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Archive through November 25, 2006

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Apr. 2007 ~ Jun. 2007: Black History (ARCHIVES January 2006 ~ June 2007): Archive through November 25, 2006 users admin

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Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
I'm signing off soon, to move from my current location at my brother's, where I've shared a weekend with a very blended caucasian-asian extended family, including some who spent time in interrment camps during wwii simply because their ancestors were Japanese, and I'll move south to meet up with a relatively diverse group of TVCHers down in Oakland.

I think I've read snark and attack from many sides here and I feel for all. Back later..

Adven
Member

02-06-2001

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Adven a private message Print Post    
Understandably, racism is a sensitive issue for many. I think we have a responsibility to discuss it respectfully and with the feelings of others in mind, but also feel we give it power when we walk on eggshells around it or allow our opinions to be curtailed or silenced by the strong emotions of others.

Personally, I think Richards is largely inconsequential. His words were ugly and vile, but he was already a fading pop culture figure when this happened and, if anything, his rant has reminded all of us of the ugliness of racism. No one condones it or supports it and next week we will be on to the next celebrity water cooler fodder. This is not to minimize what he said, but neither am I going to give it the power of significance.

A lot of emotional energy has been spent on a very troubled "has been" comedian while systemic racism continues without the same fanfare and officials tainted by racism continue to seek and attain political office. To me, that's where our anger and energy should be directed.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    

quote:

Without bringing race into it, has anyone here ever said or done something in a moment of anger, that they clearly did not mean and later greatly regretted?




That was 11/21/06


quote:

Yes Jimmer I've called someone a dumb azz or a mf that maybe once I've regretted. But we're talking racism here, not talking about calling someone a mf. Apples and oranges yet again.




That was my response on 11/21/06


quote:

I would be very surprised if anyone here hand's were clean of a racial remark made in anger. (Maybe not to the extent Richard's went, though) Maybe it's that person who cut you off, the lady who cut in front of you in line, the man who took the last bagel that you like, your parking spot, the elderly person driving too slow in front of you, the group of kids hanging out on the corner that doesn't look friendly, the quickie mart clerk that you can't understand what they are saying and they count you back the wrong change......

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.




That was 11/22/06.


quote:

Lol for some reason I thought your post was funny Escapee. I have already stated how I respond to being pissed off.




That was my response on 11/22/06.


quote:

What he said was vile and he will pay a price for it. I'm just not convinced that what someone says - one time -under duress or when they are in a rage necessarily defines them or makes them a racist.




I’m sorry but don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining. This act, to me, clearly defines you as a racist.


quote:

That doesn't make him racist. He commited a racist act, perhaps.




That was 11/23/06.

Saying “perhaps” it was a racist act? How is it perhaps? Like maybe this was a racist act? There is no maybe or perhaps about it.


quote:

Methinks the Sharptons are taking this way too personally. JMO.




That was also 11/23/06.

That was my final straw. Sorry but it was. Taking this whole incident too personally? Hmmm sorry but as a race I have to take this personally. We have to take this personally in order to do something about it.


quote:

No one here has approved of what Richards said. I also highly agree that it is not fair to call someone a bigot if they disagree.




That was 11/24/06.

It’s not just about disagreeing. I could care less about disagreement. What I do care about is trying to downplay the issue. Trying to say it isn’t racist when it is.


quote:

An attempt to understand the sources of racism can only improve the situation and help us make things better.




That was 11/24/06.

Maybe if people would actually listen and try to comprehend what is being said the situation can be improved. That is not happening here. Instead this is being downplayed as not a racist act.


quote:

If they decide to stay away I will miss them. It is a loss for all of us, and IMO it is a loss and a lost opportunity for them as well.




That was 11/24/06.

Sorry but this is not a lost opportunity for me. I’ve beaten my head against a brick wall for the last time.


quote:

Too bad that around here at least, I will always be known as a racist and a bigot. I'm sure I would have a lot of company, if people dared to speak the truth, 100%.




That was 11/25/06.

