How in the world do we elect a Black president and race is still an issue? :deadhorse::ohbrother:

 

It's not like racism and people's discomfort w/re to talking about matters of race somehow disappeared in November.

 

Personally, I think the article is pretty spot-on.

Only a man living in "a race cocoon" could claim this country still lives "in a race cocoon." I would like to see if he actually walks the walk.

 

We have been talking about disparity in race for years, openly, privately, publicly, and otherwise. Its a constant topic in the school system. Its a constant topic on Comedy Central. Its a constant topic even at my church.

 

I simply can't fathom what more there is to talk about, and I consider myself to be a pretty intelligent person.

 

People congregate privately with other people who have similar backgrounds, tastes, and views. Its the way it is. It is why Serbs don't hang out with Croats, New Yorkers from Little Italy don't hang out with New Yorkers from the Irish Bronx, Jews congregate with other Jews in the Jewish community centers, Mormons center their lives around their wards, and there are First Baptist churches and Second Baptist churches.

 

The article said that I need to "feel comfortable saying the wrong things," so here it goes: I am not ever going to like rap music, I am not ever going to believe Kwanzaa should be a real holiday, I am not ever going to use the phrase "African-American," I don't think there should be laws granting preference to black people in anything (including college head football coaching positions), and I'm not ever going to support financial recompense for slavery. Similarly, I am willing to bet that most black people do not like Celtic music, do not heavily celebrate St. Patrick's Day, are not going to call me "Irish-American," do not believe I should be granted preference in athletic scholarships because I don't have the physical ability to compete with many black athletes at running back.

 

There are a few black members of my baptist church. We socialize with one another, because we have church in common. There are several black members of the Bardstown football team, and our families also socialize together, because we have football in common. Our community has a very nice "Buttermilk Days" celebration that is organized and conducted mostly by black people, and is attended by everybody, because they all have a love of great food and soul music in common. My dad had several servicemen in his Naval unit who were black, and those families all socialized, because they had the unit, the unit softball team, and an apparent love of beer, in common.

 

Mr. Holder, and President Obama, don't understand this. We socialize and talk with one another where we have common ground. However, you cannot force the common ground. People are different, and the quciker the Eric Holder's of the world get that through their thick skulls, the quicker we can stop pointing fingers and start enjoying Buttermilk Days with one another.

 

Well put, and I agree Bardstown is rather unique from my experience in other Ky towns. The problem with most Americans is they are unwilling to find the common ground you speak of, and maybe that's part of what he was trying to say.

Hearsay, I'll partially disagree with you. You mention instances of socializing. You didn't mention instances of discussing attitudes and perceptions regarding race. If so, I missed it. If not, I think that's what Mr. Holder is talking about. Your reason for not liking rap music may have nothing to do with why a black person does like rap music. You don't like the sound or lack of singing. He/she might like the message.

 

Hoopboy provides a perfect example of why we need to discuss race. He says "minorities get upset and start bellowing and crying...." If I were a black person, I'd love to have a conversation with him to see exactly what he's referring to and then to engage him in discussion. WE DON'T DO THAT. We hide behind "I've got (fill in a race other than your own) friends" and "I socialize with ....."

 

Its not the same.

Well put, and I agree Bardstown is rather unique from my experience in other Ky towns. The problem with most Americans is they are unwilling to find the common ground you speak of, and maybe that's part of what he was trying to say.

 

That's possible, but most of the time when we hear these things, as filtered by the media, it comes out like "let's talk about race differences," instead of "let's talk about things we both like."

Hearsay, I'll partially disagree with you. You mention instances of socializing. You didn't mention instances of discussing attitudes and perceptions regarding race. If so, I missed it. If not, I think that's what Mr. Holder is talking about. Your reason for not liking rap music may have nothing to do with why a black person does like rap music. You don't like the sound or lack of singing. He/she might like the message.

 

Hoopboy provides a perfect example of why we need to discuss race. He says "minorities get upset and start bellowing and crying...." If I were a black person, I'd love to have a conversation with him to see exactly what he's referring to and then to engage him in discussion. WE DON'T DO THAT. We hide behind "I've got (fill in a race other than your own) friends" and "I socialize with ....."

 

Its not the same.

 

Hearsay, I will agree with you. Hoopboys example is based on liberal news media hyping the race card at every turn.

 

Until we understand that everyone has racial tendencies or racist thoughts, it will never change. I taught my kids at a very young age that they did not have black friends, white friends, fat friends, skinny friends, they had FRIENDS.

 

Now while there are white people that are uncomfortable around some other ethnic background people, there are those non-whites that are uncomfortable when they are around mostly white places. Every american has racist tendencies.

 

Why do you have to be African - American? Indian - American? Asian - American? Mexican - American?

If you are a legal citized of the United States of America, then you are an AMERICAN. Nothing more, nothing less. If you have to lable yourself with some nationality along with american, then you have recsist thoughts. I have never understood that. I have been in trouble at schools for not putting something along with american on school paperwork for my kids. Here is my thought, they were born in the US. Theor parents were born in the US. Their Grandparents were born in the US. Therefore, they are AMERICANS ONLY. If you apply for citizenship and receive it, then you are now and American. If you are in this country illegaly, then you would be ILLEGAL.

 

Pretty simple stuff in my mind. I hang out with people that have my same interests and beliefs. I don't care what color they are.

 

The media are the COWARDS. Without racism, they lose ratings and viewership and readership. Bottomline.

 

:isurrender:

Hearsay, I'll partially disagree with you. You mention instances of socializing. You didn't mention instances of discussing attitudes and perceptions regarding race. If so, I missed it. If not, I think that's what Mr. Holder is talking about. Your reason for not liking rap music may have nothing to do with why a black person does like rap music. You don't like the sound or lack of singing. He/she might like the message.

 

Hoopboy provides a perfect example of why we need to discuss race. He says "minorities get upset and start bellowing and crying...." If I were a black person, I'd love to have a conversation with him to see exactly what he's referring to and then to engage him in discussion. WE DON'T DO THAT. We hide behind "I've got (fill in a race other than your own) friends" and "I socialize with ....."

 

Its not the same.

 

The bolded is all we ever discuss! The Bell Curve comes out and says that black people perform more poorly as a genetic marker. Discussed ad nauseum. Black comedian gets on TV and makes jokes about "white names." Discussed ad nauseum. Hearings held at the federal level regarding the difference in number of white versus black owned radio stations and why that is. Discussed ad nauseum. What more is there to possibly discussed? WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE ARE FLAT PLUM-TUCKERED OUT ABOUT TALKING ABOUT IT SO MUCH!

 

Clyde, you are intelligent. You know as well as I do that the media desires to run a controversy as long as it will possibly go, and the perception that there still is rampant racist controversy sells. Mr. Holder, who is not that intelligent, spits it back out. This is only an issue because it has now been placed in front of us, when in relaity the majority of Americans would rather move on to talking about social relationships than "race issues."

Well put, and I agree Bardstown is rather unique from my experience in other Ky towns. The problem with most Americans is they are unwilling to find the common ground you speak of, and maybe that's part of what he was trying to say.

 

That was painted with a fairly broad brush wouldn't you say?

Funny video:

 

http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=6c1dfee4-a345-4fe3-ada6-628a4fc5740b

And I'll qualify my remark by saying that I could agree with you if you mean Americans on BOTH sides of the race issue won't give any ground.

And I'll qualify my remark by saying that I could agree with you if you mean Americans on BOTH sides of the race issue won't give any ground.

 

:thumb: