Here..Here!!!:thumbup:

I'm white too. I'm not so offended by the speech as he lived through things that I've never encountered so he gets a little freedom in my eyes. What bothers me about things such as BET and Negro college fund isn't that they exist. It's that the shouldn't have to exist. Why couldn't it be Hip-hop TV and not be a channel based on color? We shouldn't have to have college funds centered on any color because we should all have the same chance. I'm not talking socialism. I'm talking based on ability and intelligence. If you're smart and want to be a doctor you should have the chance to be a doctor. Even if you have to pay for every cent of it. Even if you get full scholarships. Even if you're two feet tall and green. We shouldn't be so dependent on our differences but instead on our likenesses. Just a thought.

btw. also don't think the post should be closed. Freedom of speech handled in a civil way is a beautiful thing.

There are black Irish people who i am sure celebrate their holiday, Valentines,etc....are celebrated by most ethinic groups here. I think having your own month as a holiday or your own school just for skin color is still keeping a division among us.......no matter what race it is.

Angie

Well I am an african-american.... Yes..he could have said something else...but like everyone else said, he comes from a different time and is set in his ways...it's like going into my great-grandmother's house and she still has flowery wallpaper all over the place from like the 60's..and that plastic fruit as centerpiece decorations...lol She always talks about how she likes the contemporary look of today & new paint colors BUT she will not let go of what she's had and known for the past 50+ years.... Okay..bad attempt at an analogy LOL...but my point is he comes from a certain era that's edged in his brain and therefore that memory is part of him and his thinking and will always be...so thus, it will come out in the way he communicates, his speeches, etc.

I feel it could have been worded differently but I also know he comes from a different era and all we can hope for is that we as the newer generation willl embrace the diversity we are fortunate to be a part of...I'm not going to get totally upset about it...I mean, on the opposite end, you have the Rush Limbaugh's still saying the things that can be deemed as racist. African-Americans make a big deal of it....I don't. Again, looking at his age, he's probably coming from the same era Rev. Lawry does. I'm just glad I don't have to live with him.:p

I'm raised in the new generation and will not let those things upset me or change the values of which were instilled in me by my parents. I don't need any free passes. I have 2 degrees, paid for by myself, my own home, a good job(2) and dozens of friends of all races, religions, political views, etc.

I love everyone for who they are(some could stand some tweeking tho)..;)!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you might misunderstand what I mean about our holidays. Of course many ethnic groups celebrate these holidays, but they originated from European culture, that brought them to America as our Holidays. Im actually just started learning about this. Halloween was what is now Ireland but used to be the United Kingdom. Its all very interesting really. I think Black History Month came about to show young black kids there are great leaders that they can look up too.

I agree with you about Rush Limbaugh and I would never listen to his show because of some things I have heard on there

Good post.:thumbup: The older generations do come from such a different place. My grandmother will say things that are blatantly racist and then swear she doesn't have a racist bone in her body- and she believes herself.:rolleyes: There's no changing a woman in her 80s (but I sure wouldn't want to see her give a nationally aired speech:o). I don't think it was the best wording for a national audience (and I'd bet President Obama would agree) but we should take into consideration that he's from a completely different generation and has very different life experiences than people of my generation. Honestly, how many of you over 30 yrs old (regardless of your race) would want to see your grandparents give a public speech involving race?

BTW, I think it's great that we can discuss controversial things and not all agree and still keep it civil.:thumbup:

I see what you and a lot of other people are saying. He did come from a different time frame YES BUT what makes him different than our grandparents is he in the public eye. Our grandparents wouldn't be out making national speeches on race. He was. Everyone is always so worried about being politically correct and using terms like "holiday tree" as not to offend different religions and you can't say "Merry Christmas" any more, but there can be national made speeches about RACE? And I'm sorry, but if he didn't mean it, "like that" then he would have used the past tense... not present.

LOL I see your point. There is no way I wouldve wanted My Grandparents to give a speech on race.

I always say MERRY CHRISTMAS!! And you know what, the people at the stores etc say it back :D Its contagious I guess :thumbup:

:goodpost:
Just for fun sakes...if we had a BET it would be WET...thats funny! ;)

I always do to, but employees of stores and stuff are actually told NOT to say it or they could get in trouble because it could "offend" someone. I don't care what people say back, but I am going to say Merry Christmas until the day that I die. And since I'm 21, that could be awhile yet. :-)

No but this is 2009. Not the 1950's. It's not the civil rights era anymore and no one is acting like it is. Some people are acting like they are still victimized. I wasn't around in that time frame and most of the people I know weren't either or were to young to remember, so why are we being punished and scrutinized because of something that happened about 60 years ago? Not only that, he was talking in the present tense. He was acting like black people are still forced in the back of the bus and all that. We all just need to move on and stop living in the past. Yes, there will always be racism in the world, but it's not always going to be a white person. It comes from all races and all cultures and even some against their own race/culture.

