"American Ethnocentrism" is still a problem in the U.S

[dawny0826]

Unfortunately for that theory, I've seen the video of her making the comments. And despite that her later claim she made those comments tongue in cheek, she seems exceedingly serious in the original and does not at all come across to me as attempting to be tongue in cheek. Just my opinion though. At any rate, I thought the funniest response came from John Stewart:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pmBUeHhB3Y

Whether or not the humor was obvious, she was clearly not angry, which she was accused of being.

I didn't pick up on anything outwardly racist. She issued a thorough explanation as to what her intentions were and parallelled her statements quite well to the essay, which she was referencing.

The topic for debate, which was lost, was whether or not there's an issue with the commercialized depiction of Santa being portrayed as a white male. She was accused of being racist, when in fact, she was acknowledging the point that Harris had made and brought it to the table for contemplation and discussion.

Knee jerk reaction ensued.

 

[KriyaUK]

Seriously, I mean it, this is the LEAST of American's problems....

Look at the attitude in this forum; look at the ego and how people treat eachother, and you see a reflection of America's problems.

 

[Sunstone]

Whether or not the humor was obvious, she was clearly not angry, which she was accused of being.

"Clearly not angry"? I very seriously doubt that. She looked and sounded angry to me, Dawny, even if she didn't to you. In fact, the first time I saw the video of her, I was entirely more surprised than anything else -- because announcers just don't that often allow themselves to get angry. At least, not on the one or two TV news programs I watch on rare occasions.

 

[dawny0826]

"Clearly not angry"? I very seriously doubt that. She looked and sounded angry to me, Dawny, even if she didn't to you. In fact, the first time I saw the video of her, I was entirely more surprised than anything else -- because announcers just don't that often allow themselves to get angry. At least,
not on the one or two TV news programs I watch on rare occasions.

Then, we agree to disagree, Phil. I saw the clip and the clips where she's explained her own actions.

I think she did a poor job of tongue and cheek commentary, but, I fail to see the outrage in her commentary and body language, that others have insisted were projected.

She's provided a fair opportunity for Harris to discuss the issue with her and Harris has declined.

 

[Clarity]

Megyn Kelly:

"And by the way, for all you KIDS watching at home, Santa is WHITE. But this person is maybe just arguing that we should also have a black Santa. But you know, Santa is what he is...."

"You know, I mean, Jesus was a white man too. He was a historical figure; that's a verifiable fact-as is Santa, I want you kids to know that."

Phil Robertson:

“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”

After speaking with one of my co-workers who defended Robertson's right to "free speech," I wondered why in the United States especially at the end of this year, do not have a sit down discussion, like a town hall meeting to discuss these issues. Race is still a problem. I believe in my life time racism will always be a problem, but I also like to think racism is systemic and that we need to get to the bottom of those that propagate the issue, and those that sustain the issue.

Towards the end of the semester in 2009 the year I completed undergrad I took a cultural studies course and we started discussing the issues regarding post-slavery and pre-civil rights, I recall one classmate stating:

"Well why do (insert ethnic group) play the race card so much today? We have a black president!"

The professor kindly responded:

"If your response is to inquire why complaints from minorities exist, then I would say that from the attitude of your response is the reason why many minorities continue to have grievances. The idea that 'hey look, one of your own is in the white house no need to complain anymore' is the very colonialist mentality this class is based around."

I'll admit with prejudice that the very subject that many Americans (including myself) tend to shy away from is the very exact subject we need to address. Megyn Kelley and Phil Robertson's comments are mere reflections of what still ails this country. Whenever you have the likes of Kelley that has the audacity to address kids who are not mentally shaped to be cognizant of varying ethnic identities let alone the ability to process the ethnicity of santa, it becomes not only cyclical, but disturbing. People often ask "why can't people get over race?"

Simple...

Because in the United States people don't want to....

In my view, the only reason why racism is still a problem in America is the result of Democrats pedaling racism to get votes.

If you're not careful, you can take reverse-racism to its ultimate extreme: racism.

(And by the way, St. Nicholas was European, therefore white.)

 

[Sunstone]

(And by the way, St. Nicholas was European, therefore white.)

Not that it really matters, but Nicholas was of Greek heritage -- born not in Greece, but in Asia Minor. I'd guess an olive skinned Caucasian, like many Greeks. Santa, on the other hand, is clearly a tall, fat elf. I firmly believe elves to be Norse in origin.

 

[McBell]

In my view, the only reason why racism is still a problem in America is the result of Democrats pedaling racism to get votes.

Really?
So there is no way that the Poverty Pimps Jesse Jackson (D) and Al Sharpton (D) have something to do with it?

 

[Clarity]

Really?
So there is no way that the Poverty Pimps Jesse Jackson (D) and Al Sharpton (D) have something to do with it?

They're equally guilty. The fact that Jackson lost doesn't exempt him.

 

[dust1n]

Racist is never a problem when one isn't affected by and chooses to ignore it when anyone else is.

 

[Clarity]

Racist is never a problem when one isn't affected by and chooses to ignore it when anyone else is.

From time to time, the world gets an example of what real racism is because the world, as a whole, refuses to deal with it.

We got an example of naked, visceral hatred based on skin color from liberals reacting to Sanford Florida events. We saw people like Spike Lee tweeting a wrong address and putting an elderly couple in peril of their life by suggesting someone just go and "deal with" George Zimmerman. We saw the black community, lead by Al Sharpton, trying to incite race-based violence, and we saw in (thankfully few) places small black gangs in other parts of the country responding.

If we don't educate the left on their amorality toward race, the next might be worse.

 

[Sunstone]

From time to time, the world gets an example of what real racism is because the world, as a whole, refuses to deal with it.

We got an example of naked, visceral hatred based on skin color from liberals reacting to Sanford Florida events. We saw people like Spike Lee tweeting a wrong address and putting an elderly couple in peril of their life by suggesting someone just go and "deal with" George Zimmerman. We saw the black community, lead by Al Sharpton, trying to incite race-based violence, and we saw in (thankfully few) places small black gangs in other parts of the country responding.

If we don't educate the left on their amorality toward race, the next might be worse.

When you make your first post on this Forum that doesn't paint liberals with a broad brush then let me know.