Don't use your race as an excuse!!!

[BrassFusion]

"Give me a handout because I'm black,"

OR

"Give me a job because I'm part of an underrepresented minority group."

Am I supposed to agree with either of these?

[phee]

"Give me a handout because I'm black,"

OR

"Give me a job because I'm part of an underrepresented minority group."

Am I supposed to agree with either of these?

Not in those words... but yes, I have heard that

[torn asunder]

now that i think about it, i just read an article recently (not sure if i can find the link again) that had to do with reparations for "african-americans"... if that's not asking for a hand-out, i don't know what is...

ok, found a couple links...

here...

here...

and here...

Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

[Paper Hearts]

Black people for reparations are not people who are simply saying give me something because I'm black, though. Those are people who feel like slavery built a large portion of this country and that their ancestors were never compensated for it. And they'd have a valid point. I don't think so many of the pro reparations people are very sincere about it though, i think they're just using it to draw attention to the struggle of their people more than anything...and it has been a struggle for them and reparations makes a great illustration of that. Do they want money? hell yes. Can they possibly think this government is going to give it to them? I wouldn't think so. I honetly wouldn't think so. So that's not what I hear when I hear a black person talk about reparations...and of the few I've heard talk about it, they've all been on television. I don't actually know anyone like that. But I do hear a lot of white people acting like they couldn't get the job of their dreams or something because of black people. I hear a lot of it. I have news for these people, you didn't get the job you wanted because you didn't apply yourself in school hard enough or have fucked up your whole life. Black people are a very small percent of the population and they are not holding you back. I'm not saying some black people aren't racist but how is it so hard to imagine that being black in America can be difficult when all the white people you know think of them as lazy free-loaders?

[phee]

when all the white people you know think of them as lazy free-loaders?

That's kind of a generalization don't you think?

[BrassFusion]

Black people for reparations are not people who are simply saying give me something because I'm black, though. Those are people who feel like slavery built a large portion of this country and that their ancestors were never compensated for it. And they'd have a valid point. I don't think so many of the pro reparations people are very sincere about it though, i think they're just using it to draw attention to the struggle of their people more than anything...and it has been a struggle for them and reparations makes a great illustration of that. Do they want money? hell yes. Can they possibly think this government is going to give it to them? I wouldn't think so. I honetly wouldn't think so. So that's not what I hear when I hear a black person talk about reparations...and of the few I've heard talk about it, they've all been on television. I don't actually know anyone like that. But I do hear a lot of white people acting like they couldn't get the job of their dreams or something because of black people. I hear a lot of it. I have news for these people, you didn't get the job you wanted because you didn't apply yourself in school hard enough or have fucked up your whole life. Black people are a very small percent of the population and they are not holding you back. I'm not saying some black people aren't racist but how is it so hard to imagine that being black in America can be difficult when all the white people you know think of them as lazy free-loaders?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

whoa, jesus, stop right there... black people make up 10% of the population, at least, and that percentage is clearly a LOT HIGHER in metro detroit.

and when some companies base their hiring practices on filling a race quota, some white people ARE going to get screwed in the bargain. i know for sure that i've been denied jobs in favor of black people in the past few months, but there's no way for me to tell whether they were more qualified or experienced, so I can't make judgements on just those cases. What I do know is that some companies WOULD hire black people over me even if they were less qualified, and that would be racial prejudice, which is... well, wrong.

[Steven]

whoa, jesus, stop right there... black people make up 10% of the population, at least, and that percentage is clearly a LOT HIGHER in metro detroit.

and when some companies base their hiring practices on filling a race quota, some white people ARE going to get screwed in the bargain. i know for sure that i've been denied jobs in favor of black people in the past few months, but there's no way for me to tell whether they were more qualified or experienced, so I can't make judgements on just those cases. What I do know is that some companies WOULD hire black people over me even if they were less qualified, and that would be racial prejudice, which is... well, wrong.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

although I'm technically in agreement with this statement - the fact that one (or more than one) desires to align their personal predicament with having been possibly screwed over leads one to beleive that there is blame placing program within said person's psyche.

I can't get with that, even if I have been burned.

