"White Privilege Conference" In Colorado?

[narlacat]

You are a compassionate person Narla, I feel sorry for people who are down on their luck, black or white, but what can we do to make it easier for them. I donate to charities that help the less fortunate, and I have friends who are of aboriginal dissent that I respect, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty I have to take care of my own family. I wish I could do more but it is just not possible.

Well, the plight of Aboriginal people in Australia today is alot more of a story than someone who is 'down on their luck' but thanks for your honesty Shaz- I appreciate that.

 

[narlacat]

First of all, it wasn't "we, who robbed them of their dignity", it was our ancestors. And, it wasn't "we who murdered them in cold blood", it was their ancestors that were murdered. It was a horrible thing that happened. However, that was quite a few years ago and things have changed dramatically since then. There is no reason whatsoever that we cannot all live in harmony amongst each other. Unfortunately, the race card is brought in to entirely too many issues. It's getting disgusting. Grow up already.

Ok, I have a bit more time on my hands now- was rushing before in my earlier response to this post.

My responses to the parts of your post that are highlighted

How would you feel if someone robbed your ancestors of their dignity-
How would you feel if someone murdered your ancestors- wouldn’t you want some kind of compensation?

What ‘horrible thing’ was that’?

How so?
This thread is all about the issue which you and I are discussing.

What's getting disgusting?

*in my best Pauline Hanson 'please explain'-

 

[Shazza]

Ok, I have a bit more time on my hands now- was rushing before in my earlier response to this post.

My responses to the parts of your post that are highlighted

How would you feel if someone robbed your ancestors of their dignity-
How would you feel if someone murdered your ancestors- wouldn’t you want some kind of compensation?

What ‘horrible thing’ was that’?

How so?
This thread is all about the issue which you and me are discussing.

What's getting disgusting?

*in my best Pauline Hanson 'please explain'-

Narla, my ancestors where shackled and chained, beaten and killed for the most smallest of crimes, they were transported against their will to other countries and put in slave camps or prisons. Children where taken away from the parents and sent overseas never to see their parents again because their parents couldnt look after them. Im not blaming any one person or government at that time, it happened, and some of these people were my relatives, I felt for my grandparents and my parents because they told me these stories of our relations that this happened to, so my parents and grandparents are still hurting and missing their sisters and brother etc. At some stage you have to let go, I have but I havent forgotten, I still see the hurt and despair in their faces, but what can I do for them except love them and let them know I am there for them always. I have cousins and aunts and uncles whom i have not met or remember them except for photos. Some of these horrible things that are being talked about happened to my mother. Who says sorry to her or brings back her two sons. This is to close to my heart, and I am crying as I type this. Im not looking for sympathy, I hate it that my mum remembers this everyday and I cant do anything to take away that pain. We have to move forward, and forgive in our own hearts as hard as that may be or else it will drive us insane. I cant talk anymore about this, I know it isnt about the blacks and the white or the aboriginals but it is the same pain. I am hurting now for my mum. God bless her.

 

[narlacat]

Narla, my ancestors where shackled and chained, beaten and killed for the most smallest of crimes, they were transported against their will to other countries and put in slave camps or prisons. Children where taken away from the parents and sent overseas never to see their parents again because their parents couldnt look after them. Im not blaming any one person or government at that time, it happened, and some of these people were my relatives, I felt for my grandparents and my parents because they told me these stories of our relations that this happened to, so my parents and grandparents are still hurting and missing their sisters and brother etc. At some stage you have to let go, I have but I havent forgotten, I still see the hurt and despair in their faces, but what can I do for them except love them and let them know I am there for them always. I have cousins and aunts and uncles whom i have not met or remember them except for photos. Some of these horrible things that are being talked about happened to my mother. Who says sorry to her or brings back her two sons. This is to close to my heart, and I am crying as I type this. Im not looking for sympathy, I hate it that my mum remembers this everyday and I cant do anything to take away that pain. We have to move forward, and forgive in our own hearts as hard as that may be or else it will drive us insane. I cant talk anymore about this, I know it isnt about the blacks and the white or the aboriginals but it is the same pain. I am hurting now for my mum. God bless her.

