Blacks in U.S. imprisoned at 5 times the rate of whites

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Social inequalities lead to poverty. Poverty leads to crime. We're not talking brain surgery here - and there's only so many times that I can state the obvious, only for you to agree one minute and disagree the next.

And I have stated over and over again that there are many other races and cultures who where also treated unfairly, oppressed and where slaves, yet have not resorted to crime. Your only response to that seems to be that they are basically not black. As such with the Aborigines, Maoris etc..

Actually I believe you only mentioned the Jews.

If we can't look to a long history of social inequality to explain (note explain, not excuse) the disparity in crime rates among ethnic groups, than what is the explanation? Genetic predisposition?

Agreed.

[Heracles 417]

If we can't look to a long history of social inequality to explain (note explain, not excuse) the disparity in crime rates among ethnic groups, than what is the explanation? Genetic predisposition?

Personally I am not deny that but there comes a point where that needs to be put in the past, in order to move forward. Anyone who always looks backwards cannot move forwards.

Nonetheless, anyone who still feels this way should seriously look at migrating to another nation. If I felt my family was wronged by XYZ nation and I could not get over it, I would certainly migrate elsewhere. Unfortunately moving would requires someone actually doing something for themselves, which I believe is the the cause of the problem in the first place.

I would be more than happy to fund a once off 'move elsewhere act'; which would include compensation for the move. The only condition is that they would have to renounce their citizenship. Lets say $35K plus a free ticket.

How many people would take up the offer? Whereas how many people would not yet continue with the same ###### and excuses..

[Heracles 417]

Interesting that you mention the stolen generation - as I recall you refused to acknowledge that the Australian Government should apologise for that, despite the fact that it happened in living memory, and that there are people still alive who were directly affected by it. That's not exactly 'doing all you can' is it - especially considering that those initiatives you mentioned aren't in anyways string-free (and I believe the Howard Government has been criticised by the UNHCR for its handling of that issue). Moreover, if the Australian government can't accept responsibility for the legacy of its past - it doesn't bode well for the future. Nor does a bottomless pit of welfare.

Lets not pretend that Australia is the unified paradise you'd like people to believe.

First of all every aboriginal was not part of the stolen generation. Second of all why should the current Australian government apologize for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them??

Lets not pretend that Australia is the unified paradise you'd like people to believe.

me and /or the thousands of ex-pat English who migrate there monthly.

Edited August 5, 2007 by Boo-Yah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If we can't look to a long history of social inequality to explain (note explain, not excuse) the disparity in crime rates among ethnic groups, than what is the explanation? Genetic predisposition?

Personally I am not deny that but there comes a point where that needs to be put in the past, in order to move forward. Anyone who always looks backwards cannot move forwards.

Nonetheless, anyone who still feels this way should seriously look at migrating to another nation. If I felt my family was wronged by XYZ nation and I could not get over it, I would certainly migrate elsewhere. Unfortunately moving would requires someone actually doing something for themselves, which I believe is the the cause of the problem in the first place.

I would be more than happy to fund a once off 'move elsewhere act'; which would include compensation for the move. The only condition is that they would have to renounce their citizenship. Lets say $35K plus a free ticket.

How many people would take up the offer? Whereas how many people would not yet continue with the same ###### and excuses..

I think it's easy to say 'move on' when you're not the person who has to do it. Easy to tell other people how to live - when you don't have to be live by those rules and conditions (which BTW is what I see the Australian Govt doing in their treatment of the aborigines).

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

First of all every aboriginal was not part of the stolen generation. Second of all why should the current Australian government apologize for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them??

1) Yes I know.

2) The Australian Govt represents Australian Citizens. Are the surviving victims of the stolen generation not citizens of Australia? Moreover, do you think that officials currently elected to serve in government can be separated from the national institutions that they serve?

[Heracles 417]

I think it's easy to say 'move on' when you're not the person who has to do it. Easy to tell other people how to live - when you don't have to be live by those rules and conditions (which BTW is what I see the Australian Govt doing in their treatment of the aborigines).

Please enlighten me on what else you would like the Australian government to do because obviously the points mentioned above are not enough. Shouldn't the British government also be held responsible considering her majesty the queen's army was responsible for colonizing Australia??

Same goes for the US considering so many slaves where brought here by the UK..

[Mel_and_Daniel 1]

I think it's easy to say 'move on' when you're not the person who has to do it. Easy to tell other people how to live - when you don't have to be live by those rules and conditions (which BTW is what I see the Australian Govt doing in their treatment of the aborigines).

Please enlighten me on what else you would like the Australian government to do because obviously the points mentioned above are not enough. Shouldn't the British government also be held responsible considering her majesty the queen's army was responsible for colonizing Australia??

Same goes for the US considering so many slaves where brought here by the UK..

Mel has told me that I should be prepared for racism and discrimination on a scale on which I have never experienced before when we move into the midwest. I can't say that I have ever experienced any kind of discrimination on the basis of race in my life. Do you think that I should be concerned?

[thetreble 19]

Daniel, you shouldn't be "worried". I think you will get a feel for American society once you move here. There are a lot of ignorant people all over the world and hopefully you won't have to experience too much of that. People here are generally nice and as far as I have experienced.

