Post-Election Thoughts
On Race, Racism, and Political Correctness
Cavemen love their Church, their families, and their country. We are conservative in our religion, preferring orthodoxy in practice and 1,500 years of tradition over 40 years of novelty in our liturgy. We are, likewise, conservative in our politics, preferring less government and more freedom.
You’ve probably guessed, but I didn’t vote for Barack Obama and, in fact, don’t like him having any role in the political structure of America. However, because all government comes from God, I will obey him and give him the honor (Rom. 13: 1, 7) he – or at least the office he holds -- deserves after he becomes president in January.
Some blacks took offense that Obama called himself “African-American,” because, they said, that term applied to the ancestors of slaves who did not know what country or tribe they descended from after their forefathers were captured and sold into slavery by Moslems or rival tribe members. If others are called Irish-American or Mexican-American, why isn’t Obama a Kenyan-American? He knows where his father came from.
It doesn’t bother me that most of the blacks in America voted for Obama, their half-black candidate. Most Catholics voted for Kennedy (of course, back then, most Catholics were Democrats), most Mormons voted for George Romney when he ran, most Southerners voted for Jimmy ‘the Peanut’ Carter, the first Southern candidate since the Civil War. It’s human nature to want one of your own elected to the top position. But all the Catholics, all the Mormons, and all the Southerners alone couldn’t have won an election. Similarly, the blacks, who only make up 13% of the U.S. population, did not elect Obama by themselves.
Obviously, many whites voted for Obama because the hated the war in Iraq, they blamed Bush for the bad economy (an event triggered by Carter and fueled by Clinton), or they bought into the idea of “change.” It bothers me that many white Americans supposedly voted for Obama out of guilt (something his campaign took full advantage of) over slavery. Slavery – one man thinking he “owns” another human being – is a terrible sin. I’m sad it ever happened in America, but I don’t feel an ounce of guilt about something that ended 145 years ago, for which thousands of whites died to help stop, and for which I was not personally involved. I feel ashamed, but not guilty, for the years of segregation and discrimination that still existed, but thankfully ended, in my lifetime.
It still bothers me that Obama attended a church pastored by his mentor for 20 years where the congregation shouted approval for wishing America (and I assume that meant white Americans) was in hell. (What do you think, “G—damn America” means?)
What I want to know, are the blacks satisfied they are no loner victims of racism (and will put a rest to the silly idea that America owes them reparations for slavery) and did the liberal whites have their corporate guilt assuaged so that part of history is behind them?
On Race, Racism, and Political Correctness
Cavemen love their Church, their families, and their country. We are conservative in our religion, preferring orthodoxy in practice and 1,500 years of tradition over 40 years of novelty in our liturgy. We are, likewise, conservative in our politics, preferring less government and more freedom.
You’ve probably guessed, but I didn’t vote for Barack Obama and, in fact, don’t like him having any role in the political structure of America. However, because all government comes from God, I will obey him and give him the honor (Rom. 13: 1, 7) he – or at least the office he holds -- deserves after he becomes president in January.
Some blacks took offense that Obama called himself “African-American,” because, they said, that term applied to the ancestors of slaves who did not know what country or tribe they descended from after their forefathers were captured and sold into slavery by Moslems or rival tribe members. If others are called Irish-American or Mexican-American, why isn’t Obama a Kenyan-American? He knows where his father came from.
It doesn’t bother me that most of the blacks in America voted for Obama, their half-black candidate. Most Catholics voted for Kennedy (of course, back then, most Catholics were Democrats), most Mormons voted for George Romney when he ran, most Southerners voted for Jimmy ‘the Peanut’ Carter, the first Southern candidate since the Civil War. It’s human nature to want one of your own elected to the top position. But all the Catholics, all the Mormons, and all the Southerners alone couldn’t have won an election. Similarly, the blacks, who only make up 13% of the U.S. population, did not elect Obama by themselves.
Obviously, many whites voted for Obama because the hated the war in Iraq, they blamed Bush for the bad economy (an event triggered by Carter and fueled by Clinton), or they bought into the idea of “change.” It bothers me that many white Americans supposedly voted for Obama out of guilt (something his campaign took full advantage of) over slavery. Slavery – one man thinking he “owns” another human being – is a terrible sin. I’m sad it ever happened in America, but I don’t feel an ounce of guilt about something that ended 145 years ago, for which thousands of whites died to help stop, and for which I was not personally involved. I feel ashamed, but not guilty, for the years of segregation and discrimination that still existed, but thankfully ended, in my lifetime.
It still bothers me that Obama attended a church pastored by his mentor for 20 years where the congregation shouted approval for wishing America (and I assume that meant white Americans) was in hell. (What do you think, “G—damn America” means?)
