I would like to ask Seattle a question - what political party do you most lean towards? I believe you’ve mentioned that you’re a Democrat but your views slant towards the right. Not that I’m baiting you with this question lol Just simply curious.
And if you could sum up your views in this thread in a few sentences, what would you most want members to understand about your position?
I have traditionally leaned towards the Democrats but I have issues with both parties as I have issues with "politics". The best ideas aren't owned by one "team". A thinking person, IMO, would be independent or "moderate".
The "black lives matter" movement, IMO, and other current movements have gone too far. Now one seems to need to apologize for being a "cis gen" straight white male in capitalist "racist nation" America. If you don't spell woman as womxn you are a pig.
If you don't feel that you are the victim of a high level of racism every day you don't understand "intersectionality". If you haven't done well it has to be due to racism and not due to any of your actions.
White supremacy would suggest that I think the white race is superior. I don't think race is even a "thing" in this day and age. Or rather , it shouldn't be a thing. I think it's time for a post racial society.
Skin color really means nothing. You can find those with a dark skin color who seem to face racism every day and other that have to think hard to figure out if they have ever experienced racism. No one wants to hear that. Most black people who don't live in a terrible neighborhood aren't even being heard.
No one thinks it helps those with less to have to address what they may be doing that is keeping them down. All anyone wants to hear is, it's OK, it isn't your fault in the least. Here, have more money.
When I was in public school the schools were segregated at first. In 8th grade there were two blacks, James and Sheldon. James was the janitor's son and he and Sheldon came a year early. We were friends and hung out on the "playground". They were nice guys.
The next year the school was totally integrated (50/50). While in the school auditorium watching a play two black guys spit on me from the balcony. I didn't know them. They did it just because they could and they could get away with it. Just because I was white.
After 9th grade there was a day when we had to go back to school to pick up our final report card. The front of the school grounds was full of black people just hanging out. My buddy and I went in and got our report card and before we got back in his car a group of black guys came over and punched me as I was getting in the car and they did the same thing to my friend. All strangers to us (we did call the police for this one and one was caught and convicted).
The next year while walking through the hall in school I recognized the smallest black guy from that group. He was quiet, put his head down and didn't say anything. He always did that when I ran into him after that.
James and Sheldon the next year never acknowledged that they knew me. If I walked by a large group of black guys hanging out and they started to jeer at me, Sheldon and James would laugh and never say, hey we know that guy, he's a good guy. By the way, none of the white guys hung out in groups and jeered as black people walked by.
That's the way it was for the rest of high school. Literally all the problems were caused by groups of black guys. I had to walk though a large group of black students who were waiting for their bus. There was little room to even move. I was going to the gym. Just as I was near the gym this tough black guy pulled out a knife and held it at my chest and said "I can cut you". Everyone laughed, I pushed past him (and never reported him).
Needless to say, I haven't done any of those things or anything to "black people".
Even at that time I knew this wasn't a racial issue. I even knew that those guys had some historical reasons to have an attitude. They were just "thugs" however. Tough in groups, mild in person. The 1/3 of the black people that actually went to class and studied were just like me of course. It's not a skin thing.
In college, grad school, work, my neighbors I only see the black people where there is no problem and I'm not even sure why were are calling them "black people". They are people.
I haven't said that people have to change their name. I would as a parent if I could see that it was going to disadvantage my child but that's just me. What should happen is that people's names shouldn't be on resume's or job applications...just a number. That would solve that particular issue.
I haven't said that black women are more promiscuous. Those in the "hood" who are the ones with the low assets are largely having more children that they can't afford than others. There are some violent blacks in the hood that is making the hood what it is.
There is racism everywhere. The U.S. isn't more racist than anywhere else. Calling anyone with a point of view that you don't agree with a white supremacist or racist is just intolerant of any other opinion.
When I was in college speakers were invited that no one agreed with from both the extreme right and the extreme left. Today that doesn't happen. A part of the left is the most intolerant of any group I've ever seen. It's not good.
You can pig pile on me all you want (this group), call me ignorant, unaware, racist, supremacist, privileged, etc. This is a liberal group and I'm not saying anything that a more conservative group might not already agree with if they were a thinking group.
I'm not labeling this group a thinking group however. It's a knee jerk, assume the worst, join the team or get out of here kind of group for the most part. Bells this applies to you.
Of course it's always good to reduce racism if you can, along with poverty and unemployment. It's not good to elevate the issue just because that's the popular thing to do at the time. The biggest problem facing someone today isn't racism.
