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Voluntary segregation is not the idea of black people. For 400-plus years, America told blacks they were different and inferior, told us we were not welcome in the same schools, neighborhoods, churches, families, businesses, workplaces, army, navy, marine corps and cemeteries as whites - and this was enforced violently and legally to the letter. So, for less than 50 years we suddenly have been told that the law has changed and we're no longer subject to Jim Crow in our daily lives. Anyone with a brain knows things don't change that quickly. So forgive me if some black folk don't trust the notion that we're all one big happy family all of a sudden. We've tried to be absorbed in the melting pot, and it doesn't want us. So to expect that suddenly to happen is insane, despite the continued overwhelming level of allegiance black people have shown to this society.
It does want you, as much as it wants anyone else. It just does not want the chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that some black people bring along with them, or the lack of skills, training and basic education.
In any case, my point is that 1) there is something "we" can do to help and 2) there is something that black people need to do to help themselves.
1) The part that "we" can do is to provide a better process for effective education and training, which has been shown to be the primary driver of economic advancement and success. The Democrats are the ones standing in the way of that at this point, as it would require change, and that would upset the teacher's unions financial arrangements, which they are opposed to. This in turn risks upsetting an important part of the Democrat's campaign funding and also a key segment of their get out the vote apparatus, which are provided by the unions, which is why the Democrat's are opposed. But it can and should be done.
2) And, as I hope you can see, there is also something that black people have to do. Which is to be enthusiastic about being absorbed into the larger culture of our melting pot society, rather than to continue to voluntarily segregate themselves in their hearts and minds according to their skin color (with the strong encouragement of the Democrats of course). This second part is not primarily a physical segregation, it is a mental segregation. It is this ongoing obsession that many back people have in identifying themselves by their skin color, first and foremost. And they are doing it to themselves. The very idea that we are segregated into different races is false and it is an idea that is fundamentally racist to the core. In fact, that sort of thinking is what racism fundamentally is.
To take that one more step, the idea passively accepted by many black people that they are part of an apparently inferior race is the worst kind of racism. This is truly crippling many people in the black community. They need to free themselves from this bondage, because it is just not true. And that is the key that is being overlooked on this particular point: they have to free themselves, as this is a bondage that exists in their own minds. As a result, it is not possible for anyone else to do it for them. They have to proactively take the next step and free themselves, which means letting go of their obsession with an identity based on their skin color or as the descendents of former slaves.
In fact, the idea that we are divided into different races based on variances in our skin pigmentation is patently absurd. There is only one race, the human race. Unfortunately, there are those who continue to undermine efforts to enable people to move towards this sort of racial ambivalence and mutual acceptance. Those people are the ones who continue to promote and inflame racial tensions and divisions among us, especially right before election time. And it is not Republicans that are doing that. This must stop if we are ever going to get past this nonsense, which I and the vast majority of Republicans would very much like to see us do.
But a great many people on the Democratic side will not permit it, because there is short term gain for them to be had by fanning the flames of this sort of animosity and divisiveness. And black people continue to cheer them along in this, even though it helps to sustain their own ongoing demise.
It does want you, as much as it wants anyone else.
It just does not want the chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that some black people
bring along with them,
People of all ethnicities can have chips on their shoulder. Black folks, especially those who are older or poorer, have legitimate reason to.
Quote:
or the lack of skills, training and basic education.
Those who show these attributes are often the least responsible for having them. You can't blame kids in crappy schools for being mis- and undereducated.
In any case, my point is that 1) there is something "we" can do to help and 2) there is something that black people need to do to help themselves.
Quote:
1) The part that "we" can do is to provide a better process for effective
education and training, which has been shown to be the primary driver of
economic advancement and success. The Democrats are the ones standing in the way
of that at this point, as it would require change, and that would upset the
teacher's unions financial arrangements, which they are opposed to.
Right. And the Republicans - starting with Ronald Reagan - haven't been the ones to destroy funding for education. Right?
Quote:
2) And, as I hope you can see, there is also something that black people have to
do. Which is to be enthusiastic about being absorbed into the larger culture of
our melting pot society, rather than to continue to voluntarily segregate
themselves in their hearts and minds according to their skin color (with
the strong encouragement of the Democrats of course).
