Racism In America Is Not What It's Cracked Up To Be!

Rory, as I used the phrase "lethal atmosphere" in my response to you at my article, Why There Is Danger in Ignoring Racism in America and the phrase is quoted several times throughout this piece, I am including the entire comment here, for context:

You may have missed the point of my article, Rory.

There is a lethal atmosphere that has been created and allowed to flourish since the 2008 presidential campaign that has gone mostly unchallenged by both parties.

Given America's violent and historically documented response to change, from various elements, from slavery, so called civil rights, immigration, and here, I am speaking of the Ellis Island immigrants and the furor created upon their arrival and attempts to meld into already settled communities, it is the responsibility of both parties involved in this pretense of a political debate to call out any who cross the line, contributing to incitement and violence. 

Good job, Rory. Needed saying.

Growing up, using the N word was treated the same as any other foul langauge - in other words, it wasn't permitted. That i might add, was in a household of uneducated (my father quit school to farm after 8th grade), moved to the city, farmers.

Thanks ACP! Your point about "forgetting" is well taken. But in this peculiar case, it seems that the only thing that we can do to make things better is to "forget" and start from a blank slate. I've got a lot of Irish American friends whose ancestors suffered some real hard times. And I've got some Chinese-American friends whose ancestors suffered some real hard times. And I've got some Jewish friends whose ancestors suffered some real hard times. And I've got some Polish-American friends whose ancestors suffered some real hard times. And the town that I grew up in was predominantly German-American and during WWII  most of the town's residents had relatives that were killed in the war. And so it goes . . . . We need to put things into perspective and move on in spite of the past wrongs that have been committed against humanity. Relatively speaking, America, nowadays, is a free and open playing field in terms of race and ethnicity.

The ultimate goal is to protect individuals from the advocacy of hatred and violence toward others.  Hate speech is the symptom of intolerance and bigotry; therefore, responses need to manifest systemic change that encourages acceptance without restrictions of freedom of speech and expression.  The real change in mindsets, perceptions and discourse can occur in the strengthening of  intercultural dialogue and education for diversity and tolerance. 

"The answer to hate speech is more speech." (International Covenant on Citil and Political Rights on Freedom of Conscience, thought and religion; April 2009) More speech that educates about cultural differences; more speech that promotes diversity; more speech to empower and give voice to minorities through community media and, yes, like NowPublic.  This is how to reach out to the hearts and minds, changing what they think, not just what they do.

Yes, there is danger in ignoring racism; furthermore, lets continue the dialogue, and celebrate the fact that we are free to do so.   

I agree , excellent post

Rory.I see that you are an author.I think you are trying to race bait all of us as your story or point has been lame.What are you trying to accomplish?Anyone can say racism and get some kind of reaction both positive or negative.So far you just seem to be an instigator pushing peoples emotions.Which makes you a pisspoor Author unless you work for a tabloid Rag.Which means that you are not a journalist or an artist but a race baiter that you supposedly detest.Please remember in 2008 surveys showed that the majority of Americans trusted the media less than politicians.That's as low as it gets.Man up and make your point.Otherwise stop boring us.Thankyou.2Delta.

Rory:

The fact is Native American Indians were the first to be racially profiled. They were killed instead of taken for slaves..... later rounded up and thrown on Reservations that still exist in the United States. Black American racism is secondary, along with the racism that affects all races in the world to include the white-guy.......who was left with no other alternative but to fight and work within the economic conditions of the times they found themselves in. ....

We still face that same dilemna as who are Blacks to threaten discrimination overtones, when they themselves were part of the pioneer Army Soldiers who shot, and killed innocent Native American Indian Tribes and families at the bequest of the US Government....drove them off their land, and dumped them on Reservations. Black Americans are not immune or hold some authentic victims declaration to being the original racially profiled group, when in fact they are as guilty as the ones they accuse.

We have always held a certain decoruum to White Presidents because it was white men who wrote the constitution, the declaration of independence, and actually were the beginnings to the United States Government.  We have seen throughout time especially in Africa who hold the majority of the Black race have never come to the Political Economic heights America has achieved with black leadership.... Mugabe is case in point as the modern day failure in Zimbabwe, while Mandella maybe the modern day hero in S. Africa...but he has not achieved the economic progress many had hoped he could achieve.

Perhaps we should ask the question why America has not really achieved much even with Obama, when it has never had a Native American Indian President?

May I ask you all, why have we failed to recognize this poignant fact.

All I know is I am looking for the day for America's First Native American Indian President. Then maybe we will win the racial discriminatory debate once and for all.

America the land of snake dogs, hypocrites, druggies, murderers and military wacko's.

No wonder America is a comatose patient.....shaking and spitting blood all the time.

Rev. Jermano....

In my 51 plus years on this earth as a African American male, here's what I have come to critically realize, America is a country fill of hypocrites and contradictions! The racism, sexism, classism, eliteism, premeates our society, everyone included, no exceptions. My point is it's not so much that Obama is in the White House, and  that all of us can strive for the highest office in the land, it's the blatant labeling and disparaging insults that that make me sick.Politics aside, people are "supposed to be judged on merits, accomplishments and failures, Obama is already being vilified to the point that now, any agenda he brings up, will be strongly condemed by the conservative right, who "want thier country back." What country is that? I'm convinced it has more to do with a African American in office, that was the darling, until a strategy could be implemented to demonize his every effort. I served in the US Marines for 24 years, and have went in harms way, for racists to continue to spew vemon and lies, because of first amendment rights. I't's the American way, total hypocracy!   

I agree Ron....It does not matter who is President. They all go through the rigger of personal attacks and scrutiny. It has come to the point, who really cares who is President, or the hoops one has to go through to get there. There is no prize at the end of that Poltical Racing Rainbow.

You in the marines I never want you to protect me. In fact I think the military is the problem in the world, not the answer... But I won't call you names....but I also won't live in the US so you guys can tax me, take my money to support your bullet making endeavors.

Hypocrisy can also be looked at in another way as supporting Toleration. But who draws the lines to that? That is one of the problems. The inability to accept toleration, without it becoming hypocrisy.....

True unity is found when we are the same on issues. But America and people are never the same.. How is it we are a United States? We are either Anti War as an American Identity or we are Pro-War. When there are no more conflicts in the world...who gives us the right to pay the military when it is not in use or needed? The Pentagon assures war..to the point of accepting to commit murder to jusify their work and identity. This is diabolically wrong...

Rev. Jermano