[BrassFusion]

although I'm technically in agreement with this statement - the fact that one (or more than one) desires to align their personal predicament with having been possibly screwed over leads one to beleive that there is blame placing program within said person's psyche. 

I can't get with that, even if I have been burned.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

not sure if you're talking about me... but i'll assert again that i'm not bitter; i don't think it's necessarily true that i've ever suffered as a result of my race.

but since I'm more or less optimistic about that, I expect the same out of members of other races

[Steven]

not sure if you're talking about me... but i'll assert again that i'm not bitter; i don't think it's necessarily true that i've ever suffered as a result of my race.

but since I'm more or less optimistic about that, I expect the same out of members of other races

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well, I was posting my reply when my computer ate it. Frustrating.

what am I talking about Brass and to whom am I directing it?????

I'm directing it at ANYONE who ever takes the time, to make the effort, to actually verbalize the suggestion that what is rightfully theirs has been usurped by a person of color, or some other person who has been missapprpriated in their stead. I beleive you have a blame program in your head. After all, racism is really just a tool is it not? It's symptimatic at best - it's never the core of the problem.

And I'm also suggesting that the core of racism starts with little things, little bits of programming, any racism, all racism, suggests that "if only" this obstacle was removed, then you could reach your true potenital. A racist is a finger pointer. A racist is a fool. A racist is boxed in, trapped, limited, and yet passionate enough to be a teacher.

Remember the movie AMerican History X? Very graphic, very realistic depction of the racial tension in Venice Beach CA - how it erupts and poisens. I know Venice beach very well, the movie did a great job, and they only covered the black white clashes - its even more complicated than that. the most powerful scene in that movie coems from the dinner table. A father, a respectable public servant, re-directiong his son's apparetnly errant admiration for a Black professor at school, reducing it to the suggestion that his Son has been scammed with the typical "NIgger Bullshit".

And yes there is reverse racism. Of course their is. You hear it in stupid statments like "white guilt" and "Latino Pride" - emotionally based statemetns blurted out inside of otherwise logical arguments.....just look at this thread, how quickly it escalated into all of this emotion and angst, so deep rooted are these resentments, for thigns to have such depth - they MUST begin in childhood or early years of development, whether we realize it or not. And for me - I've heard way more racist statements from whites than from other races but its all the same to me - a racist is a racist, is a racist,sitting on the same shelf side by side and color to color, with your chubby finger pointing out to locate and identify your personal torturer who's parasitic presence has tainted fate and freewill.

[BrassFusion]

well, I was posting my reply when my computer ate it.  Frustrating.

what am I talking about Brass and to whom am I directing it?????

I'm directing it at ANYONE who ever takes the time, to make the effort, to actually verbalize the suggestion that what is rightfully theirs has been usurped by a person of color, or some other person who has been missapprpriated in their stead.  I beleive you have a blame program in your head.  After all, racism is really just a tool is it not?  It's symptimatic at best - it's never the core of the problem.

And I'm also suggesting that the core of racism starts with little things, little bits of programming, any racism, all racism, suggests that "if only" this obstacle was removed, then you could reach your true potenital.  A racist is a finger pointer.  A racist is a fool.  A racist is boxed in, trapped, limited, and yet passionate enough to be a teacher.

Remember the movie AMerican History X?  Very graphic, very realistic depction of the racial tension in Venice Beach CA - how it erupts and poisens.  I know Venice beach very well, the movie did a great job, and they only covered the black white clashes - its even more complicated than that.  the most powerful scene in that movie coems from the dinner table.  A father, a respectable public servant, re-directiong his son's apparetnly errant admiration for a Black professor at school, reducing it to the suggestion that his Son has been scammed with the typical "NIgger Bullshit".

