Shootings (Railroad: neighborhood, high school, subdivisions)

[Copanut]

I won't argue that this country is divided by a class system. But, you have to admit that it is EASIER for a white man to move up the ladder.

[Chuckles1821]

Easier for a Nascar-loving, beer drinking, white man to move up the ladder? Hell no.

I agree that out of two people of similar socio-economic status, the white one has it easier. But an upper class black man can move up the ladder easier than a lower class white person.

[aveojohn]

Originally Posted by zip95

I probably won't post after this as, this conversations is a little low-brow for my tastes. But I had to mention one observation. You've got Aveojohn (an old white guy from the ghetto mad a black people) and Kenyaa (an old black guy from the ghetto mad a white people)....

I think that says volumes.

You got one thing right,I'm an old white guy.I am not angry at any one and I walk down the street past black people all the time with no fear,but I do stay away from known bad areas as all of you do also,black or white.

[zip95]

The level of discourse is starting to rise....so

I completely agree with most here...class is a huge component and in some cases could even be larger than race.

That said, I should also add that I believe culture can be an issue. Many in the upper echolons of society (black or white) disdain the culture of the lower classes (black or white). Meaning, ghetto talk & ghetto dress, or white-trash talk and white-trash dress are simply not welcome.....And that's fine....I can see a lot wrong with all of the low class cultures.

The problem is that many will automatically associate black with low class culture while associating white with higher class culture.....and as I've said on previous occasions, these unfounded assumptions are damaging and real. They can cost a black person 15% of their life long accomplishments...as compared to some one in the majority from a similar socio-economic background.

[mr.davon24]

Originally Posted by aveojohn

You got one thing right,I'm an old white guy.I am not angry at any one and I walk down the street past black people all the time with no fear,but I do stay away from known bad areas as all of you do also,black or white.

I have much respect for you if this is true. I hate it when I walk on one side of the street and most white faulk move all the way over as I am going to rob them.

[ExPit]

An infant was killed in a drive-by in L.A. yesterday. This type of incident used to be a more common occurrence, but it still happens too much. Heard a statistic recently that there are more registered gun owners in PA than in any other state, and though I agree up front that alot of street killings are carried out with UN-registered, illegal firearms, those illegal firearms were most of them legal at one time, before they were stolen and sold on the black market.

There are too many guns on the street. It only stands to reason that there will be too many shootings. Used to be someone had a beef and settled it with their hands or talked it out; either way, it was over once the sweat dried. Now lives are ended or changed forever, both victim and shooter alike.

I know alotta people these days don't feel safe without a gun, and I've even heard it argued by some pretty bright people that if everybody were armed we'd all be better off; one giant stand-off, I guess is the ideal situation.

What's everybody think?

[mr.davon24]

Although I could agree with your statement, how could you even mention guns without mentioning the drug problems? I think if the cops crack down on that there would be less crime.



A little story about my past run ins with the so called serve and protect. About a month ago I was driving to get gas. There was a cop infront of me and both gazed over to what looked like a drug transaction. The cop pulled over toward them but, instead of approaching them he did a uturn and followed me to the gas station. When I got to the gas station he keep going toward the back of it. After pumping my gas I got in the car and started back home. Looked in the rear view and who was behind me? Now I asked myself what if that really was a drug transaction? Those people just got a free pass. No, I don't drive a expensive car ( 99 nissan sentra) or have a loud audio system. Sorry I went off topic but, this is the norm in Pittsburgh Pa.

[Lucario]

Originally Posted by jinxd_13

That is exactly the root of the "reverse" racism you are exhibitting. You weren't brought here by anyone...you were born here, just like me and while you most certainly should expect equality, you, certainly, shouldn't expect preferential treatment or reparation. I had nothing to do with slavery and neither did you. The only people that weren't "brought" over here or didn't come over on a boat were indigenous "Indians". If you feel like going back in time and letting your ancestors get revenge on some other guys ancestors wait for the technology. Until then stop throwing out the slavery card. It is only then when we can get over it and acheive real harmony.

No, real harmony will only be achieved when we all understand that there are still inequalities directly attributable to what happened in the past that directly affect what is happening in our present. Throughout American history opportunities have been denied blacks that were given whites, and the present situation is traceable to that fact.

[Chuckles1821]

And opportunities were denied women that were given to men.
These things happened, they weren't good, but I don't see anything that can be done to "right" the wrongs that would be fair to anyone.

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by Chuckles1821

And opportunities were denied women that were given to men.
These things happened, they weren't good, but I don't see anything that can be done to "right" the wrongs that would be fair to anyone.

I was just about to point this out. In my opinion, women were oppressed more and for longer than black people in this country (and in fact, throughout the course of human history in general). As a woman, I see sexism every day of my life. We've come a long way (baby), but there's still a lot to be fixed.

But fixing it, for me, is not ever going to involve making reparations for something that was done before I was ever a twinkle in my mother's eye. I wasn't the victim that these things were done to, and the people around me now aren't the victimizers who perpetrated those things. Acknowledging that these things were a part of our history - yes. But as much as we wish to hold someone accountable, it's still water under the bridge. I want to focus on the ongoing BS in the here-and-now, and pointing fingers at dead people won't accomplish anything towards that goal.

Just my opinion.