This is in reference to the discussion over race that has been brought up, however unfortunately, by the fact that our newly elected president is black. Being that I am white, it has taken me many years myself to truly understand; and I admit that because I am white, I will never completely understand. However, there is a perspective based on my own life experience that has shaped my view of this controversial status in American life. I am going to ask that you bear with me on this; as I have a relevant point to make.
I was raised in an abusive home. My mother suffered from chronic bi-polar disorder. To fully understand this requires an explanation:
*When a normal person feels anger, they escalate, plateau, and then cool off. The reason we do this is because our body releases chemicals into the blood and brain to calm us. It is a normal reaction to the emotion called anger. Unfortunately, because of a chemical imbalance in her brain, my mother's body did not release these chemicals. When she became angry, she did not stop escalating. She would become "drunk with rage," and sometimes would pass out.*
Now for the rest of the story.... Unfortunately, my mother was not finally diagnosed until I had already left home as an adult; so for my siblings and I, we had a mother who did very emotionally, and sometimes physically, damaging things to us while growing up. Once we were grown, and my mother began getting treatment and medication for her condition, we as children had to come to terms with some of the things we experienced. All three of us, at some point, went through the grief process-anger, denial, and finally acceptance and forgiveness. However, we all did it in our own way and our own time.
I personally had to deal with the fact that, while 10 years old, my mother attempted to suffocate me w/ a pillow in one of her rages. Luckily, my father pulled her off of me. However, as a young man, I went through a couple of years where I was angry with her for trying to take my life. This caused her some grief. However, in my own time, and luckily while my mother is still alive, I finally accepted that she was sick and not in her right mind. I forgave her.
So, how does this give me perspective on race in this country? Being white, and of German descent, I do not have to deal w/ stories of my ancestors being the victims of racial or ethnic cleansing. My German ancestors came to North Carolina by choice hundreds of years ago as colonists, migrated westward like so many others through Tennessee (where Rachel Donelson married President Andrew Jackson), then Arkansas, and finally Texas. Sure they had hard lives as farmers and such; but they were not persecuted, or lynched, or massacred, etc.
Being a minority in this country, particularly Native American or black, brings a whole lot more to your heritage. Children grow up hearing how their grandfathers were denied opportunities in this country at the point of a gun sometimes; and their great-grandfathers were slaves. Yes, it is very easy for me to say that history is past; and they should get over it. Yet, what place is it of mine to do so? What right do I have to tell them to accept the past and get over it? Do they not have the right to grieve, be angry, and finally accept and forgive this terrible past in their own due time?
When I was angry with my mother, there were those who told me that I was being unreasonable. They told me she was sick and untreated at the time; and that I should get over it. I hated them for it; and their pleas only made me angrier. What right did they have to tell me to get over the things my mother had done to me? They were not there. They did not understand the rejection and emotional baggage I had to endure. Perhaps I would get over in time; but that was none of their business.
So, I say let the blacks revel in the historicity of this moment. One of their own is now the leader of the freest nation on the earth; yet a nation that forced them to endure the worst assaults against freedom that ever existed. To see how far they have come; to finally reach the mountaintop that Martin Luther King could only dream about. This is what makes America great. Perhaps finally, the blacks, and all minorities in this country, can reach some sort of closure on the terrible chapters in our history that affected them so much more than it did the European-Americans of this country.
The grief process has been slow and painful. We have had those who tried to deny it happened out of pure shock. There has been pain and guilt associated with it. We have had the anger, which fuels the bargaining to find some positive purpose in the struggles. We have even had the depression and loneliness that comes from reflecting on the hard times that had to be overcome. Perhaps now, finally, we can have acceptance. But be cautioned....it is not up to us. To each his own time to come to terms with this. I have no right, and no place, to tell anyone that it is time for them to accept anything; and I will not.
Let them find their own way.
Arch.