Shaz, I am sorry for your pain, but my previous post was not directed at you-

Yes, God bless your Mum- and my Mum whom I've never met and my grandparents, aunts and uncles that I have never met- heck probably even siblings I've never met-

Pain is universal yes- but the Aboriginals pain is their pain and it is as important as ours-

 

[Shazza]

Shaz, I am sorry for your pain, but my previous post was not directed at you-

Yes, God bless your Mum- and my Mum whom I've never met and my grandparents, aunts and uncles that I have never met- heck probably even siblings I've never met-

Pain is universal yes- but the Aboriginals pain is their pain and it is as important as ours-

I know you werent directing that post to me, but the flood gates just opened up, everybody suffers pain at some time in their life, the aboriginal pain is just as important as ours but what can we do, if you acknowledge their pain in the media you are opening up many more avenues for other cultures, nationalities etc to want theres acknowledge and certain privilges bestowed upon them. It is time to realise that we two cant fix the worlds problems as much as we would like to. I wish more could be done for the aboriginals but saying sorry isnt going to change what happened,I wish I could bring my two half brothers back and stop the hurt my mum goes through everyday, but it isnt going to happen.
Narla without taking this as a personal attack can you let go and move forward, I had and I will again. You have a son just love him and be glad for what you have and not what you dont have, or what you cant do to help the aboriginals etc. Im sorry, but this is so close to my heart it hurts, but Im grateful for the family I have and I need to concentrate on that.

 

[narlacat]

I know you werent directing that post to me, but the flood gates just opened up, everybody suffers pain at some time in their life, the aboriginal pain is just as important as ours but what can we do, if you acknowledge their pain in the media you are opening up many more avenues for other cultures, nationalities etc to want theres acknowledge and certain privilges bestowed upon them. It is time to realise that we two cant fix the worlds problems as much as we would like to. I wish more could be done for the aboriginals but saying sorry isnt going to change what happened,I wish I could bring my two half brothers back and stop the hurt my mum goes through everyday, but it isnt going to happen.
Narla without taking this as a personal attack can you let go and move forward, I had and I will again. You have a son just love him and be glad for what you have and not what you dont have, or what you cant do to help the aboriginals etc. Im sorry, but this is so close to my heart it hurts, but Im grateful for the family I have and I need to concentrate on that.

I don't understand what you mean Shaz- let go of what?

I don't know what you mean by 'this is so close to my heart'- what is? the plight of Aboriginals?

Shaz, I have not meant to upset you, the topic of discussion is 'white priviledge' which led on to the Aboriginals of Australia- and I'm not even warmed up yet- lol- I still have lots to share

 

[Shazza]

I don't understand what you mean Shaz- let go of what?

I don't know what you mean by 'this is so close to my heart'- what is? the plight of Aboriginals?

Shaz, I have not meant to upset you, the topic of discussion is 'white priviledge' which led on to the Aboriginals of Australia- and I'm not even warmed up yet- lol- I still have lots to share

I have just written the longest answer and it has gone, have I said or done something I shouldnt have or is my computer just playing up

 

[Shazza]

What I was trying to say before is: What I meant by letting it go is that when you were posting to ocean eyed girl you sounded very aggressive, and I just thought (my opinion only) that your were attacking her unnecessarily, she was only stating her opinion, and to explain what I meant when I said 'it is close to my heart" I meant the aboriginals and my family, especially my family, because some of the questions you asked ocean eyed girl were: "What if it was you ancestors that were being treated like the aboriginals?" well mine were treated badly and it just made me vent my feelings. I dont know what else to say Narla, if we could personally do more to help the aboriginals it would have been done. But what would you like to see done, saying sorry isnt going to change what happened in the past so all I am saying is just let the aboriginal subject go and focus on what we have and not what could have been.

 

[Nova]

I haven't read the first thing on Don Imus - so I wasn't addressing whatever that is at all. I disagree that Tallahassee hasn't changed much in the past few centuries...

The Imus reference was just me getting my threads confused. It had nothing to do with your post.

I haven't lived in Tallahassee since the mid-70s, so I will certainly take your word for improvements since then. Good on ya'll.

I was responding to your "200 years ago" assertion. Slavery wasn't legally abolished until about 140 years ago; and de facto slavery through Jim Crow laws and legal segregation persisted until just a few decades ago. Despite improvements, this isn't Ancient History we are discussing.

All that aside, you getting a "taste" for blacks by dating a black woman made me snort out my milk this morning. Thanks for that!

Sorry. Poor choice of phrase. I meant I got to experience systematic marginalization in a town where we were often refused food, gas and other services because of her color. (And mine, I suppose, since the primary objection seemed to be that she and I were together.)

 

[Nova]

You are a compassionate person Narla, I feel sorry for people who are down on their luck, black or white, but what can we do to make it easier for them. I donate to charities that help the less fortunate, and I have friends who are of aboriginal dissent that I respect, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty I have to take care of my own family. I wish I could do more but it is just not possible.

Yes, and that's what almost all people tend to do. The problem is that when an entire group of families suffers centuries of discrimination, those families don't have the same resources to take care of their own. It requires action by society as a whole to help.

 

[MREG2]

As did I, and my parents are lower middle class at best. But I did get quite a bit of help from scholarships, some of which I qualified for -- at least in part -- because of my white advantages: language spoken at home, ability to go to better schools, etc. That doesn't even count the more subtle advantages such as coming from a family/community where I was expected to go to college (rather than actively discouraged).