And yes there is reverse racism.  Of course their is.  You hear it in stupid statments like "white guilt" and "Latino Pride"  - emotionally based statemetns blurted out inside of otherwise logical arguments.....just look at this thread, how quickly it escalated into all of this emotion and angst, so deep rooted are these resentments, for thigns to have such depth - they MUST begin in childhood or early years of development, whether we realize it or not.  And for me - I've heard way more racist statements from whites than from other races but its all the same to me - a racist is a racist, is a racist,sitting on the same shelf side by side and color to color, with your chubby finger pointing out to locate and identify your personal torturer who's parasitic presence has tainted fate and freewill.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well geez-o I knew what you were talking about... and the only reason I thought you may have been directing it at me is because you quoted my post before you started talking about it

(side note: the computer just ate MY reply in the middle of that first paragraph so i had to retype it... wdfxupwdat?)

it seems like some of the things you've said earlier point to you having some measure of latino pride... and why wouldn't you? i don't necessarily agree that ethnic division like that is the best for race relations, but it's positive for people to have cultural ties and knowledge about the history of another part of the world. it might be a little better if people reached outside their own ethnic group to celebrate OTHER cultures, but keeping it to your own bloodline can still be a good thing.

"reverse racism" is more like affirmative action, or clubs that encourage black- or hispanic- or asian-only membership. It's not a big thorn in my paw, but I know i'll never find a euro-mutt only sorority, or anything like that. And yeah, affirmative action's going away sooner or later, so whatev.

It seems like you're very pessimistic about the whole thing, Steven. I don't know when you think Jesus is coming back, but if it's more than 1,000 years or so in the future, so many people will be mixed race that it'll be hard to have racists in positions of authority anymore and they won't be taken seriously. It's just statistical- "pure" races can't survive forever in this global community.

Edit: I want to add that i only put the thing about Jesus coming back because if you do believe that, it'd be like a "game over" for the whole thing, wouldn't it? and if you think it might happen in the next 20 years, obviously racism will not have been wiped from the earth quite yet. But it'll happen eventually, given enough time

[Steven]

that was pretty good Brass. Seriosuly.

OK, Latino pride....how do I explain this without sounding like a dick, or without sounding like I'm contradicting myself..?????

here goes: Latino Pride, when spoken of by someone who has not been raised as a Latino, is a limited thing. (dodges flaming arrows)

and - I am admittedly of mixed emotions regarding my Latino-ness. I joke about it all the time, yes. Because I am what I am, and it is there as soon as I wake up. There are also elements of it that I hate - the generational dumbing down of the women and the machisimo hamstringing of the young males. The overt allegience to mother Mexico when in reality you were born in Pasadena or at least live there, the avoidance of learning english as a first language, the multi faceted us against them seperation of various Latino "sects" if you will....such Puerto Ricans and El Salvadorians and the like. I hate all of that shit.

Yet I am in no way ashamed to be Latino, and silly as it sounds, am thankful to be.

Latino pride by and large to me, is a negative thing, based on my 40 years of being a Latino. Saying that to other Latinos has often ostracized me. I'll roll iwth that. I simply want us to want more of ourselves. Be yourself. But be a part of everyone else. I am a Latino yes.......but here I am in Detroit, on DGN, one of you.

as for the Jesus thing...whatever, wehole other Oprah (but yes my friend I do beleive.........)

[BrassFusion]

not to threadjack, but do you think the second coming will be happening sooner than later?

[Guest Game of Chance]

not to threadjack, but do you think the second coming will be happening sooner than later?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Never rather than either.

[Steven]

not to threadjack, but do you think the second coming will be happening sooner than later?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The truth?

I don't know. I just dont know. I can see it's potential via the whole world is in turmoil trip....but in reality the world has always been in turmoil and its too easy to say "hey ' it's prophetical" - even though it is. I mean....well, it is. But its also too convenient for soapboxers to use it as their platform. Christ himself never used end times as the focal point of his ministry - his focus was on the now - a life of spiritual abundance, a life of spiritual freedom, confession, transparancy among one another, empowerment, enlightenment, strength. He came to show us how to live. Not to wait for the day of our doom.

Here's the trip for me......because Christ also said that "not even the Son, but only the father knows" in response to those who sought this knowledge, he makes it clear that its not important, it is a missapropriated focus for the seeker. So when I see all of these prophesy chasers and end of the worlders within my spiritual peer group, I feel they are wasting their time, and searching after that which is not meant to be so easily identified. Our goal (my goal at least) is to live each day for that day - that's my call, that's it. Whatever happens and when it happens, is secondary at best.

