Now that the "mainstream media" has jumped all over context does this mean that thos claiming that Rand Paul favors repealing the Civil Rights act will be forthcoming with apologies?

Who accused Paul of that? I only remember hearing that he had some issues with certain parts of the legislation.

Who accused Paul of that? I only remember hearing that he had some issues with certain parts of the legislation.

 

He first said that he was not sure he would have voted for it, then he retracted his statement. Nobody edited a statement of his to make it looke different than it actually was.

Her first statement is hyperbolic. While she describes something that was prevalent in the South, especially among poor whites who feared equality would bring them to the bottom of the social ladder, directing that charge at Fox News is nonsensical in this case.

 

But she does touch on something that has been a hallmark of racism in this country since slavery - that is the ever present fear that black persons will gain privilege over white persons and that fear has been used as a justification for all sorts of nefarious acts and ideas. It’s what birthed the Ku Klux Klan following the Civil War. It’s been used to defend lynching. It was a rallying cry against tearing down Jim Crow in the 60s. Former Confederate and South Carolina governor Ben Tillman epitomizes this when he wrote:

 

I want to call the Senator's attention to one fact. He said that the Republican party gave the negroes the ballot in order to protect themselves against the indignities and wrongs that were attempted to be heaped upon them by the enactment of the black code. I say it was because the Republicans of that day, led by Thad Stevens, wanted to put white necks under black heels and to get revenge. There is a difference of opinion. You have your opinion about it, and I have mine, and we can never agree.[…] As to his "rights"--I will not discuss them now. We of the South have never recognized the right of the negro to govern white men, and we never will. We have never believed him to be equal to the white man, and we will not submit to his gratifying his lust on our wives and daughters without lynching him. I would to God the last one of them was in Africa and that none of them had ever been brought to our shores. But I will not pursue the subject further.

 

Now, in the modern day we have prominent Republican and conservative voices clamoring that “the president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race - on the side that favors the black person,” that “in Obama’s America the white kids get beat up with the black kids cheering,” that Obama “has exposed himself as a guy, over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture,” that “Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. is an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief.” Some of the hottest stories in the media today are the non-controversy controversy of the New Black Panther Party not being appropriately punished and the frenzied attempt to find evidence of a black racist to counter the NAACP’s resolution asking the Tea Party to distance themselves from racist elements. The latter story, of course, led to Andrew Breitbart’s doctored footage of Sherrod and the excited partisan promotion of it (as if evidence of racism on the part of members of one group made acceptable racism on the part of members of the other group or was somehow more sinister). The overarching theme to me is the continued fear of an illusioned black superiority, that white people are now the victims, that if racism exists it is emanated from minorities, that the late 1960s were simply “another time.” That is troubling to me.

 

I can’t say that our “national dialogue” on race and the tenor and partisan divide on these types of stories is anything but backwards. It’s a perpetual game of “gotchya” all the while any real issues involving race are utterly ignored, if we even admit they exist at all. I hesitate to even make this post knowing the wrath likely to be invoked.

Amen brother.

I just wish this issue would go away. Who cares?

Her first statement is hyperbolic. While she describes something that was prevalent in the South, especially among poor whites who feared equality would bring them to the bottom of the social ladder, directing that charge at Fox News is nonsensical in this case.

 

But she does touch on something that has been a hallmark of racism in this country since slavery - that is the ever present fear that black persons will gain privilege over white persons and that fear has been used as a justification for all sorts of nefarious acts and ideas. It’s what birthed the Ku Klux Klan following the Civil War. It’s been used to defend lynching. It was a rallying cry against tearing down Jim Crow in the 60s. Former Confederate and South Carolina governor Ben Tillman epitomizes this when he wrote:

 

 

 

Now, in the modern day we have prominent Republican and conservative voices clamoring that “the president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race - on the side that favors the black person,” that “in Obama’s America the white kids get beat up with the black kids cheering,” that Obama “has exposed himself as a guy, over and over again, who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture,” that “Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. is an Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist in chief.” Some of the hottest stories in the media today are the non-controversy controversy of the New Black Panther Party not being appropriately punished and the frenzied attempt to find evidence of a black racist to counter the NAACP’s resolution asking the Tea Party to distance themselves from racist elements. The latter story, of course, led to Andrew Breitbart’s doctored footage of Sherrod and the excited partisan promotion of it (as if evidence of racism on the part of members of one group made acceptable racism on the part of members of the other group or was somehow more sinister). The overarching theme to me is the continued fear of an illusioned black superiority, that white people are now the victims, that if racism exists it is emanated from minorities, that the late 1960s were simply “another time.” That is troubling to me.

 

I can’t say that our “national dialogue” on race and the tenor and partisan divide on these types of stories is anything but backwards. It’s a perpetual game of “gotchya” all the while any real issues involving race are utterly ignored, if we even admit they exist at all. I hesitate to even make this post knowing the wrath likely to be invoked.

