UCLA professor at DREAM Act rally calls out "old white men in Congress": reverse racism?

[alp227]

Run time: 01:09 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikKj63d7U7w   Posted on YouTube: December 14, 2010 By YouTube Member: StandWithAZ Views on YouTube: 316   Posted on DU: December 15, 2010 By DU Member: alp227 Views on DU: 854

 
While the DREAM Act is a good thing, unfortunately remarks like this won't really help the cause and only sink its advocates to the level of the act's most vocal opponents. Viewer discretion is advised upon reading the comments. This video is circulating all around the right-wing blogosphere, i.e. Washington Times, Michelle Malkin, and other places (google "kent wong" + "old white men", you get the idea).

[MNBrewer]

1. what IS reverse racism?

[alp227]

2. minority attacking the majority

Reverse discrimination, also known as positive<1> discrimination, is a controversial specific form of discrimination against members of a dominant or majority group, or in favor of members of a minority or historically disadvantaged group. Groups may be defined in terms of race, gender, ethnicity, or other factors. This discrimination may seek to redress social inequalities where minority groups have been denied access to the same privileges of the majority group. In such cases it is intended to remove discrimination that minority groups may already face. "Reverse discrimination" may also be used to highlight the discrimination inherent in affirmative action programs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_discrimination

How I found this, even though I don't monitor the right-wing blog dump, is a rather long story. I was looking for an article on US Weekly online to replace a dead link in Wikipedia article about Aubrey O'Day. Unfortunately, usweekly.com wasn't the real address - it's usmagazine.com - and usweekly.com is a random for-sale domain with a dump of right-wing links

[EFerrari]

11. Since racism depends upon a power differential

the term "reverse racism" is a non sequitur

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. False as to fact

Racism, prejudice, and bigotry can and do exist in all groups to some level, There is no inherent dependence on a power differential.

[EFerrari]

15. Racism, prejudice and bigotry are not synonymous. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Quite true, and all have been cited as having a mandatory power component at some point

The generic statement used to go along the lines of: <$minority group> or a member of <$Minority group> can not be since they are not in power in this society. That is pretty much an obsolete and discredited position today since some people in just about every group imaginable have shown themselves to be racist, and/or prejudiced and/or bigots.

[avaistheone1]

17. Agree.

:kick:

[MNBrewer]

14. it seems to me that racism is "ism" based on race

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Legally there is no such thing as reverse discrimination it is just discrimination.

[tomg]

3. Well, I am a (relatively) old

white man,and I think he is spot on. When we start trimming our language because of Michelle Malkin - Jesus, Michelle Malkin - in the Washington Times ( like that is respectable -no, like that is even sane) we might as well roll over and play dead. I would have only added one word "rich." Reverse racism? Yeah right. Seems somebody else said the same thing or words to that effect, oh yeah

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Actually, I think remarks like this will help. I did google Kent Wong. No wonder the Right is going after him.

[alp227]

5. spot on, but confirming immigration=anti-white suspicions is unconstructive, really

Good strategy doesn't involve enabling your opponent. Besides, old white men who are GOOD memebers of Congress? (For the purposes here I'll define old as 65 or above and serving in Congress.) Plenty. Think about it: Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd (even though he USED to be a racist), Bernie Sanders (he filibustered the Republican-appeasing tax cuts bill last Friday), Pete Stark (he represents a district near mine), Steny Hoyer, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, Arlen Specter, and you can look others up yourself on Wikipedia's lists of US Senators and Reps.

[tomg]

9. Actually, I am really

fortunate. I have one of the mainstays of the Progressive Caucus, Maurice Hinchey, and I am thankful for him every day. I appreciated your comments about the comments on Youtube, but there really is no way the anti-immigration crowd is ever going to even consider the issue. Honestly, 50% are racist and the other 50% need someone to blame without looking at the Republicans. Obviously, I don't think Kent Wong means "let's replace Sanders or Pete Stark or Barney Frank" (personally, you can keep old Arlen, he of the Clarence Thomas fiasco; Steny and a few others I can live with but hardly progressive - but it balances sort of). Look at his audience: He was speaking to young people in a very diverse audience.

Personally, I think we are very far past the time of politeness. No one I know - and admittedly I hang out with a bunch of old left white guys (or is that left old white guys?) - is going to be offended. Frankly, the ones I hang with are waiting for that kind of language. Besides, you have Pete Stark as your rep. He is not exactly "Mr. Tactful," if I recall ( I like Stark - first openly Atheist and Malkin calls him "Raving Mad" - to me, a very high compliment).

All kidding aside, I do understand and I really do respect your position. In fact, I had these discussions years ago and I was much closer to your position in 67 and 68. By 70, not so much. But at this point I believe very strongly that we need to recognize the other side for what it is, and if in the process some "old white guy" taskes offense at an infelicitous use of language, he wasn't coming over anyhow.

[alp227]

10. actually my rep is Zoe Lofgren.

The Bay Area has a lotta districts. Including those of Nancy Pelosi and Pete Stark.

At least Obama never stooped down to attacking McCain for being an "old white guy"...otherwise guess who'd win the election in 2008 and guess what'd be happening in politics today?

[tishaLA]

4. LOL. "reverse racism?" You're a card

[bitchkitty]

6. I agree with what he was trying to express.

But he should have said "old rich fucks" instead.

[alp227]

7. Better perspective of Wong's speech, from Colorlines, and a fuller video

This is from the Youtube channel "passtheDREAMact" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbzgxyfzGg

Wong's speech that contained the "old white men" part was really 3 minutes long.

And here's a video and summary of an earlier Wong speech

http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/12/ucla_prof_gop_opposition_to_the_dream_act_fueled_by_racism.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBYpmFDfBlA

[webDude]

8. Racism is racism. Call it what you like, it still stinks. We fall for the old...

..."divide and conquer" time and time again. He could very well have left "old white men" out, and have gotten farther and not have given any ammunition to his true enemies. If you listen to the speech, he is saying to get the old white men out and put his people in, for "true equality".

As an old white man, whose Parents used to be called "N-word Lovers", and who himself has been called "N-word Lover", it is a hard thing to take for some young racist to get on a mic, have a good speech, and then the true monster comes out, his true feeling of racism, at the end. Anything for applause and a good ending?