I beleive in it Brass - all fo that end of the world stuff.....I just dont beleive tis going to go down in a way that easily fits in to our timeline or makes any sense in our agenda.

now, doublejacking:

I also think our precious American Veneer is about to crack wide open and begin to ooze. Were ripe for the pickens....over ripe really....and I dont think our society has the backbone it once had....I think we've been bred for dependency and have too much reliance on false security and convenience.

[Homicidalheathen]

OH this is just rediculous. If they were not here now, they wouldn't have good jobs and nice houses. It is time to let the past.....stay in the past.

Everytime I hear someone whine about how bad America treated them or theirs I want to tell them to go back where they came from and shut up.

Hell, sometimes I complain.....but I back it up by threatening to move to Canada. LOL!!!

now that i think about it, i just read an article recently (not sure if i can find the link again) that had to do with reparations for "african-americans"... if that's not asking for a hand-out, i don't know what is...

ok, found a couple links...

here...

here...

and here...

Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Paper Hearts]

OH this is just rediculous.  If they were not here now, they wouldn't have good jobs and nice houses.  It is time to let the past.....stay in the past.

Everytime I hear someone whine about how bad America treated them or theirs I want to tell them to go back where they came from and shut up.

Hell, sometimes I complain.....but I back it up by threatening to move to Canada.  LOL!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

These black people are seriously fucking with you? Get out of here. I don't believe it.

People are going to stay right here and hate this country. You're just going to have to deal with it, hommie. And not that most minorities hate this country, most of them love it.

[Paper Hearts]

"Give me a handout because I'm black,"

OR

"Give me a job because I'm part of an underrepresented minority group."

Am I supposed to agree with either of these?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Give me a handout because I'm Black, while certainly convienient is a complete mischaracterization of wht they're actually saying. Although I would think someone reasonable could draw a correlation between certain people not being able to vote for hundreds of years and some unusually shitty public schools. for instance.

And yeah, "reasonable" is the key word in that statement. I'll admit, it's totally subjective.

[Paper Hearts]

whoa, jesus, stop right there... black people make up 10% of the population, at least, and that percentage is clearly a LOT HIGHER in metro detroit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You don't live in Detroit. You live in Sterling Whites. If you lived in Detroit you wouldn't be afraid of black people at all.

I mean honestly.

Pretending briefly that you must travel 20 miles south for work, if you're awkward with them and they sense some kind of underlying racisim, they might not hire you. Other than that, you're golden. I see you guys rolling through the burbs with your SUVs all the time.

[BrassFusion]

You don't live in Detroit. You live in Sterling Whites. If you lived in Detroit you wouldn't be afraid of black people at all.

I mean honestly.

Pretending briefly that you must travel 20 miles south for work, if you're awkward with them and they sense some kind of underlying racisim, they might not hire you. Other than that, you're golden. I see  you guys rolling through the burbs with your SUVs all the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

WHOA THERE STOP THE ASSTRAIN.

You must not have been to Sterling Heights in a while. It's not as white as it used to be.

ALSO, I traveled 20 miles south for school every day for four years, I still do it to teach every fucking weekend, and I work in Clinton Township... and half the shop is black. About 20% is Arab.

And I don't have an SUV.

What the fuck is up with you and the generalizations because I'm white? You're very very close to pissing me off here with what you just said, and if I don't get an apology soonish for that, I'm probably going to go off on you and may the mods strike me down.

I really really hate racists.

[Paper Hearts]

WHOA THERE STOP THE ASSTRAIN.

You must not have been to Sterling Heights in a while. It's not as white as it used to be.

ALSO, I traveled 20 miles south for school every day for four years, I still do it to teach every fucking weekend, and I work in Clinton Township... and half the shop is black. About 20% is Arab.

And I don't have an SUV.

What the fuck is up with you and the generalizations because I'm white? You're very very close to pissing me off here with what you just said, and if I don't get an apology soonish for that, I'm probably going to go off on you and may the mods strike me down.

