Mixed Thoughts, We've come a long way

[solo1]

Bear with me here, sorta a low soap box. My .02

When I was in Korea in 1953, Truman had integrated the Army only a few years before. All GIs were truly treated the same as far as I could tell.

At the bottom of this string of thoughts is a photo of the guys in the motor pool.  We got along fine.


When I was about to rotate home, I was giving away stuff so i wouldn't have to duffle bag it back home. My replacement in the Motor pool had arrived the night before.  He had just bunked in the motor pool tent when I offered him my OLD SPICE talcum powder.  He accepted.

The next morning, everyone was seeing me off, including my replacement. The talcum powder had been liberally dusted on his face, you could tell................................He was Black and the darkest skinned black who I had ever saw!

  I thought "He's Black, WTF, why did I offer him the talc?"  Now I'm sure that he realized what the talc would look like on his face.  Did he do that to show his appreciation? I don't know.  I do know that I gave it no thought that he was black, just another GI.

Yesterday, I had dinner at Richard's Restaurant. Now New Haven has a very small percentage of blacks so I was surprised that a family of seven blacks were sitting next to me. Immediately, in my mind, I thought. Damn! I forgot to bring my Sling bag into the restaurant.  It contained a fully loaded Glock...................................................... I was not happy with that thought.

In the last seven years, my thinking has changed.  Who created the different atmosphere?  The POTUS, Al Sharpton, Black Lives Matter, the phony assholes who yell police brutality and ignore the black on black crimes.   We, here on the forum, can discuss reasonably and hopefully without rancor, the political scene today but I won't listen to any one who extols the attributes of any of the above.
The racial void has never been greater.

It would be nice to roll the time back to a different world.  This photo reminds me of times and attitudes past.

[SirLancelot]

Here in UK we are a pretty multiracial society, back in the 60's I recall seeing a lot of black b.....es around. I knew they were because people around me said so.
So here we are now and I treating everyone as equal ..... Or am I ?
Why is it that I feel good when I've treated a black person with equal curtesy ?
Surely I should feel nothing different.
Confused

[old2soon]

When I was in the Navy-Feb 1964 to Feb 1968-we ALL had each others back. I remember a bunch of folks-pick an ethnic group-jamming-music-on the fantail after flight ops secured. I also remember they would stop playing if anyone attempted to record the session. Told anyone that tried it was for THAT moment and for the folks present. Stood shoulder to shoulder with Navy and Marine and Army personnel on Shore Patrol duty. You screwed up we put cuffs on you and stuffed you in the back of the van.  Uniform-skin color-no difference-we arrested you. Lets just say on the way north in May this year and on the way south in July this year I avoided St Louis. I agree with you Wayne-o and his minions are THE reason for these huge backward steps we are taking.  RIDE SAFE wuz gonna say something else but thought better of it-it involved THAT split tail runnin fer prez. 

[Patrick]

Typed up a response and just couldn't click 'post'

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well Wayne since you said we can discuss without rancor I'm going to throw some of my thoughts in. I appreciate your honesty about your feelings in the restaraunt . It may feel like there is more of a racial divide now than 50 or 60 years past. I suspect people of color would have different opinion of this. My Dad was stationed in Montgomery Alabama in '64. I distinctly remember the severe racism and segregation of that time. You say that you have felt a difference since Obama has become president. I have too. But I'm afraid what we are feeling are not the same. There is still prejudice and racism in our society and probably will be for many more years. The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality.

[Psychotic Bovine]

The majority of people in this poll indicate race relations are worse.  In fact, worse than they have been in a decade.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/more-than-6-in-10-adults-say-us-race-relations-are-generally-bad-poll-indicates/2016/07/16/66548936-4aa8-11e6-90a8-fb84201e0645_story.html

I, too, feel that our current president has made race relations worse.  Poverty among blacks has certainly not improved since he took office.  Say what you will, place blame where you feel you should, but the facts remain:  Black are not better off under Obama and many think race relations are worse.  Whether it's his fault or not, he certainly has not improved the situation.

