Unfortunately, I don't think there is a "typical white person" or "typical black person"...

[elixir]

I understand what Sen. Obama was trying to do, but, it came out all wrong. He was trying to clarify his statement about his grandmother and he dug himself in a deep hole back to the 1960s. If he wants to talk openly about race he needs to drop the stereotypes.

[peace13]

1. Many.... would be the word to have used, but that sounds bad too.

The irony of the situation is that the white people that object the loudest to this statement are probably the ones who identify most with it! As a white person who lives in a white place I hear what he was saying. Obama will educate us if we let him.

[elixir]

13. So anyone who objects to the stereotyping of whites and/or blacks are part of the stereotype?

That's kind of convoluted but I'll play along. So, if I don't object to the classification of whites being typical or atypical then I don't fall into...

Hmmm, I guess I need some more coffee to get through that one.

[TwilightGardener]

2. He meant that his grandmother was typical, normal, in her fears

and suspicions about strange black men--not racist, but typical for being a white lady of her generation. If anyone pretends that little old white ladies aren't often afraid of black men, because of the way they've been historically portrayed as criminals, then they're being dishonest. Obama is saying she's wrong, but not racist. It came out inartfully, but anyone with a brain knew what he meant, and his campaign corrected it almost immediately.

[elixir]

4. I don't buy it, and if it was OK why did his campaign have to correct it.

by saying the "typical white person" Obama is implying there's a atypical white person. so what's the definition of typical? I think in this instance it is someone who, in the least, suspicious and fearful of blacks. what is the typcal black person, one who is angry and aggressive towards whites? No, we know that's not true. So don't paint whites into a box, we don't need one.

[Drachasor]

5. His campaign had to correct it because of politics

There was a bad reaction to it, so politically a correction had to be made. It can happen even when you speak the truth, and that's a sad fact about politics.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Clearly, he was speaking of a common feature of older white generations

and their mistrust or fear of black people. He wasn't trying to define all white people, he was saying that his grandmother was normal for her time. Hell, I am in my 30's, and I was very afraid of the black men in my bad neighborhood when I was a downtown college girl, living in my first apartment--they sometimes called to me when I was alone on the street, even followed me. It's taken me a while to get over that. I imagine, since he's both black and white, he'd point to blacks who came of age at the same time as his grandma as being typically mistrustful of whites--that's the honesty that Obama speaks with, and it's not PC, but he knows both communities. A few weeks ago, someone on DU was upset that Obama spoke to the black community in a supposedly condescending way, by advocating personal responsibility and good parenting. So now he's a racist both ways, I guess? Please. He loves Rev. Wright, he loves the black community, he loves his little old grandma, he loves white people, he doesn't have a mean or racist bone in his body. To keep beating on this is absurd--anyone who is forced all week to talk about race is going to say something that doesn't come out PC. I'd like to see Hillary or McCain go through this minefield and come out without a single error.

[robbedvoter]

3. That's because you didn't see the light - it's "post racial society" stuff

or isn't it? :sarcasm:

[ShortnFiery]

6. Unlike Colbert EVERYONE mentally *stereotypes* via the brown paper back criterion.

Don't tell me you don't do it because .... we ALL do!

"The Brown Paper Bag" was the criterion in Jim Crow South to categorize people.

We STILL do this stereotyping, either sub-conscious or conscious and behave accordingly.

WE ALL STEREO-TYPE groups of people partly based on our past experience. To deny that FACT is to be insincere to oneself.

The key is to be able to reflect on those stereotypes and treat "the individual" with equal respect.

AS HUMANS we are forced *to stereotype* or else we would not be able to function in the world.

However, correlation doesn't PROVE causation.

Nobody should be derided for STEREOTYPING, it's what you do with that perception when interacting with others and to being open to revising that stereotype from time to time and treating every other human with dignity.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Welcome back, ShortnFiery.