Hmm too bad because no one called you a racist nor a bigot.


quote:

I have been very hurt by that. I am very hurt that someone cannot post an honest, well-meaning opinion without being attacked, and without having some walk away in disgust. It's as if your whole life doesn't matter, only that one mistake does.




That was 11/25/06.

Yes it is too bad. It’s too bad that when you talk no one really hears you even when it’s pointed out in quotes time and time again. Again that brick wall thing.

But these are just my thoughts that I know I’ve talked about again and again. I have heard all of you all’s thoughts on this issue. Really heard them and it was like a kick in the stomach. It really hurt me because I didn’t expect it from some of you who I’ve met and those who I’ve just conversed and joked with here over these many years and some who I thought I knew on a personal level. It still does hurt but a little less so today. I was at the point where my posts would’ve been littered with b*tch and mf’er. But see never a racial epitath. Never no matter how angry and hurt I was.

Native_texan
Member

08-24-2004

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Native_texan a private message Print Post    
To a degree, I understand racism. I've been around it my whole life and while it hasn't been to the extent blacks have suffered from it, I have been the subject of racism and my son is a victim of it almost daily by other students. We have also experienced it by the way of exclusion. I'm in a school district that when I went to school here was 80% white. It is now 80% black. Almost everything is directed to the black students - the band went to camp at Grambling, every white boy that has tried to play football has been run off by the other players, the school has an African American museum. Several years ago, I was nominated for PTA president against a black man. The outgoing president campaigned for him because she felt that since the school was black by majority, the president should be black. He was elected president, barely came to meetings, never atended fundraiswers, slept and ate his way through the state conference and had an affair with the PTA secretary. But he was the better choice because he was black.

I'm terry sorry that Lady and Mocha have been hurt and I sincerely hope I didn't contribute to that pain. I don't believe anyone has tried to excuse Richards' behavior but as is oftentimes the case, the written word is sometimes very difficult to interpret. As for myself, I in no way condone Richards' behavior but I can't condemn the man for life for one, albeit reprehensible, act. I don't know him personally and because of that I can't attest to the sincerity of his apology or the severity of whatever issues he has. Because of that, just as I would with anyone else, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I was the very unpopular opinion regarding OJ's guilt in the other thread for the same reason and many tried to argue the case again, including suggesting that because jurors weren't college graduates, they didn't have intelligence to find him guilty. However, while I think it's a strong possility that he did it, I stand by the fact that I was not there, the prosecution for whatever reason could not prove their case. While there are many guilty people walking the streets, what's really scary are the number of people in prison and on death row that have been found innocent after years of incarceration because there were people who thought they knew it all. I would suggest John Grisham's new book (can't remember the title) for a very sad case.

There has been discussion that Richards only apologized because he got caught. That doesn't make sense because he was in a public venue when it happened. Maybe it's because it was a few days before he issued the apology. That could be because he was hopefully trying to understand his own actions before coming forward. Otherwise, I don't think his apology could have been sincere. I do believe that he needs to personally apologize to the people who were there. However, I don't agree with the "apologize or pay up" argument.

Being a Christian mostly conservative Republican, I totally understand being the unpopular opinion, particularly in the N&V thread. There have been many times I have felt the need to just step away from that thread and take a breather and I hope that's what our friends are doing.

All of us have had our toes stepped on from time to time, usually by an unknowing stepper and sometimes not. I am a relative newcomer to TVCH and, therefore, don't know the history of some as well as others do. I will say that this place was a lifeline for me during the worst period of my life and many of you, including Mocha, were always there to support me.

Sorry for the long post but this discussion has really been on a mind a lot these last several days. And sorry again if I don't make sense, but I did understand it in my mind.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Thanks for stopping back, Mocha. I see you quoted something from one of my earlier this morning posts.

I have loved your posts throughout my time on the board, and sincerely care that this is so painful and insulting for you.

In an effort to try and keep the dialog open, in hopes of at some time helping to bring people to the truth of things, I outted myself as a racist. I based it on how I was as a child, and was only trying to make a point about the fact that people do indeed change. No one called me a racist or bigot, I know that. I love all people, and that is the honest truth.

