What the hell!!! Where are Alien and all the others that rise so quickly to blame the Republicans for all manner of evil in the US especially racism. Here, we have numerous liberals using words that no Republican would ever get away with in a million years. Why the hell is this kind of RACISM acceptable? Does anyone doubt that Condi Rice and Colin Powell DESERVED their jobs as opposed to the quota candidates that Democrat administrations used to appoint as Secretary of Education or FCC Chair all those years? What the F
I cringed about all that too. Though at first, I attributed it to political hatred, I later realized it was just a continuation of ignorance, mostly due to stereotypical thinking about the way the world is, or ought to be, the way some people are, or ought to be, and peoples’ ideas of how certain people should think, or how they should be, how they should speak, who they should vote for, their idiom, vernacular, their intrinsic natures, their propensities toward certain behaviors, etc.
You know, Freedom is still too big a word for most people to fathom.
People–even those entrusted with power–believe what they hear on radio, what they see on TV and what the newspapers tell them–if they read. They look for easy answers to complex questions. They don’t want to take too much time away from their favorite TV show to grapple with complexities. They don’t want to spend time to really examine their core beliefs when everything doesnt’ fall neatly into place because they are too lazy to sit down and work out discrepancies. No, it’s much too easy to generalize. People FEAR aberrations.
The human brain has evolved to solve problems as quickly as possible. We look for patterns, we itemize and develop systems of classification in order to make the world orderly and we do not like to see aberrations. And often times, that intrinsic behavior leads us to totally f*** up and misconstrue reality.
It is hard for people–on both sides–to see that Condi is not an aberration. It is hard for them to see that she is just a free woman. IMO, she is misguided, of course 
–terribly so.
Don’t tell me Fred, that you were surprised by the caricatures. I’m sure you know that the world is more complex than that. But what if we take the issue away from the political and talk about the personal? What if you should look inside yourself, Fred, as a person, say, instead of a Republican, how did it speak to you? I didn’t get your view on that at all. Or are you just a political marionette!
Wookie:
What the F
No.
Loyalty to Bush comes first, fred. Not talent, and not loyalty to the US. To say otherwise is to be less than precise.
[quote=“flike”]
Loyalty to Bush comes first, fred. Not talent, and not loyalty to the US. To say otherwise is to be less than precise.[/quote]
Loyalty to the service of the United States is obviously the primary motivation shown by both Gen. Powell and Dr. Condaleeza Rice. They have both used their talents and education in this service.
To use blind loyalty to United States President George W. Bush as their primary motivator is to devalue their lives and is nothing more than pushing a personal agenda, i.e, more of the same old Bush-bashing…rather passe’.
Is this just more racism from the anti-Bush/anti-USA group? Subtle, but this constant refusal to ackknowledge the accomplishments of Dr. Rice and Gen. Powell does speak volumes of the lefts thougts about minority players.
There are idiots in every camp in every country, but I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve heard a Republican of calling a Democrat racist 
. As for Marion Barry, I’ll say that living in DC really shows you how extreme some people are; Marion certainly did ride the race card as much as possible. The current mayor, Anthony Williams, was great. But, Marion… 
.
The bottom line is playing the race card can work. Bush used ads about Willie Horton, a black ex-convict who killed again, to compete against Dukakis. However, of all the places I’ve been, the US has certainly not been the most racist. In much of Latin America blacks are seen as having evil magic powers. Even in countries with a high degree of integration such as Cuba and Brazil blacks are rarely voted into positions of power as they can in the US. Still, America on the whole is considered racist probably due to media about the South’s historical treatment of blacks (which lingers in many areas) and movies about racism. I love to hear the hypocrisy about how much discrimination there is in the US by students who tell me that in their country they kill homosexuals or that all Asians are smart or that Hispanics are dirty. It’s not surprising to hear these things in backwater places (including Taipei) but not in supposedly cosmopolitan cities. People always want to feel superior to someone else, I guess, but skin color just seems kind of a stupid way to measure it.
[quote=“TainanCowboy”][quote=“flike”]
Loyalty to Bush comes first, fred. Not talent, and not loyalty to the US. To say otherwise is to be less than precise.[/quote]
Loyalty to the service of the United States is obviously the primary motivation shown by both Gen. Powell and Dr. Condaleeza Rice. They have both used their talents and education in this service.
To use blind loyalty to United States President George W. Bush as their primary motivator is to devalue their lives and is nothing more than pushing a personal agenda, i.e, more of the same old Bush-bashing…rather passe’.
