I'd like this thread to be an honest open discussion about racism and the current iteration of the Black Lives Movement. I feel like that's something hard to do on this forum with all the flaming, and goading, and finger pointing. Please don't post some snarky 2 sentence joke or trolling statement, don't try to make this about Trump or any other politician. Please, try to make a thoughtful post that adds to the discussion.
In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a more aggressive and more direct tone and message from the protesters, BLM, and it's supporters. The title of the thread is a phrase I've seen thrown around a lot. The phrase White Silence is Violence. It's also written as To Be Silent Is To Be Complicit. For example...
Black Lives Matter: Silence is 'complicity,' say many white protesters | News24
I disagree with the message. That simply isn't how problems work. The problem, generally speaking, is racism towards blacks. The word complicit has a pretty specific meaning....
Definition of COMPLICIT
helping to commit a crime or do wrong in some way
If I told you that staying silent about Islamic terrorism made you complicit, you would probably think I had gone bonkers. Simply not talking about a problem doesn't make you a part of the problem.
I also think it's wrong that this statement is, in any meaningful way, directed at white people....as if racism is all our fault. In many cases, I think the people saying it want white people to speak up against the racism they hear from other white people. The reality is though, that I along with many other white people, don't hear any racism from the people we are around the vast majority of the time. I work in law enforcement and I can honestly say I don't remember the last time any of my friends or coworkers said anything racist....even a little bit racist.
If you don't think this message is directed at white people....here's a recent example...
Steve Harvey Calls BLM Protests ‘One of the Greatest Movements Since the Civil Rights Movement’
Kimberly Jones is an Atlanta based BLM activist...
"I think the only way something is going to come out of this is if we start making the necessary changes ourselves," Jones said. "Because it's been proven time and time again that we're on our own. The saddest part about that is that racism is not a Black issue that white people need to empathize with. Racism is a white problem. They caused it. They need to fix it. But I don't have faith anymore that that's going to happen."
This is a view that a shocking number of people hold. It's been hinted at for years....when ideas like white privilege were used to shame white people. It's the subtext when the same people tried to redefine racism as something only white people are guilty of. It's implied in ideas like "white fragility" and "whitesplaining".
A couple of years back, research showed that only white people....specifically white liberals....are the only racial group with an out-group bias. That means out of each racial group, only white people viewed themselves in a more negative way than others. A lot of conservatives found this amusing....I found it sad.
No one should ever be ashamed of their skin color. No one should view themselves in a negative way because of their skin color. This is a relatively new phenomenon and I can only imagine that it's because of the constant shaming and blaming of whites that has been allowed to go on for so long.
The reason it's gone on for so long is that BLM and other activists and race "scholars" have pushed this viewpoint and they do not allow for any honest and open debate or discussion (like the one I'm trying to have here). If you don't agree with them, you're labeled a racist and part of the problem. This creates an echo chamber where only one opinion is allowed. That's why we're seeing openly racist statements about white people (like the one above). That's why black people are advocating for discrimination against whites in job hiring (which I also have a thread on).
This is why I cannot support BLM even though I believe in racial equality and accountability for police. Their methods are faulty....and their message is too often deplorably racist.
There shouldn't be anything controversial about saying "All Lives Matter" or "It's ok to be white". Those are simple truths that everyone should agree with.
I could go on...but I fear I've lost most readers by now lol. I look forward to seeing your thoughts about this issue.
In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a more aggressive and more direct tone and message from the protesters, BLM, and it's supporters. The title of the thread is a phrase I've seen thrown around a lot. The phrase White Silence is Violence. It's also written as To Be Silent Is To Be Complicit. For example...
Black Lives Matter: Silence is 'complicity,' say many white protesters | News24
I disagree with the message. That simply isn't how problems work. The problem, generally speaking, is racism towards blacks. The word complicit has a pretty specific meaning....
Definition of COMPLICIT
helping to commit a crime or do wrong in some way
If I told you that staying silent about Islamic terrorism made you complicit, you would probably think I had gone bonkers. Simply not talking about a problem doesn't make you a part of the problem.
I also think it's wrong that this statement is, in any meaningful way, directed at white people....as if racism is all our fault. In many cases, I think the people saying it want white people to speak up against the racism they hear from other white people. The reality is though, that I along with many other white people, don't hear any racism from the people we are around the vast majority of the time. I work in law enforcement and I can honestly say I don't remember the last time any of my friends or coworkers said anything racist....even a little bit racist.
If you don't think this message is directed at white people....here's a recent example...
Steve Harvey Calls BLM Protests ‘One of the Greatest Movements Since the Civil Rights Movement’
Kimberly Jones is an Atlanta based BLM activist...
"I think the only way something is going to come out of this is if we start making the necessary changes ourselves," Jones said. "Because it's been proven time and time again that we're on our own. The saddest part about that is that racism is not a Black issue that white people need to empathize with. Racism is a white problem. They caused it. They need to fix it. But I don't have faith anymore that that's going to happen."
This is a view that a shocking number of people hold. It's been hinted at for years....when ideas like white privilege were used to shame white people. It's the subtext when the same people tried to redefine racism as something only white people are guilty of. It's implied in ideas like "white fragility" and "whitesplaining".
A couple of years back, research showed that only white people....specifically white liberals....are the only racial group with an out-group bias. That means out of each racial group, only white people viewed themselves in a more negative way than others. A lot of conservatives found this amusing....I found it sad.
No one should ever be ashamed of their skin color. No one should view themselves in a negative way because of their skin color. This is a relatively new phenomenon and I can only imagine that it's because of the constant shaming and blaming of whites that has been allowed to go on for so long.
The reason it's gone on for so long is that BLM and other activists and race "scholars" have pushed this viewpoint and they do not allow for any honest and open debate or discussion (like the one I'm trying to have here). If you don't agree with them, you're labeled a racist and part of the problem. This creates an echo chamber where only one opinion is allowed. That's why we're seeing openly racist statements about white people (like the one above). That's why black people are advocating for discrimination against whites in job hiring (which I also have a thread on).
This is why I cannot support BLM even though I believe in racial equality and accountability for police. Their methods are faulty....and their message is too often deplorably racist.
There shouldn't be anything controversial about saying "All Lives Matter" or "It's ok to be white". Those are simple truths that everyone should agree with.
I could go on...but I fear I've lost most readers by now lol. I look forward to seeing your thoughts about this issue.