I really really hate racists.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sterling Heights is pretty white. If not 10% black, then less than that. And what are you complaining about then if you've worked in the city? I find it hard to believe that any of the minorities that you WORK with end up on your lawn begging for handouts all the time. That never happens.

You're not sure if 'give me a handout because I'm black' is an exxageration? Or 'give me a handout because I'm an Arab' is an exageration? Do me a favor and ask your coWORKERS if they want a handout from you for their skin color. While you're at it, compare the black areas of Clinton Twp and Mt Clemens to the white areas. If I remember correctly the black people seem to like to live in the direct vicinity of the trash incenorator...for apparently no reason what so ever...

Also do a quick comparison of the number of blacks unemployed to the number of whites unemployed and also compare the percent of blacks in prison to that mere 10% of the population number.

[BrassFusion]

Sterling Heights is pretty white. If not 10% black, then less than that. And what are you complaining about then if you've worked in the city? I find it hard to believe that any of the minorities that you WORK with end up on your lawn begging for handouts all the time. That never happens.

You're not sure if 'give me a handout because I'm black' is an exxageration? Or 'give me a handout because I'm an Arab' is an exageration? Do me a favor and ask your coWORKERS if they want a handout from you for their skin color. While you're at it, compare the black areas of Clinton Twp and Mt Clemens to the white areas. If I remember correctly the black people seem to like to live in the direct vicinity of the trash incenorator...for apparently no reason what so ever...

Also do a quick comparison of the number of blacks unemployed to the number of whites unemployed and also compare the percent of blacks in prison to that mere 10% of the population number.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've never heard a black person say "give me a handout because I'm black," so I WASN'T COMPLAINING OF IT. I don't know why you assume I was.

I was comparing that UNLIKELY scenario to the likely one of "Give me a job because I'm a member of an underrepresented minority group."

One of those cards is played every day, and what I'm saying is that it's just as much bullshit as the other one.

The 10% number is national. And I said METRO DETROIT, as in Detroit and its suburbs.

As for my coworkers, some of them take the bus from Detroit because that's where they were placed by the temp agency. That sucks balls. I tried to go through a temp agency to get a job recently, but due to lack of "experience" in the sorts of fields those agencies place for, they weren't interested in me. To get my job, I relied on my connections. It's not fair at all, but what am I supposed to do, quit so someone less fortunate can have it?

Now, since you're such an ethnically sensitive genius, you tell ME what the unemployment rates are based on race... oh wait, I forgot, I don't give a rat's ass. People who try hard enough are going to find some form of employment. Hell, I worked at McDonald's for five months (as long as I could stand it) because I couldn't find anything else to be a main source of income. Teaching dried up- not as many people can afford weekly lessons for their kids. Wonder why.

[Hellion]

:devil I'll say this,where I work,its 30% black,45%white,and threst is asian,Auborn Hills is a diverse city,that continuing to grow.other than that,lets pipe down everyone,and continue the thread peacefully.later

[Paper Hearts]

Now, since you're such an ethnically sensitive genius, you tell ME what the unemployment rates are based on race... oh wait, I forgot, I don't give a rat's ass.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

While you're at it perhaps if you did care you'd be able to form something worthwhile with the rest of what you know. If you admit you don't care then don't pretend to be confused.

[Homicidalheathen]

Grrr! I am tired of this! Ok??? I am part Irish. Do you know the stereo types and racism we had to endure when we first migrated here??? Why on earth would anyone perpetrate that???

Owen Wilson in a Star Magazine interview: 'I am Irish and thats kind of an Irish quality, using humor as a way to kind of deal with some of the stuff that life throws at you.'

Um ok. No, it's not a Irish quality....its a human quality dumb ass.

Oh yah, I drink because I am irish, not because I need an escape from reality once in awhile or for relief from pain.....I have a easy going sense of humor because I have suffered allot and it is the best way for me to deal, not because it is the Irish way, what an ass!

Seems like a innocent enough statement, but this is the kind of thing I hate to see people doing. 'I am Irish, so I like to drink....and act silly..and dance jigs.....' right. Ok.

[Steven]

Never rather than either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no, potatoe rather than potAHtoe