a picture is worth a thousand words

[justashooter 430]

It's racially affiliated just like what the Swahili represents.

"toa bundouki m'kubwa"

Robert Ruark

(get me the big gun)

[Krikit 1,164]

The words in and of themselves are of no consequence unless there is specific intent behind that message.

this statement assumes omniscience.

how on earth would you know the intent of my words?

you can only overlay your understanding of what they would mean if you spoke them.

I made this statement in response to something DP said. It had nothing whatsoever to do with anything you said.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I see what Shooter is saying. Basing ideology on race and ethnic origin is, in of itself, racist. The basic idea behind the civil rights movement was that black and whites could be equal. At the time, blacks were segregated based upon their race.

How equal is today's society when we differentiate based on what was initially meant to be erased? I realize some might say "you're racist," but I'm not. In fact, I'm the opposite. I believe in equality for everyone and that has no bearing on someone's race, ethnic origin or religion. Therefore, I don't believe anyone should be treated differently based upon factors in which they had no say.

To simply say "comparing a black man with a monkey" is racist is glaringly ignorant. It's racist to base an insult on race alone.

I thought racism was obvious to people. I thought wrong. If you think it's not racist to refer to a black person as a monkey, or a character from a planet of the apes movie, then your lack of understanding of racism is beyond me.

You're right -- I don't understand racism, simply because it's one-sided and fails to take into account anyone outside of a certain group. By claiming racism in such a manner, you have actually perpetrated racism yourself.

Instead of using racism, perhaps we should use egalitarianism. That means equal rights for everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity and religion.

My point is that some comments, words, phrases are blatantly racist. There are ones for each and every group of people. Using one is offensive. Claiming that it's a double standard of calling one person out on racism is either a misnomer or a red herring, take your pick.

It's not a "red herring" by any means. Using racism as a fallback whenever something potentially inflammatory is said is a failure in our society. We care far too much about each group and in doing so, continue to segregate ourselves.

I'm sure Dr. King would be proud to see his work completely twisted and misused by others. Good job.

Again. The meaning of that specific image in relation to blacks has an undeniable racial connotation.

You and shooter can rail against that all you like, but it exists nonetheless. And if you go out of your way to deliberately use that image - you can't really claim surprise when people react to it as racist.

Only because society, as a whole, views it as such and fails to consider anything beyond the typical knee-jerk reaction that often ensues. If we actually gave some thought to the issue, we'd realize that accepting racism is a failure on our part.

Why should any black man or woman care what someone else says? So someone compared them to a monkey or ape. Big deal. It's their opinion and their right to think/say such. If someone wishes to call me a "kike" should I get mad? Why bother? Why does someone else's opinion matter to me? In short, it doesn't, so I don't care what someone says about Jews.

Words and comparisons such as these don't hurt anyone unless they choose to let it do so. By accepting racism, those who cry racism are saying that there's something inferior about their group and that they need defending. I'd call that racism of the highest order.

If you have a sense of self-esteem, then ignore whatever was said. Getting angry and upset over trivial matters isn't worth the time and effort. Even worse, it shows that such words can hurt you, thereby encouraging others. So let's do everyone a favor and eliminate the idea of racism. It only hurts those it's intended to protect.

I'm not "hurt" by it. I do think that denying the established meaning behind the image and claiming ignorance by fingerpointing at depictions of GWB (and indeed ignoring the fact that the monkey image was actually made taboo by the white racists who associated the image with the meaning) is horribly dishonest.

If Mr Shooter was interested in a discussion about the parity of meaning as it pertains to certain imagery being "taboo" when applied to a certain ethnic group - this really wasn't the way to go about it.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I see what Shooter is saying. Basing ideology on race and ethnic origin is, in of itself, racist. The basic idea behind the civil rights movement was that black and whites could be equal. At the time, blacks were segregated based upon their race.

How equal is today's society when we differentiate based on what was initially meant to be erased? I realize some might say "you're racist," but I'm not. In fact, I'm the opposite. I believe in equality for everyone and that has no bearing on someone's race, ethnic origin or religion. Therefore, I don't believe anyone should be treated differently based upon factors in which they had no say.

To simply say "comparing a black man with a monkey" is racist is glaringly ignorant. It's racist to base an insult on race alone.