[mike72903]

Racial bias my be worse now but I don't know if President Obama really has anything to do with it. There was a time in the 60's that true integration might have started. Note I said started. At that point in time blacks though segregated, had a well functioning and cohesive society.  I believe government policies helped destroy that by instituting poverty with the "Great Society" of Johnson.  Sadly, i think it just served to further stigmatize and isolate them.  They lost many of their community leaders and role models and the social strength was lost with the resulting consequences. It's sad and I don't like confronting my own bias either.  You can only try to overcome it.  Until everyone of any color is allowed the opportunity to show their character as equals will anything substantial happen.  I guess judging others by their character is another form of bias, but at least it makes for a more equal chance as character can change but color cannot.

[Valkorado]

The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality.

That's an understatement.

[solo1]

The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality. QUOTE by Meathead.

 Yes, I agree.  However, I didn't see it. You probably meant cite, not sight.

Another thought. About 15 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a black man from Selma. We walked in the Mall and we talked at length. One day I asked him if he ever saw prejudice. He was an outgoing guy and said no. Maybe he wasn't looking for it.  He passed on but he was a good friend.

I also remember while taking basic training in Virginia in the 50's that there were separate rest rooms marked white and black in the town of Blackstone.   Back home, here in Indiana, there was only one tavern that I remember that had a sign on the door "We cater to whites only"

I believe that I'll step back and reorganize my thoughts.  BLM is pushing me the wrong way.

[fudgie]

I don't think necessary race made you think about you forgetting your sling. I believe that if a table full of white guys in tank tops and tattoos and saggy pants sat there you would think the same thing. At least I would.

[solo1]

No I never got that impression when I saw you, Fudgie

[The emperor has no clothes]

The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality. QUOTE by Meathead.

 Yes, I agree.  However, I didn't see it. You probably meant cite, not sight.

Another thought. About 15 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a black man from Selma. We walked in the Mall and we talked at length. One day I asked him if he ever saw prejudice. He was an outgoing guy and said no. Maybe he wasn't looking for it.  He passed on but he was a good friend.

I also remember while taking basic training in Virginia in the 50's that there were separate rest rooms marked white and black in the town of Blackstone.   Back home, here in Indiana, there was only one tavern that I remember that had a sign on the door "We cater to whites only"

I believe that I'll step back and reorganize my thoughts.  BLM is pushing me the wrong way.

cite would be correct 

[mike72903]

The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality. QUOTE by Meathead.

 Yes, I agree.  However, I didn't see it. You probably meant cite, not sight.

Another thought. About 15 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a black man from Selma. We walked in the Mall and we talked at length. One day I asked him if he ever saw prejudice. He was an outgoing guy and said no. Maybe he wasn't looking for it.  He passed on but he was a good friend.

I also remember while taking basic training in Virginia in the 50's that there were separate rest rooms marked white and black in the town of Blackstone.   Back home, here in Indiana, there was only one tavern that I remember that had a sign on the door "We cater to whites only"

I believe that I'll step back and reorganize my thoughts.  BLM is pushing me the wrong way.

For the life of me I couldn't figure out what the Buerau of Land Managment had to do with this.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Took me a while to get it also 

[Patrick]

Racial bias my be worse now but I don't know if President Obama really has anything to do with it. There was a time in the 60's that true integration might have started. Note I said started. At that point in time blacks though segregated, had a well functioning and cohesive society.  I believe government policies helped destroy that by instituting poverty with the "Great Society" of Johnson.  Sadly, i think it just served to further stigmatize and isolate them.  They lost many of their community leaders and role models and the social strength was lost with the resulting consequences. It's sad and I don't like confronting my own bias either.  You can only try to overcome it.  Until everyone of any color is allowed the opportunity to show their character as equals will anything substantial happen.  I guess judging others by their character is another form of bias, but at least it makes for a more equal chance as character can change but color cannot.

Makes me think go LBJs famous quote.

[mike72903]

Took me a while to get it also 

Im really slow today, I just realized he was making a joke with the "I didn't see it" sight thing

[solo1]

Sorta sneaky, just like the BLM thing. 

[mike72903]

Racial bias my be worse now but I don't know if President Obama really has anything to do with it. There was a time in the 60's that true integration might have started. Note I said started. At that point in time blacks though segregated, had a well functioning and cohesive society.  I believe government policies helped destroy that by instituting poverty with the "Great Society" of Johnson.  Sadly, i think it just served to further stigmatize and isolate them.  They lost many of their community leaders and role models and the social strength was lost with the resulting consequences. It's sad and I don't like confronting my own bias either.  You can only try to overcome it.  Until everyone of any color is allowed the opportunity to show their character as equals will anything substantial happen.  I guess judging others by their character is another form of bias, but at least it makes for a more equal chance as character can change but color cannot.

