The west has indeed pumped billions of dollars into some African countries but that doesn't compare to the trillions of dollars that have been taken out or the unrest that is fostered in order to mantain the status quo . Do a little research into who "civilized" governmets have backed and the reasons for that backing . The west plays upon the tribal and cultural differences and exploits them in order help themselves to whatever natural rescources they can. Africa has been and probably always will be a continent in turmoil.
I agree with Pit's very first post on the matter.... my only concern with what he said is this...
Quote: So you can "talk with your friends about it". Explain your feelings on the matter. If they are "really your friends" they will respect your feelings and keep those things to themselves in your presence.
Do you really want to hang out with people who are thinking it but not saying it? Does that make it any better?
79, It can be very difficult to face the fact that some people you once regarded as people like yourself turn out to have a different set of values. Your choice is to overlook it, confront it, or decide to change your relationship with those people. Keep in mind though that you will find it nearly impossible to find someone who agrees with your values and choices completely and maybe your continued friendship may help them see an alternative viewpoint. If it doesn't seem likely that they actually care to look at the issue and if that issue is important to you- dump them and consider yourself better off. The object is to keep people around you who can help you better yourself, right? Do you think those people are helping you in that regard?
Thanks for the post, it took courage and that's not a commodity in great abundance these days.
Quote: I agree with Pit's very first post on the matter.... my only concern with what he said is this...
Quote: So you can "talk with your friends about it". Explain your feelings on the matter. If they are "really your friends" they will respect your feelings and keep those things to themselves in your presence.
Do you really want to hang out with people who are thinking it but not saying it? Does that make it any better?
Your Racist Friend
Last edited by ~TuX~; 08/11/0803:18 PM.
"Don't be burdened by regrets or make your failures an obsession or become embittered or possessed by ruined hopes"
My wife's grandparents adopted a black baby girl when they were younger. She is now 4 years older than me and her troubles growing up weren't so much about racist people making jokes as it was her just feeling different and not feeling like she fit in.
My wife's family is the closest nit family I have ever met. That includes the black sister. She wasn't treated and still isn't treated any differently but none the less felt when she was little that she didn't belong.
I think this would be my biggest fear when adopting a child of a different race. I can deal with idiots and I can teach my children to deal with them. I just would never want her to feel she didn't belong or was any different than the rest of the family.
My biggest hero's growing up were Jackie Robinson/Hank Aaron. I kind of taught myself about being tolerant of all race's when I was young. I read how Aaron was carried off the field on the shoulders of white players after hitting some big homer......on the same day the Alamaba school issue was going on (sorry if I got my details wrong but I think that was the case). So the papers from the two cities were in total 180 degrees from each other. I remember thinking, why are these guys in baseball so much smarter to accept people of all kinds?
Ever since then, I chose to be like the baseball players.
That thinking set me up to accept a lot of other differences in people, not just about race. I remember being in high school and all these guys were talking about how nobody should be gay and it isn't right...blah blah blah. I jumped in and said something like this, "you can argue if it's right or not, but I'm all for as many guys turning gay as possible. After each one turns, I look that much better to the women of this world."
Additionally, my cousin came out when I was in college. It was a "great strain" on the family. And when I say that, I mean to the older people in our family. I remember my mom sitting us down and telling us as if he had just died.....and we all went, "so he finally came out. Ok, what's for dinner?" Like it was nothing. Different generations react differently to this type of stuff. Some people say it's the lowering of the morales in America.....I'd like to think we're all just getting smarter. Like the topic creator said, there are so many better reasons to dislike someone.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Figured this might fit in here. Talk about aggravating, check out the link below. Why is it that they list a language for the other countries and for America the official language is: None.... Kind of ticks me off. It should say English.
They list English as Kenya's first official language...anyone tell Obama?
The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, .
Quote: I would add more to this subject,but i'm really not in the mood for the same ole' same ole'.....some get it......some don't bottom line........
Just remember, as on any subject, that those who disagree with you think you don't "get it" either.
I had a friend in college who dated a person of another race, her parents darn near disowned her. She was black and he was white. Nobody has the market cornered on this type of behavior or opinion.
Quote: I agree with Pit's very first post on the matter.... my only concern with what he said is this...
Quote: So you can "talk with your friends about it". Explain your feelings on the matter. If they are "really your friends" they will respect your feelings and keep those things to themselves in your presence.
Do you really want to hang out with people who are thinking it but not saying it? Does that make it any better?
I don't know about how the person who wrote this post feels in that department. I guess it would depend on his sentiment.
Some abhore and despise people who harbor racism. Some actually feel sorry for them because they feel they are "socialy blind" and actually "in fear" of things that are different or unfamiliar with themselves. I guess it would border on pity.
So not everyone feels the same on the subject. Which is why I posted this "before" what you quoted.
Quote: You'll have to either "accept your racist friends", or make the decision that you don't want racists as friends.
Which would mean that is for the poster to decide, not me.
I do believe that "many people" are directly a product of their environment. They have seen and witnessed having stereotypes drilled in their heads. It happens in the Burbs as much as it does in "Hillbilly Heaven".
Some never accept these things, while still others fall into being followers and believe, even embrace such stereotypes. In their cases, it is an obstacle they must overcome as they grow older. So I know people who can't stand others who hold some racial overtones and I know others who try to help people like that to overcome such obstacles. Or, that tend to understand that it is the narrow mindidness of a person that cause such feelings and take some amount of pity upon them.
I don't know how brownsfansince79 sees this situation. So I felt I outlined a list of options that may be considered. How he feels about others who harbor such feelings is something I knew little about with my initial response.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Nothing "smart" about it and it wasn't meant to be demeaning. People on both sides of issues take the stance that the other side is clueless, which is why nothing ever gets accomplished. It's the truth, but apparently you don't want that pointed out here.
Quote: I do crack up at people who say they aren't racist but they make a ton of racist jokes and might have one friend of color.
See, I don't think that making stereotypical jokes makes one a racist... Stereotypes aren't just made up, they exist because some decent percentage of that group acts a similar way... so if I recognize that and make jokes about it... that makes me a racist? Heck, I make jokes about black people and Chinese people and Irish people and short people and male people and female people and quite a few more... Doesn't mean I treat them differently, and that is what racism is... You can axe anybody that knows me, I would never do that.
Haha, I'm with you on that one. Ever listen to Jim Rome go off about people that start sentences with "I'm not racist, BUT", he proceeds to talk about right after the "but" that persons about to spit a racist remark of epic proportions. lol, quite funny to hear him describe it.. I agree though, just cause someone makes jokes doesnt make them racist, it makes them funny. at least hat's what ma moms tol me..
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