I thought racism was obvious to people. I thought wrong. If you think it's not racist to refer to a black person as a monkey, or a character from a planet of the apes movie, then your lack of understanding of racism is beyond me.

You're right -- I don't understand racism, simply because it's one-sided and fails to take into account anyone outside of a certain group. By claiming racism in such a manner, you have actually perpetrated racism yourself.

Instead of using racism, perhaps we should use egalitarianism. That means equal rights for everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity and religion.

My point is that some comments, words, phrases are blatantly racist. There are ones for each and every group of people. Using one is offensive. Claiming that it's a double standard of calling one person out on racism is either a misnomer or a red herring, take your pick.

It's not a "red herring" by any means. Using racism as a fallback whenever something potentially inflammatory is said is a failure in our society. We care far too much about each group and in doing so, continue to segregate ourselves.

I'm sure Dr. King would be proud to see his work completely twisted and misused by others. Good job.

Again. The meaning of that specific image in relation to blacks has an undeniable racial connotation.

You and shooter can rail against that all you like, but it exists nonetheless. And if you go out of your way to deliberately use that image - you can't really claim surprise when people react to it as racist.

Only because society, as a whole, views it as such and fails to consider anything beyond the typical knee-jerk reaction that often ensues. If we actually gave some thought to the issue, we'd realize that accepting racism is a failure on our part.

Why should any black man or woman care what someone else says? So someone compared them to a monkey or ape. Big deal. It's their opinion and their right to think/say such. If someone wishes to call me a "kike" should I get mad? Why bother? Why does someone else's opinion matter to me? In short, it doesn't, so I don't care what someone says about Jews.

Words and comparisons such as these don't hurt anyone unless they choose to let it do so. By accepting racism, those who cry racism are saying that there's something inferior about their group and that they need defending. I'd call that racism of the highest order.

If you have a sense of self-esteem, then ignore whatever was said. Getting angry and upset over trivial matters isn't worth the time and effort. Even worse, it shows that such words can hurt you, thereby encouraging others. So let's do everyone a favor and eliminate the idea of racism. It only hurts those it's intended to protect.

I'm not "hurt" by it. I do think that denying the established meaning behind the image and claiming ignorance by fingerpointing at depictions of GWB (and indeed ignoring the fact that the monkey image was actually made taboo by the white racists who associated the image with the meaning) is horribly dishonest.

If Mr Shooter was interested in a discussion about the parity of meaning as it pertains to certain imagery being "taboo" when applied to a certain ethnic group - this really wasn't the way to go about it.

I agree on that point.

[justashooter 430]

nice to know you have established the basis of rules for communication.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

nice to know you have established the basis of rules for communication.

nice to know you can plead ignorance when deliberately using racist imagery to provoke a reaction.

Pathetic is what it (and you) are.

[justashooter 430]

nice to know you have established the basis of rules for communication.

nice to know you can plead ignorance when deliberately using racist imagery to provoke a reaction.

Pathetic is what it (and you) are.

so you lost the debate adn are now reduced to personal attacks. how nice.

how many times will this scene repeat?

maybe i should just let you win sometime?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

nice to know you have established the basis of rules for communication.

nice to know you can plead ignorance when deliberately using racist imagery to provoke a reaction.

Pathetic is what it (and you) are.

so you lost the debate adn are now reduced to personal attacks. how nice.

how many times will this scene repeat?

maybe i should just let you win sometime?

how magnamimous of your Mr Shooter.

I guess we can add "wins debates by saying nothing" to your list of acolades.

There was no "debate", only you using a blatantly racist image and then trying to plead ignorance of a meaning that you are all too well aware of.

[justashooter 430]

you forgot the part about obama and his flawed psyche.

[Niels Bohr 72]

pike, you have the Cambodian Flag? My browser is acting weird.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

you forgot the part about obama and his flawed psyche.

Or yours.

[Krikit 1,164]

If this is just going to degrade into trading insults, tell me now so I can close the thread and get off the computer.

[justashooter 430]

If this is just going to degrade into trading insults, tell me now so I can close the thread and get off the computer.

you can close it. paul lost.

[tallcoolone 102]

If this is just going to degrade into trading insults, tell me now so I can close the thread and get off the computer.

you can close it. paul lost.

Ouch..............

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

And I thought the use of racist imagery would be sufficient to close it.