[/quote]
I think that Bush chose Powell because he gave him some much needed foreign policy credibility as a first term president with absolutely bugger all idea on foreign policy. However they way that Powell seems to have been sidelined suggests that complete loyalty is more important than talent. As for Condi, well time will tell. I think there is a certain amount of blind loyalty to Bush in her (she once refered to him as her husband… before correcting herself), though I also don’t doubt that she is an extremely inetelligent woman. I do find the cartoons to be quite offensive and think they tell us more about the people who drew them than they do about Miss Rice. However her record in Iraq since she took over the brief was not exactly stellar.
Also, I think that some here are trying to budle Powell into this discussion when he isn’t mentioned in fred’s quote. I don’t recall Powell being blasted in the same way that Condi is. I think the use of Powell as an add on is a bit cheeky.
sbmoor,
Some very nice observations. I think I agree with almost all your points. The only thing that surprised me a little was that you hadn
great post, hobbes. i think affirmative action deserves it’s own thread, myself.
anyway, one line that republicans like to use is “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” by crafting policies that give advantages to a certain race, without regard to socio-economic condition, aren’t you, then, trying to say that that race will never achieve as much as whites without help? that would be biogotry, if not racism.
so the white guy in minnesota who was calling rice and powell black sellouts has come under pressure by liberal blacks who find him offensive. kinda sorta apologzing for using that slur even though he still constantly refers to rice as a sellout. most interesting is the makeup of the radio station he works at:
wtdy.com/beta/Personalities.htm
he’s the first one pictured by the name of “sly”. wow. a station full of white liberals talking about how rice isn’t a real black woman. and, of course, powell isn’t black enough because he’s a moderate conservative.
nothing like a white man calling a black woman a race traitor. 
here’s the story on his racist antics:
[quote=“fred smith”]Wookie:
What the F
[quote=“Wookiee”][quote=“fred smith”]Wookie:
What the F
[quote=“Wookiee”]Look at your track record–Muslims are terrorists…
Who are you to preach about racism when it oozes from your every keystroke?[/quote]
Since when are Muslims a race? 
[quote=“Comrade Stalin”][quote=“Wookiee”]Look at your track record–Muslims are terrorists…
Who are you to preach about racism when it oozes from your every keystroke?[/quote]
Since when are Muslims a race? [/quote]
You do have a point, but it is rather blunt–i.e. nonsensical!
[quote=“Comrade Stalin”][quote=“Wookiee”]Look at your track record–Muslims are terrorists…
Who are you to preach about racism when it oozes from your every keystroke?[/quote]
Since when are Muslims a race? [/quote]
Stop rolling your eyes and get out of the 17th and 18th century European physical anthropologist view of race. Many cultural anthropologists now consider race to be more a social or mental construct than an objective biological fact.
[quote=“twocs”][quote=“Comrade Stalin”][quote=“Wookiee”]Look at your track record–Muslims are terrorists…
Who are you to preach about racism when it oozes from your every keystroke?[/quote]
Since when are Muslims a race? [/quote]
Stop rolling your eyes and get out of the 17th and 18th century European physical anthropologist view of race. Many cultural anthropologists now consider race to be more a social or mental construct than an objective biological fact.[/quote]
I roll my eyes because you, like your cultural anthropologist dimwit heroes have your head wedged firmly up your ass. Guess what? Just as everyone could see that the King wore no clothes, people can also see the important differences that exist between people. Deny reality as long as you want. When the Cluestick™ finally whacks you on the head it’ll just make that much bigger a mess.
Where have I said that Blacks are responsible for more crime? I merely pointed out that if anyone had said such a thing, they would have been hit like a ton of bricks and called a racist but when Condi Rice is lambasted with terms like sell out and race traitor and caricatured with large lips etc etc. that is all right because she is a Republican? Where in the name of all that is holy have you seen anyone else labeled with these crude racist epithets and emerged unscathed. Heads should roll, people should resign or be fired. This is only fair.
Second, I have again and again pointed out that Muslims and others can live in complete harmony but that the problem is with Islamofascists. Anyone who does not see that is free to live in deluded splendor until as Comrade Stalin the cluestick hits them firmly across the back of the head. Paints a picture Comrade Stalin. Thanks. haha
Third, I have repeatedly pointed out that the German and French governments have the same if in fact not worse policies than the American government. So if the protesters who are constantly raking the American government and particularly the Bush administration are as concerned as they claim to be about certain policies then why does not their anger extend to the French and Germans or even the Russians and Chinese or Hell even the UN for that matter if it is truly a matter of principle and not just America Bashing. I mean if you claim to care about corruption and wail on and on about Halliburton’s alleged overcharging of the American government by US$18 million but fail to mention the US$21 billion pilfered by the UN, then I think as always we have a credibility gap.