Can Michael Richards change, who knows. I don't particularly care if he does. He is an adult and his comments were defintely racist, IMO, and he can go pound sand in some desert for all I care.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
There are "me too" type posts, repeat posts, people repeating the same arguments, people trying to rephrase things and say them differently and people not always understanding, hearing or listening to what someone else said.

This happens in practically every single thread on the board.

Happily or unhappily, this thread is no different in that respect.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Mocha, I really appreciate your posting here and clarifying your position.

Let me apologize for a few things you brought up.

I regret my use of the word perhaps. It was wrong. Please note that in other posts I made I more clearly noted that what Richards said was racist. No perhaps. I'm sorry for using that word and for not re-reading that before I posted.

I am sorry for the confusion about my comment about Al Sharpton taking it too personally. He absolutely should take a stand on racist behavior. I still stand by my assertion that he should have accepted the apology and worked forward from there. IMO, he is a Christian minister first; and is obliged to offer forgiveness when someone asks. It is in that sense I meant he was taking it too personally. If I wrongly implied that he should not take a stand about the vileness of the remark, I sincerely apologize. It was not my intention.

I do think the remark was racist. I have come to understand that somehow Mr. Richards has some underlying hatred of blacks to come forth with this ugliness. I am sorry I did not get it at first.

Mostly, I am sorry that my lack of understanding hurt you. I hope you will find a way to forgive me, but if you don't, I still hope you will find a way back to this discussion board.

I will also say, that while I continue to be sorry that I didn't understand what you must be feeling, I am also very sorry that after all this time, you would think that somehow my remarks were intended to be bigoted. That hurts more than I can say. I may have not understood, and admittedly I still don't understand and probably never will completely because I am not black. I am still a work in progress, as we all are. I have always liked you for you, even tho we have had our differences. I still do. However, I am greatly saddened that you would so quickly think so poorly of me.

You're very right about one more thing, that all of us deserve to be understood and heard. I have been guilty of not listening more attentively and not understanding. I have also experienced here being judged and not being heard or given the benefit of the doubt as well. So I know how much that hurts.

Finally, let me just repeat, I am very sorry that this discussion caused you upset and hurt; and most of all that I contributed to that. I do sincerely hope that you will return permanently, regardless of how you feel about my remarks.

Native_texan
Member

08-24-2004

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Native_texan a private message Print Post    
Mocha, I too was glad to hear from you.

And with that I think I'll take the hint and retreat from further participation in this particular discussion.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
I am out of here, too.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Of course, it is the personal prerogative of anyone who wants to leave the board or who wants to end their participation in a thread.

I only hope that they are not doing it because they feel intimidated to offer their opinion.

Only through discussion and learning can we hope to better understand issues (and yes I am repeating myself and I have the right to do that too).

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I think the most unfortunate thing is that now, more than ever, everyone will be afraid to post certain things. Many will now be more afraid of hurting a feeling and bypass honestly discussing certain issues such as race.

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
A few days ago I said that I didn't want this thread contaminated with the filthy remarks that Richards made. My reasoning is that I have seen and heard so much hate (that is what racism is to me, ignorance and hate) that I felt it was polluting this thread of the good history that I have learned.

I have caught up on this thread and I now understand what Mocha said about it still being history and still needed discussed.

Thank you Mocha, I am still learning. From my perspective, some battles have been won, but the war is far from over.

I am just curious, did anyone walk out of Richards show? If I were there, I would have walked out. I have walked away from conversations like that. Heck, my fathers dad (refuse to call him grandpa) I disowned because he was one of the biggest racists I have ever known. I thought he was a dying breed, but I guess not.

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
Oh and another question. Did anyone else watch Leno last night and heard the comedian?

He was a big guy and said some stuff that to me were offensive. But he justified he reasonings for saying these racial comments by saying...shut up I am fat so I can say it(or something along those lines).

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I didn't see Leno.

