Does Race Matter? - Page 5

tristanrobin · 08-03-2007, 12:24 PM

thanks for your personal insight, hkbajwa - I wasn't aware of all that

forester814 · 08-03-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadpole256

In fact, I'd be more likely to vote for him if he looked more like Denzel Washington... Obama's not a very good looking guy... LOL

Really? I think he is a very handsome man.
(And I don't say that lightly.)

But I'm willing to admit the possibility that his charisma and presence may be coloring my opinion of his looks.

PoliticalWardog · 08-03-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadpole256

I honestly think of the people on this board only a small minority would care about his race. I don't see how whether he is light or dark skinned even enters into it... In fact, I'd be more likely to vote for him if he looked more like Denzel Washington... Obama's not a very good looking guy... LOL

I also think you are taking some of the things said here entirely the wrong way... It seems as if you are trying to act as if there is some sort of victimization going on here...

On a side note, I know I asked this before, but I have to ask again, are you really a Paralegal? I just have trouble believing it because your diction is poor, it seems almost as if you were TRYING to sound urban... It doesn't come off well, seems forced. I don't think people really use the term 'brother' that much any more either...

I am only replying to what I see, and I think that there is a bunch
of racist amoung us, but they are pretending not to be, and I do
agree with the ones who is saying this thread is about race. THe
answer to your Paralegal question is yes I am, but what does that
have to do with my personal opinions and thoughts?

I am from the heart of Detroit (urban as you call it), and believe me
I am not trying to sound White if that's what you are trying to call
me. Well you are right Whites don't call us Brothers they call us
N****** (Is that what you want me to say)?

In closing as a Muslim we do use the term Brother IF that's okay
with you.

forester814 · 08-03-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tadpole256

I consider Obama's inexperience to be his best asset... He's not yet completely corrupted by the system. We need fresh thought.

Couldn't agree with you more, Tad.
I like him a lot, and if he is the nominee, no one will be happier than I.

But I just can't see him becoming our next president... only because there are just enough racist jerks out there to prevent it.

I do think that he would make a very good and electable VP though.

And that would allow him four (or better, eight) years to win the racists over... before he makes another run in 2012 (or 2016).

knot_e_lady · 08-03-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoliticalParalegal

I am from the heart of Detroit (urban as you call it), and believe me
I am not trying to sound White if that's what you are trying to call
me. Well you are right Whites don't call us Brothers they call us
N****** (Is that what you want me to say)?

Every 'white' you've ever met called you a N*****?

Wow, I find that very hard to believe. And if it's not true you are making racist statements again.

I am also from Detroit, but I worked hard to learn proper English.

PoliticalWardog · 08-03-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuttyjoe

The reason for my earlier post about Muslims is personal. I had a close friend named Mustafa who lived near me at the time of 9/11. Mustafa's life became a living hell, simply because he was Muslim. America became gripped by "Islamaphobia" in which anyone of Middle Eastern descent was labeled a"terrorist. Mustafa was receiving death threats almost daily, yet he was never charged with any crime. He finally told me he could not live in America if treatment such as this is what we consider "freedom". I never heard from him again, and regret to this day losing a nice friend due to religious ignorance of others.

My My My nuttyjoe thanks for sharing that piece with me, and where
ever Mustafa is now he's in my prayers. I also understand exactly how
he felt, and Joe not only is the Muslims in the Middle East is being
labeled as terrorist, but the ones who live here in Hell USA is catching
the same thing Mustafa went through, and I am just one of the many
who speaks out against Islamaphobia.

After fighting in the Viet Nam war my opinion of death has changed,
and its nothing that I am affaid of or scared to go. I do carry a side
arm with a permit, and I know how to use it IF needed to do so.
Thereforth Joe, We may not agree on alots of thing, but Knight and
you are two people that I have never met, and I do respect you to the utmost.

America will always cast that shadow of hate towards Islam
and Muslims by thinking that we are all a bunch of wild people.
Yet, As a born American I think that some of you all insane,
and have a odd way of solving issues.

Thanks again Joe.

forester814 · 08-03-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkbajwa

Since Musharraf took power, he has taken one step after another to neuter the religious fundos. His biggest step in this direction has been liberalizing the media. For the first time in Pakistani history, we have a media policy that allows the media outlets to monitor their own content.. the media is now more independent than was even thought possible.

This makes sense, given his notable appearance on The Daily Show late last year. I thought, here is a guy who understands the existence (and importance) of differing points of view.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkbajwa

HOWEVER, if the US unilaterally moves into pakistan against the government's wishes, the mullahs are going to be served the country on a platter.... WHATEVER direction it goes in, the US will be responsible for international chaos, for destroying yet another national infrastructure AND they will be responsible for giving AQ more recruits and plunging the nation into another era of fundo rule. It does not matter if you wipe out OBL & Co a thousand times over....What people don't seem to understand is that to people in this corner of the world AQ represents more than just the evil terrorist. It also represents a bastion of opposition to US hegemony. Many will support AQ for no other reason than opposition to the US. Now mind you opposition to the US is NOT equivalent to supporting Taliban style governance ( you really have to get past that black or white mentality )

Unfortunately, a good number of Americans are running scared. And with BushCo talking in slogans like "You are either with us or with the terrorists" to purposefully FEED that fear (and keep our thinking black and white), not trying to calm it, the effect is just like shouting "FIRE" in the proverbial theater. Panic.

We want to be safe, and in our panic, we (well, not all of us, but a LOT of us) will follow the directions of whoever speaks loudest, without stopping to question if the directions are actually going to help make us safe or not.

It's been a LONG time since I was proud to be an American, and a long time since I felt comfortable while abroad to socially mention being an American. Everywhere I travel outside the US, people make the assumption that we are all in favor of what our government is doing. And why shouldn't they? If we weren't in favor of it, we would have voted Bush out in 2004, right?

I'm sorry, this started out as a response, and has turned into a rant.

I'll just conclude here by saying to Pakistan in advance that, on behalf of a little less than half of America, I'm sorry for whatever happens next. I don't support it.

Hkbajwa, thank you for all of this background and information. Please, keep it coming. Your perspective is invaluable.

CrazyFlamingos · 08-03-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forester814

Couldn't agree with you more, Tad.
I like him a lot, and if he is the nominee, no one will be happier than I.

But I just can't see him becoming our next president... only because there are just enough racist jerks out there to prevent it.

I do think that he would make a very good and electable VP though.

And that would allow him four (or better, eight) years to win the racists over... before he makes another run in 2012 (or 2016).

I agree that he is probably not electable as a Presidential candidate. If it were not for that, he would be my choice of the Democratic candidates.

I may be cynical but I am afraid that he would also sour the chances of a Democratic win if he were the Vice-presidential candidate.

Maybe it is just because I live in Alabama. Not only is racism still rampant here but I cannot think of any Republican candidate bad enough to keep this state from being carried by the Republicans no matter who the Democrats nominate.

forester814 · 08-03-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyFlamingos

I agree that he is probably not electable as a Presidential candidate. If it were not for that, he would be my choice of the Democratic candidates.

I may be cynical but I am afraid that he would also sour the chances of a Democratic win if he were the Vice-presidential candidate.

Maybe it is just because I live in Alabama. Not only is racism still rampant here but I cannot think of any Republican candidate bad enough to keep this state from being carried by the Republicans no matter who the Democrats nominate.

CF, in your honest opinion as an Alabaman, will people ever be ready to accept a black person as president?

I ask because I have the sense that you are, even today in 2007, living around racism on a whole different scale than those of us in the north, even in the big cities.

CrazyFlamingos · 08-03-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forester814

CF, in your honest opinion as an Alabaman, will people ever be ready to accept a black person as president?

I ask because I have the sense that you are, even today in 2007, living around racism on a whole different scale than those of us in the north, even in the big cities.

Yes. But I do not believe it will be until a new generation of voters matures. I say this because more and more I see young racially mixed couples having children and raising those children in towns and communities that have until now been exclusively white.

As more and more whites in the South have relatives and neighbors and classmates who are Black/mixed, I believe attitudes will change drastically.

And, yes, I do believe that racism permeates the South more than most areas in the North. Never having lived anywhere else, I base my judgement on the lack of racism in other areas on what others tell me.

I do know that it is alive and well here. I have had numerous run-ins with racists myself due to the fact that I am not a racist and have always had Black friends. (And as of about 7 years ago, I have Black/mixed relatives.)

I didn't understand your comment on big cities. Are you asking if racism in Southern cities is worse than racism in Northern cities?

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