Also, read my comments regarding the French role in Cote d’Ivoire where I have been completely sympathetic with the French position and when I use French and German here I believe that it is understood that I mean the government positions. Now, do I hate Chirac and de Villepin? Absolutely!
The true point of so much of this “dialogue” is that many posters on this forum do not have the intellectual ability or knowledge of these policies and issues to discuss these things in an intelligent and rational fashion. Emotional invective is all very fine and good but it does not carry the argument and that is the truth. Most of this stuff is pathetic precisely because there is no basis for their “feelings” and when challenged they lash out in negative ways which is precisely what they then claim that others are doing to them when in reality, they are just being called on their facts or the logic underpinning their “arguments.”
Sorry, you will not hear me ranting away about the Taiwanese in any bar. I happen to be very happy here and I fully recognize that Taiwan and most of East Asia has benefited greatly from its contact with America. This is why you now have the strong economy and respect for human rights and democracy now apparent in this country. The Muslim and Arab world could learn a lot from Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, et al. I mean there was a time during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and maybe even into the 1980s when many did not think that democracy was something that Asians could handle. Well, surprise surprise. I believe that if we use the same policies in the Muslim and Arab world, the doubters and skeptics may find cause to pause too. After all, we were told that successful elections could NEVER take place in Afghanistan but whoops yes they have.
So, who really is the racist? The one who believes that Arabs and Muslims and their governments should be held accountable and to higher standards or those that condescendingly give them a passing grade despite their abysmal performance because deep down, those people do not believe that they are capable of anything better?
I think that the difference is I have lived in the Arab and Muslim world and even studied there. I am not afraid to offend their sensibilities because we are friends and we know each other. I am not there to get them to “like” me or to dispense Mother Theresa like charity. I had to live and study there and get along and when you are not just a “visitor” for one week to ooh and ah over things that gives you a right to complain and to demand better service and certainly when you are friends you have the right to say what is really on your mind not just what you think that person would prefer to hear. Get a grip. In 20 years, the Arab and Muslim world will follow in Latin America’s footsteps and will get rid of this Islamofascist thinking.
All it took was for Communism to lose out in a few places before it was completely discredited throughout Latin America. An election in Afghanistan, one in Iraq, hell there is one even scheduled for Saudi Arabia. This may be just enough to tip the balance toward us.
Racism? If that is what you call racism then fine. Delusions are by their very nature sweet…
Yes, Fred, ‘those people.’ You’ve opened the floodgates of ignorance quite often and it’s nice to try and guess what sewage will wash past. Fred, you have clearly been the victim all along. How dare those bad people (they’re all the same, you know) accuse you of prejudices. It’s interesting how you attack and then qualify your statements to escape blame. I guess we just need to destroy the ‘Islamofascists,’ who supposedly are able to influence regimes in the Middle East and are undermining the US’ broad efforts to establish democracy there. Yes, most of us know our country’s fantastic efforts to create democracy (i.e. political system amenable to US financial interests) even if those ignorant people don’t know any better.
The people of Iran, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and many others have long benefitted from US support for dictato- OOPS! 
I mean, well-intentioned men who knew how to hack ap- I mean deal appropriately with those damn idiots opposing dict- ahem ‘democracy.’ Yes, the US has a strong reputation around the world as inva- whoops spreader of bullsh- ahem democracy. Just ask the average Arab his/her opinion about America’s benevolent acts of philanthropy in the region and he/she will surely- say something.
As for racism, there are some roles that some of us just can’t fit. Fred, for you that would be ‘morally outraged.’ As was said, you simply want the right to call names. When your black-and-white mentality becomes too clear, you seem to try and toss bones so you can keep playing with the other dogs. In much of East Asia there is the concept of ‘face.’ You simply don’t have any to begin with so don’t bother trying to save any. Just be yourself and find more peurile ways to whitewash the Republican ‘crusade’ - woops again - quest to Save the World. But do the comments here really suggest to you that the world wants Bush’s help? :loco:
Haven’t a clue as to what sbmoor’s rant above is about.
Anyway, how about this stuff:
[quote][url=http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20041123-080540-5101r.htm]The assassination and mutilation of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an Islamic fanatic
The average Arab is an uneducated peasant lucky if he can even scrawl his own name.