ETA: to take out a "crack" that wasn't fair or funny in the context of this heated discussion. My apologies, MREG2, I was being facetious. To answer you seriously: my remarks about "whites only" scholarships were ironic, not literal. But historically, it amounted to the same thing: almost all recipients were white. Things are better today, certainly, but that doesn't mean everything is "solved."

Nova, I didn't even get to read whatever "crack" you had said before. I was getting to fired up and had to leave this thread. :blushing: Just gonna blame it on pregnancy hormones. Trying to stay off of them today but apparently not doing a good job....

Yes, the scholarships were given mostly to whites but is that because blacks weren't applying or for "other" reasons... No, things are not solved nor will they ever be. But all this crap being kept up is not helping matters. That is where everyone needs to let things go... But some people (Sharpton) just won't let it happen.

 

[MREG2]

I agree with you, and I live near Atlanta where I know of at least two, maybe more, colleges that are for black students ONLY. One is Spelman I believe, and I forget the other one.
I don't know of ANY college in this country that is for white students only.

Because that just wouldn't be allowed....

 

[MREG2]

It's a double standard that whites have created for themselves. Open any American History book. You won't find much in there besides information about slavery, black regiments in the civil war, and the civil rights movement in the 60s. Black History month was created out of necessity. There would be an uproar...you're right about that, but only because having a White History month would be completely unnecessary.

Forgive me, I've been out of school for awhile... So the only thing in the American History book is about slavery, the civil war and civil rights.... There is nothing else in there that mention the positive attributes of black people??

 

[MREG2]

There is a White Entertainment Network. Look a the TV. Sure the minority representation has improved, but the majority of characters are White and center around the norms of a typical white fmaily. BET was created to give Blacks the opportunity to see shows containing a majority of people that they can relate to. The majority of the programming on BET stinks IMO, because the movies and shows are mostly B rated since the funding is not available to create a great movie or program with a minority cast.

White People Awards - the the major awards categories were created for White people. Look how long it has taken for a Black, Latino, Asian, Indian, etc. person to win a presitgious award? It's 2007 and there are a handful. When one is shut out of the "club" for so long wouldn't it be easier to create your own?

On Black History Month - I am 34 years old. I just learned about Sojourner Truth 4 years ago! I learn about Black History when my girls come home and talk about what they did during Black History month. I didn't learn much about it at my school.


I am glad that my kids are being exposed to various races and cultures. I think understanding each other and where we come from will lead to a brighter future for our children in terms of getting along a coexisting peacefully. It's those of us that are in denial that there is a problem and want to brush it under the rug or pass things of as minorities feeling a sense of entitlement. There are minority people who experience blatant racism or subtle racism. I could rattle of several things I have experienced and to someone who doesn't believe there is a problem, would never see it as a problem.

I don't feel entitled at all. I am a single parent. I work full time. I go to college. I participate in my children's social and educational endeavors, I consider myself kind, compassionate and smart. I play well with others. I have worked hard for the little that I have. I just expect to be treated fairly and equally.

Not being a smart*ss but what about the Cosby show. I watched it ALL the time growing up.

 

[MREG2]

LOL, was it wrong to laugh at this? Little green men.

LOL.... that just proves they really do accept many, many races.

 

[MREG2]

Good post. And let's not forget that as late as the 1950s, black students who wanted to attend a certain school were spit on and threatened and had to be escorted by the National Guard. So I think it makes perfect sense to have "black" schools.

Sure, and that makes sense. However, we aren't living in the 50's anymore. If, today, there were all white colleges they would be made to change and accept any race. These schools should too. Not saying they don't BUT they should not be promoting themselves as a black college. NOT in today's age.

 

[MREG2]

That poster is me, I think, and I am seriously drunk at the moment, so other than this I am posting NOTHING.

When are you going to learn to share?! :crazy:

 

[MREG2]

At the risk of burning in "white people are horrible, blacks are awesome" hell fire -

I don't consider their past sufferring to be that serious. (anymore)That horse to beat died 200 years ago and it's time to turn the page in the history books and move on to CURRENT sufferring of blacks. Not the crap they are whining about in large numbers but the REAL issues. (Rather, ones that SHOULD be important to them, but RELATIVE inaction shows it's not so much.)

1. Gangs and the deaths they cause.
2. Drug related deaths, be it drugs themselves or dealing.
3. Starvation in this country right here, right NOW that needs all the attention.
4. The emense prison population that is black, are REPEAT offenders- who are actually VICTIMS of their neighborhoods, their parents, the areas they live in that need cleaned up to stop breeding these prison bound kids and start breeding kids who can have a chance.