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Still wondering where the "riot" is, H of D. Union leaders going to a symposium, getting behind a podium, and talking angry to business and world leaders is not a riot. Did you even read the article?
Wow, a riot on the 31st and you expect the French to get a report out on it on the day of the riot - the reporters were probably to 'le tired' from rioting that day to write about it.
OK, I'm on Drudge. My eyes are burning, but I'm there. Are you referring to a link with the sensationalist title, PARIS UNREST WILL SPREAD ROUND WORLD, UNIONS WARN...? When you click that link, you get an article from the business section of the London Times Online, concerning the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. I read it up and down and found nothing about riots. Here is the opening paragraph: "The gloom surrounding this year’s World Economic Forum descended into confrontation yesterday as international labour leaders launched a withering attack on the 1,400 business executives and 41 heads of government at Davos over what the labour leaders alleged was their failure to respond effectively to a deepening crisis of their own creation." That doesn't sound like riots to me. It sounds like a lot of upset union leaders giving business and political leaders a piece of their minds. If anything, American union leaders should step up, barge in on Congress, and do the exact same thing! Union leaders have every right to be ticked off, they're watching the worldwide economy slip deeper into recession, business leaders with all the capital are acting innocent, and heads of state are acting impotent. Damn right they should be angry. The second paragraph is the only place talking about the potential for rioting, but that was tangental and hypothetical, talking about "a social timebomb that would lead to deepening civil unrest and soaring crime.", with no mention of any specific examples. I try to be fair about these kinds of things, if you see something I'm not seeing, please point them out to me so we can discuss them.
I also checked Le Monde's site, the biggest newspaper in France. You'd think riots would be front-page news there. Nothing. There were riots in 2005 and 2007 for various reasons. On January 31, 2009, no.
try drudgereport.com
I gotta be honest with you, Wiz. I Googled FRANCE and RIOTS, and I found not one article to substantiate what you've said. I looked on CNN's site, the so-called worldwide leader in news, same thing. Same with the BBC's website. I did find an article by Freakonomics predicting riots in 2009, but that was more cynicism than prognostication, talking about the youth being bored and doped up and with guns. There were riots in November 2007, because the French are sort of in the same problem the US is in with immigrant labor; just like here, it's hard to tell whether the problem is economic or racial or both. What I will say is, from what I've gathered from looking around just now, France's unemployment rate is about like ours, about 7.5%, and the government has programs to keep the unemployed insured for up to two years (as opposed to six months with extensions in the US), plus being active looking for jobs for those out of work. Anyway, Wiz, I found nothing to substantiate your claim. I'm not like the Iosers who yell SHOW ME PROOF, and then, when you show them proof, they do their spin and dance and say it's not real proof. If I have questions, I go look for myself, come back with my findings, and continue the conversation. But I have no findings this time around.
Something about the unemployment rate.
Why?
France is having riots right now.
By the way, read "Why Socialism?" by Albert Einstein. it's very short and you can read it online.
Capitalism is predatory by nature. In order for few to win, many have to fail.
do you seriously think that a capitalsit has never given to a charity or cares about the poor,or people in general. thats a scare crow attack copy and pasted from socialist rhetoric
Jesus always talked about giving to the poor, and sharing and "blessed are the poor." Jesus was almost a communist. Just one more reason why I like Jesus. He was a really radical guy. He opposed the government, the church and the social structure of the day. He's my hero.
As far as Helen Keller, she was brillian, as was Albert Einstein who were both radical socialists. You don't learn that in high school because high school conditions you to play the game rather than think for yourself.
Helen Keller's life raising awareness of poverty, and campaigning for Eugene Debs' and other Socialist presidential bids, is completely missing from textbooks. Early in her life, because of what she overcame, she was called brilliant. Once she began to campaign, she was considered "mentally incompetent." Amazing how society can judge your intelligence just based on your political beliefs alone.