What I want to know, are the blacks satisfied they are no loner victims of racism (and will put a rest to the silly idea that America owes them reparations for slavery) and did the liberal whites have their corporate guilt assuaged so that part of history is behind them?
posted by Former Altar Boy at
4:02 PM
15 Comments:
Thousands of whites did not die to help stop slavery. I'm sorry, but the Civil War was fought for other reasons, and those soldiers enlisted (or were drafted) to defend their country and preserve the Union. Even if they had, ending an evil practice does not somehow make up for it.
You should certainly not feel guilty about slavery or or discrimination. But you sound like a good Christian, and yet you seem to dismiss the injustice today that arises out of slavery and discrimination--injustice which you benefit from every day, and which blacks suffer from. This is the point of reparations, not to compensate anyone for what happened to others long ago.
And while I'm ranting, if you'd listened to Rev. Wright's sermon, you'd know that "G__damn America" most certainly does not mean that he wished the United States were in hell.
In fact, the sermon went on and on about what a wonderful country America is, for its ability to constant change and strive for Christian justice on earth. If his words in one instant were hateful, in describing how America once treated its citizens, he was still praising the country for rising above that horrible time.
I'm quite certain that blacks do feel satisfied that they are no longer victims of racism, because so much of what was true last week is still true. As for liberal whites, I doubt most of them ever felt guilt, and I'm sure few of them feel that the legacy of that history magically vanished on Election Day.
FAB: Outstanding post! Well done!
As to James:
I will be more then happy to pay for reparations out of my tax dollars to Black Americans. In fact, I will be the first to do this....after the Italian Government pays me reparations for having inslaved my people (those warrior tribes from Western Europe) 2,000 years ago. My people were taken back to Rome in chains, to work as slaves, or as soldiers for the Empire.
That is a polite way to say to all of Black America...Go pound sand!
How nice of you, PreVat2.
You believe our society should deny justice to its own citizens, because another society hasn't made up for its past?
You believe that our nation shouldn't make up for its own actions, because another nation, in another part of the world, hasn't done so?
This argument doesn't even depend on pointing out that you no longer suffer inequality as a result of your ancestors' treatment 2,000 years ago.
You do, however, enjoy the benefits of slavery and the slave trade, even today. And black families today still suffer the consequences of those institutions.
Discriminatory practices have NOT ended. Some that used to be mandated by law are no longer, but they continue. Their practicioners have decreased to a very small and justly vilified minority, but they are not yet gone. I've seen T-shirts with a "Whities" logo (ripped off from General Mills, and sure to make Bruce Jenner and Mary Lou Retton sick) and others for "The ORIGINAL Boys In The Hood: The KKK."
But the message that discriminatory practices have decreased is almost never heard from the MSM-approved Black leadership, and anyone suggesting that Blacks contribute to their own problems, just like everyone else, gets vilified. I expect Obama to act as though Blacks are far more persecuted than they are, and that the rest of the taxpayers in America owe every person in America with any African ancestry a plutocrat's lifestyle. Certainly Farrakhan, Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, et al, expect him to do so.
The most vocal MSM-approved Black leaders will never allow racism to be forgiven. They will not rest until they have REVENGE and lots of it.
Every race/people have suffered slavery at some point in their history.
Reparations will only continue the myth that a black person cannot "make it" in American--which is balderdash.
I expect Obama to act as though Blacks are far more persecuted than they are ...
Why? In writing and speaking on race, Obama has consistently said that our nation has made tremendous progress, that attitudes have changed dramatically, and that things are much better than they were. He also goes out of his way to say that blacks can contribute to their own problems, must avoid victimhood, and need to accept responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities.
...and that the rest of the taxpayers in America owe every person in America with any African ancestry a plutocrat's lifestyle.
Again, why?
Obama has consistently opposed the idea of reparations for slavery, or any unjust enrichment for blacks.
Reparations will only continue the myth that a black person cannot "make it" in American--which is balderdash.
Of course, blacks can make it in the U.S. Who says otherwise?
What people are saying is that it's much harder to make it if you start out with much less. And that on average, black families start out with much, much less as a result of our history of slavery and racial discrimination.
James,
Tell you what: Instead of handing over my hard earned money from the sweat of my own brow, how about I provide the crack or weed, there-by cutting out the middle-man?
Reparations are BS, and you know it James. The decendents of slaves in the U.S. need to shut the hell up, pick themselves up from the couch, get to work, and move ahead.
If that doesn't work, how about you cutting the check yourself?
PreVat2, no one is talking about cutting anyone any checks.
But all Americans are sitting on the benefits of slavery, such as our nation's world-class economy and high standard of living, and black families are dramatically behind as a result of slavery and discrimination.
To say, as you do, that these families just need to work that much harder than white families, and catch up on their own while the white families enjoy the benefits of slavery, is appalling.
But then, you seem to believe that blacks are addicted to drugs and sit around on the couch all day. Or am I misreading you?
"Vir Speluncae Catholicus," it's unfortunate that the schools you attended didn't teach you:
- that the phrase "involuntary servitude" in the 13th Amendment didn't refer to indentured servitude;
- that very few white Americans are descended from indentured servants;
- that indentured servants didn't suffer most of the harm that slaves did;
- that the Civil War wasn't fought to end slavery.
I won't even touch your belief that some Americans shouldn't be judged by the standards of other Americans, but rather by the condition of people in Africa.
James,
You post wonderfully illustrates your lack of understanding of American history (and your tendancy to attempt to put words in other peoples mouths).
- that the phrase "involuntary servitude" in the 13th Amendment didn't refer to indentured servitude;
Gee, slavery was already mentioned, and it obviously refered to Black slaves. It's a historical fact that Indentured Servitude was used upon poor White Europeans to gain passage to America, and the ensuing interest on this debt was of such a magnitude, that the individual would lead his entire life in a state of indentured/involuntary servitude. So great was the interest gained, that when the debtor died, the "debt" was passed onto the oldest child, thus ensuring generational slavery.
That exactly is was "involuntary servitude" was referring to. Surely you learned that.
- that very few white Americans are descended from indentured servants;
I can't force you to recognize the obvious. But the thousands of German and Welsh Indentured Servants may disagree with your 21st Century classroom indoctrination. And even well over 140 years later, it's glaringly obvious that there were two groups held in bondage at the time of the passing of the 13th Amdt: Black slaves and White indentured servants. Again, I can't force you to recognize the obvious, but there simply MUST be a reason that BOTH slavery and involuntary servitude was mentioned with equality in the 13th Amdmt.
- that indentured servants didn't suffer most of the harm that slaves did;
Tell that to the indentured servants. Things must have sucked pretty badly to have an entire Amendment to the US Constituition free them. And I must ask; your comment is based on what, exactly? Of course, other than an off-handed comment by a politically agenda driven Ward Churchill wannabe.
- that the Civil War wasn't fought to end slavery.
I don't recall saying that. But again, it was obvious that in the latter years of the Lincoln Administation that abolition of slavery was loudly proclaimed as one of the stated goals of the War Between The States.
I won't even touch your belief that some Americans shouldn't be judged by the standards of other Americans, but rather by the condition of people in Africa.
Yet you consistantly bemoan the imagined "poor state" of Blacks in this country. I'd like to remind you that Whites got shit on (and continue to be shit upon) by others in this country. Have you been to Appalachia lately?
But as I stated before, no race or ethnicity has a monopoly on suffering. To that, I'll add that everyone got dumped on at some point in time. Getting taken advantage of isn't soley for Blacks. Like I said, everyone gets dumped on. Playing the "Oh, woe is me" card is getting tiresome.
Your own words; "But all Americans are sitting on the benefits of slavery...". Does the "everyone" include Blacks? Yes it does. Hence, my reference to the state of Blacks in present day Africa.
But then, you seem to believe that blacks are all living in a state of abject poverty and are incapable of rising above being addicted to drugs and sitting around on the couch all day, because of mean ol' Whitey. Or am I misreading you?
So great was the interest gained, that when the debtor died, the "debt" was passed onto the oldest child, thus ensuring generational slavery.
Actually, the historical truth is just the opposite: not only was indentured servitude not inter-generational, but in fact it was for a fixed term of service, not even for the life of the servant.
That exactly is was "involuntary servitude" was referring to.
No, the 13th Amendment was outlawing only slavery by the phrase "involuntary servitude." Indentured servants were considered to be in voluntary servitude, however hard the choice may have been.
Tell that to the indentured servants. Things must have sucked pretty badly to have an entire Amendment to the US Constituition free them. And I must ask; your comment is based on what, exactly?
Do you seriously think that the 13th Amendment was intended to free indentured servants, rather than the slaves?
As for what my comment was based on, enslaved Africans in the U.S. were stripped of their language, culture, and religion. They were freely sold and moved from place to place without their families, and were often beaten, raped, and even bred as commodities. All of this was lawful, and that's not true of indentured servants.
I don't recall saying that.
You said, "I'm also a descendant of one of those thousands of Whites who died to end both Black and White slavery."
If you didn't mean that thousands died during the Civil War to end slavery, what did you mean?
In any case, those who died on the Union side in the Civil War enlisted, or were drafted, to preserve the Union or to defend their country. Most of them could not have died to end slavery, because that didn't even become a Union war aim until well into the conflict, after most soldiers had joined.
I'll add that everyone got dumped on at some point in time.
Yes, but few groups were officially "dumped on" by the United States of America. And even fewer can say that the U.S. and its citizens retain the benefits of that treatment to this day.
