I am not a racist thread!

[greiner3]

I saw this thread from Friday night. I posted this reply only to realize that it's doe to reach that great big wastebasket we call "More." I am not looking to get kicked off of DU. I don't think that I've stated too harsh of a critique of the OP. Anyway, here is my response;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x644654

I want to answer the OP by saying that "Are you f'ing kidding me?" Growing up in the 60s my parents would not truck with anything of what you are saying. It went so far that one day I used the word "Gyp" as in to cheat someone out of something. My mother turned around and said to "Never use words like that. The Gypsies are people just like us."

I stuck up for my right in the mid 60s to call African Americans 'Black' when all my classmates were using the word 'Negro.' In the late 60s I was all for womens lib. In the early 70s I was against the Vietnam War. I was for the boat people, against the US involvement in Latin American wars and torture (There's that word again). I was for the gay community when AIDS first showed it's ugly head, when all the freaking clergy was saying that the disease was gods way of punishing them. In fact, I'm against a lot of the clergy. I'm not against religion, just the oxymoronic phrase, Organized Religion. I am for immigration, legally and those with the misfortune of not having all the correct papers. I am against 'English' as official ANYTHING! I am again for the gays in this decade of hatred. I am against the war and I support the troops coming home NOW.

If I said that this was not a 'I'm a bigger lefty than you' reply, then I would be telling the truth. I do not agree with the OP. I have one more paragraph and I should be through.

I come from mostly German stock. What that means is I probably have 'blood' from most of the people's in Europe, Asia and Africa. From my Irish side, being a 'black' Irish, I can state that I'm related to all Gaelic peoples, Spanish and the Moors. The mother of my children is of direct Filipino ancestors. I've dated African American women. There are numerous religions within my family. I was raised Catholic, but having never stuck to my ribs, I became a life long atheist. My aunt married a man from Turkey who gave up being a Muslim.

Hell OP, if I were to develop phobias, hatreds and prejudices which you claim everyone has, I'd have to shoot myself dead because I could not stand hating myself that badly.

I am writing this prior to seeing anybody's responses. I believe that most of the people on this site would find your post as repugnant as I. I'll see in a minute if I'm right.

On edit; I did look and the posts were mostly what I expected from the people I've come to know as friends. Thank you.

[seabeyond]

1. i wont own racist. i wont lessen the word by making everyone that

if one wants to suggest we all have bigotry that is fine with me. but i KNOW we are not all racist, feeling a superiority with our ethnic group. that is the definition of a racist. i know there are many many people that do not feel a superiority. to own that we are all racist belittles and lessens the very word. it does not have to be within a person. and those that chose to be racists get to own that they created that within themselves. it is not a given. it does not have to be there. it is their choice.

i agree, i do not think we are all racist

i do think we may all have an intolerance of another, the definition for bigotry. in religion, politics and race. but even that has so many different levels.

[Karenina]

2. ...

:popcorn:

[TheDebbieDee]

3. I'm not a rascist either - I HATE EVERYBODY!

Everybody who isn't me, that is..........:-)

[Solo_in_MD]

4. There was an old folk song along those lines.

Their rioting in Africa...

[annabanana]

6. The Merry Minuet

http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiRIOTAFR.html

They're Rioting in Africa (The Merry Minuet)
(Sheldon Harnick)

Intro:
There are days in my life when everything is dreary
I grow pessimistic, sad and world weary.
But when I'm tearful and fearfully upset
I always sing this merry little minuet:

They're rioting in Africa
They're starving in Spain
There's hurricanes in Florida
And Texas needs rain.

The whole world is festering
With unhappy souls
The French hate the Germans,
The Germans hate the Poles

Italians hate Yugoslavs
South Africans hate the Dutch
And I don't like anybody very much

But we can be grateful
And thankful and proud
That man's been endowed
With a mushroom shaped cloud

And we know for certain
That some happy day
Someone will set the spark off
And we will all be blown away

They're rioting in Africa
There's strife in Iran
What nature doesn't do to us
Will be done by our fellow man.

[Solo_in_MD]

8. Cool, I had not seen the lyrics in years

[nini]

5. well, I sure feel fooled by that OP

I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he struggles with his reactions because of past experiences. AND I do agree that many people do have a bit of racism in them and won't admit it. I don't think he says everyone is racist etc.. I think he's saying that more people may have issues than they'd like to admit.

Maybe I'm wrong about him - I can't decide completely on such limited knowledge of who he really is though.



On edit: you were lucky to grow up with parents who taught you the values you have and the life experiences to have a healthy outlook on human issues. The OP in question may not have had the guidance you were lucky enough to have.

[Karenina]

9. I don't understand everyone piling on the guy...

I found him refreshingly honest. :shrug:

[nini]

10. Agreed... we'll NEVER solve this issue until all sides are honest about things

Admitting any bias is the first step to overcoming it - I don't see why people can't see it took more guts for him to admit he has issues from his past that affect his reactions, than to simply go with the flow and claim he is perfect.


I didn't realize there were so many perfect people here at DU! :sarcasm:

[GreenEyedLefty]

7. I never heard a racist epithet from anyone in my family

While growing up. Ever. And that is no lie. My parents were and continue to be ultra liberal.

I do confess to some foot-in-mouth moments because of my ignorance of other cultures and peoples along the way, but that was easily overcome. Thankfully most people are kind enough to forgive and *gasp* educate someone who doesn't know better.