Aryan Guard celebrates White Pride World Day in Calgary

[DeadPoolX 9]

As I understand it, the very idea behind the civil rights movement was to gain equal rights. How can any group ever hope to gain equality or acceptance if they continually demand it, yet insist on remaining a separate entity as well? It simply doesn't work that way.

I think it can. Isn't that what "celebrating diversity" is? I know many are for complete assimilation into "American culture" whatever that is (eating apple pie and watching baseball?). But must we be the SAME in order to be EQUAL?

We needn't be the same on an individual basis, but as a whole, what's wrong with wanting a culture that "gets along" as best it can? In general, the more we're alike, the better we respond to one another.

I'm not advocating a society of "drones" or anything. I wouldn't expect everyone to watch and do exactly the same thing. But it just seems a little odd to me that a minority is professing an ideal of "equal but different" when that very thought process was originally fought against during the civil rights era.

Edited March 28, 2008 by DeadPoolX

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well again - its all well and good saying "don't talk about it", but that in itself doesn't mean that there aren't complex and very deep rooted problems on the issue of race in this country - or that not talking about will magically make those problems disappear.

I understand his point - and indeed there is an issue of divisiveness, but the reasons for that go beyond one side keeping itself separate and touch on issues relating to (among other things) - economics.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

As I understand it, the very idea behind the civil rights movement was to gain equal rights. How can any group ever hope to gain equality or acceptance if they continually demand it, yet insist on remaining a separate entity as well? It simply doesn't work that way.

I think that's the tricky part. I wouldn't say that black people are insisting on remaining a separate entity as much as many feel that they need the support that comes from belonging to one black group or another (anything from, say, attending a HBCU to joining a black fraternity, the NAACP, or local activity organizations). Some might say that this perpetuates racism because black people are voluntarily separating themselves from people who aren't black. Others believe that these groups are an important source of support because racism is far from over, and many organizations are centered on self-improvement and encourage success and educational attainment. The question is whether this is a vicious circle. I tend to think not because most of these groups have a positive message and encourage success in mainstream society, not just in black communities.

[Heracles 417]

I still don't understand how those who're "black" can have any more of a collective culture than people who're "white." Neither term really means anything.

If you look, there are "white" and "black" people all over the world. Their skin color doesn't mean a whole lot. A "white" man who grows up in Africa will feel he has more in common with the many different cultures there than a "black" man who was raised in the United States. Yet if we are to believe in this total solidarity of color, the concept I outlined before couldn't possibly exist. It would simply be impossible.

It's not. It's very possible and everyone here knows it.

This also brings up something that's irritated me for a long time. My brother's best friend -- who is "white" -- was born and raised in Africa. His parents are both American, but for whatever reason, they were stationed there. When my brother's friend became a teenager, his family moved back into the U.S. and due to his parentage, had U.S. citizenship.

When looking at those information sheets that eventually ask you to write down your race, my brother's friend was perplexed. He may have been "white" or "Caucasian" but he was also "African American." He became even more confused when he was told he couldn't write down "African American" because he wasn't really that unless he's "black."

Now tell me what makes more sense: Calling a "black" man who was born in the U.S. and has never set foot on the continent of Africa an "African American" or refusing to allow a "white" man the ability to call himself an "African American" when he is not only a citizen of the U.S. but born in Africa and lived there for many years as well.

You got it.. The term 'black' in America always seems to end up being associated with some sort of racial connotation. I refuse to call someone african-American who's ancestor last stepped foot on the African continent 4 to 6 generations ago. Someone like Charlize Theron is an African-American. I bet her kids do not qualify for affirmative action.

I know when I personally refer to the black community I refer to it in terms of culture. Even then you can break that down into class, region, wealth etc. I never see it in terms of the melanin in their skin. I think when some of us here talk about white pride we are not talking about the Aryan brotherhood. We are talking about equally celebrating the achievements of Europeans and many other Caucasian cultures. Celebrating the history of the United States of America. Why don't Jews get a we survived every country trying to exterminate us month.

Some say you are free to get together and celebrate. BS!!! Anyone white here is made to feel guilty for the past. I come from a country where we are proud of our nation and history. We celebrate our culture and diversity. So I know exactly what it feels like to celebrate my nations achievements. If I went out on the streets and started celebrating the same things here I would probably get bashed by white people. And be branded a hate mongering, KKK loving, ignorant pig..