Does the "everyone" include Blacks? Yes it does.
Yes, it certainly does. Of course, no one can deny that blacks have received far, far less of those benefits than whites have, and that blacks are far from achieving equality with whites.
Hence, my reference to the state of Blacks in present day Africa.
"Hence"? What's the connection between Americans benefiting today from slavery, and singling out black Americans to compare to people in another part of the world? Is that comparison about anything other than a similarity of race?
you seem to believe that blacks are all living in a state of abject poverty and are incapable of rising above being addicted to drugs and sitting around on the couch all day, because of mean ol' Whitey. Or am I misreading you?
You're certainly misreading me. I don't believe any of those things.
It's demonstrably true, however, that blacks are, on average, still a very long way from catching up to whites, after starting with almost nothing when slavery ended.
Is this far? Is it right? If our society still has the benefits of slavery, is this just?
I am so sick of seeing Leftists come out of the wood work and continuously refer to their divisive and self-centered ideologies as "just." If you want to be an activist and advance some idiotic pet cause, then fine, unfortunately it is your right to do so in this country. However, just because you believe your ideology is the panacea for the country and the world, that doesn't mean that in actuality your cause is just.
James, you are obviously an ideologue and a person with an axe to grind. You are also an example of everything that is wrong with this country and a representation of the type of populist movements which will inevitably destory this country. Contrary to your assertion of justice, it seems to me that it is decidedly unjust to use the power of the state to hurt an innocent group of people by stealing their property in order that the government can then benefit another group of people by giving them that stolen property. Also, I reject the very notion that most people living today directly or indirectly benefit from past slavery or past or present racial discrimination. It may certainly be the case that a particular group of people were persecuted under the institution of slavery and/or a subsequent discriminatory political system, but that does not mean that those peoples disadvantage resulted in a quantifiable advantage being gained to the groups that were not being persecuted. To paint with such a broad brush is ridiculous and is an unproveable. Most people, including myself, would not be able to identify any material benefit they have gained at the expense of a black person being enslaved in 1855, or sprayed with a fire hose in 1965. I would also tend to reject your hypothesis that the main reason black people as a group are lagging other groups on the life success indicators is slavery and racial discrimination. I would tend to agree with those black conservatives like Alan Keyes and Clarence Thomas who identify the collapse of the black family as being a relatively recent phenomenon and as being directly caused by white liberals and the welfare state.
And to tell you the truth, James, your attempt to defend Jeremiah Wright, who as a I understand it advances that false religion called black liberation theology, reveals what you are. You are someone that represents an ideology that needs to be defeated at the polls every year if this country is going to make it to the 22nd century.
James,
Per your question: "But then, you seem to believe that blacks are addicted to drugs and sit around on the couch all day. Or am I misreading you?" Answer: Look at the American prison (State & Federal) population. Case closed.
Both VSC, Confiteor spoke truthfully about the past and current situation regarding slavery. I will just add that I simply do not give a damn about the sins of the past. It is over. I had nothing to do with it, but my people did fight for the North 147 years ago.
As for Wright and his ilk: Once again, they can all pound sand!
Semper Fi!
The only thing I will add to this conversation is the following:
To walk around complaining how crippled a people are and how unable they are to produce for themselves is to convict them to that end. There is only one regime that could benefit from telling a group of people they cannot do something without your help. That would be liberal democrats. The funny thing is this is the same exact crap that blacks used to hear from their Slave Masters. Chew on that for a while!
James,
You've just been given historical fact, and you've sluffed it off. You have absolutely zero references to back up the claims that you brought onto this blog.
You're obviously agenda driven. You obviously insist on playing the victimization card. You obviously have exceedingly poor reading comprehention (when I point out to you that in the latter years of the Lincoln Administaration, abolition was one of the stated goals... and that my anscestors died in that war, thus freeing ALL those in slavery. You keep insisting that I'm claiming that The War Between The States was fought to end slavery. Are you even reading the responses? Obviously not. Your agenda has blinded you.)
All that coupled with a Middle School arrogant attitude bring you oh-so close to having you losing the privledge of posting on this blog.
Tread lightly, James.
_____________________________
Confitior,
I would tend to agree with those black conservatives like Alan Keyes and Clarence Thomas who identify the collapse of the black family as being a relatively recent phenomenon and as being directly caused by white liberals and the welfare state.
Exactly. From the mid-1860's to the early 1960's, Blacks were overwhelmingly Republican. Even MLK was a registered Republican.
Not until the Victimization Pimps reared their ugly heads and brainwash a goodly number of American Blacks (and Whites) did Black join the Jackass Party in droves.
You know... I seem to recall that White, males, over 21, but WITHOUT land, at one poinbt in time didn't have the vote in this country.
Gee, I wonder exactly how much of America THEY built?
And where's my reparations check?
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