[Archetype_wyo]

Quote:       Originally Posted by troy2000

I don't think any schools particularly hide the fact that there were contacts before Columbus. It would have been amazing had there not been. but what did the Vikings add to our history? What did the Chinese add? What did either of them set into motion or leave behind, and how did their presence in the Americas shape our modern world? The modern history of this place effectively starts with Columbus, not with Vikings or Chinese. Nor do the schools or history book particularly whitewash Columbus, as far as I've seen. Even back in the fifties and sixties when I was in school, they didn't make a plaster saint out of him; he was a product of his times. And as far as I can see, he was no worse than the Conquistadors who followed him. It was a pretty brutal milieu he lived in, and we don't have to admire everything about him to admire him for being a stubborn, persuasive visionary who managed a pretty amazing feat. I'm not disowning Columbus for being a fortune hunter instead of a philanthropist, any more than I'm disowning our Constitution because a good number of the men who wrote it were slave owners. I judge historical figures by their time, not ours.

The Vikings gave the Canadians fried ham(canadian bacon) and Molson 3-0. Oh can't forget red hair!!! lolz j/k

[Coeloptera]

[QUOTE=Seabeescotty;949902]Why is it, that we Americans who aren't black, brown, etc., are the only ones labeled racist? Try opening anything for us only, and see how far you get. But they have all kinds of "black only" programs, institutions, and organizations. Notice the "racist " commments made by black entertainers and politicians? I have, but I've never seen them called down for it. QUOTE]

Well, I pretty much explained it.

If we had never had slavery, then we wouldn't have "blacks" at all. We'd have Kenyan-Americans, Zaire-Americans, Senegalese-Americans, blah-blah-blah.

So it's sort of a side-effect of that population's inability to have any preexisting national or "racial" identity in a nation of immigrants that tend to have just that to some extent. Notice, in Africa proper, nobody is "black" unless they share a nation with other races, like South Africa.

They wouldn't be killing each other over divisions Americans wouldn't even perceive, like the Hutu and Tutsi.

Also, the very real power and social imbalances that existed until fairly recently have a bit to do with it. One just can't ignore the fact that it's been only about 50 years since the big Civil Rights movement of the 60s. Like it or not, non-whites (and even some people now included in "white" who didn't used to be) are only fairly recently given equal footing. That's something real, rational social liberals look forward to, the near-elimination of race as a remarkable trait.

BET and Jet Magazine and such were created because at the time, a black person couldn't see people like them in the media. It just wasn't there. But as what we see becomes more representative of what's really out there, they will become relics, after a fashion.

And you know plenty of black people get labeled racist. Sharpton gets that lobbed his way (in my opinion, often deservedly) fairly often. There is still a bit of a reluctance to call real racist minorities on it because for a long time, they were the victims of it. But as things inch more and more towards true equality, there are less current injustices to hide behind and they get called out on it more and more.

I happen to like that. The more truly equal we all are, the less room the real racists of any stripe have to try and deflect it.

- Coeloptera

[Seabeescotty]

I grew up dirt poor, and didn't even realize it til I was in my thirties. My parents gave me such a wonderful childhood, what I didn't have didn't matter. The poison of the past continues to be taught to the young, and that is part of the problem. Another part of the problem is the sense of entitlement so many have come hold in their minds. My ancestors were slaves, so I'm entitled to everything, without the need to work for it! Sorry, but that don't cut it anymore! I worked for, and earned every little bit that I call mine, and everyone else ought to do the same, regardless of skin color. By the way, I'm a quarter Cherokee, and my family faced discrimination, too. But we got over it, and persevered to endeavour!

[shop tom]

Are any descendants of the Africans who sold members of their own race into slavery going to apologize??


tom

[Seabeescotty]

Funny you should mention that. The folks don't like to discuss HOW their ancestors got sold into slavery, because they don't see any money in it! Make the white man pay! I even heard that shouted out on the MSM!

[Coeloptera]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Seabeescotty

Funny you should mention that. The folks don't like to discuss HOW their ancestors got sold into slavery, because they don't see any money in it! Make the white man pay! I even heard that shouted out on the MSM!

+1

Yeah, some people act like it was all one big happy cultural exchange-fest back there. While it is true that some of the more advanced African civilizations were damaged by colonial powers with greater military might, plenty of tribes and nations were rounding up their enemies and finding a convenient way to get rid of them and get some goods in the bargain.

I mentioned the Hutu and Tutsi. Stuff like that should pretty much put the idea of cross-cultural love as the rule to bed.

I have to agree with your statement about education. That applies across the board. Teach minorities that at least some of the barriers they face are created by some people of their race as an excuse to fail. The "bucket of crabs" is still an unfortunate reality in some places. At the same time, work from the other end to ensure that those not in the minority do not make any automatic assumptions about someone simply because of their race.

In my mind, that's all that's needed. Nothing so much as just genuinely leveling the playing field and making sure that nobody is unfairly blocked from opportunity, as opposed to giving it to people. That's what people like Dr. King genuinely wanted.

Anyone seen that episode of The Boondocks wherein in an in-show fictional story, Dr. King was just in a coma and woke up recently? He made the greatest rant ever about some of the failings of black culture (that Aaron MacGruder, the creator of The Boondocks) compared to what he and others fought so hard for.

Please be aware, some NSFW language in the clip below, including the n-word, said by a black actor portraying Dr. King.

YouTube - Boondocks MLK speech

YouTube - Boondocks MLK speech

- Coeloptera

[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Seabeescotty

Funny you should mention that. The folks don't like to discuss HOW their ancestors got sold into slavery, because they don't see any money in it! Make the white man pay! I even heard that shouted out on the MSM!

Well slavery was very common from the beginning of known history (say 6,000 years ago with the ancient Egyptians) all the way up to a few hundred years ago.

I think the one of the most looked down things upon us is the fact that we were one of the last "civilized" nations to not abolish slavery.

Was it right? Nope, sure wasn't.

Are there slaves still to this day in our country?

Yes, if you consider all of us being slaves to debt controlled by the rich bankers.

[Seabeescotty]

Finally! Agreement! Thank you, it brought a tear to my eye, that we CAN agree on something other than guns!

[tlarkin]

Well we can't hold people accountable for what their ancestors did. I mean do we hate German people we meet because 60 years ago some of their grandparents may have been in the Nazi party? No, that is ridiculous. I mean everyone's ancestors have been conquered at one point or another. Since, my ancestry comes from germanic Europe, am I to hate all Nordic, Vikings and the Romans for conquering and enslaving my ancestors? Nope, that is just way too ridiculous.

What we did in america is switch the plantation owner to the banker. Now we are all slaves to the banks. No matter what you do in life with your money, the bank always wins. Even if you win, the bank still wins.

[blaster]

^#1

[Coeloptera]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Seabeescotty

Finally! Agreement! Thank you, it brought a tear to my eye, that we CAN agree on something other than guns!

Well, of course we can. Nobody here (to my knowledge) wants any racism to exist in our society. The real goal of people like us is genuine equality of opportunity. Succeed or fail on your own merits only.

After all, guns are the great equalizer.

- Coeloptera

[Seabeescotty]

I would like nothing more than to see all the racial slurs, discrimination, and hate go away. But, since the early seventies, I have been made to pay for what other folks did, a couple hundred years ago. Reverse discrimination is alive and well, in these Unired States. I've mentioned before, being refused a job because I happened to be lighter skinned than other applicants. Let's make it ALL go away, and have everyone compete on their merits. Now there's a dream.......