white guilt

[Anonymous]

AMEN PP. That was fabulous. Perhaps I should be thanking Bill Maher, though. Anyway, I would encourage people to move away from the idea of "white guilt", and move towards a realistic understanding of the role that race DOES play in people's lives. The comments made by the PP's who supported the OP's post, clearly indicate what people are "really thinking", and it does not at all indicate that racism is "dead". It does seem very important to attend to class and socio-economic status when making statements about educational attainment, etc. It seems that people who feel the need to separate things by race forget that detail. I am a white woman; I don't feel guilty for anything that has to do with my being white, I am however, ASHAMED of anybody who has such ignorant views of anyone else, based on such limited views of the world. It makes me sad actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AMEN PP. That was fabulous. Perhaps I should be thanking Bill Maher, though. Anyway, I would encourage people to move away from the idea of "white guilt", and move towards a realistic understanding of the role that race DOES play in people's lives. The comments made by the PP's who supported the OP's post, clearly indicate what people are "really thinking", and it does not at all indicate that racism is "dead". It does seem very important to attend to class and socio-economic status when making statements about educational attainment, etc. It seems that people who feel the need to separate things by race forget that detail. I am a white woman; I don't feel guilty for anything that has to do with my being white, I am however, ASHAMED of anybody who has such ignorant views of anyone else, based on such limited views of the world. It makes me sad actually.

what is racist in the op's post. It is an opinion that may have come off a little harsh for the sensitive type, not really pc, but pretty much all true.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
what is racist in the op's post. It is an opinion that may have come off a little harsh for the sensitive type, not really pc, but pretty much all true.

The entire premise of the article is that "the vast majority of white Americans didn’t give a fluff about skin color, and enthusiastically pulled the voting lever for a black man". In fact, only 43% of white voters voted for Barack Obama. That is not a "vast majority of white Americans"; it is not even a majority of white voters. So, that basically sets the levael with which we are dealing.

Consider this statement, "But if a black man can become President, exactly what significant barrier is left? The election of Barak Obama absolutely destroys the entire validation of liberal white guilt. The dragon is hereby slain." According to this, the only racist barrier faced by African Americans was an inability to be elected president. In fact, even a rudimentary understanding of of our society would show this to be untrue.

This statement is very racist, in my opinion, "All those 'black studies' programs that taught kids to hate whitey? You must now thank Whitey. And I want that on the final." The idea that this ignorant fool should dictate to college educated people of any race is absurd.

This statement is racist, in my opinion "You’re poor because you quit school, did drugs, had three kids with three different fathers, and refuse to work." This does not begin to describe the vast majority of African Americans.

The author criticizes a host of programs geared toward eliminating racial inequities, but then writes this, "In fact, Obama’s ascension created a gargantuan irony. How can you sell class envy and American unfairness when you and your black wife went to Ivy League schools, got high-paying jobs, became millionaires, bought a mansion, and got elected President?" The "gargantuan irony" is the fact that the author does not understand that without the programs he so despises, the chances of any of the above happening would have been virtually nil.

Ultimately, the biggest problem I have with the article is its underlying dishonesty. I doubt the author ever experienced a minute's worth of white guilt. Therefore, it's pretty contrived to suggest its time to get over it.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
what is racist in the op's post. It is an opinion that may have come off a little harsh for the sensitive type, not really pc, but pretty much all true.

The entire premise of the article is that "the vast majority of white Americans didn’t give a fluff about skin color, and enthusiastically pulled the voting lever for a black man". In fact, only 43% of white voters voted for Barack Obama. That is not a "vast majority of white Americans"; it is not even a majority of white voters. So, that basically sets the levael with which we are dealing.

Consider this statement, "But if a black man can become President, exactly what significant barrier is left? The election of Barak Obama absolutely destroys the entire validation of liberal white guilt. The dragon is hereby slain." According to this, the only racist barrier faced by African Americans was an inability to be elected president. In fact, even a rudimentary understanding of of our society would show this to be untrue.

This statement is very racist, in my opinion, "All those 'black studies' programs that taught kids to hate whitey? You must now thank Whitey. And I want that on the final." The idea that this ignorant fool should dictate to college educated people of any race is absurd.

This statement is racist, in my opinion "You’re poor because you quit school, did drugs, had three kids with three different fathers, and refuse to work." This does not begin to describe the vast majority of African Americans.

The author criticizes a host of programs geared toward eliminating racial inequities, but then writes this, "In fact, Obama’s ascension created a gargantuan irony. How can you sell class envy and American unfairness when you and your black wife went to Ivy League schools, got high-paying jobs, became millionaires, bought a mansion, and got elected President?" The "gargantuan irony" is the fact that the author does not understand that without the programs he so despises, the chances of any of the above happening would have been virtually nil.

Ultimately, the biggest problem I have with the article is its underlying dishonesty. I doubt the author ever experienced a minute's worth of white guilt. Therefore, it's pretty contrived to suggest its time to get over it.

over 90 percent of AA voted for Obama, does that make them racist?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
over 90 percent of AA voted for Obama, does that make them racist?

Wow, that's pretty weak. But, no, it does not make them racist. The vast majority of African Americans always votes for the Democratic nominee who -- until this year -- was always white. As has been pointed out, when a black Republican ran for the Senate in Maryland, African Americans voted for the white Democrat. There is example after example in which African Americans have supported a white candidate that better represented their interests over a black candidate.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
over 90 percent of AA voted for Obama, does that make them racist?

Wow, that's pretty weak. But, no, it does not make them racist. The vast majority of African Americans always votes for the Democratic nominee who -- until this year -- was always white. As has been pointed out, when a black Republican ran for the Senate in Maryland, African Americans voted for the white Democrat. There is example after example in which African Americans have supported a white candidate that better represented their interests over a black candidate.

Please enlighten me on those examples. I can only come up with Philly, DC and Houston. Please refresh my memory.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
over 90 percent of AA voted for Obama, does that make them racist?

Wow, that's pretty weak. But, no, it does not make them racist. The vast majority of African Americans always votes for the Democratic nominee who -- until this year -- was always white. As has been pointed out, when a black Republican ran for the Senate in Maryland, African Americans voted for the white Democrat. There is example after example in which African Americans have supported a white candidate that better represented their interests over a black candidate.

Agree with Jeff, also, does anyone know the percentage of African who voted for Kerry in 2004. I am willing to bet its in the high 80s, same for Gore and Clinton.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
Please enlighten me on those examples. I can only come up with Philly, DC and Houston. Please refresh my memory.

I already cited the Maryland Senate race. One very well known example was this year a House race in Tennessee. You can read the details here:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/07/cohen-takes-early-lead-over-tinker-towns-jr/

If these are not enough examples, do your own research.