I had a dream

[AlabamaPaul]

for those of us who have spent most of our lives fighting for social justice, against racism, this is an extraordinary day ... it reminds us of far we've come ... the bigots on this thread, who appropriate Rev. King to spout their racist garbage remind us of the work that still needs to be done ... but death will led a hand, because many of these bigots are old and their days are numbered and the young people who follow them will not carry in them the hate that these bigots will carry to their graves ... because of this I'm hopeful that things will continue to get better ... the response to conservatives' voter suppression campaigns will give new life to the anti-racism forces in this country, just as Bull Connor unwittingly contributed enormously to the civil rights victories won by protestors in the 50s and 60s ...

to my fellow progressives, ignore the bigots, and especially the ones who shamelessly invoke MLK's name to spread their hate ... enjoy the day, celebrate it and tomorrow continue the work that needs to be done ...

I liked it better when you identified as a Socialist in your other life here. Your purpose in life is to find racism, prejudice, discrimination, etc... in every post you might disagree with whether present or not...

 

[Arbo]

So you are disputing that Trayvon Martin was armed or that police dispatch advised Zimmerman not to follow/ pursue him?

There is a whole section of the forum just for the discussion of this case, for those still stuck on it because the FACTS do not line up with their fantastical beliefs. And you are 100% off the mark. As I said, nothing will penetrate.

 

[Josie]

Not in my opinion no. How would you know such a thing? Because it's not happening? You assume that if they wanted it it would be happening?

I assume if they wanted it bad enough, the stats would be different.

I want to be rich and work my ass off to accomplish it but it hasn't happened yet. Does that mean I am not willing?

Not necessarily.

If more people (no matter their race) wanted to break the cycle of poverty, they could. How, you ask?

1. Study your ass off and do well in school.
2. Don't hang out with the wrong crowd.
3. Don't get into drugs or drink alcohol excessively.
4. Listen, observe and take note of people who are successful - act like them.
5. If you must take government assistance to survive, do it. But always feel uncomfortable about it. Know that you need to work like a dog to get off of it.
6. Save money....every single month....even if it's just $10.
7. Pay off your debts as quickly as you can. Think of them before luxuries.
8. When you get a job (ANY job) don't goof off --- even if it's cleaning tables, make them spotless. Someone will notice.

I could add more, but I want to watch the ballgame instead.

 

[sawyerloggingon]

Because there aren't enough of them willing to break the cycle.

That sounds kind of racist.

 

[AlabamaPaul]

That sounds kind of racist.

To many, it will be considered as such...

 

[Josie]

That sounds kind of racist.

Except it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with complacency.

 

[Starbuck]

1. It is a soft construct at that. Cold blooded murder is pretty immoral across most cultures around the globe. And if it isn't, then I can say with pretty high certainty that that isn't a society that is exactly thriving either.

2. So racial stereotypes are a myth, but when they fulfill that stereotype by shooting people in the streets its the fault of the stereotype? "Man I'm really tired of people looking at me like I'm a murderer so I'm just going to go out and murder someone today." Yeah. Right.

Not to mention, black on black crime over scarce resources isn't exactly making those resources any less scarce. If anything, its making them much more scarce.

3. According to Zimmerman, TM hide behind a bush and attacked him. So there you go.

1. Aggreed, whole heartidly.
2. If you say something enough, and in such a pervasive manner, people will internalize it. Especially young and/ or impressionable people. Society tells some one that they are a bad person enough times, they'll start to believe it eventually.
   
   Even with all of the anti-discrimanitory policies and affirmative action laws in place, a person of hispanic or african descent is less likely to be hired than a caucasian of similar qualifications. Especially in private industry.
3. If someone was following me at night, while I was unarmed and on foot, I might hide and look for an opportunity to gain the upper hand. At my current age I might just as well stay hidden until he/ she leaves the area, but when I was in my late teens or early twenties. . . different story.

 

[Mathematician]

I liked it better when you identified as a Socialist in your other life here. Your purpose in life is to find racism, prejudice, discrimination, etc... in every post you might disagree with whether present or not...

That's opendebate's job.

 

[AlabamaPaul]

Except it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with complacency.

The "poor" in this country , whether black, white, asian or whatever, have been placed on the economic plantation where the only way to escape is through hard work and determination to succeed, but no one is telling them this little secret...

 

[AlabamaPaul]

That's opendebate's job.

May be birds of a feather...

 

[Starbuck]

I could add more, but I want to watch the ballgame instead.

Honestly, someone can do all of that and still get thrown in jail, because of societal perception. Hell, Trayvon Martin could've fit everyone one of your criteria and he'd still be just as dead.

Demonstratively: What is the worst thing that can happen if you leave your wallet/ purse at home when you leave for work in the morning?

 

[opendebate]

Lack of condoms.

Okay, now you are being snyde.

We have a very bad habit of blaming the poor for being poor and victims for being victims. Just because there are circumstances beyond a persons control that contribute to an inappropriate behavior and you chose to acknowledge those circumstances does not mean that the person is no longer responsible.

 

[AlabamaPaul]

Okay, now you are being snyde.

We have a very bad habit of blaming the poor for being poor and victims for being victims. Just because there are circumstances beyond a persons control that contribute to an inappropriate behavior and you chose to acknowledge those circumstances does not mean that the person is no longer responsible.

In a free society, there are no victims, only those who choose not to see opportunity...

 

[opendebate]

It appears you do not take responsibility for what you write.

To you and those who try to cram their misguided interpretations of my words down my throat.

 

[sawyerloggingon]

Except it has nothing to do with race and everything to do with complacency.

When you are talking about a specific race and you say "them" it sounds racist, especially coming from miss Lilly white. Just sayin.

 

[windowdressing]

I liked it better when you identified as a Socialist in your other life here. Your purpose in life is to find racism, prejudice, discrimination, etc... in every post you might disagree with whether present or not...

actually my purpose in life is to take care of my family and to fight for social justice, whether it's economic or racial justice ... it's not hard to find racism on these threads Paul ... it seems that way to you because you're blind to it, you can't see it, and you don't have to worry about it ... it's a privilege you have, and it must be nice ... I can only imagine it, because I never had it ... but I can imagine it because I've had male privilege, and in some measure, class privilege (as an adult, but remember what it was like not to have it growing up) ... I could ignore poverty or downplay it or blame the poor or the victim, as you do with race and racism, but I choose not to and I've worked hard to improve the lives of those less fortunate and I've worked with many organizations to bring change about at the societal level ...

 

[opendebate]

The gov't social "safety net" programs now offer mom and the kid(s) far more than the typical urban black male (UBM) can. This makes these UBMs useless (thus also giving them a "bad attitude" feeling unwanted/unfit as family providers) "freeing them up" for other activities.

I believe that that is a part of it yes. All humans "act out" in response to their environment. It is normal. You do two things in response you hold them accountable for making better choices and if they were provoked because of inequitable conditions you change the conditions.

 

[opendebate]

Because they're stupid and don't think about consequences before acting.

If you are trying to provoke me you can't. I don't take insults about others personally. Your efforts mostly serve as a very poor reflection on you.

 

[Mathematician]

Honestly, someone can do all of that and still get thrown in jail, because of societal perception. Hell, Trayvon Martin could've fit everyone one of your criteria and he'd still be just as dead.

BS, a reasonable and responsible kid would not have even ended up in an altercation.

 

[Starbuck]

The welfare system in this country needs a vast overhaul, I definitely agree that we hand out money in a semi-nonsensical way. I also agree that this system can labeled as a contributing factor in the current conditions.

However, the deep-rooted societal stereotypes are far more damaging.

 

[P. Kersey]

Actually, there are several myths in the OP:

1. That people of color (specifically of African descent in this case) lack a moral compass
2. That the problems in the OP can be fixed entirely within the 'community.'
3. That the 'white man' is free from responsibility in this case.

It's white people's fault that negroes have a 70% out of wedlock birth rate, fail/drop out of school at higher rate than any other demographic, have disproportionate rates of welfare, abandoned kids, AIDS, crime, and underperform on culturally unbiased tests of highly heritable cognitive abilities?

Absolving black people from their self-created dysfunction is a national past-time in America.

The motto, "Out of many, One" (e pluribus unum) should be replaced with this national motto: "black people will not be held accountable for their individual actions/behavior when white society can blamed for their anti-society pathologies."

I suppose you think lincoln freed the slaves or the war between the states was fought to free the slaves, right?

LMAO..Then you'll tell me about all the great african american inventors or somesuch nonsense, too.
You are very well indoctrinated, I have to say...

 

[opendebate]

I assume if they wanted it bad enough, the stats would be different.



Not necessarily.

If more people (no matter their race) wanted to break the cycle of poverty, they could. How, you ask?

1. Study your ass off and do well in school.
2. Don't hang out with the wrong crowd.
3. Don't get into drugs or drink alcohol excessively.
4. Listen, observe and take note of people who are successful - act like them.
5. If you must take government assistance to survive, do it. But always feel uncomfortable about it. Know that you need to work like a dog to get off of it.
6. Save money....every single month....even if it's just $10.
7. Pay off your debts as quickly as you can. Think of them before luxuries.
8. When you get a job (ANY job) don't goof off --- even if it's cleaning tables, make them spotless. Someone will notice.

I could add more, but I want to watch the ballgame instead.

If life were that simple we would all be rich and successful. A person's circumstances have a tremendous impact on their results and many decent people do not achieve financial success through no lack of effort or ethic on their part.

 

[opendebate]

In a free society, there are no victims, only those who choose not to see opportunity...

That is an antiquated myth.

 

[Arbo]

To you and those who try to cram their misguided interpretations of my words down my throat.

To anyone that see's what you write, then how you back away from what you had previously written.

 

[Mathematician]

If you are trying to provoke me you can't. I don't take insults about others personally. Your efforts mostly serve as a very poor reflection on you.

I'm not trying to provoke anything. I just tell it like it is.