Obama Forced to Explain "Typical White Person"

[Lisa0315]

Well many black people don't see themselves as victims, I don't. On another issue, I had experienced hostile treatment from black peers. I went to all white school growing up and I had more friends. And then I attended a school where there are mostly black people. So yes I'm familiar with that. The reason why I believe this occurred is because internalized oppression.

Internalized oppression is something that's happening with the black community and probably even other minorities, which is why people seem to believe that blacks play victim. What's internalized oppression? Basically it's the belief that a particular beliefs the negative stereotypes about their group. Or hold "oppressive" beliefs towards their own groups. For instance, for black people, that means believing they're "gang bangers, welfare queens", etc. The problem with this is that in can turn into "anti-achievement." (That's probably the wrong term). Achievement is sometimes associated with acting "white." If you believe that you're a "gang banger, thug, welfare queen" then you're not very likely to believe you can achieve anything. But any group can face internalized oppression. It's a psychological condition. I tutor inner city school kids when I have the time, and they have indications of internalized oppression. Since half the students are black, in a sense they believe they can't believe they can be successful unless they become rappers. Hopefully, me tutoring them will help them understand this isn't case.

I wasn't assuming these experiences don't happen to white people.



Yes, that's true, but there are still some black youth who don't know this. That's another issue, which could touch upon the internalized oppression thing.



This is a bit of a stretch because they don't have that kind of power, and I don't believe they ever will. So no this isn't happening. It wasn't just blacks who have been subjugated in the past.



Again, this is a stretch, many blacks don't seem themselves as victims. The ones that do, or probably buying into the idea that they're victims. And I never said it was anyones fault of the problems faced within the black community. That's another thing about these discussions, people don't seem to know that blacks are making progress within the community, because we think were victims. More blacks are owning businesses, attending college, becoming active in their communities. So no, blacks don't always blame others for what's wrong in their communities.

What you wrote is good. I was thinking more on this Wright/Farahkahn thing...You know I don't agree with them of course, but at least they are yelling about something. The worst sickness in this country is apathy. I was thinking that if the anger could be redirected towards the right place, it could actually accomplish something.

Admittedly, I am studying the French Revolution right now, so revolution is sitting heavily on my mind.

But, seriously, we need a revolution in this country. I think that folks just do not know where to begin. I even had a really evil thought...

There might be a LEGAL way to stop paying taxes. I am an accountant. There is no law that says you cannot put 8 dependents on your W-4's and then, pay all the money you would have paid to the government to your local church or charity. You would then itemize the donations. There is a limit on the amount of money you can donate in a year, but we could definitely reduce the tax revenues in this way.

The point of doing this is to shake up the government. Currently our laws, alot of our laws, are made to benefit the special interest groups that also fund the political careers of many.

The tax payers need to have as much power as these special interest groups. We cannot pay more than we are already paying, but I think there IS a way to stop paying so many taxes to the government and make them pay attention to the PEOPLE.

The thing is, you would have to get the majority of the country to agree to do this. Not even sure how long it would work. It may just end up making it so you cannot deduct charitiable contributions.

I am just saying...

There has GOT to be a way to change this country, and I do not mean lip service to change. We need to have another Boston Tea Party and another Rosa Parks arrest, and a spark here and a spark there. We need to stop electing professional politicians and start electing regular folks like we had in the beginning.

Lisa

 

[PassionFruit]

Actually, you said you didn't know if it did.

Maybe I just misread you:
" I wasn't assuming these experiences don't happen to white people."

is what you said.

Perhaps, but unless you're saying that poor white people believe the stereotypes about them that would be internalized oppression. But the issue with the internalized oppression with minorities is that sometimes it can cause people of that group to engage in self destructive behavior.

 

[IisJustMe]

Stupid time stamp error ... never mind.

 

[IisJustMe]

Either Case, come later this year after Either Obama or Clinton is Nominated, there's going to be some ugly ads coming out against either one.

Perhaps, but I'm not sure John McCain will endorse his campaign funding such items. The PACs might. Aside from that, nothing will be said they haven't already said about one another anyway.

 

[PassionFruit]

What you wrote is good. I was thinking more on this Wright/Farahkahn thing...You know I don't agree with them of course, but at least they are yelling about something. The worst sickness in this country is apathy. I was thinking that if the anger could be redirected towards the right place, it could actually accomplish something.

Admittedly, I am studying the French Revolution right now, so revolution is sitting heavily on my mind.

But, seriously, we need a revolution in this country. I think that folks just do not know where to begin. I even had a really evil thought...

There might be a LEGAL way to stop paying taxes. I am an accountant. There is no law that says you cannot put 8 dependents on your W-4's and then, pay all the money you would have paid to the government to your local church or charity. You would then itemize the donations. There is a limit on the amount of money you can donate in a year, but we could definitely reduce the tax revenues in this way.

The point of doing this is to shake up the government. Currently our laws, alot of our laws, are made to benefit the special interest groups that also fund the political careers of many.