Jesus was not a capitalist. Many of his teachings had very socialistic leanings; although I would not go so far as to say He was Socialist Himself. Economists would have crucified Christ themselves if they had the chance.
Trish, did you seriously just "lmfao" at Helen Keller? You are aware that she was blind, deaf, mute, and still turned out to be brilliant. Maybe you weren't aware. Maybe you should be a big girl and start to read whole books.
No James, they're more. They give a damn about people. They don't believe poverty is a necessary byproduct of economic theory. They believe a society is not defined by the avarice for the few at the top, but the standard of living for the many at the bottom. They believe we're all in this together. In my mind, such men should be honored above the numbercrunchers. Lest we ever forget, Jesus wasn't an economist either.
and none of those people are economists
Hey, no one's going to mention Woody Guthrie in this Socialist Roll Call? I gotta be honest with you, if you're putting together an ideological team that includes Einstein, London, Keller, Guthrie, MLK, I am honored to be on that team, no matter who tries to knock them down a peg.
LMFAO @ Hellen Keller, and Jack London, and Jack London... so that only leaves Alber Einstien and George Orwell.. hardly, since none of them even matter in this discussion. .... Progress... being human is to beat up hookers eh? Maybe in your neck of the woods.
Demo, you suck. First of all, I'd like to see some proof that MLK was beating prostitutes. Or is that just some bullsh-t you made up? Further, MLK was a socialist. Know what others were socialists? Albert Einstein, Helen Keller, Jack London, George Orwell, and Jack Lodon. And to continue, you gave a homeless man some money. That's really a great thing. But you'll get your holiday when you lead the way to civil rights for a group that was enslaved for hundreds of years.
Oh my! You mean MLK was human, and not a saint? Give me a break! Have you ever read the transcript from the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 regarding slavery? Many would be startled at the ignorant, and racist, things that Abraham Lincoln had to say on that day. Yet, it is not about our imperfections or human ignorance, of which we are all guilty of to certain extents. It is about TRANSCENDING even ourselves for the greater good. Lincoln did it. MLK did it. That is what makes them recognized.
LOL, Heart. We have never talked on here but I officially like you. :) KT, take the day off and tell them the true reason why.
does this mean i can call in to work?? i start in an hour ( i will take any excuse at this point not to go)-lol
From this day forth January 30th will now be celebrated as "Robin Lee Price Day" and everyone will get the day off. w00t!
Look it up.
Demo you sound like that goofy Joseph Mccarthy, MLK was a good man and you sound like a total jerk-off.
MLK JR. was and is overrated. There was more to that man behind the scenes that is never discussed. His ties to communism, using civil rights money on multiple prostitutes at a time and beating the crap out of them..... Take away those factors and you get someone who was doing what they felt was right and that would be admirable. BUT, not everyone who gives of themselves and does the "right thing" needs a holiday. I gave a homeless man A LOT of money one day after talking with him. Where is "Robin Lee Price Day?"
One of the things missed in Martin Luther King's speeches was his desire to get poor whites to join his cause. He often wondered why poor whites would be so against blacks seeking an improvement in their living conditions, when those whites lived pretty much the same way! He made it very clear that there is no functional difference between poor whites and poor blacks, and poor whites would stand to gain far more with him than by clinging to their racist beliefs. What good does it do them to have white skin and be in the same economic position as blacks? Why honor this so dearly when it's obvious it's done them no earthly good? Instead of throwing stones at the marchers, King always said poor whites should be marching with them, because the core belief is a shared belief, that if we work together, all can benefit.
"Still Arjay, you have to agree, it's no one's RIGHT to force everyone else to go through it as well. When that happens we get laws like Affirmative Action or hate crimes legislation...... You don't have to get over it if you don't want to, but keep it to yourself."