[Sonshyne 2]

Not enough watermelon to go around.

Yet another racist remark And you wonder why some people just won't or can't move on??

[thetreble 19]

I didn't see that remark. That is just wrong.

[Sonshyne 2]

I hope you're not referring to me calling someone black American as being racist. The sole reason I do that is because they are not 'African' and have not been in a few hundred years. Now someone like Charlize Theron is African American because she was born in Africa.

The negative things you are referring to due to my view of the current status quo in America where it is okay for a black America to say anything they please, be racist themselves and pound their chests on a daily basis while anyone who brings light to the negative aspects of their community is branded a racist. Likewise anyone who equally pounds their chest back, who is not black, is also automatically labeled a a KKK loving, former slave owning racist. Which is not right.

I am not referring to you as a racist because of how you refer to black people. You are right they aren't Africans. The point I was making is the things you say about them. You have said a lot of negative things. Whether YOU acknowlegde it or not there are positive African American out there too. But for you to say, you'd be glad to pay them off to leave here makes you as ignorant as the ones that are blaming everything on the WHITE MAN.

It is not ok for ANYONE to commit a crime and get away with it I don't care what color their skin is or what their cultural back ground is. Black people aren't the only one's living in proverty or commiting crimes.

I am not trying to offend YOU or anyone else, but sounds like you are.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think it's easy to say 'move on' when you're not the person who has to do it. Easy to tell other people how to live - when you don't have to be live by those rules and conditions (which BTW is what I see the Australian Govt doing in their treatment of the aborigines).

Please enlighten me on what else you would like the Australian government to do because obviously the points mentioned above are not enough. Shouldn't the British government also be held responsible considering her majesty the queen's army was responsible for colonizing Australia??

Same goes for the US considering so many slaves where brought here by the UK..

Sure. But as far as the Stolen Generation goes - the Australian Government owns that exclusively, and has (as yet) refused to apologise to the citizens who were affected by it (does it not represent those citizens?). "Not me, Guv'nor" doesn't cut it just because the individuals who run the institution now weren't in those positions when the policy was enacted. The institution is responsible, as as representatives of that institution they have a duty to address the mistakes of the past - especially when they happened in within living memory, and certainly when the current PM was involved in political career while it was still going on.

Safe to say then that you blame the aborigines for not 'getting a leg up', as much as you blame Black Americans for not 'moving on'. Seems to be a trend doesn't it - and again doesn't appear as simple as you want to make out.

Not enough watermelon to go around.

Yet another racist remark And you wonder why some people just won't or can't move on??

Agreed. A disgraceful comment.

Edited August 6, 2007 by Number 6

[Heracles 417]

Sure. But as far as the Stolen Generation goes -

Thought so. Typical number_6 beat around the bush style answering.

Still waiting on an answer in regards to the actions of the English? Half of the world's current issues are related to previous English decisions. IE EG Israel, Aborigines (aka colonizing Australia), Slaves in America, India/Pakistan etc.. Should we hold the British responsible for this? Common sense says no. But you seem to suggest otherwise.

How about the Australian convicts who where sentenced to death, not slavery, by the English? Human beings who usually committed no other crime than stealing a loaf of bread to survive. Who where then horrifically tortured on a daily basis.. Yes number_6 non-African 'white' people. Should we demand compensation from England?? Ops sorry I forgot, only African Americans had it tough..

Safe to say then that you blame the aborigines for not 'getting a leg up', as much as you blame Black Americans for not 'moving on'. Seems to be a trend doesn't it - and again doesn't appear as simple as you want to make out.

Still waiting on your ingenious solution then.. Since everything listed above is inadequate by your standards..

[Heracles 417]

I am not referring to you as a racist because of how you refer to black people. You are right they aren't Africans. The point I was making is the things you say about them. You have said a lot of negative things. Whether YOU acknowlegde it or not there are positive African American out there too. But for you to say, you'd be glad to pay them off to leave here makes you as ignorant as the ones that are blaming everything on the WHITE MAN.

I know there are a lot of great black Americans but unfortunately they are being pushed aside by others who are profiting from the ignorance and poverty of their lower class community. couch couch Jesse Jackson. Bill Cosby is someone I highly respect because he has enough common sense to see through the BS and realizes that the community itself is holding itself back, not anyone else. Which he has publicly stated time and time again.

[mawilson 2,133]

There are certain truths that most liberal Americans choose to ignore or shun. blacks and whites are and should always be equal in every way. But there's no denying that blacks, unfortunately, make up most of the crime in this country, hence the number of criminals behind bars is higher for their communities. Black Americans don't make up 25% of the total population in the States, yet they outnumber whites in prison 4 to 1. #######? Lack of education has everything to do with it. That and the fact that so many blacks are fatherless. Its a real shame. Please dont go getting angry with me for saying these things. They are the truth and its time for a change. Have you watched MTV lately? The media isnt helping.

Which is apparently due to slavery and oppression.

Isn't it because they have big penises, higher sex drive and sleep with lots of women?