en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/769191 Comments by CNange https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69793319 First off, this is a great letter written by someone without a high school diploma. This mans gives a glimpse into the humanity of inmates that not a lot of people get to see. But I kind of wish the letter was a little longer and explored other areas of a “lifer’s” philosophy and thinking. Its great that even the hardest human beings often show compassion and sympathy, but it’s not a huge revelation if you think about it. As he said, the prison is their entire world, so life for everyone in there would be pretty miserable if everyone acted like a jerk all the time. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:18:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69793319 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69790492 You’re not racist as far as I can tell, unless you directly think it they cannot make a difference because these people are inherently inferior to you. There is a difference between racism and truth. Depending on the country you were in, you are right. There is a much better chance you will be able to make a difference in the world than they will. But that isn’t because you are white. You probably also have more of a chance to change the world than white people in Appalachia. It’s a matter of opportunities rather than race. Color has nothing to do with it, unless you think it does. Then you’re racist. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:07:07 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69790492 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/creating-terrorists__trashed/#IDComment69037718 Alright hold on a second. Avenging the lives of your father/mother/wife/child is one thing. I’ve thought about how I would react to the murders of my loved ones in a military or criminal act, and my imagination paints me as a vigilante using stealth and finesse to exact revenge solely on those responsible, ideally while wearing a cool mask. Basically turning into Batman. I would not strap a bomb on my chest and go into a subway full of innocents. It’s pretty hypocritical—murdering people’s spouses and children because someone else… murdered your spouse and children? Mindless killing of people who simply share the same nationality as your true enemies doesn’t make sense. America characterizes its “vigilante heroes” completely differently than the portrayals of modern day terrorists. In fact, most of the time there is a foil to the hero, a character who does use fear and dirty tactics to exact their revenge. He usually is, or ultimately becomes, a bad guy. On the other side of the coin, lets pretend America gets invaded by, oh say the Russians (been playing cod4). Straight up invaded, as in bombed into submission and then your neighborhood is occupied. Between the bombings and the occupation, your parents and one of your siblings is killed. What would you and your surviving sibling do? I doubt many of you would sit on your hands and wait for things to get better. You would do something, anything, to get even and possibly scare the Russians out of occupation. And if your neighbor was in the same boat, and he knew how to make a bomb, wouldn’t you want to plant that on the road and hope an enemy humvee runs over it? This is also a clear example of how history is written by the victors. Hypothetically, if the terrorists “win”, you can bet that all of the martyrs and suicide bombers throughout the war would go down in history as heroes of war, and saviors of the nations. I have a friend from England who calls (half-jokingly) the Boston Tea Party a terrorist attack. But in reality, wasn’t it? But we are taught from an early age that the Boston Tea Party was a fantastic display of independence and displeasure with the British. Meanwhile, things like the Whiskey Rebellion and the secession of the South are looked on as negative things. Why? Because we won. Had we lost, it would be a different story. They wouldn’t be insurrectionists but heroes. It’s a weird, thin line that just goes to show you really need to look at an issue from all sides before you decide who is wrong and who is right. Its not always as clear as you think. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:21:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/creating-terrorists__trashed/#IDComment69037718 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment67776142 Dude, there have always been sick people in the world, and people are no sicker than they were 20 or 2,000 years ago. This is just a modernization of the depravity that has always been around. One of the first games released was a game where you played as General Custer raping a Native American woman tied to a pole. Its messed up, but bringing media attention to it like this does no one any favors. It only legitimizes the work of some messed up game developer, who probably wanted the controversy anyway. Do you think he really didn’t expect any? From what I’ve heard this game has been around for a few years, and CNN recently just caught wind of it and wanted to create a “breaking” story out of old news. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:39:47 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment67776142 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/want-to-learn-chinese__trashed/#IDComment67775471 I think this makes perfect sense. If you think about it, German and French are useless unless you’re in one of those respective countries (save a few small nations in Eastern Europe or Africa). I took about 7 years of French, can’t speak it now to save my life, and wish I had taken something applicable to business or travel such as Spanish or Chinese. Kids in other countries learn English from the get-go, Americans need to get over themselves and do the same with Chinese and Spanish. It would do wonders for international relations and globalization, a fair trade off for not being the “official” language of world business anymore. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:33:47 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/want-to-learn-chinese__trashed/#IDComment67775471 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65594853 Why does someone need to “win” at all? I don’t think its about winning, or possible to win even if you tried. I agree with Sam when he said something along the lines of, there often is no real answer. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important to ask the questions. Think about it—if race relations in general had a solution, why haven’t we used it yet? Why are there still all of the issues and tensions among racial groups in the United States, much less the entire world? I think the best we can do is work for a push, because it is impossible to win without someone else losing, and that defeats the point of meaningful race relations. As for the LL Bean catalog, if you truly don’t think it was funny you have to admit it’s at least odd to see the people of color in the catalog. It’s like seeing a white dude doing stand up on BET. It wasn’t a bad thing, but just a little out of place, and that’s what makes it funny. I’m split with my opinion on Jesse Jackson. I agree with the video blogger on some aspects. I think Jesse Jackson should not be excluded from the Humanitarian stage just because he helps out people of color more than white people. Sam, you say that Humitarians follow any path they are called to. How do you know Jesse Jackson’s call isn’t to his people? To say that he is a Pseudo-Communitarian ignores the fact he went to Appalachia and dwells on his return to help inner city people of color. So, if he was white and did that he would be a Humanitarian? How come it absolutely HAS to cross racial lines, even if people of your race are the ones that need help the most? I’m tempted to say that perhaps some the people who simply cross racial lines in their humanitarian efforts, do so just so they can say, “I’m a Humanitarian.” Race shouldn’t be an issue at all as long as you are helping those that need it. And it is understandable to help your own people first since you lived through it and you know what their needs and drives are. It makes it that much easier to help since you were perhaps at some point in their shoes. If a bunch of white Americans fly over to Ethopia to help out, but know only what they learned in a textbook about the country and its people, that’s not as effective as a person from Ethiopia coming back and truly making a difference using his or her experiences to have a better idea of how he or she can help. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:37:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65594853 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment65557029 I’m not completely sure this is as big a deal as many people think. At least not right now, anyway. There are a few countries I can think of where the minority is in power (South Africa comes to mind). What will make a difference is when Congress is representative of the fact that people of color are the majority. When the actual power shifts, rather than just the numbers, that’s when I feel a large societal change will be upon us. Fortunately with a democracy, the shift in population is a good first step in the direction of social equality. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 14:18:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment65557029 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64242941 Ok, so there may not be anything wrong about talking about periods, but lets face facts—it makes people uncomfortable. What if I talked about my moms bowel movements? That’s also natural like being hungry and sweating, but also not polite conversation, just like periods. I don’t talk about getting erections, the consistency of my feces, or what my pee smells like either, and I would not expect a girl to talk about her periods. Its just not something you bring up except to a doctor or a close friend. And even then, make sure that person really is a close friend or things will be awkward. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:08:15 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64242941 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/native-hawaiians-ever-think-of-them__trashed/#IDComment64241636 I find it hard to believe why this issue was never addressed until now. It just doesn’t make sense. Why would native Hawaiians not get their own government just like every other Native American in the continental states? When the US government was going through all of the tribes and granting them certain rights, did they just pass over the Hawaiians? Or was there some kind of deeper prejudice since they were located a couple hundred miles out at sea? Either way it’s about time. I don’t have a lot of strong feelings toward government policy most of the time, but the blatant disregard for the people that were here first is one thing that irks me the most. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:57:21 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/native-hawaiians-ever-think-of-them__trashed/#IDComment64241636 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-this-just-a-few-bad-apples__trashed/#IDComment63871170 This story, along with the rest of the Tea Party chronicles that have been reported since its inception, are almost too ridiculous and outright scary to be true. It honestly makes me wonder if this is really happening in America. Since when is such a large portion of our population so intent on hate and fear mongering? And encouraging violence against elected officials? Seriously? You lose an election or two, so obviously you have to kill the guy that won. That doesn’t sound like a democracy to me. The funny thing to me is that through all of their protests and actions, the Tea Party is becoming less American and what they fear the most. They claim to care about their country, but then shit on its principles and ideals with angry slurs and violence. Since when is protecting the people, and looking out for the people automatically socialism? Does caring about millions of uninsured Americans make me a Communist? I understand that these Tea Party supporters believe that social justice is equivalent to socialism. But having written a good number of papers bashing social justice in favor of unadulterated capitalism (for the purpose of playing devil’s advocate against my own beliefs), I can tell you that looking out for your people does not make you China. In fact, it makes you the opposite of China. What human rights does China have? They have minimal labor, environmental, and welfare regulations. Yet every time our government wants to overhaul our own regulations in the best interest of Americans, the “true conservatives” flip out and scream red. This “progressivism” that the Glenn Beck-ites fear and hate with all of their being is not making America become Nazi Germany or the USSR. It is making the United States a government that has not yet been seen, a system where the best and brightest still can succeed without constraints, and the government is looking out for those who perhaps lack the power and influence to be heard. The Tea Party can yell about America going down the drain, but if they truly want a system with a completely hands-off government, and where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, they should pick another country. Unfortunately the majority of the Tea Partiers are not the upper echelon of society. They are ignorant and fearful people who are far too susceptible to what Fox News pundits tell them to think. I’m not a mindless drone- I understand that the government is not always right, and there may come a time when a small minority truly understands the greater good at stake, and goes to great lengths to protect the rights of many. But I can assure you they are not be the people yelling “nigger” and “faggot” outside of Congress. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:29:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-this-just-a-few-bad-apples__trashed/#IDComment63871170 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-happens-to-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment62988868 I think it goes back to what Sam said about how your race is whatever you want it to be. If you are of mixed race, I think you pretty much get to associate or respond to whatever race you feel like. I have a friend who is half black half white, and he chooses to be “black.” I feel like he could just as easily call himself white if he wanted to, but he doesn’t. People of mixed races not only get to pick a color to identify with, but they also get to call themselves mixed race too. Its an interesting position to be in. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:13:45 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-happens-to-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment62988868 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62987903 I have a couple thoughts on the question at hand. First, I agree with Sam that white guilt is a real thing, and if you don’t feel any feelings of remorse or guilt whatsoever, I would be tempted to call you a liar or say you were not quite “getting it.” Guilt does not have to go hand in hand with responsibility. I take no responsibility for the crimes against black and brown people throughout history, but I do feel guilty that any advantages I have today may be an indirect result of those crimes, and others are worse off for it. If you don’t feel guilty about that, you should at the very least recognize it and respect it. On the topic of rewriting history, I think it treads a dangerous line. It is a slippery slope toward simply changing history to the whims of those in power, and is a signature of fascist governments. If we were to simply change the history books to get rid of all white guilt, I feel like that wouldn’t be any better than Nazi book burning. The issue is big in Texas right now, where right-wing fundamentalists are rewriting textbooks to just make information completely disappear that they may not agree with. I think this is what the woman in the question was asking about, although Sam’s interpretation of the question is pretty different. Sam interpreted the question as what if we addressed white guilt in history books, therefore “legitimizing” it in a way by teaching it in the classroom. I also take issue with this, because I think white guilt is something that cannot be taught, and people must come to terms with it on their own. I’m not sure how young we would start teaching it, but I think a bunch of third-graders crying over racial injustices wouldn’t go over too well. It would be different if there was an elective race relations class, but the universal textbooks should not impose white guilt on developing minds just so the point gets across. White guilt is a sensitive, if not taboo, subject for many, and forcing it on the curriculum would probably harbor more resentment that it would help. In the end, I will probably always argue against modifying history books radically. If anything, the people that wrote them were closer to the truth than those revising because they were around before us. I understand that it happens, and those who win the war shape history, so I think it is important to conserve as much of it as we can while we still have a choice in the matter. When books are changed, you are effectively completely changing the past. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:06:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62987903 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62820166 The school’s decision may seem like a ridiculous attempt to discriminate against homosexuals, and at first read-through I was tempted to jump on the school district and blame them for all things homophobic and outdated. But I wonder now that maybe the school did in fact have the best interests of the school in mind. Think about it—this isn’t New York or California we’re talking about. This is good ol’ boy Mississippi, where I would be greatly concerned for the mental and physical health of a homosexual couple at or after a public dance. Maybe this county of Mississippi isn’t quite ready for a lesbian couple, and as much as we’d like to berate them for their decision, we should believe the school district knows better than we do what to do in the situation since they in fact live there. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:04:43 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62820166 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment59393098 I feel that these comments reflect a larger issue than simply speaking up for a woman at a bakery. Americans in general are not comfortable stepping out of their comfort zones around strangers, even if its for what they know is right. There are so many examples of this in action, the most drastic of which is the story of the Kitty Genovese in 1964 who was attacked outside her New York home and no one did anything to help her or call 911, even though there were 13 eyewitnesses. The problem stems further than racism, but is important for human compassion as a whole. Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:21:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment59393098 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59380387 Yikes. Honestly, Moose’s points are absolutely racist, although perhaps his intentions are not. OK, maybe there is a demand for slower paced, non-exciting basketball. I think its absurd, but lets run with it. I think Moose could avoid the race issue and possibly fill that niche, if and only if he took race out of the argument. If I were tasked with fundamentally changing the sport of basketball, barring all nonwhites is not the argument I would have come up with. Maybe changing the rules? Take out dunking, ban jumping unless shooting, tighten up traveling, and boom, there you have it. Boring, slow basketball for white and black people. Tue, 2 Mar 2010 16:48:59 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59380387 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59376364 Full disclosure- I am white, and I have been to a “gangster” themed party. However, I think you are generalizing by saying that “most” theme parties are held by white people and “most” are themed by stereotyping black culture. “Most” parties in general at PSU are held by white people because they are the majority. And maybe it’s the crowd that I associate with, but I have ever only heard/attended one party with this theme compared to the incredible amount of other themes I have experienced. One could also argue that golf hos/tennis pros theme makes fun of white country club culture or is degrading to women. I guess what I’m trying to say is that no culture or subgroup is really safe from satire. It may be insensitive and rub some people the wrong way, but there really has to be a line between political correctness and simple fun. I feel like I have to clarify—the party I attended and know about was gangster themed. It called for extra large basketball jerseys, low, loose pants, big hats with a straight brim, and champagne and forties. So for the remainder of this post, keep in mind this is my only reference point. The gangster theme party did not satirize a particular race as it did a culture and lifestyle glorified by rappers and hip-hop artists, white and black alike. If black people were holding these parties (and I’m sure somewhere they do) would it be as big of a deal? Does that mean that black people can’t hold Mafioso themed parties where Italian crime culture is stereotyped? The reason I care about this subject is I do not want American life to become a watered down, offend-nobody, politically correct culture. It is an incredibly slippery slope toward unconstitutional censorship or at least a world of very stuffy, uncomfortable interactions of people of different cultures. Haven’t we talked about how one of the biggest problems in race relations is that white people often don’t know how to approach the subject? And how we are too scared to offend so we often don’t say anything? If all types of satire and humor are off limits too, how can we be expected to accomplish anything? My final point to this scatterbrained post is that if a party is deemed offensive and therefore taboo to have, where does it stop? When do we reach that point that any theme party is offensive to someone and therefore wrong? The whole idea behind these stupid parties is to have fun and look like a goofball. And trust me, looking at the pictures from it I think white and black people alike would agree we looked ridiculous. Tue, 2 Mar 2010 16:12:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59376364 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58569011 I have mixed feelings about this. I think we should all be concerned or at least aware of the fact that simply by living in America you condone the Native American genocide, since you are taking advantage of its occurrence. However, you should not feel guilty per se. You’re right, you didn’t directly do anything to affect the Native Americans. But let me put it this way—Bob murders Steve in Steve’s own house through a violent home invasion after Steve wouldn’t let Bob come in and rob the place. Afterward, Bob rents out the house. Would you feel bad renting a room in that house? Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:47:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58569011 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58567110 I think the biggest thing I think stops people from feeling any particular way about some of the heavy things we learn about in class is that people are distancing themselves whether they are aware of it or not. We’ve gone over some troubling information, and for some reason or another a lot of people choose not to care. I think they imagine that these problems are too far removed form them or that they might not even exist. I sometimes catch myself doing this, and occasionally have to remind myself that these issues do in fact affect me and my life, directly or indirectly, and whether I like it or not. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:29:20 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58567110 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58562290 On a small scale, the changes can be made by individuals such as parents or teachers who actively care about having their children understand Native Americans, their history, and awareness of the stereotypes associated with them. For this to happen, obviously the individuals need to become aware of the problem with portrayal and the biases of history of Native Americans. This can be done by other teachers and parents, just like we are learning from Sam Richards. Ideally, the knowledge will spread like a network and over the years, some of our attitudes toward Native Americans can be “unlearned” as a society. Unfortunately this would take some time, and interpretation of history and stereotypes is in the hands of individuals, and lacks any sort of standard. There is also no guarantee any of this information will stick in the minds of the public and no progress will ever be made. I think for the system to change as a whole, we have to go the route of Sam Richards. It will first take government recognition of the “genocide” that destroyed the lives and cultures of so many people. I use quotes for genocide because some may call it that, but I would argue that genocide implies intention. I believe the deaths of so many were merely a highly unfortunate and regrettable side affect of colonization and Manifest Destiny, compared the Holocaust, which was systematic and very intentional. That aside, once the government owns up to its actions (and not a lukewarm apology that takes no real responsibility like in 2000), perhaps we can see an education act that requires the uncensored version of Native American history to be taught alongside the history of European colonization and Manifest Destiny. This will set a standard for the education system and make sure everyone is learning the same thing, and will also be effective immediately. There will be no waiting around for people to get wise, and leaves no room for interpretation. However there will inevitably be an enormous debate regarding what is important enough to include and exclude, effectively shaping history exactly the government wants it to be seen. Regardless, it will be a step in the right direction compared to the watered-down, bullshit version taught in most schools. After the education changes, then we can make steps to change stereotypes such as Native American sports mascots and cartoons that are offensive to those people. Unfortunately I don’t see either of these options ever happening or taking root in the minds of the public. The stereotypes and misconceptions run far too deep to change now, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. A real admittance and penance from the government would be a damn good start though. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:46:50 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58562290 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment57675367 This is the biggest problem I have with governments not recognizing gay marriages. Here you have a family that in every other way is identical to every other family in the world, but because the parents are the same sex, they can be torn apart at a moments notice. They love each other and their children just as much as a heterosexual couple, but since they have matching equipment it is not considered legal when it comes to issues such as immigration. Just like Prof. Richards, I believe this kind of hypocrisy is totally ridiculous. It should not even be an issue. Why makes one family a family and another not? Where does it say that parents have to be heterosexual to “count”? Unfortunately deportation is only one of many problems that gay marriage families can face. Issues like inheritances, insurance policies, and things like hospital visitation rights can all be muddled if a couple is not officially “married” in the eyes of the church and state. They could have been living together for years, and as in this case even raised children together, and not be granted rights like those of heterosexual couples. It almost seems like an issue that we as a society should have sorted out by now, an outdated argument and way of thinking that America should have dealt with and now be thought of as archaic. Listen, if the church doesn’t want to recognize gay marriages, that’s fine. Religion has the right to be exclusive and make their own rules depending on their beliefs. But government does not have that option. We separated church and state for that very reason, but apparently a lot of people didn’t get the memo. The government should recognize gay marriages so these kinds of problems do not happen anymore. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:16:00 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment57675367