Originally posted by Umazing561:
Let me preface my response by saying this. Anything one says, no matter how logically thought out, can be and usually will be turned into something its not. I am sure someone, failing to understand what I say for instance will lose it and I myself will be a KKK supporter OR Black Panther supporter by the end, when really I am no racist at all and having to make that very declaration is exactly what's wrong with the WHOLE PROBLEM.
On to your point. It is a double standard but let's figure out why.
(1) We can start the topic from a historical perspective since it provides more context. Its quite obvious that black people over the course of history, be it here or across the world, have been oppressed. Here specifically, racism hit its peak in the 60s (which is a whole other topic, b/c America may be one of the leaders in civil rights compared to other countries). Even after the 60s however, carrying into the 70s, 80s, and 90s there was still racism. Not in the context of rights but in the acclamations, in the integration side of now all being equal.
This shows something that requires logical thought not irrational emotion from all sides & races to understand. Could you imagine now, after so long, just wake up one day and legally, EVERYTHING, is equal? What does that do? Well, it takes TIME. It takes time for those people who are racist to get over it. It takes time for those who aren't racist to get used to it because they've never been in that kind of environment. It takes time for those who now have the freedom to not feel scared or on the flip side not feel defensive or even aggressive in exercising that right. That's what we saw in the late 60s and dramatically decreasing into the 90s, with an issue arising in the 90s which could be argued out. Let me ask you then, right or wrong, does it not make since that a dramatic integration method (and rightly so) wouldn't lead to these issues? Just think about it instead of getting caught up in the emotions of it.
(2) That being said. Racism from a social context is never going to end. Be it history, human nature, or any other of a million reasons, it will not end. However, what has ended is its acceptance. The majority, in America, are now okay with other races, at least in terms of being integrated within our society, being allowed to do the same things, be at the same places, work the same jobs, etc. Its accepted, even if there are those rare people who may not like it. Even some of the most racist people won't kick others out of an establishment because of race, or leave a public area just because blacks are there. In other words, it has pretty much been diluted in terms of denying, discriminating, openly assaulting or battering, etc.
Yet, we are human, and that leads to a whole variety of problems across many levels.
We are human, so there will always be people who do not like others, either innately, being brought up like that, or even because of personal experience and that experience being reasonably albeit wrongly pushed on to the class.
We are human, so we are always going to judge. No matter how you are raised people make snap judgments and the more you teach yourself not to the better you get but its human to do unless your God. Judgments are made across the board on the many different topics, any time you see someone do something dumb, unreasonable, etc. Most of the time you have something to say, if not think because its human.
Race, sadly, is one of those things that's easy to judge on because its visible. You see something, you look at the person, and you say it/think it. You may not eve be racist, you just think b/c you saw! Its human, and visually race is the easiest thing to point out so we blurt it out w/o thinking when we should. Hell, you do it even when its something not bad, it can be for whatever reason - point is its easy to point out as humans.
We are human, so we say irrational things, especially when we are angry or in the heat of the moment. You may call someone the N word, you may call them a spic (I'm Cuban), you may call a girl a C word, etc. You may use those terms and worse because you are pissed off about something. Partly because like I said above its one of those easy things to attack and the other b/c you are mad at that particular class at that particular moment.
We are human, so we are not going to agree. Different races, cultures, genders, do things differently and that usually just rubs on another race, culture, gender the wrong way. So it will never change. What can and mostly has changed is living with it.
There are many other issues we can look at. Point is, and this is where people get all offended.
(1) Get over it! The race wars have been over for years in terms of integration. There are Blacks that are some of the biggest pop-iconic, most successful people in our society. The disdain is gone. What will never change is kids in the school yard calling each other names and they don't even need to be racist, its just that. What will never change is irrational thoughts.This owner said some horrible things, but let's put it bluntly, his wife/gf was likely banging some of these guys and he flipped his lid, what happened he attacked where it was easiest to attack. Doesn't make him a racist, it makes him an idiot. He's an owner of an NBA team with an asian girl.
(2) Even where others ARE racist - its not a crime. We get so worked up in society being offended that we forget that people have opinions. If you happen to be one of those stereotypical racist well then you are in the minority, you are likely a moron, and you are likely not very well liked but YOU ARE entitled to the opinion, you are entitled to feel however the hell you want. We lose sight of that in the wake of political correctness and I think those champions of civil rights should attack the problem not by putting the spotlight on those rare people but by doing the EXACT opposite, giving them no time, giving them no method to express that opinion - that's how you rid the problem once & for all.
(3) The other reason this is so huge is because the media makes it a story. It goes in conjunction w/the above two points. We are making it seem like this story has somehow set black people back as a whole, comparing it to the olympics iconic story. Please. That should be offensive itself. Use your heads, is it really that huge - he's just a bad business man is all. The players are making him that money, so the joke is on him now that he said that but to make it a civil rights issue is almost offensive and does nothing for the cause. There are things people like Jaimie Foxx, Kanye, Samuel Jackson have said that are crazy and no one made a story. Why? Because its not "hip" its not going to make ESPN or cause a public outcry. One, because those people's comments usually aren't on a big stage and two, white people just don't care that much, its like "okay bro-cool" and move on. Granted, historically speaking there is a difference so it may be why they don't get upset.
Regardless, the point is we are all people. We should all get along. Racism is wrong. However, what is just as wrong is paying any one mind to it, given it is no longer the majority view-there is nothing else left to to do but to view it as a moot issue, that's the final piece. Its like having to ignore the puppy who only gets more annoying when he wants to play & so you have to ignore him to get them to calm down. Being insecure is what drives this and I just don't see what there is to be insecure about anymore, if anything things have flipped so badly to where people can lift a damn finger without the fear of being labeled a racist/homophobe/etc. No need to get upset. No need to make it a HUGE story, how do people not get that it only further hurts the cause, if not is racist in itself to make it this huge thing. Irvin's little comments on Romo, won't make news, and in my opinion shouldn't make new b/c he was dumb in saying it and its like "who cares...idiot." He probably doesn't even feel like that anyway so why get offended? But, it is a double standard and if this keeps happening how long before we are at each other's throats again? How long is it going to take to keep making it seem like saying wrong things against one class is more important than saying something wrong against the other. THEY ARE EQUALLY WRONG, ITS A PEOPLE THING. The only way to really & fully find integration and acceptance is to stop thinking of it as a black vs. white issue and just look at it as a people issue. Its wrong to make fun of people, its wrong to hate on people. Period. That guy was an idiot, racist or not, who cares - everyone knows it was wrong.
Sometimes we believe our comments to be logical, however, they may only be logical in the context of our knowledge and understanding. Before I address your comment, Mr. 561, I want to say a few things regarding the op. Typically about 90% of the time when people preface their comments with statements such as "I'm not racist, no offense but, etc", some racist, offensive, or twisted logic usually follows. The op did exactly that, after prefacing with the assertion that he's not a racist, he follows with the fact that he's Cuban with 3 black kids. Even in his skewed logic, his comment does indicate that he understands the dynamic of racism as being something typically meted towards black people. The part that's twisted about it especially coming from white Cuban Americans, many whom are very racist might I add, is the fact that Cubans fled their country due to oppression. Although it was mostly political oppression, nevertheless, it was a form oppression. Yet, Cubans come to America and are educationally indoctrinated to the ways of American white supremacy, some already brought it with them I'm sure, now they parrot the philosophies and defenses of white supremacy, and fully support its structure. They make statements regarding the plight of African Americans who've been in a struggle for freedom, equality, and justice for damn near 400 years as if they have knowledge, understanding, and experience to do so. They discredit and marginalize the plight of the very people who paved the way not only for Cubans but for all ethnicities who are affected by racism. However, if a situation such occurred as with the Elian Gonzalez situation years ago and I were to come on here while Cubans were lamenting about Castro and his policies, and started preaching about how Cubans need to get over it or stop whining about Castro because he's the president/dictator of Cuba, that's the way it is and Cubans should learn to live with it, Cuban Americans would raise holly hell! I'm pretty damn sure both the op and 561 would be pretty damn offended. They'd go into how their parents and grandparents suffered under Castro and tell stories of deaths or near death experiences escaping the country, etc. and claim I'm being disrespectful along with other choice words. It's a really interesting dynamic, though, somehow everyone seems to think black folks should forget about or "get over" our plight yet everyone expects black folks to understand, empathize, and respect their issues or struggles. Imagine that. It's ok for Cubans to be passionate about Castro to the point that they would deny acknowledging Nelson Mandela simply because he associated with Castro, it's ok for Jews who are not and have never been disadvantage in the least bit here in America to harp about the holocaust whenever, and now it's even ok for gay people to cry about discrimination. But, the minute the folks who've had the longest and most tragic history by comparison as it pertains to racism and white supremacy right here in Amerikkka says anything, even if it's 100% balls on accurate, we still get marginalizing and disrespectful comments regarding our plight. We're just a bunch of cry babies who need to get over it is what we get. Really???