And yet white people are the ones that elected Obama into office.

I appreciate the history lesson and all, but is she rushing to judgement that Fox News is racist? Is she, in a way, doing the same thing that was done to her?

And yet white people are the ones that elected Obama into office.

I appreciate the history lesson and all, but is she rushing to judgement that Fox News is racist? Is she, in a way, doing the same thing that was done to her?

 

What Maddow is saying is that there is a segment in politics and the media that believe that it is in their interest to fan the fears of those that believe that gains by minorities must come at the expense of whites. Whether those that push that position believe it is irrelevant. Fox pushes it for ratings. Limbaugh pushes it for ratings. Beck pushes it for ratings. The Republican party pushes it for votes. Are they racists? Who knows. Are they cynics? You betcha.

What Maddow is saying is that there is a segment in politics and the media that believe that it is in their interest to fan the fears of those that believe that gains by minorities must come at the expense of whites. Whether those that push that position believe it is irrelevant. Fox pushes it for ratings. Limbaugh pushes it for ratings. Beck pushes it for ratings. The Republican party pushes it for votes. Are they racists? Who knows. Are they cynics? You betcha.

I think you meant Sherrod.

First, thanks for responding.

I suppose she could be saying that, but then again she could be giving a one sided political view that's common on the left.

I have to ask, what about those on the left? Do they do these things in your opinion?

 

 

I'm rather perplexed as to why only Habib and Trinity alum has attempted to address my question. No one else has any view or opinion to share?

 

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/07/23/ac.shirley.sherrod.breitbart.cnn

 

I can understand her anger after having been treated unfairly with the video, but is she pushing a racial caricature of Breitbart? Is the video Breitbart released evidence to support her claims? Do you see this as justified criticism or culturally poisonous misjudgment?

I don’t think there is a flattering picture to be painted of Andrew Breitbart. Does he want to return to the times of slavery? That’s such an over-the-top assertion it damages her other points. But, from my angle I see it as such: His knee-jerk reaction to criticism of certain elements on his side of the spectrum was to dig until he found evidence of racism on the other side, and did so eagerly enough that the manipulated video burned him once the entire context was revealed. That is a cynical and hollow response. Yet, his broader argument was that this perceived racism against white people was typical, what one should expect with leaders like Obama in power, which, as I noted in my last post, is an argument that has a long history in this country. Saying, “hey, I’m not a racist, but if given the chance they’ll put ‘white necks under black heels’” puts you into some distinct and hateful company. At best, Breitbart has shown himself to be someone who deliberately stokes the flames of white victimhood to achieve his ends.

I think you meant Sherrod.

First, thanks for responding.

I suppose she could be saying that, but then again she could be giving a one sided political view that's common on the left.

I have to ask, what about those on the left? Do they do these things in your opinion?

 

 

I'm rather perplexed as to why only Habib and Trinity alum has attempted to address my question. No one else has any view or opinion to share?

 

I agree with Habib on the issue. I would say that Sherrod has some rough edges on the issues of racism, but what Breitbart has done is inexcusable. I was just watching Ann Coulter defending him on CNN. :lol:

I don’t think there is a flattering picture to be painted of Andrew Breitbart. Does he want to return to the times of slavery? That’s such an over-the-top assertion it damages her other points. But, from my angle I see it as such: His knee-jerk reaction to criticism of certain elements on his side of the spectrum was to dig until he found evidence of racism on the other side, and did so eagerly enough that the manipulated video burned him once the entire context was revealed. That is a cynical and hollow response. Yet, his broader argument was that this perceived racism against white people was typical, what one should expect with leaders like Obama in power, which, as I noted in my last post, is an argument that has a long history in this country. Saying, “hey, I’m not a racist, but if given the chance they’ll put ‘white necks under black heels’” puts you into some distinct and hateful company. At best, Breitbart has shown himself to be someone who deliberately stokes the flames of white victimhood to achieve his ends.

Fair enough viewpoint of Breibart, but what of Sherrod? Do you see her as one that has overcome racism, or do you see her as still struggling with it?

I agree with Habib on the issue. I would say that Sherrod has some rough edges on the issues of racism, but what Breitbart has done is inexcusable. I was just watching Ann Coulter defending him on CNN. :lol:

By rough edges are you saying she may not have entirely overcome her racist views?

This whole thing is starting to feel like a staged event. 25 year old video, out-of-context editing, quick firing without the fact, putting all the blame on Fox News, rehiring and now endless discussion on something that happened years ago. A lot of drama for nothing. But it keeps peoples minds off of oil spills, radical supreme court nominations, stagnant economy and dropping polls.

By rough edges are you saying she may not have entirely overcome her racist views?

 

I'd say that yes, she may still be in the process of finishing tearing down some racial stereotypes. Many of us are. I don't think that it makes her a racist or that she would act in a racist manner.