It was clear from the video that a lot of people were walking out of the show. And good for them, though I probably would have stayed and tried to tell Richards off and yell back at him (which probably wouldn't have helped matters, but, oh well).

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 10:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
Good that people walked out. Wonder if that is the reason why he said he was sorry?

I have done some really stupid stuff in my life, and have said I was sorry, but those were along the lines of " You are a shit " comments.

I don't think anyone should accept the apology. I think Richards is who he is and not amount of re-education is going to change him. To me, it would be an act.

Holly
Member

06-19-2005

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Holly a private message Print Post    
Good God! Nobody should accept the apology???

So does that mean that all those who have posted here apologizing for being bigots, racists, whatever, should be blown off too? Will this nonsense ever end? Maybe this thread should be closed now, huh?

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:23 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
Nope. Did Richards contact, personally those who he offended? Otherwise it's nothing.

Westtexan
Member

07-16-2004

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Westtexan a private message Print Post    
Oh and another question. Did anyone else watch Leno last night and heard the comedian?


I saw that comedian and I was surprised at what he was saying. It seemed demeaning and I was wondering how the audience was reacting. I wanted the camera to show Kevin's reaction.

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
I know I said that I was done with this thread, but I came back for a couple of reasons. First of all, we created this thread a few years ago to share and, hopefully, help others understand some things. It was originally started as a thread in February to share the accomplishments of Black Americans during BHM. We then decided that one month was not long enough and we expanded it. Then we started posting articles on noteworthy Blacks and issues that affect us. I've gotten a lot out of this thread and learned a lot of things that I needed to know.

Let me explain a bit on where I, personally, am coming from. I grew up in Chicago in the 60's and 70's. I remember when Bobby and Dr. King were killed and what it did to that city. I remember not being allowed out of the house for days. I remember the black park and the white park. I remember being stopped by the police for being in the wrong part of town. I remember my family being targeted for being 'white lovers'. I remember the hell two of my sisters went through from both the black and white communities for daring to fall in love and marry white guys. I remember being called the n-word by an Admiral in the United States Navy. I remember being told that I wasn't 'black enough'. I don't tell you this to get the 'aww, gee' responses, but only so you know that I've personally experienced racism from both sides. I'm Black and proud of it.

My reasons for leaving were that I felt 'betrayed' by people that I thought I had a connection to. Trivializing him calling those people the n-word, not once, not twice but in a long running rant, and then telling them with glee that 50 yrs ago they would have been lynched was a slap in the face. Is it a world changing event? Doubt it. Are there other more hateful race issues out there? Most definitely and if certain people would have bothered to look at the archives they would have seen articles posted on many of those other issues. I noticed a lot of people weighing in on this one that probably didn't even bother to read about the others. That makes this one important.

Do I want to stifle race conversations here? Heck no!! It's too important to sweep under the table. Do I want to stifle racists? Heck yeah! Only kidding. I just want to educate them in the, maybe vain, hope that with knowledge would come understanding. Much racism comes from not just ignorance and hate, but also from generalizations. And yes, these generalizations come from each side.

So anyway, there's my spiel. I've put on my big girl panties and I'm trying to deal with it. I can't say that I will go on as before, because some of the responses in this thread have changed the way I look at certain people. Hurt feelings do that, you know. I've always taught my children that words can be the most powerful change for good, but they can also be one of the most powerful weapons.

And Zmom, to answer your question, yes, people did walk out. The comic Sinbad was one. There is a link on cnn of a video of an interview with him. I'll try to post it, but it wasn't coming out right, too many arguments.
javascript:cnnVideo('play','/video/showbiz/2006/11/21/anderson.intv.sinbad.richards.cnn');

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ginger1218 a private message Print Post    
LT, I am glad you are here. I will say as I did to Mocha, sometimes people think the same way as you, but express it differently. I think a lot of thoughts came out and sounded differently than was meant. Being Jewish, I know what hatred is. There is so much discrimination and hatred on so many levels in this world. As I said before, as long as the people you care about are on the same page as you are, that is all that counts, and if you saw something in a post from someone you do care about and it bothers you, talk to them about it. Find out if that is what they really meant. The written word sometimes can be taken out of context so easily.
I am glad you are not leaving.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 11:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Ladytex, thank you for coming back and continuing to post. If I one of the people whose comments upset and hurt you, I apologize. I think very highly of you, and remember fondly meeting you and your family. It breaks my heart to know that I may have chnaged your view of me.