AMEN, ICA!!!!!!!! The 17 yr old down the street never was put through that crap so she is retarded for lugging that baggage. My uncle was killed by a gay man before I was born. Do I feel like I am being oppressed by the "gay agenda"? Nope. Hell, I can't. I am not straight, nor is my brother. THE WHITE MAN IS NO LONGER OPPRESSING MINORITIES. THE DAMN "MINORITIES" are doing it to themselves.
Thank you, Progress.
My point is that, just as individuals we must set our own time to come to grips with the tragedies and challenges in our lives, so does certain sects of society collectively. I do not have the place to tell a black American that it is time for him/her to get over it. That is absolutely the most arrogant thing I could ever say; and I deserve to have my butt kicked......Should they forgive? Yes! However, they should not do it for us. On the contrary, they should forgive for themselves-for their own peace of mind and spirit; and when THEY are ready.
I think there's a line, it's one thing to confide on someone with whom you're close to in the hope of getting matters off your chest, get to the heart of the matter, and seek closure. There's a difference between that, and getting drunk every night for years and being vry loud and obnoxious to everyone about what happened when you were young. There's a difference between bearing your soul to true friends (and they'll prove how true of friends they really are when times are tough), and telling everyone your secrets in order to gain sympathy points. As to affirmative action and hate crime legislation, I asked you this before, Icababe, exactly what year were African-Americans supposed to JUST GET OVER 350 years of slavery, segregation, apartheid, and Jim Crow? I'm sorry you believe the world started when you were born, but those before us created the world we're living in, and we're a little stuck, just like our generation is sticking massive debt to our children, they didn't create it, but they will have to pay for our mistakes financially, just like we have to pay for the mistakes of those who came before us racially. It's part of living in a society, especially one where slavery was the original sin. Do you honestly believe America is enough of an equitable society where we never had to have Affirmative Action? Do you really believe, when Martin Luther King was killed, those same white people who were keeping blacks in their place, suddenly they had an epiphany, and POOF, no more racism? It is INCREDIBLY self-serving to say, because it doesn't bother you personally, Icababe, others should not be bothered as well. Anyone who has been offended by the uniqueness of American racism has the right, and even the duty, to speak up about it, and you have the right to give them the finger and walk away, Icababe. If that is what you stand for, go for it.
Still Arjay, you have to agree, it's no one's RIGHT to force everyone else to go through it as well. When that happens we get laws like Affirmative Action or hate crimes legislation...... You don't have to get over it if you don't want to, but keep it to yourself.
And I don't buy the DON'T CRY OUT LOUD argument, I prefer the THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR argument, the LEAN ON ME thing. No one is alone.
It's sort of like when a loved one dies. I've learned this lesson the hard way. You cannot tell a person how to grieve, you just simply can't. For some, they're going to feel the loss right away, and they're going to sob their eyes out right off the bat. Others may be dazed in disbelief and it may take awhile for it to sink in. Still others might go on with their regular lives, but come home, have a beer, and when finally alone, let themselves go. Everyone reacts differently, and no reaction is the correct one. The absolute worst thing to tell someone in that position--or in any other emotionally traumatic situation, like going through a divorce, or coming home from a war, or surviving a near-death experience--is GET OVER IT. Many people never do completely, but they at least find a way to resume their lives, for better or for worse.
You said something profound there Arch. "Let them find their own way."..... To me that means, "Do it on your own, and don't force others to listen to it." Call me crazy, but it's like that crazy aunt we all have. Let her talk and believe anything she wants, but the rest of the family doesn't have to listen to it...... Be angry all you want. When you drag me and my family into it, you've just made me a part of it. Much like my view of religion, you can worship rocks for all I care. Just don't come into my back yard to worship the boulder there, and especially don't try to make me worship those rocks too. And that my friend, is exactly what certain groups (especially the media for a market share) are doing. They're trying to force a viewpoint upon everyone else......... You will always have emotional baggage from your experiences. How you choose to deal with it is your own personal journey. I'd be willing to bet that you're not trying to force the entire nation to make that journey with you.
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