We have a country where everyone really does have a chance - if their upbringing gives them access to it. The color isn't the issue - it's the access to the education. If you live in a gang neighborhood and eat your cheerios with your big brother's machine gun on your breakfast table, are exposed by mama to speak that gutteral crap that isn't english, even if you have an IQ that is off the charts smart - you don't have access to the steps to suceed. But where is the person helping you out of that situation? He's at some judge trying to get reparations for your great great great great great great great great great grandfather's slavery so he can use the money to... do something other than give you any help.

Sorry charlie. It's not my whiteness keeping you away from succeeding, it's people putting their efforts into things that happened 200 years ago that they feel is more important than your future.

Can't people see, dead people aren't sufferring, so it's NOT as important. What is important are the people are sufferring NOW. It's not whitey 200 years ago! It's neighborhoods that need attention NOW, it's school systems that need attention NOW, it's parents that need attention NOW, it's kids that so TOTALLY need attention NOW-

Don't black groups care about the kids alive TODAY? There would be an IMMENSE number of people fixing the problems if they'd change their focus from "gimmie reparations for something I wasn't there for" to "please donate time, energy and money to cleaning up this problem we have now."

*stepping off soap box* *shaking head*

Glitch, your posts are always so spot on!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[MREG2]

I wanted to make a comment about DWB. Last year I was driving in the middle of the night for an early morning flight. There was very little traffic in the town and I wanted to get a cup of coffee but was not familiar with where the convenience store was so I turned left when I should have turned right. I drove around the block to go in the right direction. Now a police car was parked on the side of the road and saw me do this. I was not speeding, used my turn signals etc in the correct way and my car had no problems such as lights out etc.
The police officer got behind me and quickly pulled me over. I was surprised because as I said I was doing absolutly nothing wrong! Right away he wanted to know what I was doing, just why was I there? I kept my cool and explained what I was doing, but I admit it bothered me the way I was questioned when I had a very innocent reason for being where I was. If it had been during the day I never would have been noticed. My car is neither fancy or expensive. Now if I was a minority I guess I could have felt then that I was pulled over because of that reason, but I'm a white middleaged woman so I can't use that for an excuse. The truth is I was in an area where I caught the eye of a young police officer who felt anyone driving around at 3 a.m. was suspicious. My impression of him was he was a jerk who was to filled up with his own importance but I kept that impression to myself while we talked. I do understand a person being upset if they are pulled over for no reason, because I certainly did not like it when it happened to me, but I don't believe we can blame race for it, there are many reasons it can be and if we just play the "race card" then our eyes are not open to reality.

As for needing to feel guilty for what our gggggg-parents did, that has never cut it with me. Slavery did not just happen here in America, I am of scottish-irish descent and you know what, many years ago there was slavery over there! I have no doubt I have ancestors who were abused and very poorly treated. As far as I have been able to find out I have no ancestor who was a slave ownder, they settled in the north and I had ones who fought for the north during the civil was and atleast 1 who was a pow during that time and I'm sure suffered greatly.
During my years I have worked with many black, white, hispanic and a few people from the middle east. What I have learned is no matter the color, you're going to find good people and you're going to also find people who are an , IMO it's not because of the color of their skin, it's because of what's underneith the skin.
Color of skin is not the only way to discriminate, we all judge others on a daily basis on so many different levels. Should a homely woman be given more chance towards a job because she's at a disadvantage? My brother was rejected for certain training in the airforce because of his partial colorblindness, should I organise a protest?
Why don't I ever hear Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton mad about an injustice done towards a non-black? Isn't injustice towards anyone wrong?
I know I'm rambling here but just wanted to chime in a little.

VB

VB... greast post too!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

I posted on back about getting pulled over once late at night and getting 3rd degree questioning, even being asked who's car I was driving, why I was where I was, etc. Now, admittedly I had run a red light, it was raining and I was going to fast to stop without hydoplaning....but I digress... :blushing: But yes, he had the right to pull me over but not to ask the things he was. I too could pull the race thing, "if" I was black. Of course, I could be a big b*tch and say he was against females (DWF)....

And your post made me think of something else.... I am 1/38th (or something just as silly) Indian. Does that mean I get to start an uproar because my land was taken from me?! Hmmm....let me think about this.... :angel:

 

[Masterj]

Or
In 200 years the storybooks can say: "200 years ago, we wiped out poverty, gangs and illiteracy in this country."
I know what I'd like to have my future family read about.

I think it is very dangerous to assume that these problems are exclusive to blacks. I think that certain media highlights these problems within the black communities more so than they do with other races. In NYC, there are serious problems with chinese and Russian gangs.

Unfortunately, I would say that all of our races have these issues in common whether people would like to admit it or not.