I hope you understand that while some of us may not understand completely what it is like to be black; it's not lack of caring, nor do I think it is some kind of ugly bigotry. It is simply lack of knowledge and understanding. I hope there is room for good-hearted people who sometimes don't 'get it', but still care.

Lancecrossfire
Animoderator

07-13-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 12:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lancecrossfire a private message Print Post    
What I couldn't figure out was why everyone didn't walk out.

Grannyg
Member

05-28-2002

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 12:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grannyg a private message Print Post    
You know several days ago, maybe a week I don't know, but there was a link posted, pictures, that had some very gruesome pics. At the time it was discussed about how horrible some of those pics were. If you had been reading this thread then maybe you would understand a little bit better why Richards statements were so horrid to them. Please, if you don't understand how Lady and Mocha feel about the lynching comments, please take a look at these photos. They just might help you understand why this was so offensive. And why there were feelings hurt. This is something very real to them but not to me or you cause our forefathers were not treated they way theirs was. If what we want is a better understanding of things so we can learn, then we need to have open ears and open minds and open hearts to try to understand. And Mocha and Lady have shared so much of themselves in this thread and I truly appreciate the time they take to post stuff that I probably wouldn't read any other place. They help me understand how far I really have to go as far as understanding how things affect them differently than they do me. I would truly be sad if this thread was closed and it ended because of this. There is so much more that they have to share and I hope this thread will be here for that and that they will continue to share.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 12:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Because the subject seems to keep coming up, let us be clear that no one is closing the thread (of course, like any other thread, it is possible that it may be closed temporarily for maintenance at some point, etc.)

Ladytex, I am happy that you have decided to continue participating.

Legalboxer
Member

11-17-2003

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - 12:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Legalboxer a private message Print Post    
Life has gotten in the way lately so I don’t visit this thread like I normally would – and I usually stay out of discussions on current events as a general rule since people either said what I was thinking or I just don’t have the energy to post with the feeling that those who listen already agree and the post wont matter to those who wouldn’t take the time to “listen” – in any event, I was nudged to come over here and I have caught up on all the discussion and I realize that if I do not post, it is going against the very thing I want to say in my post. I also don’t want to rehash old discussions since so much is said within 72 hours and apologies have been made and I don’t want to dismiss the clarifications by some posters – so I will just make this as short as possible and please know I am not targeting any single poster but simply reacting to those comments that most stand out as I read the wealth of posts which have occurred in the last few days. So here are my 3 main points…

1) I hate to repeat myself but like I said – if I don’t say it, it goes against the point I have said numerous times on this board in the last 3 years.

