The American Politics Thread

Easy Money wrote: Re Rushfan: I appreciate your perspective and honesty, but NAACP, to pick one example, has often been very beneficial for black people. Its hard for white people to understand why a minority race that faces perpetual judgement needs to stick together at times until the white person gets to prison where they are likely to be out numbered and they then become very aware of the fact that they are white, not just another person. The roots of white pride groups are almost always in the prison system. As far as your neighborhood perspective goes, because of my love of inner city life, I have lived in several neighborhoods that had few white people. It does give you a different perspective on things.

I absolutely agree that the NAACP has been very beneficial for black people.  I personally have nothing against it.  The counter argument is that why is it racist to suggest a NAAWP to support and benefit the cause of white people.  I know that the argument is that history shows that American society is in essence the NAAWP.  But from a white perspective I think that it is a fair argument is that why is white people having white pride racist while black people having black pride OK.  Again it comes down to who cares what color your skin is, be a good person and hopefully society will be good back to you.  All this being said, I am not naive.  I know that racism exists, both visible and invisible.  I know that there is systemic racism throughout society.  I again truly believe that most people want the best for everyone (even if most people are also most likely to look out for #1).    

rushfan4 wrote: Easy Money wrote: Re Rushfan: I appreciate your perspective and honesty, but NAACP, to pick one example, has often been very beneficial for black people. Its hard for white people to understand why a minority race that faces perpetual judgement needs to stick together at times until the white person gets to prison where they are likely to be out numbered and they then become very aware of the fact that they are white, not just another person. The roots of white pride groups are almost always in the prison system. As far as your neighborhood perspective goes, because of my love of inner city life, I have lived in several neighborhoods that had few white people. It does give you a different perspective on things. I absolutely agree that the NAACP has been very beneficial for black people.  I personally have nothing against it.  The counter argument is that why is it racist to suggest a NAAWP to support and benefit the cause of white people.  I know that the argument is that history shows that American society is in essence the NAAWP.  But from a white perspective I think that it is a fair argument is that why is white people having white pride racist while black people having black pride OK.  Again it comes down to who cares what color your skin is, be a good person and hopefully society will be good back to you.  All this being said, I am not naive.  I know that racism exists, both visible and invisible.  I know that there is systemic racism throughout society.  I again truly believe that most people want the best for everyone (even if most people are also most likely to look out for #1).

I think the obvious difference is which one is the majority and the holder of the power and money, and which one is the minority and the recipient of a long history of abuse. There is a huge difference there, especially since the numbers are about 8 to 1. All the same, your a good guy Scott and your heart is in the right place, I certainly am not pointing any of this at you personally.

SteveG wrote: Don't forget that many people are too self centered to care about either whites or blacks at large.

  

rushfan4 wrote: Thanks John.  I didn't think you were.  I am playing a bit of Devil's Advocate here for sake of continuing a good conversation.  One could argue that the majority of whites and blacks should unite to fight their common enemy which in truth is the people who hold the power and the money, which the majority are white, but that doesn't really make them friends of the rest of white society either.  They will suppress both whites and blacks in order to retain their money and power.

One more thing I would add to that, there are many that feel a sort of divide and conquer at work here.

SteveG wrote: I have a pretty good friend in a session musician that grew up as black man in the South. He's as old as I am, so imagine what he went through. The thing that sticks out the most is his never ending sense of fear. And he's lived in NJ for the last thirty years or so. Whenever I hear about white privilege, I think of him. I've never felt in my life that an encounter with the police might be my last day on Earth, even with cops that were a****les, and that's a privilege that he's never had.

  

SteveG wrote: I have a pretty good friend in a session musician that grew up as black man in the South. He's as old as I am, so imagine what he went through. The thing that sticks out the most is his never ending sense of fear. And he's lived in NJ for the last thirty years or so. Whenever I hear about white privilege, I think of him. I've never felt in my life that an encounter with the police might be my last day on Earth, even with cops that were a****les, and that's a privilege that he's never had.

And of all things...THAT IS CRIMINAL !

SteveG wrote: JD wrote: Pumpkin man didn't help in any way with his vulgar rhetoric. How do you think the next Chinese New Year celebrations will go? No celebrations were held anywhere this year as far as I know. That's why I chuckle when people say that Americans are not racist, it's just a few bad apples. Well those bad apples sure do get around.

Man With Hat wrote: Easy Money wrote: ^ Most Repubs that I know who are good friends or family members are "Biden Repubs", they do not like trump at all, but are also afraid Dems are too reckless with money. Of the Repubs that are co-workers, neighbors and people I talk to on the internet, lots of them voted for trump, but even then, they may not be particularly enthusiastic about him. I do have some cousins who are hardcore trumpateers, as well as some farcebook friends and of course there are trumpateers on local social media I talk to. Oh I don't doubt they exist, I just don't personally know any.  As for the bolded part...as we've discussed before both parties are very wasteful with money, the difference is just what they spend it on. I suppose the red side has an advantage in that they can spout being fiscally conservative and people believe it for some reason.

I was just telling you what other people think, thats not necessarily my opinion.
trump is no fiscal conservative and I've had this discussion with repubs and even trump voters on local social media and they will begrudgingly agree with me. Whatever repubs stood for in the past, trump has totally scrambled it.

Edited by Easy Money - March 21 2021 at 23:12

I'm afraid that the migration/border problem will end up being Biden's Achilles Heel. What's your thoughts?