:hi:

[ShortnFiery]

11. Thank-you kindly Straight Shooter.

It's nice to catch you here. :hi:

[gravity]

8. You are just nitpicking

It didn't come out wrong and we knew what he was conveying just fine

[Johnny__Motown]

9. Yes he said it wrong,,, should be "a typical attitude held by many whites in the '60s"

[arrested_president]

12. America Is A Sea Of Typical White People (and, worse)

that i swim thru everyday

you have the luxury to think most white people aren't typical but, you don't mind seeing slave-owners on our money no more than MOST white people here

in fact, most haven't even bothered to notice how horrible that is - because they're too busy celebrating these slave owners birthdays and naming cities and states, etc after them

then, they wanna rebut when someone mentions it

typical white people - racist, in varying degrees - from moderately pleasant with it, to foam-at-the-mouth with it

but, it's ever present to those of us who DO NOT have the luxury not to notice all those typical white people we have to live amongst

[ej510]

14. I agree cellebrating the racist founding fathers.

They murdered, raped, molested, and enslaved blacks and a damn near extinct a race of people the native americans.

[arrested_president]

15. this doesn't offend typical white people

they PLASTER these slave-owners and Indian killers EVERYWHERE

stamps
movies
streets
libraries
parks
states
corporations
schools
awards
commemorative paraphernalia - plates, etc.
coins
bills
holidays
etc.

basically, they have done EVERYTHING they can to rub our noses in it and NEVER let it go away - they even let crackas wave the dixie flag - instead of making it illegal

they way they do for everything that offends Jewish people

they don't have to see nazis or swastikas on their money and we better NOT celebrate - and, i don't blame them

AND, if someone put, a nazi on a coin - typical white people would shut them down - but, typical white people won't protect US from our own HOLOCAUST (that their ancestors wrought upon us in the first place)

we lost many more millions than they did in Germany - so, we should as least qualify for some basic human compassion

but, typical white people only have compassion for white people

that's why they're typical

then, they start offensive posts like this, as if they have any moral ground to stand upon in such matters

typical

and, i mean LIBERAL whites, too - them especially - the morally and spiritually and politically correct sickening hypocrite ones who post in places like this

[blues90]

16. It is ALL a bunch of hog wash !

I am so sick of the Masses and their ideas of what is what and who said what and what it meant when everything can be twisted a hundred different ways .

If people would learn the think before they spoke there would not be half the problems there are now . What are the Masses , I get the impression they are people with minds of their own who are under the microscope of the scholar to be studied and placed into groups then books are written about them and this is what we are told we are .

Everyone is wary about something , it's a built in protection device in the brain . More than for any other reason what creates the judgment and separation in society is class-ism more so in this point in time than any other . There are rich and famous of all races and they put themselves above anyone else . This goes down the line to the poorest soul on earth and back up again . It works all ways in all directions .

If Anyone thinks that suddenly or at anytime soon race will not be an issue then it will be as loud mouth Randi said more than a year ago , it will be when there is inter racial breeding until everyone is the same color .

I do know Obama is his speech said he was not under the illusion that one presidents term or two or three will change this issue of racism .

Most of all politicians are all liars with their own personal goals and what we have now is a complete macabre of a joke . It is no different that the trickle down theory in it's function which does not work , it has to come from the people , from the bottom up in order for anything to ever change , not from the political rantings from the hill with some lame admiration and idea that they will suddenly turn on the light and all will just be fine some day .

Who would want to be president right now , only one who desired the power . They know damn well they are not going to change one thing . Then in 4 or 8 years down the road someone else sits in that seat and we begin all over again .

It is proven now that our system is broken in the fact that bush is still in office after all he and his criminal administration has done and in all others have done before them .

Drag religion into this mix and worst of all the government where it does not belong and you have a tinder box ready and willing to explode .

[arrested_president]

17. I agree

i'm not voting for any of the media selected candidates - they're all criminals for supporting this war and not impeaching Bush and not investigating 911, etc.

Obama is less criminal because he's a newbie - but, he's off to a great start by refunding the war, signing the Patriot Act...

NOT impressed with him - i don't vote for people who do that

Hillary, et al are far worse - but, i'm not dancing with ANY of them

[Jamastiene]

18. Precisely. n/t

[blues90]

19. This was called the "melting pot " , some pot

It can only be termed a melting pot because ever since people migrated here which we all did or are from early generations who did , they were required to melt in somehow . There has always been some sort of racism . We also used the Chinese to build our now forsaken railroads as slaves . Worse we bombed the hell out of countries to rob them of resource and still do , they don't have to come here to be abused we reach out to them .

I understand God Damn America very well .

We should have signs on all our borders stating come here and expect to be brutalized and abused and tossed aside when we are done with you , just as a safe guard for anyone who feels they may find some sort of freedom here .