Let's Play a Game

[Catz Part Deux]

Imagine: Protest, Insurgency and the Workings of White Privilege
By Tim Wise
April 20, 2010

Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure—the ones who are driving the action—we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins.

So let’s begin.

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters--the black protesters--spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government. Would these protesters--these black protesters with guns--be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that's what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation's capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country's political leaders if the need arose.

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Imagine that a black rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: "He's a piece of **** and I told him to suck on my machine gun." Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister--who also works for the organization--defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America's Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.

Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough--“living fossils” as he called them--“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.*

Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.

Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.

Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.

Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”

Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.

In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?

....

Just something to think about.

 

[rivrrat]

Yeah, I don't get it. But then again, I'm not a racist. So, I guess I don't see things the same way as those who view everything in terms of race.

 

[jallman]

Just something to think about.

Ummm, let's mix it up a bit.

Imagine if a group of white guys, part of the KKK, blatantly intimidated voters outside of a polling station. Now imagine that the white attorney general decided not to pursue the case.

Because that's essentially what happened during the 08 elections with the black panthers.

Imagine if a white PotUS was known to attend a church where the prevalent message was how horrible blacks are and how they were responsible for AIDS, crack, and pretty much every bad thing on earth.

Because that's essentially what was uncovered about Obama.

Imagine if a natural disaster struck the country and rappers got on TV and said that people died because the president doesn't like black folks.

Oh wait...that did happen.

I guess you see my point: it's not like the climate today appeared over night. Precedent was set long before the Tea Party.

 

[Renae]

Just something to think about.

What an absolutely enlightening piece of fantasy.

Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters--the black protesters--spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government.

i don't recall AK's there, AR15's, other semi-auto weapons yes, but full on AK's? Nope. Maybe one or two rich collectors making a point... So Fantastic lies!

How about the lie of "Armed Revolution"? I hang with the SA Tea Party, we're gun toting mofo's. No one talks about "Armed Revolution" More fantastical scare mongering! Imagine this told without the lies?

Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.

Too bad the REAL event this silliness was based on wasn't violent, potentially violent and no one spit on anybody. Imagine this without the lies...

Imagine that a black rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: "He's a piece of **** and I told him to suck on my machine gun." Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.

Ted's n entertainer that tends toward... extreme commentary. It's the NUGE MAN!

Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister--who also works for the organization--defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America's Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.

We don't have to imagine it, just check out Obama's Czars and confidants...

Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough--“living fossils” as he called them--“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.*

Ahh the tried and true left wing stupidity of taking a part of something Rush said, no context and spinning it to say something Rush wasn't trying to say. Only MediaMatters subscribes buy into this tripe anymore.

Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.

OH GNOES! A whitey made a an over the top comment that few if any Tea Party members would agree with! BAN THEM ALL!!! :roll:

Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.

Welcome to the "Savage Nation".

Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.

Imagine if Ann wasn't a Satirist... this might maybe be almost a point!

Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”

Imagine if a popular female governor was selected as VP and her entire family was dragged through the mud, with ... oh wait, we've seen that.

Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.

When where? What 2 signs out of 10,000? OH GNOES BAN THEM!!!

In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?

Imagine it's President Bush 2006 and there are left wing protestors... oh wait, we've SEEN THAT TOO!

 

[DarkWizard12]

Just something to think about.

depends, Are these people conservative?

Then what's to think about? Please catz, pleasse tell me exactly what you want us to think about...

 

[DarkWizard12]

What an absolutely enlightening piece of fantasy.

This might have passed the BS detector if it wasn't for the first line: "Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit."

Seriously? I expected better from the OP. Why is this guy, this journavist, Tim Wise, even being given a microphone? This isn't about imagination, this about reality. If this is about imagination, then I can make up anything and twist everything to mean anything I want just to show you how much of an idiot you are.

I guess we know what the MSNBC staff does...

 

[Ockham]

This might have passed the BS detector if it wasn't for the first line: "Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit."

Seriously? I expected better from the OP. Why is this guy, this journavist, Tim Wise, even being given a microphone? This isn't about imagination, this about reality. If this is about imagination, then I can make up anything and twist everything to mean anything I want just to show you how much of an idiot you are.

I guess we know what the MSNBC staff does...

You mean when they don't have their heads up the Obama Administration ass kissing it?

 

[DarkWizard12]

You mean when they don't have their heads up the Obama Administration ass kissing it?

Yup, all too often.

 

[keymanjim]

Imagine if you posted a moral equivalency thread to an internet forum. Then, the very same people you sought to defame and embarrass took your argument and slapped you in the face with it.

 

[Cold Highway]

A couple of things;

1. Yes I can see the role reversal

2. Pat Buchanan is a bigot this is nothing new. His anti-semtic and racist rhetoric date back to his Nixon days. The reason this cold war relic has been able to remain relevant is because of illegal immigration its been his issue since his failed presidential bids.

3. People hate each other, get over it.

4. If your concerned about violence, get a gun yourself. The 2nd Amendment applies to everyone last time I checked.