racial differences - the very thing you seem to be against?

the argument that caucasians should not intentionally harm non-caucasians solely based on race is a given today - no one can reasonably dispute it. the argument that no one should assume any characteristics of anyone else (unless the characteristic is a positive one, whereupon racist assumptions are preferable), absent intimate knowledge of that person, seems different.

 

[Madison]

Quote from mjw73:


I will not necessarily chastise an african american for using the word, as I do not know their experiences.

But, when a white person uses that word, the experience is all too common, and I'm very familiar with what causes it.
They haven't been around black people, and they've been brought up to think that it is acceptable to use it in the company of other whites.

but how do you claim to know the experiences of all white people? isn't that prejudicial?

 

[mjw73]

Quote from Madison:




isn't the concept of systemic racism dependent on prejudice, in that it attributes an attitude to an entire group of unknown people (the racists)? doesn't your statement above about "different cultures" assume racial differences - the very thing you seem to be against?

the argument that caucasians should not intentionally harm non-caucasians solely based on race is a given today - no one can reasonably dispute it. the argument that no one should assume any characteristics of anyone else (unless the characteristic is a positive one, whereupon racist assumptions are preferable), absent intimate knowledge of that person, seems different.

"different cultures" simply assumes cultural differences. Race does not exist. Only groups of people originally brought up in different societies, on different continents.

For instance, if there was a group of white slaves brought here from europe, and the same series of events in american history that happened to africans, happened to them, the euro slaves' culture would be closer to ours, than african american's culture is.

Different continents create different cultures and they carry over to other continents when migration (whether voluntary or forced) occurs.

As for whites avoiding harming other minorities..
I think everyone should avoid harming anyone.
Hate crimes are a much stickier issue than straight prejudice or racism. Even I will agree that both sides have good arguments.
(hey, everything can't be cut and dried.. )

 

[mjw73]

Quote from Madison:



but how do you claim to know the experiences of all white people? isn't that prejudicial?

Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their use of the word.

Again, yes I am prejudiced against those that are racially prejudiced.

That means that I am unyielding in my argument that racism and racial prejudice are wrong. I can live with that kind of prejudice.

 

[max401]

Good article by Ann Coulter; excerpt:

"What the Lott incident shows is that Republicans have to be careful about letting Democrats into our party. Back when they supported segregation, Lott and Thurmond were Democrats. This is something the media are intentionally hiding to make it look like the Republican Party is the party of segregation and race discrimination, which it never has been. "

 

[ElCubano]

Quote from mjw73:



Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their use of the word.

Again, yes I am prejudiced against those that are racially prejudiced.

That means that I am unyielding in my argument that racism and racial prejudice are wrong. I can live with that kind of prejudice.

heres one argument...If the black man can say it so can I....If they wouldnt use it then i would see why it would be offensive in some way....but the plain fact that black people use the "N" word on themselves opens the door for white people to use it...I mean why can't a white person use the "N" word just because the color of his skin...isnt that racism or being prejudice......Obiviously the word itself is not offensive, it only becomes offensive when a Honky says it......

 

[swtrader]

(Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their use of the word.

)

Well, I agree with you on this one. On standard ettiquite, (you can only make jokes/use words if you belong to the group), there are no situations where whites should use that word.

Whether blacks should use it is for blacks to decide, although a decent arguement could be made for letting the word drop into obscurity

 

[mjw73]

Quote from ElCubano:




heres one argument...If the black man can say it so can I....If they wouldnt use it then i would see why it would be offensive in some way....but the plain fact that black people use the "N" word on themselves opens the door for white people to use it...I mean why can't a white person use the "N" word just because the color of his skin...isnt that racism or being prejudice......Obiviously the word itself is not offensive, it only becomes offensive when a Honky says it......

Oh yeah, that'd be the one that always gets brought up.
It comes back to "they have more right than you", and it's still wrong.
Swtrader was right on that one, that's the way it's been forever.
That doesn't make it right though.

Just because someone jumps off a bridge, doesn't make it a good thing for everyone else to do.

 

[mjw73]

Quote from swtrader:

(Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their use of the word.

)

Well, I agree with you on this one. On standard ettiquite, (you can only make jokes/use words if you belong to the group), there are no situations where whites should use that word.

Whether blacks should use it is for blacks to decide, although a decent argument could be made for letting the word drop into obscurity

Hey, I just read your post and I'm thrilled that we finally agree completely on an issue!

 

[mjw73]

Quote from swtrader:

(Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their use of the word.

)

Well, I agree with you on this one. On standard ettiquite, (you can only make jokes/use words if you belong to the group), there are no situations where whites should use that word.

Whether blacks should use it is for blacks to decide, although a decent argument could be made for letting the word drop into obscurity

Hey swtrader, let's move forward on that point.
I'd like to ask you, (and feel free not to answer),

Name an argument, that the average white person could use, to support their argument that black men shouldn't marry white women.