Thursday, January 28, 2010

hue are you?

I'm sure by now everyone is sick of hearing about race. According to liberals, in one way or another we're all racists. Don't like Obama's policies? Racist. Involved in the Tea Party movement? Racist. Think affirmative action hurts more than it helps? Racist. Use the term "black hole" to describe a great sucking void in outer space? Racist. (srsly, look it up.)

I've been called a racist and the first time it happened, I was mortified. I had asked a patron to pay for what she had just printed, a novel sized stack of paper. She only wanted the first page and insisted I was targeting her because of her race. I examined my behavior - had I really done anything racist? Did I treat white patrons any differently? I didn't think so. I'm equally mean to everyone.* Like the time I kicked a bunch of rowdy teenagers out of the library...racially, they were a mixed bag, but as they all shuffled off toward the door it was the black kid who flung a muttered "racist" over his shoulder at me.

This sort of thing has happened frequently enough that the epithet has lost all its sting. I see it now for what it is, a knee-jerk reaction to some perceived slight combined with a lack of better vocabulary.

And honestly? In a way, I can almost understand it. Introspection is hard. It's so much simpler reach for that single word that has the ability to end any debate. What I don't get, though, is the double standard.

Neatly explained away and excused were Democrats Joe Biden calling Obama "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Harry Reid complimenting Obama for being "light-skinned" with "no Negro dialect," and then last night, after the State of the Union speech, MSNBC's Chris Matthews saying that for an hour, he forgot Obama was black. (so tell us, Chris, what did you think of your president during the other 23 hours?)

And then there was the 83-year old black man who came to the library prior to the last presidential election. He told me he had never voted before and needed to register so he could support Barack.

I sighed and handed him the form, not bothering to mention that he could have voted for a black man two years earlier, like I did.

_______________
*that said, I've since given up fighting this battle. Pay or not, I don't care - it's really not worth the grief.

21 comments:

Jay G said...

Don't forget using terms like niggardly...

Mike W. said...

I've been called "racist" many times, usually by someone too dumb to end the discussion in a better manner. Sometimes it's an actual racial minority making the claim. Other times it's usual a smarmy liberal who is white.

Of course I've also had discussions about race with black friends of mine. I figure if I actually said something potentially racist they'd be the 1st to let me know.

Interestingly, I think that minorities treating whites this way by constantly attacking us as "racist" could actually cause resentment & prejudice over time.

You don't get equality by expecting preferential treatment because of your skincolor.

aepilot_jim said...

The race card. Played so often now that it's faded away. Calling someone racists is now just a cheap form of Ad Hominem attack. Resorted to by those who know they have lost the argument or didn't have a valid argument to begin with.

Anonymous said...

Had I anything more to add beyond what AEPilot Jim got here with first, I'd add it.

Jim

Old NFO said...

Agree with Jim and Reflecto...

PPPP said...

Well, yeah. I might just be a racist.



I hate every one in the human race equally, depending on time of day and phase of the moon.

PPPP said...

Otherwise, regarding people of other ethnic backgrounds, nope.

I don't like jerks, in all the various renditions, equally, regardless of color, sexual preference, age or gender. An a***ole is an a***ole is an a***ole.

Robert McDonald said...

When accused of racism I tend to ask the person using the word to define it. Most can't.

Webster's defines "racism" as 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

Sadly the common man has come to use the term to describe any negative statement made or act committed by a white person against a non-white person.

Heath J said...

What???? Barack is BLACK???

JP said...

People may call me racist and I just don't care anymore. Is just the same as someone driving like a moron and giving you the bird because they think you did something wrong.

Your request for politeness is keeping me from saying what I really think! lol

PS openID makes me sad.

TheOtherLarry said...

You might be a racist if you have ever disagreed with anyone for any reason.

Buckshot said...

Racist?

I ain't no damned racist!

I treat EVERYONE the same.

No matter what color you start out you will ALL be blood red and dripping when I get done with you!

Usually shuts them right up.

Buckshot

pdb said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f1BclfiZs0

"There is no racial bigotry here. I do not look down upon niggers, kikes, wops or greasers. Here, you are all equally worthless."

Anonymous said...

Anybody who wants can call me a racist. I'm not, & I know it.
I agree with Sam Clemens: I hate the damned human race.

Jenny said...

What I don't get, though, is the double standard.

Of course you get it.It's just buying into the narrative. Donkey team members are always for the little guy*, Elephant team members are always greedy so-and-sos out to take advantage of the poor and dispossessed, or too dumb to know what's good for them. Therefore a Donkey is by nature not racist/sexist/homophobic/whatever, and an Elephant by nature is. Regardless of what either says or does.


*He ain't lyin!

On a Wing and a Whim said...

The good thing about this election? They use the race card so often that it ceases to have any meaning or consequences.

"Racist!"
"Pfft, yeah, whatever. That is _so_ 2010. You still listen to emo, too?"

Bob said...

Scratch me hard enough and you might reveal me as a racist. Best not to scratch me too hard, then.

Midwest Chick said...

I used the term 'black thumb' without thinking while I was talking about gardening and my lack of skill with plants with a black co-worker. She didn't come out and accuse me of being a racist but I was sweating bullets for a few days not knowing if she was going to file with our Human Resources office because that was not outside the realm of possibility.

Firehand said...

'Knee-jerk reaction' my ass; with a bunch of these squirrels it's no more than a way of trying to get out of things. Like paying for a whole pile of printing.

Anonymous said...

I was pretty unimpressed with Blackwell as Sec of State (the right's Jen Brunner, rigging elections whenever possible), but he would have done much better than Michael Steele as GOP head.

I'm not a racist. I can barely even run without getting winded, so how do you expect me to get involved in a race? I mean, if bicyclists ride bicycles, and violinists play violin, what do racists do?

Unknown said...

Once again ignorance rears it's head...

Jay G said...

Don't forget using terms like niggardly...

Origin:
1325–75; ME nyggard, equiv. to nig niggard (< Scand; cf. dial. Sw nygg; akin to OE hnÄ“aw stingy) + -ard

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/niggard