Edited March 28, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Heracles 417]

As I understand it, the very idea behind the civil rights movement was to gain equal rights. How can any group ever hope to gain equality or acceptance if they continually demand it, yet insist on remaining a separate entity as well? It simply doesn't work that way.

I think it can. Isn't that what "celebrating diversity" is? I know many are for complete assimilation into "American culture" whatever that is (eating apple pie and watching baseball?). But must we be the SAME in order to be EQUAL?

We needn't be the same on an individual basis, but as a whole, what's wrong with wanting a culture that "gets along" as best it can? In general, the more we're alike, the better we respond to one another.

I'm not advocating a society of "drones" or anything. I wouldn't expect everyone to watch and do exactly the same thing. But it just seems a little odd to me that a minority is professing an ideal of "equal but different" when that very thought process was originally fought against during the civil rights era.

The melting pot concept has gone out the window here. Now it has become more of a tossed salad. What is evident is how some cultures integrate and get along better than others.

[Heracles 417]

I think it can. Isn't that what "celebrating diversity" is? I know many are for complete assimilation into "American culture" whatever that is (eating apple pie and watching baseball?). But must we be the SAME in order to be EQUAL?

It is what it is. Hence why I love traveling to the country side and seeing the true America. Seeing the 200,000,000 Americans that live in between NY and LA.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Here we go again. Here's to another 60 pages of stubbornness, incoherence and blunt thinking.

[Heracles 417]

If everybody who has issues w/race or at least loves to talk about them over and over would be as intelligent as Mr. Morgan Freeman, racial issues would cease to exist in this planet,

Quote from his wiki bios,

"Freeman has publicly criticized the celebration of Black History Month and does not participate in any related events, saying, "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."[8] He says the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it, and he notes that there is no "white history month". Freeman once said on an interview with 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace: "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."

I salute you and AMEN to that SIR!

Freeman, Cosby, Oprah, Poitier etc There are a lot of people who get what equality and true integration means. Anyone who's bloodline has been here for more than one generation is an American. Apple pie, pumpkin pie, deviled eggs whatever eating American (as Jenn put what is it to be an American)..

The sooner people get that through their head the better this nation will be. The second someone throws out a you don't understand the history of x, we are back at square one again.

Here we go again. Here's to another 60 pages of stubbornness, incoherence and blunt thinking.

Doesn't mean much coming from a clown Pom such as yourself now does it. Last time I checked I was born and raised in one of, if not the most, multicultural nation in the world. Therefore by default your argument does not mean ####..

Edited March 28, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Heracles 417]

I understand his point

You don't understand ####..

[Sister Fracas 5]

Last time I checked I was born and raised in one of, if not the most, multicultural nation in the world.

how did Australia get involved in THIS thread as well...

Edited March 28, 2008 by Sister Fracas

[Heracles 417]

Last time I checked I was born and raised in one of, if not the most, multicultural nation in the world.

how did Australia get involved in THIS thread as well...

Quite simple actually. We are talking about culture. By default, I have lived in a nation where 1 in 4 citizens was born overseas. Therefore had quite a bit of exposure to various cultures. My parents where born overseas. So I probably have a better understand of the concept than someone like #6.

For example, A poor inner city black-American probably has a better understanding of poverty than I do. Therefore they understand poverty much better than I would.

Edited March 28, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I understand his point

You don't understand ####..

Your contributions continue to be outstanding.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I understand his point

You don't understand ####..

Your contributions continue to be outstanding.

[Heracles 417]

Your contributions continue to be outstanding.

Is the following post the type of 'outstanding contribution' you are talking about:

Here we go again. Here's to another 60 pages of stubbornness, incoherence and blunt thinking.

or Maybe this one:

Edited March 28, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Last time I checked I was born and raised in one of, if not the most, multicultural nation in the world.

how did Australia get involved in THIS thread as well...

Quite simple actually. We are talking about culture. By default, I have lived in a nation where 1 in 4 citizens was born overseas. Therefore had quite a bit of exposure to various cultures. My parents where born overseas. So I probably have a better understand of the concept than someone like #6.

Australia's population, last I checked, is something like 92% white. How many of these 1 in 4 born overseas are from Europe?

In any case, I'm not sure how your Australian upbringing makes you some kind of expert on race relations in the U.S.

Edited March 28, 2008 by Big Agnes!