Lou - I LOVED your post.

Personally, I find Black History to be very interesting and I love studying it.

I was not "offended" by the Rev.'s comments. I just thought they were unnecessary and racially dividing. I DO believe that Black History is something we should learn about and devote time to learning about (I am in love with American History though, so that could have something to do with it) but I think we need to go about learning of it with more of an open heart and mind. Many people are racist STILL -- it's still out there. So it's not something that should be forgotten about. It's important. I believe that we need to see the progression in our country to continue moving forward with our goals and hopes.

The reason that it bothered me is that I just felt that it was unnecessary. The men and women who fought for civil rights fought to erase the racial divisions...and comments like that do not allow that to happen. Had he said "Where blacks, whites, reds, and yellows can live together in peace an harmony" I don't think anyone would have a problem with it.

Basically, the summary to my posts in this thread is this: The only way to move on and continue stopping racism, is to stop making comments that seperate the races. There is a difference between learning about the history of races and making comments that degrade another. We should ALL be proud of our races, our heritages, and where we come from, and no one should make us feel bad for something we have NO control over. We can't control what *some* of our ancestors did. I know for a fact that mine never owned slaves, but I still hear racist comments directed at me, simply because I'm white. We are all equal. It goes back to the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Oh girl I have to disagree with that. Do you know your past makes who you are today. Its not so easy to just let it go and live for how things are now. As much as we would like to believe we understand what they went through or how they felt, we really cant.

Or if he WAS talking about the civil rights movement he could have said something like "We came from a time when black people had to sit on the back of the bus... " yada yada yada. That would have been completely different. But he made it seem like people were separated and that those who were white were the only ones being racist.

No I agree we should LEARN about it, but people are LIVING in the past. They are acting like it's still the civil rights era. That's what I'm saying.

Yes--exactly!!! No one expects blacks to sit at the back of the bus anymore -- whether they're racist or not. It shouldn't be made out to be like that is the kind of society we are still in.

Its almost like a war veteran talking about war. They can't stop talking and reliving the past because that was the biggest major part of their lives.

UGH! I really think its because you guys are still young. You haven't yet experienced or understand empathy for others. He is an old man that has seen and encountered many terrible things. If his grandson had said that, then I think this would be a different discussion altogether :rolleyes:

Talking about it is one thing. I don't care if he broke the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest speech (which is 124 hours lol) on the talking about the civil rights movement (in fact, I would LOVE to hear about it) but his speech basically said, every race is being discriminated against and white people are doing it TODAY. Racism comes in every shape, size, and color. It doesn't matter who you are.

No one ever said only white people are racist. And yes, racism does come in all shapes and color.

Speaking of Guineess Book, isn't the smallest dog still a yorkie? :D and those Chihuahuas sure did think they were special..lol

No it wouldn't actually. I get in discussions like this with people my age saying the same things. I would especially be upset if his grandson said something like that because the civil rights never happened to him. I understand empathy. I have experienced more than people think. Trust me, I came from a racist town where we had one black family that lived there. What I understand most is that everyone is EQUAL. I don't care whether you are black, white, purple, pink, or green. I look past color and I'm tired of people only seeing color. We all bleed the same way and we all use the bathroom the same way. That's what I see. I did vote for Obama, but I almost feel like the "white race" is being put down because now we have a black president. I understand it is a GREAT time and I'm thrilled that we have a black president. I really am, but I don't want to constantly be reminded everyday of what happened 60+ years ago when half the people that talk about it didn't even exist then.

But we're the *new* generation. We WANT to move on and let go of the past. Letting go doesn't mean forgetting, it means taking what you learned and making yourself a better person because of it.

I truly do understand racism. I come from a small town - White, Christian central. They aren't racist per say, but they certainly aren't overly accepting. In my high school - out of 900 people - there are about 4 black kids. I do understand it. I learn about it. It's one of my favorite things to learn about it. Understanding it is not the issue here...the problem is that people harp on it. People make other people feel inferior because of it. One of my friends (who is black) once said to me "I'm not really an American." I said "What are you talking about?" She said "I'm only here because YOUR people brought me here." If that's not racism, I don't know what is.

lol I don't know about the yorkie thing. The only reason I knew about the speech was because someone set a new record the other day.

He pretty much did. "When white can embrace what's right" That's basically saying when white people can stop being racist and treat everyone equally, which is right.

Exactly. Megan, you're younger than me, but sometimes say it so much better than me lol

If that's the case then none of us are really American :D