Makes me think go LBJs famous quote.

I'm assuming you're not talking of "I want his pecker in my pocket"

[G-Man]

Posted in another thread but applies here as well.......

This is different racism than back in the 60's and earlier.  This is perceived racism.

As a member of the white community, with white people as my family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, Racism is never the topic of discussion or the rule of the day.  Yes, of course there are, and will always be, racist individuals.  My, and the generations after, were experiencing the aftermath of desegregation.  We grew up with multi-racial schools and classrooms, multi-racial pro sports, multi-racial communities that served everyone, etc.  My son experiences no racism at all, but 60 years ago he'd be shunned and my marriage would be illegal.

So of course there is less racism today.  However, the perception is that it's right up there with fighting terrorism.  We have a media that is guided by progressive principles and spearheading the demised of our society by any means possible.  White cops were shielding black people protesting against them.  How ironic!  This media even has their followers brainwashed into voting for everything they have been protesting about for the last 7 years,..... a 1%, white, wall street backed, insider who instigated in the middle east, and lied to the parents of dead soldiers.

The left media is incredibly powerful.  They create perception.  They reiterate this perception over and over again.  They create false martyrs around this perception.  Until perception become reality. 

[Psychotic Bovine]

Posted in another thread but applies here as well.......

This is different racism than back in the 60's and earlier.  This is perceived racism.

As a member of the white community, with white people as my family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, Racism is never the topic of discussion or the rule of the day.  Yes, of course there are, and will always be, racist individuals.  My, and the generations after, were experiencing the aftermath of desegregation.  We grew up with multi-racial schools and classrooms, multi-racial pro sports, multi-racial communities that served everyone, etc.  My son experiences no racism at all, but 60 years ago he'd be shunned and my marriage would be illegal.

So of course there is less racism today.  However, the perception is that it's right up there with fighting terrorism.  We have a media that is guided by progressive principles and spearheading the demised of our society by any means possible.  White cops were shielding black people protesting against them.  How ironic!  This media even has their followers brainwashed into voting for everything they have been protesting about for the last 7 years,..... a 1%, white, wall street backed, insider who instigated in the middle east, and lied to the parents of dead soldiers.

The left media is incredibly powerful.  They create perception.  They reiterate this perception over and over again.  They create false martyrs around this perception.  Until perception become reality. 

Very well said. 

[fudgie]

No I never got that impression when I saw you, Fudgie

       

[G-Man]

Posted in another thread but applies here as well.......

This is different racism than back in the 60's and earlier.  This is perceived racism.

As a member of the white community, with white people as my family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, Racism is never the topic of discussion or the rule of the day.  Yes, of course there are, and will always be, racist individuals.  My, and the generations after, were experiencing the aftermath of desegregation.  We grew up with multi-racial schools and classrooms, multi-racial pro sports, multi-racial communities that served everyone, etc.  My son experiences no racism at all, but 60 years ago he'd be shunned and my marriage would be illegal.

So of course there is less racism today.  However, the perception is that it's right up there with fighting terrorism.  We have a media that is guided by progressive principles and spearheading the demised of our society by any means possible.  White cops were shielding black people protesting against them.  How ironic!  This media even has their followers brainwashed into voting for everything they have been protesting about for the last 7 years,..... a 1%, white, wall street backed, insider who instigated in the middle east, and lied to the parents of dead soldiers.

The left media is incredibly powerful.  They create perception.  They reiterate this perception over and over again.  They create false martyrs around this perception.  Until perception become reality. 

Very well said. 

Dude, I have given this sooooooo much thought.  I've also been lucky enough to have been raised and educated in NYC and wound up in a global industry which gave me the opportunity to live, play, and work around so many different people.  Yes, mostly white (but that's the numbers), and I honestly can't recall bigotry regarding color.  Now religion was a different thing.

Growing up and as a young adult I heard a lot of anti-Jewish sentiments.  In many of the circles I hung around in, I was either the only white kid and usually the only Jewish kid.  I heard all the jokes and all the terrible things people wanted to happen to Jews.  That has subsided over the years, though.

I was also called 4-eyes as a kid when I wore glasses.  That doesn't happen as much either.    

[Oss]

+1 G

and yes I had glasses then as well

But prejudice was different in the Bronx

If you were not from the same BLOCK you were an outsider   It didnt matter color, or race or ethnicity you didnt belong or you did

 

If someone wanted to fight and there were no guns, well then we fought and mostly became friends afterward.  My closest friends today from HS are folks that I fought in HS (but since I was barely 5' tall back till 11th grade I usually lost though)  Interesting that as my height passed 6' and my reach and muscles grew I didnt have to fight hardly at all.

[BF]

Posted in another thread but applies here as well.......

This is different racism than back in the 60's and earlier.  This is perceived racism.

As a member of the white community, with white people as my family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, Racism is never the topic of discussion or the rule of the day.  Yes, of course there are, and will always be, racist individuals.  My, and the generations after, were experiencing the aftermath of desegregation.  We grew up with multi-racial schools and classrooms, multi-racial pro sports, multi-racial communities that served everyone, etc.  My son experiences no racism at all, but 60 years ago he'd be shunned and my marriage would be illegal.

So of course there is less racism today.  However, the perception is that it's right up there with fighting terrorism.  We have a media that is guided by progressive principles and spearheading the demised of our society by any means possible.  White cops were shielding black people protesting against them.  How ironic!  This media even has their followers brainwashed into voting for everything they have been protesting about for the last 7 years,..... a 1%, white, wall street backed, insider who instigated in the middle east, and lied to the parents of dead soldiers.

The left media is incredibly powerful.  They create perception.  They reiterate this perception over and over again.  They create false martyrs around this perception.  Until perception become reality. 

Extremely well said.   

[BF]

When I was in the Navy - in the Gulf of Tonkin, one of the ships (USS Kitty Hawk) on station had some problems to deal with. They were off line for a day while the CO sorted things out . . .

http://www.amren.com/features/2015/03/race-riot-at-sea/

On my ship, the mess decks were segregated, not by Navy standards, but by the rule of the afro-american members of the ships company. 

"In "The Color of Crime," Jared Taylor unearthed a fascinating statistic:

Nigros are more than 2,000 times more likely than any other race to engage in a Multiple-Offender Aggravated Assault against a member of another race. (Also called an "Inter-racial Multiple Offender Aggravated Assault.")"

[Robert]

Prejudice knows no color,race or religious bounds. The confusion comes in when lifestyles that are not good are identified with the color,race or religion and then this bad behavior is forced on people with the idea you have to accept it otherwise your prejudice.There is never a justification for bad behavior especially when it impacts someone else. It was the rule of law and the Police that stopped the overt acts of violence we have today. Acceptance is on the rise but without the fair unbiased enforcement of laws we have the chaos and confusion we have today. That starts at the top and how can a corrupt government enforce laws?

I enjoy my friends and acquaintances and have many of all colors, religions, and races. We have a blast in kidding my Jewish friends and likewise they kid their Christian friend also. Its so much fun when we can joke about each others ethnicity. Once people know you respect them and even like them its amazing how things change and what once was a divide is now a point of joking.

I have a particular black friend that I give work to and he had to come and apologize because I confronted him that he was a racist. Its not the color or anything outward the problem is with lifestyle choices that do not contribute to the good of society. The ones that lift up crime, lying, dishonesty, not being a good person with values and lifestyles to match. I dont care the color of your skin as long as you try your best to make it and be a good person. I am not afraid of the black in the restaurant and would be more cautious of the white tattooed guys. I have been in many situations and unless harm is telegraphed I dont usually worry. I take all situations with knowing who is around me and what is their intent. Just like riding a motorcycle.

I dont like O not because he is black but because I feel he has failed society and in fact is destroying a country that I love. He could be white, republican, Hispanic or any variety I still think he needs to be impeached.

I choose to like someone or dislike or dismiss them, but the deciding factors that will not be considered is the color of their skin or the place they were born. While I consider profiles its not a rule but a suggestion.

[f6john]

Racial bias my be worse now but I don't know if President Obama really has anything to do with it. There was a time in the 60's that true integration might have started. Note I said started. At that point in time blacks though segregated, had a well functioning and cohesive society.  I believe government policies helped destroy that by instituting poverty with the "Great Society" of Johnson.  Sadly, i think it just served to further stigmatize and isolate them.  They lost many of their community leaders and role models and the social strength was lost with the resulting consequences. It's sad and I don't like confronting my own bias either.  You can only try to overcome it.  Until everyone of any color is allowed the opportunity to show their character as equals will anything substantial happen.  I guess judging others by their character is another form of bias, but at least it makes for a more equal chance as character can change but color cannot.

One of the few posts you have made that I agree with 100%.  It had to happen sooner or later, been on this site for 15+ years and have found that everyone has something in common outside of motorcycles.

[The emperor has no clothes]

When I was in the Navy - in the Gulf of Tonkin, one of the ships (USS Kitty Hawk) on station had some problems to deal with. They were off line for a day while the CO sorted things out . . .

http://www.amren.com/features/2015/03/race-riot-at-sea/

On my ship, the mess decks were segregated, not by Navy standards, but by the rule of the afro-american members of the ships company. 

"In "The Color of Crime," Jared Taylor unearthed a fascinating statistic:

Nigros are more than 2,000 times more likely than any other race to engage in a Multiple-Offender Aggravated Assault against a member of another race. (Also called an "Inter-racial Multiple Offender Aggravated Assault.")"

I think simple mathematics would dictate that. Blacks comprise 12% of the population. That would mean 88% of potential victims are of a different race. Vice versa for Caucasian people, they would have mostly Caucasians as potential victims.

[Skinhead]

Racial tension was very high in the Army when I was in 74-77.  Actually got into a little confrontation with a black soldier that tried to block my path from the mess hall.  I was an MP and he didn't care for me doing my job while checking ID's at the gate.  I got transferred, he got a field grade Article 15.  I got along fine with most blacks, but the ignorant ones from the ghetto always had a chip on their shoulder.  

[Jess from VA]

Here is a point of view I have.  

You have a segment of society that decides it must have their own collective identity, different from everybody else.  This is not so much a drive for individuality, but a rejection of the norm.  

Different clothing (or regular clothing worn differently), different music, different names, a different language/lingo that is difficult to follow by many, there used to be different cars but that has kind of disappeared, and a number of other things.

But when all these differences result in them being treated differently (or simply viewed as odd), they cry foul.  If you want to be treated like everyone else, why not try to look and act like everyone else?

I once thought myself a non conformist hippy-type.  But my mother set me straight and told me in no uncertain terms, that my hair and jeans and hippy clothes were as much a uniform as any other, since it was nearly identical to all my hippy brethren.  And of course she was dead right.  Dad though his Marine uniform looked better, and he was right too.  

But after leaving the education system for the real world, it took no time at all to realize that if I was to get ahead, and keep moving ahead, I was going to have to conform my dress, social skills, language and attitude to those expected of me in the real world, or pay a price if I did not.  I never in my life enjoyed wearing a suit and tie, but in my chosen profession it was the uniform of every day (though on occasion, I could get by with a blazer, slacks and tie).  The only non conformity generally tolerated in the real world, was being smarter, faster or better at what you did than your peers (though this could also  get you into trouble).

The history of America makes it easy to understand why this group would reject status quo dress, language, behavior, etc.  But setting yourself apart as different from everybody else will always have a cost.  I don't think it helps.  If you want to be part of the team, you should be a team player.

There is also the long term disproportionate level of crime, but that has been discussed many times.  If a disproportionate level of violent crime is committed by a small percentage of the population, no one should be surprised if people learn to fear and avoid that percentage of the population.  Self preservation (short of class or race hatred) is not necessarily racism.

These thoughts cause me some racial prejudice; not extreme, and not hatred, but it's there and I freely admit it.  But a small degree of racial prejudice does not make me a racist.  I will stack my life of equal treatment and fair play with all races and religions against anyone's.  I try to meet each man or woman with an open mind and withhold any judgment until I have something to base it on.  But some people will not even give you the opportunity.  That doesn't help either.

[mike72903]

Racial bias my be worse now but I don't know if President Obama really has anything to do with it. There was a time in the 60's that true integration might have started. Note I said started. At that point in time blacks though segregated, had a well functioning and cohesive society.  I believe government policies helped destroy that by instituting poverty with the "Great Society" of Johnson.  Sadly, i think it just served to further stigmatize and isolate them.  They lost many of their community leaders and role models and the social strength was lost with the resulting consequences. It's sad and I don't like confronting my own bias either.  You can only try to overcome it.  Until everyone of any color is allowed the opportunity to show their character as equals will anything substantial happen.  I guess judging others by their character is another form of bias, but at least it makes for a more equal chance as character can change but color cannot.

One of the few posts you have made that I agree with 100%.  It had to happen sooner or later, been on this site for 15+ years and have found that everyone has something in common outside of motorcycles.

[solo1]

There has been some good thoughts here, thank you all.

One point that hasn't been touched on, or maybe it has in a different way, is the political philosophy that blacks have been unfairly treated, therefore they must be given special opportunities.  However, I've often thought that the real reason for this is that the political party that espouses this really thinks that blacks have an inferior mentality so society should 'adjust" for this. I disagree.  Blacks, given the opportunity for a good education will respond just like members of any race.  Lowering standards for entrance into positions like firefighters and police officers, for blacks, is not fair to blacks.

One additional.  My thought in the restaurant was a fleeting one but it gave me pause.  However, I would be concerned if I saw young male blacks approaching me on the street and for that, the blame falls directly on the gang bangers who developed that reputation.   

Ft. Wayne, our neighboring city, always has demonstrations, flowers at the latest killing site, demand for more gun control, and silent processions.  It doesn't stop the continued gang banger activity.  Ft. Wayne did have a black chief of police but now another white is the chief and he pledges, as usual, to 'reach out' to blacks.  Meetings will be held and they will be as successful just as in the past,  nothing.

[G-Man]

....... Blacks, given the opportunity for a good education will respond just like members of any race. 

When we were very young family we lived in the Bronx.  While the neighborhood was very nice, the schools were still part of the NYC system which is not up to our standards.  I am a product of the NYC public schools, but it was very different back then.  Anyway, we sent the kids to a private school where they flourished.  The older one graduated and went to one of top schools in the nation.  To save a little money, we sent the younger one to the public middle school.  We had moved to the suburbs a few years earlier and we hoped for the best.  We can't pin it on anything in particular, maybe a combination of several things, but he was circling the drain.  His grades dropped, his attitude dropped, he witness a pen stabbing, he heard the N daily, all day long because it's what the boys call each other (we never heard Eric use the word.  We, and several of my amazing in-laws lectured him on the use of the word and he got it.  I think.  I perused his phone and found several text threads in which the other kids used the word frequently, his replies were clean.)  Speaking with him it was also uncovered that good grades were frowned upon and made fun of.  He still did his work, but wouldn't participate in class.  He didn't want to be made fun of.

We agonized over what to do for high school.  I'm Jewish, but Yeshiva wouldn't have been a good option as he would stand out like a sore thumb and kids are still kids and want to fit in.  We finally made the decision to send him to a Catholic H.S.  Neither of us are Catholic, but we really had no other option except to move.  He's become an athlete and an honor student in a one year turn around.

I read about a study in which it was demonstrated that children of color, who score below their white counterparts in public school, elevate to the level of other students when they attend a religious/private school.

Just another example of the left's failed policies.  I believe it was Obama, at the beginning of his reign, who put away with the voucher system which anchored kids to the failing zoned public schools.  I believe their reasoning was that since ALL kids can't get vouchers, it wasn't fair.  So the way to make things fair was to keep them all in failing schools. 

[solo1]

I've been a lifetime citizen of Indiana. I was sent to a Lutheran grade school where my values were set.

My four kids were also sent to a Lutheran grade school for. the same results.

All of us went to public high schools but ,again, our values were ingrained in us by parochial school.

I'm presently on the Board of Elders in my church and see a constant stream of parents forsaking public schools and sending their children to our Lutheran school.

IMHO, parochial schools, of whatever Faith instill a sense of values, responsibility, and good citizenry in young adults.

A good education with a fundamental sense of values and no peer pressures (good or bad) should be the right of any citizen.  It is indeed unfortunate that there can be built in roadblocks of peer pressure to hinder efforts to better oneself.

[Willow]

Part of our problem when we speak of racism or racial differences is that we seem to confuse the participation of and prejudice against ethnic differences and cultural differences.  Most of what we call racism is actually ethnic or cultural prejudice.  These days in most places, most not all, we see very little discrimination against someone based solely upon his or her race.  What we do see often is a low preference or rejection based upon ethnic or cultural differences.  Whether it is less or more wrong is a long discussion but it is there and it is fairly normal.

The assumption that young people of a different ethnic or cultural background will learn as easily as our own in a particular environment may be ignoring method and background of the teaching.  I'm pretty sure that as a young person I learned well in part because the teachers and I had similar perspectives.

I have a tendency to be most accepting of people of other races and ethnic groups if they seem to operate well in the cultural social practices with which I am comfortable.  Sometimes I work to do otherwise with varying degrees of success.

I think we have come a long way.  I am not so sure we are completely where we want to be or that we are entirely where we sometimes think we are.     

[G-Man]

I think we have come a long way.  I am not so sure we are completely where we want to be or that we are entirely where we sometimes think we are.     

 

[3fan4life]

The black on black violence that you sight is not really related to any police brutality. QUOTE by Meathead.

 Yes, I agree.  However, I didn't see it. You probably meant cite, not sight.

Another thought. About 15 years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a black man from Selma. We walked in the Mall and we talked at length. One day I asked him if he ever saw prejudice. He was an outgoing guy and said no. Maybe he wasn't looking for it.  He passed on but he was a good friend.

I also remember while taking basic training in Virginia in the 50's that there were separate rest rooms marked white and black in the town of Blackstone.   Back home, here in Indiana, there was only one tavern that I remember that had a sign on the door "We cater to whites only"

I believe that I'll step back and reorganize my thoughts.  BLM is pushing me the wrong way.

I've spent more than my fair share of time at Ft Pickett as well.

I can guarantee you that the barracks were exactly the same as when you were there.

[3fan4life]

We all have things that we prejudge about other people, that's prejudice.

It's what we do about it that determines whether we are racist or not.

If we are capable of setting aside that prejudice and making a determination of that person's worth based on their character instead of their color, sex, religion, etc then we are treating them fair and righteously.

If we cannot do that then we are racist.

I have been privileged to know good people of many races and ethnicities and I have been fortunate to call many of them friend.

I have also had the misfortune of interacting with people of many races and ethnicities that were not good people, many of these people have the same color of skin as me.

It is not the color of our skin or where we were born that makes us good or bad, rather it is how we treat and care for other people.

I started school in the early 70's several years after the schools were fully integrated, I was one of only a handful of white kids on my bus and we were relentlessly picked on by the black kids.

Kids are kids and I'm sure that the black kids who were minorities on their buses were picked on as well.       

While working in EMS in predominately black neighborhoods I have been the direct recipient of undeserved racist remarks (no-one will ever be able to convince me that racism only exists in the caucasian race).

Like others my greatest education about people of other races and from other ethnicities came during my time in the military.

Like most of life's experiences it was a mixture of good and bad, the problems weren't due to race they were due to personal differences.

This PIC was taken while I was stationed in Germany.



I'm the drunk in the middle, the guy on my left was a great guy and a good friend, the guy on my right was a decent guy when sober and one of the biggest assholes in the world when he was drunk.

[solo1]

I've spent more than my fair share of time at Ft Pickett as well. QUOTE by 3fan4life

Small world, isn't it?  When I was there it was called Camp Pickett and Blackstone was called Tombstone as it was 'dead' except for tattoo parlors.

Absolutely true, the Army was where I learned about all races and ethnic groups from all over the US.
Good times and some bad, except in Korea, there it was all good. The closeness to a combat zone made us get along, blacks and whites.

[MP]

If you go looking for discrimination, you tend to find it.

I was in line to check in at a cooler in Salinas, CA in the early morning, before the office opened.  Hauling produce from CA to ND and MN.

I was about 10th in line, and was conversing with a woman truck driver, who was the person ahead of me.

After a bit, the talk turned to women drivers.  She went on to explain to me how she, as a woman driver, was CONSTANTLY being discriminated against vs the male drivers.  How she always had to wait more, poorer loads, etc. She explained how this AM was a perfect example, her being back in the line, with male drivers ahead of her.

I looked at her, and said "You are ahead of me, aren't you?  There are also over 15 male drivers BEHIND us."

She never said another word, turned around, and did not talk to me again.

What she was experiencing is the NORMAL life of a truck driver.  What she turned it into, was that the NORMAL bad things a truck driver go thru, only happened to her, BECAUSE she was a woman.

My wife was driving with me at the time.  I asked her if she ever thought she was put back because she was a woman.  Without hesitation, she said no.  In fact, she said, she thought she might get SLIGHT preferential treatment over the men, at a few places.

If you look for it, and expect to find it, you will.