This is simply idiotic - there is no other way to say it. The tens of thousands of African Americans who have been killed in action fighting for this country - most of them in a segregated, Jim Crow military - is just one of countless examples of how much we've wanted to become part of the "melting pot," as well as another example of how it's never really been enough. As I've said ad nauseum - it's not us who set up the color bar or the color hierarchy or white supremacy in America.
Quote:
This second part is not primarily a physical segregation, it is a mental
segregation. It is this ongoing obsession that many back people have in
identifying themselves by their skin color, first and foremost. And they are
doing it to themselves. The very idea that we are segregated into different
races is false and it is an idea that is fundamentally racist to the core. In
fact, that sort of thinking is what racism fundamentally is.
See above.
Quote:
To take that one more step, the idea passively accepted by many black people
that they are part of an apparently inferior race is the worst kind of racism.
This is truly crippling many people in the black community. They need to free
themselves from this bondage, because it is just not true. And that is the key
that is being overlooked on this particular point: they have to free themselves,
as this is a bondage that exists in their own minds. As a result, it is not
possible for anyone else to do it for them. They have to proactively take the
next step and free themselves, which means letting go of their obsession with an
identity based on their skin color or as the descendents of former slaves.
See above.
Quote:
In fact, the idea that we are divided into different races based on variances in
our skin pigmentation is patently absurd. There is only one race, the human
race. Unfortunately, there are those who continue to undermine efforts to enable
people to move towards this sort of racial ambivalence and mutual acceptance.
Those people are the ones who continue to promote and inflame racial tensions
and divisions among us, especially right before election time. And it is not
Republicans that are doing that. This must stop if we are ever going to get past
this nonsense, which I and the vast majority of Republicans would very much like
to see us do.
This is getting more and more absurd.
Quote:
But a great many people on the Democratic side will not permit it, because there
is short term gain for them to be had by fanning the flames of this sort of
animosity and divisiveness. And black people continue to cheer them along in
this, even though it helps to sustain their own ongoing demise.
The only entity facing demise is the Republican Party. Black folks will always be here.
Aren't blacks more in line with republicans socially on issues such as Christian values, traditional marriage, etc. When has it ever occur that a gay couple walk into a stage when nearly full black audience and the couple gets warm welcome?
How do blacks reconcile that and vote the other way?
Why does no one do this with any other group? This second guessing thing. I'm a white Republican and I'd never think to ask the black members of my local party these obnoxious questions.
People will identify with X for myriad reasons; respect it and move along.
America is a conservative country, not just the black people, don't pick us out. Look at the Hispanics and the whites who refuse gays in greater numbers, we are a minority here too!
Black Americans are not liberals, we are really conservatives, the majority go to church in far higher numbers than any other ethnic groups. In fact, most don't eat pork and don't do half of the sexual things white people will do.
Black people don't see gay rights as civil rights we see it as a civil wrong. We are religious and religion tells us that homosexual marriage should not be encouraged. 1 man and 1 women is what it says.
The only reason we do not vote for conservatives is because they offer nothing for inner city and urban people.
I was with you until your last statement. Thats where the connect is lost. Conservatives believe in getting goverment out of the way so the individual can do for themselves. If you want the republican party to do stuff for the inner city then they are no better than demacrats. People should want less goverment in thier way. Less regulations and red tape to start a business in thier town and inner city, less taxes on that money they make, and less decrimination and preceived favortism. Your business should succeed because its needed and ran right not because of who you know and gave you money.
I was with you until your last statement. Thats where the connect is lost. Conservatives believe in getting goverment out of the way so the individual can do for themselves. If you want the republican party to do stuff for the inner city then they are no better than demacrats. People should want less goverment in thier way. Less regulations and red tape to start a business in thier town and inner city, less taxes on that money they make, and less decrimination and preceived favortism. Your business should succeed because its needed and ran right not because of who you know and gave you money.
Conservatives believe in getting government out of the way so that corrupt wealthy interests can take advantage of people at will.
As for the opening post... it really amazes me that ANYBODY could think that black people would vote for today's republican party. I mean, between the endless stream of racism and constant scheming to redistribute wealth upward, I'm surprised even 2-3% of black people vote Republican.
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