I truly wish everyone could see the movie “Gentleman’s Agreement” with Gregory Peck – as strong as To Kill a Mockingbird is, I even think this movie has an even deeper and more serious message that gets ignored all too often and that is about standing up to subtle actions. There has been some discussion about degrees of racism but the bottom line is, racism is racism – and people should cry out no matter what the action is. No racist or discriminatory action – at any level – should be ignored nor labeled as different degrees. The point of Gentleman’s Agreement – which used Jewish racism in NYC during WWII as the model – was that it is so easy for any of us good natured Christian morally sound folk to yell and protest when the KKK or Neo-Nazi types are out there with their blatant racist rhetoric and deplorable criminal acts – fighting those actions are easy – but where is the yelling when someone makes a lame racist joke at a dinner party and you are the guest, where is the yelling when a person talks down to a waiter because they are Hispanic or black, where is the yelling when someone is allowed to move in line because others are being kept back due to race? By not saying something EVERY TIME a person hears or sees something seen as wrong, the person just fosters racism – even though those same people believe that racism is wrong and have good hearts. I totally understand that no one is condoning Richards’ comments and all see them as racist and wrong – but in my mind, that is where the conversation should end – his comments were totally wrong, they were racist – and it doesn’t matter where on the racist scale they fall – because no matter how bad they seem, we should condemn the comments and fight back – as so many are doing. The ads against Ford were wrong. Richards’ comments were wrong. Senator Allen’s comment was wrong. Every racist comment or action is wrong and every time something like that occurs, it should be pointed out and condemned and acknowledged as being wrong – and whatever consequences the person faces for such actions is secondary in my mind as long as they are held accountable accordingly. Is there a difference in how you treat someone who makes a stupid joke at a dinner or someone that rants such vile comments as Richards did – maybe – but how we treat the person is up to each of us in that setting, as long as we voice out loud that such action was wrong and that we wont stand for it. Only when that occurs can racism start to cease and people start to change – because by staying silent at the small things or trying to categorize racist acts, it only allows others to do even worse actions based on the foundation of silence and letting things “slide by”. No one is letting this slide by – but I feel like we also shouldn’t be debating its magnitude – racism is racism, and needs to be acknowledged and stopped in any form.

2) I feel bad when I read that we cant really understand if we are not black. To me, that diminishes the whole battle against racism – as if it is not something personal to us. It should be personal to every human being here. Racism is not just about whites and blacks – its about the racist and cruel acts against every human race – blacks, Jews, Asians, Arabs, Africans, Native Indians, and even whites. Racism is based on hatred and prejudice against someone solely because of their race – whatever it is – and it is something every human being should find personal. And it is not simply a US issue – the premiere soccer players in the world who are from Africa are constantly attacked in stadiums all around Europe, called monkey and other deeply hurtful names by hecklers and even physically attacked – racism is not isolated and needs to be acknowledged as something in front of all of us, regardless of where we live or who we are. I have no idea if I react the same to Richards’ comments as others do – I do know that I found them totally reprehensible, demeaning, hateful, evil, cruel, hurtful, and if I could find criminal sanctions I would have slapped him with any charge possible (or slap him silly with my fists if I didn’t have that “safety lock” on my emotions) – those words hurt me because they attacked a member of my HUMAN race, and I understood how deep they went to all those who heard them. I just wish others could have that understanding as well, since I feel like if we just say something like “I thought it was racist and wrong but its not my place to fully understand how hurtful it was since it wasn’t against me personally” – the bottom line is, it was against those in the crowd that night, but anyone in this world should be able to take those insults personally and understand how painful they are – and by stepping back to let only the blacks feel the pain, I feel as though racism just continues – since the only way to stop racism is to eliminate that divide – and find such racists acts against any one individual, personal to all.

Which brings me to a saying from WWII which I find relevant to my points about taking such actions personal no matter who they were targeted against – and always speaking up against such actions:

"In Germany the Nazis came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, but I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, but by that time there was no one left to speak for me." –Pastor Martin Neomoller, eventual leader of Underground Resistance to Nazis

3) My final point, which I hope can transition back into the Black History theme of this thread, is the following song – if you know it, you never forget it, and I only wish everyone heard it – and it goes back to understanding just how deep the comments about lynching are – (thank you Mocha for the pictures) – I feel frustrated that most from my generation and those younger do not understand just how cruel, vile, evil, heartbreaking and whatever word you want to use in saying how bad lynching was and what impact it had on society – I feel like its just some vocabulary in the history books for too many of us now, but is something that should never be forgotten and is never a word to be thrown around – just as we should never forget those who died on 9-11, we should never forget all those who were attacked and brutally murdered through the action of lynching over the decades and centuries.

(Warning – These lyrics are not easy to read but do not ignore them if they seem disturbing – that is the whole point of acknowledging how disturbing and sickening lynching always will be)

Its much better hearing it from Billie Holiday but the words are just as powerful to read

Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
Blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
for the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
for the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop