Ernie : At the risk of over-generalization, isn't it true that some non-white groups are far more open-minded and rational than others ? To be sure, at least half the US black population is as "white" as any Caucasian in terms basic values and so forth, that is, they are part of the give and take of "mainstream" society, and understand that being criticized now and then is simply part of life. As part German it has not escaped my attention that all sorts of nasty things are sometimes said about "Germans." But it isn't often that I take offense since the "Germans" being criticized ( for Nazi sympathies, for "typical" misogynist views, for authoritarian outlook, etc ) are exactly the same Germans whom I criticize as a matter of routine. My only objection would be if someone was to say that the "German characteristics" in question were somehow genetic. As a small % of people seem to believe, not least Woodrow Wilson in the WWI era. Or more recently, albeit maybe not too seriously, Molly Ivins. It isn't the color of someone's skin that matters the most, someone famous once said ( was it Pat Buchanan? ) but the thickness of their skin. OK, the analogy is far from perfect precisely because of some extent of racism in society, less than years ago but still real enough, but there is a segment of Black America which "has a chip on its shoulder," and who needs that ? Not necessarily the poor / lower class. From the sound of it Professor Gates is in this category. The point is all this is simply that we need a minimum of honesty if we are ever going to resolve the issue of race / ethnicity. If it is asking for trouble maybe the problem is with those who have a chip on their shoulder. Not just "chipster Blacks," but all sorts of people in various groups. Possibly even a German or two, or an Indian or two. I know, not very likely, but as an hypothetical ;-) Billy ------------------------------------------ In a message dated 8/11/2009 9:37:29 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Billy, On Aug 11, 2009, at 7:55 AM, [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) wrote: Drum's creepy bigotry becomes clear when other groups are substituted: "There are, needless to say, plenty of individual blacks who are wholly admirable. But taken as a whole, black culture is [redacted]. Barack Obama can pretty it up all he wants, but it's a [redacted]." Or maybe this: "There are, needless to say, plenty of individual Jews who are wholly admirable. But taken as a whole, Jewish culture is [redacted]. The late Irving Howe can pretty it up all he wants, but it's a [redacted]." Depends on the exact term being redacted, e.g.: There are, needless to say, plenty of individual blacks who are wholly admirable. But taken as a whole, black culture is "anti-intellectual and alienated from mainstream American achievement". Or maybe this: "There are, needless to say, plenty of individual Jews who are wholly admirable. But taken as a whole, Jewish culture is "driven by guilt and insecurity". But yeah, saying that about any non-white group is just asking for trouble... -- Ernie P. = _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/
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