The tax payers need to have as much power as these special interest groups. We cannot pay more than we are already paying, but I think there IS a way to stop paying so many taxes to the government and make them pay attention to the PEOPLE.

The thing is, you would have to get the majority of the country to agree to do this. Not even sure how long it would work. It may just end up making it so you cannot deduct charitiable contributions.

I am just saying...

There has GOT to be a way to change this country, and I do not mean lip service to change. We need to have another Boston Tea Party and another Rosa Parks arrest, and a spark here and a spark there. We need to stop electing professional politicians and start electing regular folks like we had in the beginning.

Lisa

I understand what you're saying. And I agree we do need change. I don't know about the kind of revolutionary change you're talking about, but we do need it nonetheless. with what the way things are. The issue I think with the laws benefiting the special interest groups is people in power seem to want to keep that way. So yes I would agree with you on that one. And apathy! Yeah, that's true, have you ever talked to someone about voting and the discussion ended like "well I don't vote anyway because I don't see what good it would do."

That's sad.

 

[Lisa0315]

I understand what you're saying. And I agree we do need change. I don't know about the kind of revolutionary change you're talking about, but we do need it nonetheless. with what the way things are. The issue I think with the laws benefiting the special interest groups is people in power seem to want to keep that way. So yes I would agree with you on that one. And apathy! Yeah, that's true, have you ever talked to someone about voting and the discussion ended like "well I don't vote anyway because I don't see what good it would do."

That's sad.

Yeah! All the time. I practically feel the same but I will exercise my right simply because men and women have died to give me that right. The problem seems to be that the so called right is an illusion.

People have to be very desperate and very angry for change. Americans have not reached that point yet. It will take this country to bankrupt itself and people are going to have to go hungry before there will be real change again.

Most people, if they work, they make just enough to get by. If they don't work, the government gives them just enough to get by. Everyone sits back and thinks that it could be worse and in the meantime, it does.

I just wish we had the backbone of just a few decades ago. Whether we are talking WWII folks or the civil rights movement, those folks had some backbone and were willing to go without and make sacrifices in order to make this country better. We seem to have lost that and that was the best part of America.

Lisa

 

[Lisa0315]

Reply to Passion Fruit went to la la land.

 

[Lisa0315]

WHAT IF????

What if the government is generating alot of these racial things somehow to keep us all divided so that we won't start looking too closely at them?

Lisa

 

[LogicandRationalThought]

It's all a conspiracy... or is it.

 

[MrJim]

WHAT IF????

What if the government is generating alot of these racial things somehow to keep us all divided so that we won't start looking too closely at them?

Lisa

AH you need to read Jim Goad's Redneck Manifesto ~ he believes it is just that; keep racism as a focus so people don't realize that the real split in America is not black and white but rich and poor...

 

[Lisa0315]

AH you need to read Jim Goad's Redneck Manifesto ~ he believes it is just that; keep racism as a focus so people don't realize that the real split in America is not black and white but rich and poor...

I just saw your custom user title. LOL!

So, it is the haves and have nots all over again?

Weird because I thought this was a semi socialst nation already. We sure do not need more of it. It doesn't work!

Lisa

 

[Lisa0315]

It's all a conspiracy... or is it.

Hello Newb!

How in the world did you get negative health? Your health bar says -93%. I repped you for that because I think it is hilarious. It must be one of the bugs that have infested this place in the last week. CRAZY!

We should all rep the newb for having a unique bug!

Lisa

 

[PassionFruit]

AH you need to read Jim Goad's Redneck Manifesto ~ he believes it is just that; keep racism as a focus so people don't realize that the real split in America is not black and white but rich and poor...

Well, the gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider. What's happening to the middle class? The wealthiest people own a large portion of the wealth in this country, but make up a small percentage of the population.

 

[PassionFruit]

A large portion of the wealth is owned by the wealthiest people but they make up a small portion of the population. The gap between the rich and the poor has actually gotten wider.

I wouldn't really doubt it, there is such thing called classism.

 

[MrJim]

Hello Newb!

How in the world did you get negative health? Your health bar says -93%. I repped you for that because I think it is hilarious. It must be one of the bugs that have infested this place in the last week. CRAZY!

We should all rep the newb for having a unique bug!

Lisa

newb repped 'cause Lisa said so

 

[Lisa0315]

A large portion of the wealth is owned by the wealthiest people but they make up a small portion of the population. The gap between the rich and the poor has actually gotten wider.

I wouldn't really doubt it, there is such thing called classism.

But what in the hell do we do about it?

Lisa

 

[MrJim]

freaky bug

 

[Avatar]

How often do you think these same things happen to white folks? Within my own little microcosm, I have heard the following: I may have shared this with you before, I don't remember, but bear with me.

I have been asked why ALL white men have to blow their noses after they eat.

When we all went in together on food, and I was collecting the money, I was asked if I was charging a black tax. After a good laugh, I was then told they weren't paying the black tax until they received their 40 acres and a mule.

I had a girl wear a Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt to work to see what my reaction would be. My reaction was to call her a pseudo fan and wear a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt the very next chance I had.

Of greater concern, is the co-worker who attended one of these rallys and came back "empowered". She actually was not as empowered as she became incredibly paranoid. She told me that she was going to start doing as the white folks did to get ahead. Apparantly, this included lying about people, blaming others for her mistakes, and being extremely hostile.

This all occurred at my place of employment in which I was working when I found out about my heritage. (My father was absentee but I made contact with him for a short time when I was 33) Up until then, I thought I was white except for MAYBE some distant Indian blood on my mothers side.

These folks were around when this happened, have known me before and after, know how sensitive I am about it, and still, treat me like I am the white enemy at times. If I looked white, then, I must BE white, right?

When I received a promotion, I was told that the other person didn't because she was black. I thought this implied that she thought my promotion was because I was white which insulted all of the work that I had done and the effort.

I have heard white [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth] said about one of our bosses and I am not supposed to be offended if I am REALLY not white.

I have had another lady come up to me and hold her arm beside of me in the summer and tell me that I was "getting there".

Do not EVEN pretend to me that racism is one-sided, okay? I see it on both sides, and these days, I see more of it from the black community.

My hairdresser told me that ALL BLACK people hate ALL ASIANS and ALL MEXICANS. She did not say why.

On 9-12-2001, we were all sitting in the breakroom, and it was black women who first began making really, really bad comments about our Muslim co-workers. I told them that it would be very easy to go down that path, but we may never be the same if we did.

I am known to be a Christian and someone who will speak up when something is not right. I do a good job here and my work is respected but many times, as a person, I am not.

Considering my Cherokee/White/Mutt heritage, it can only be because of my skin color not being dark enough.

Oh, and one more thing, if the Farakhans and the Wrights ever suceed in their agenda, and white America is subjugated as black America once was, who do you think their next target will be? It will be peoples of other colors and then it will be those within the black community who express doubt that the methods or the ideas are wrong. Isn't this already happening?

One of my black friends went to an all white girl school for a year or so. She told me that she suffered more from her black friends than from the white girls at her school. She was made to feel more of a freak by her black sisters than from anyone else. If she picked up a word or a way of dressing, or an expression, whatever, her black friends told her she was trying to be white.

There is something deeply wrong in the black community, and guess what, it is not someone elses fault.

From my perspective, there is deep hatred that goes both outward and inward and only God can heal that. If the black community persists in seeing themselves as victims and they persist in this angry attitude towards everyone including their own, they are going to implode. I do not want to be in the middle of that.

In a way, I am glad this has happened because I think this is the most honest discussion (going on all over, not just at CF or this thread) that has happened in the history of our race issues.

We desperately need another MLKjr that will speak to the black community and raise their dignity and teach them to not blame others.

In the 1960's and beyond, you really did not have the same opportunities, but you do now. In fact, in many ways, minorities have MORE opportunities.

You do not have to prove that you are a minority to get a minority scholarship. I do. Proving myself Cherokee is difficult when you are not in touch with that side of the family, and the most you have are pictures of tombstones and family trees that can be followed in family Bibles.

My hope is that the love of Jesus Christ will pour through this country because I honestly believe it is the ONLY thing that is going to prevent this country from completely falling apart.

Lisa

Lisa

Quoted for truth.

I lived something similar. I went to Canada's arctic 14 years ago and married an Inuit woman. And we had children, mixed race children. They suffered daily. They were mercilessly bullied, taunted, beaten, had rocks thrown at them. It was horrible. And kids being kids they believed there was something wrong with them. They were to blame, they weren't good enough. I thought I was going to live my life there, that my children would have lives there in my wife's home town. But we essentially had to flee last summer. I couldn't let my children suffer anymore. So we moved back to where I come from, Nova Scotia. And they can't believe that people don't hate them anymore. It brings me to tears. My last name is Pembroke. That was a curse word up there with the other full inuit children. My children asked me when they knew we were moving if they'd still have to me 'Pembrokes" in Nova Scotia. Breaks your heart.

I've seen racism up close and personal and it is the ugliest thing imagineable. I teach my children differently.

Racism is not just a white thing.

 

[spr]

He seems to believe his grandma is not a racist, but is a typical white person. And if typical white people are racist that makes his grandma a racist. Circular logic.

All he has to do is get white people to believe they are infected with a racism bug that they have no control over, then paint himself as the racism bug antidote, and the white house is his.

Lets all run to Obama now, we are racist and we can't help it! Please help us Obama.

I for one have a choice over what I believe, and I don't need anyone to 'help' me not be a racist.

 

[IisJustMe]

Lets all run to Obama now, we are racist and we can't help it! Please help us Obama.[/qote]Has he got a 12-step program for that?

I for one have a choice over what I believe, and I don't need anyone to 'help' me not be a racist.

Especially when the accuser is racially biased himself.