4 ms·

What about the people who voted for Romney because he is white? What kind of question is that even? Suddenly when it's a black guy THAT'S the issue. How brain

by arrrg 14y ago

What about the people who voted for Romney because he is white? What kind of question is that even? Suddenly when it's a black guy THAT'S the issue. How brain dead. Wanting your kid to have positive black role models is not racist, no. That's a not very sophisticated but very valid and certainly not racist reason for voting for Obama that's entirely based on race.

matwood 14y ago
What about the people who voted for Romney because he is white? Those people are also racists, and frequently called racists. The double standard is issue here. White guy votes for a white guy because he's white means he's a racists. Black guy votes for a black guy because he's black means he's supporting change. Worse yet, is that since I think Obama has done a horrible job and wouldn't vote for him, his supporters call me a racist. Sad state of affairs really.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- arrrg 14y ago
  Those two things are not equivalent. That's not a symmetrical situation. But I like your straw man. Also, I named a situation when voting for Obama because he is black is ok and not racist.
  - matwood 14y ago
    Also, I named a situation when voting for Obama because he is black is ok and not racist. Making a decision based on race is racist. To think otherwise is to continue to perpetuate racism and remain part of the problem.
    - arrrg 14y ago
      I said it yesterday and I will say it again today: If you insist on playing semantic games and defining racism so weirdly I will happily admit to loving being racist in that way. You mistake is to assume symmetry where there is none.
crusso 14y ago
Wanting your kid to have positive black role models is not racist, no. Voting for or against someone because of the color of his skin is racist by definition. You don't get to choose which color. I imagine that you'd want to choose some particular definition of racism that meets your semantic needs, but that's not how this whole "logical use of language" thing works. Not teaching your kid that character and political philosophy matter more than the color of a candidate's skin is bad parenting.
- arrrg 14y ago
  Then I guess I love being a racist. Yay for racism! It's super-awesome. Check your motherfucking privilege.
trebor 14y ago
If I offended you, I apologize for that. I'm not trying to offend or label anyone racist, I'm trying to point out the double standard. Technically I'm baiting the discussion by begging the question: If a white man votes for a white man because he is white, he is racist. If a black man votes for a black man because he is black, he is participating in black pride. Wait, what?! > Suddenly when it's a black guy THAT'S the issue. How brain dead. Nope, the issue is that the same standard isn't applied to BOTH groups. The same issue applies to the straight/gay debate: why is it discrimination when someone straight is in a straight-pride parade, but not a gay person in a gay-pride parade? > Wanting your kid to have positive black role models is not racist, no. That's a not very sophisticated but very valid and certainly not racist reason for voting for Obama that's entirely based on race. I'm not going to go into why I think Obama is a bad role model. I'm white, but I have people I consider as role models... My black role models are: 1. A police officer in Baltimore, whom I call my uncle and has been there for me more than my biological uncles. 2. A parole officer in Baltimore for juvenile delinquents. He's in his job just to give kids a chance to work out their problems, and to change from the gang/criminal mentality they've had. 3. And a woman who, as a single mother, raised two daughters and sent them to college by hard work and sheer economy. And now she suffers greatly from diabetes and arthritis but still refuses to give up. She encourages ME every time I see her. I've seen the lives of these people and respect them greatly. From what I've seen of Obama he doesn't even measure up. If he did, I could have considered voting for him. So please, don't assume that I'm calling you names or wanting to attack you because you might've voted for Obama because he's black. I just want you to consider: could you have been racist? And maybe you'll think of me next time I vote for a white person, and think better of me than "he's racist".

by arrrg 14y ago

matwood 14y ago

What about the people who voted for Romney because he is white? Those people are also racists, and frequently called racists. The double standard is issue here. White guy votes for a white guy because he's white means he's a racists. Black guy votes for a black guy because he's black means he's supporting change. Worse yet, is that since I think Obama has done a horrible job and wouldn't vote for him, his supporters call me a racist. Sad state of affairs really.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
arrrg 14y ago
Those two things are not equivalent. That's not a symmetrical situation. But I like your straw man. Also, I named a situation when voting for Obama because he is black is ok and not racist.
- matwood 14y ago
  Also, I named a situation when voting for Obama because he is black is ok and not racist. Making a decision based on race is racist. To think otherwise is to continue to perpetuate racism and remain part of the problem.
  - arrrg 14y ago
    I said it yesterday and I will say it again today: If you insist on playing semantic games and defining racism so weirdly I will happily admit to loving being racist in that way. You mistake is to assume symmetry where there is none.

crusso 14y ago

Wanting your kid to have positive black role models is not racist, no. Voting for or against someone because of the color of his skin is racist by definition. You don't get to choose which color. I imagine that you'd want to choose some particular definition of racism that meets your semantic needs, but that's not how this whole "logical use of language" thing works. Not teaching your kid that character and political philosophy matter more than the color of a candidate's skin is bad parenting.

arrrg 14y ago
Then I guess I love being a racist. Yay for racism! It's super-awesome. Check your motherfucking privilege.

trebor 14y ago

If I offended you, I apologize for that. I'm not trying to offend or label anyone racist, I'm trying to point out the double standard. Technically I'm baiting the discussion by begging the question: If a white man votes for a white man because he is white, he is racist. If a black man votes for a black man because he is black, he is participating in black pride. Wait, what?! > Suddenly when it's a black guy THAT'S the issue. How brain dead. Nope, the issue is that the same standard isn't applied to BOTH groups. The same issue applies to the straight/gay debate: why is it discrimination when someone straight is in a straight-pride parade, but not a gay person in a gay-pride parade? > Wanting your kid to have positive black role models is not racist, no. That's a not very sophisticated but very valid and certainly not racist reason for voting for Obama that's entirely based on race. I'm not going to go into why I think Obama is a bad role model. I'm white, but I have people I consider as role models... My black role models are: 1. A police officer in Baltimore, whom I call my uncle and has been there for me more than my biological uncles. 2. A parole officer in Baltimore for juvenile delinquents. He's in his job just to give kids a chance to work out their problems, and to change from the gang/criminal mentality they've had. 3. And a woman who, as a single mother, raised two daughters and sent them to college by hard work and sheer economy. And now she suffers greatly from diabetes and arthritis but still refuses to give up. She encourages ME every time I see her. I've seen the lives of these people and respect them greatly. From what I've seen of Obama he doesn't even measure up. If he did, I could have considered voting for him. So please, don't assume that I'm calling you names or wanting to attack you because you might've voted for Obama because he's black. I just want you to consider: could you have been racist? And maybe you'll think of me next time I vote for a white person, and think better of me than "he's racist".