I'm going to use my 2nd post to make this clear before this thread gets worst.
I knew some of you would think my attempt at humor was racist and insensitive. Let me make this clear: it was not meant to be racist or insensitive. Just because it's not straight up proper English, it's by no mean racist. I find street dialect rather interesting and I do use them in my conversations. Why does it make it racist? I also use broken English in my conversations because that's how my Asian mom speaks. Does that make me racist too? If you don't think this "type of incendiary language" should be used here, what do you recommend should be used here? There are these people I know don't speak very good English, but I've been trying to get them online to participate in discussions so they can make a difference int their community. So when they start using street English on here, would you ban them? I've been working since the early 90's to get people online. I've helped numerous people and organizations. I've also funded access to minority nonprofit groups. In my last private meeting with a member of E-democracy, I asked why there weren't better representations of minorities in these online civic forums. I try to find ways to make this happen. I encourage people I meet everyday to participate and make a difference. I can see why some would construde my previous post as insensitive and racist. Perhaps I hang around my homies too much and we've made fun of each other so often I can't see how insensitive I've become. I should stop talking like them, typing like them, eating with them, walking with them, and hanging with them. What's next? Ban rap music? Have certain formulas on how posts should be typed? The reason we don't have more minorities in these forums is in part my fault. I've not been 100% successful at recruiting them, but certainly not my street dialect. My homies laugh at me cause I don't know all the correct slangs or the right way of emphasing some slangs. But they laugh and have fun with it. They don't accuse me of being racist. But then again, they're a different shade than those who've been complaining about my post. Ironic. Thomas T. Thai Whittier P.S. If any person of color is offended by my previous post, feel free to email me privately. I'll be happy to meet with you so you can see how racist I am. For the rest of you, chill. <quote who="Jenkins, Andrea D"> > I bet your husband's polite request went something like, "Excuse me, > could you please turn down your radio?" Perhaps he could try, "Yo, s'up > man! Datz one phat siztemmm u got man. Yo, my kid iz chilling in da > crib, i'd appreziate if ya drop it down a dec. Yo thankz man." If that > doesn't work, maybe try, "Turn that mother [EMAIL PROTECTED]&@ radio down before I > wack your #*!&@ [EMAIL PROTECTED]@ [EMAIL PROTECTED]&^@ out of my 'hood." If you try > the last > option, make sure you are a fast runner and they don't know that's your > house behind your back. > > I can't believe the list manager is allowing this type of incendiary > language to be posted on this site. This is purely racist and > insensitive , and the primary reason African Americans, and other > Persons of Color rarely participate in this list. I'm totally > appalled!!! Andrea Jenkins > 8th Ward Policy Aide > City Council-Minneapolis > (612)673-2208 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas T. Thai (Mpls-Issues) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 5:03 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Gangs, Drugs and Patrols > > > <quote who="j c harmon"> >> The woman interviewed on television the other night, relative to the >> shooting of a toddler, had a nine-inch tattoo running up the side of >> her >> neck. MEN aren't the only gang members to worry about. Right after > > Just because someone has a 9" tattoo doesn't mean that person is a gang > member. As a side note, it's ironic for people who commit crime to have > visible tattoos -- it's one more identifiable mark. > >> moving into the lovely Cleveland neighborhood, the nice young black >> woman across the street told my husband to (quote), "get his white >> ass in the house before she put a 'cap' in his ass". The outburst >> being spurred by the fact that he had the NERVE to ask the nice young >> man picking her up if he wouldn't mind turning down his bass cannon >> and not honking his horn continuously to let her know he arrived) > > I bet your husband's polite request went something like, "Excuse me, > could you please turn down your radio?" Perhaps he could try, "Yo, s'up > man! Datz one phat siztemmm u got man. Yo, my kid iz chilling in da > crib, i'd appreziate if ya drop it down a dec. Yo thankz man." If that > doesn't work, maybe try, "Turn that mother [EMAIL PROTECTED]&@ radio down before I > wack your #*!&@ [EMAIL PROTECTED]@ [EMAIL PROTECTED]&^@ out of my 'hood." If you try > the last > option, make sure you are a fast runner and they don't know that's your > house behind your back. > > Why do these drivers need to honk in the first place. One can usually > hear them blocks away with their stereos. I think the problem in your > case and similar cases is that some people define the space around them > as their own. They can do as they wish with that space. Be it noise > pollution, actual pollution, in your face pollution, in your face > attitude, etc. If you have a problem with it, that's your problem, not > theirs. After all it's THEIR space. > > One of the biggest root of these problems is the lack of parental > guidance when these people were young. In so many ways it's not their > fault but that of their parents or guardians. We would hope that once > these people get into adulthood, they would figure it out on their own. > It's sad to say that this simple revelation isn't always acquired. > > Perhaps the best solution is patience. Better communication can be had > through small conversations that may lead to acquaintance. People listen > better when they "know" you. Otherwise some may take your gentle request > as "Who the [EMAIL PROTECTED]& are you to tell me what to do?" (ie. cap in his ass). > > Thomas T. Thai > Whittier > > P.S. Has anyone ever tried to ask a neighbor with a $20K Harley to turn > her/his muffler's bass down? > > > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - > change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) > > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > TEMPORARY REMINDER: > 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - > change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) > > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn > E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
