[TH0001]

Do you understand the difference between individual racism and institutional racism? Do I believe there are racist black folks? 100% yes but that is not what intellectual people talk about when dealing with issues of race.

I guess I am not intellectual (ie liberal) because I don't talk about that. I talk about any race treating any race differently, because that is racism, period... In fact it goes two ways and in my experince I find way more black people that hate white people then vice a versa, but thats not what intellectual people discuss apparently (ie its not politcally correct)

You look at things like predatory lending practices geared towards minorities, housing discrimination, education funding etc... I have abstained from the race issue because it is way more complex than a guy calling you a cracker at a bar.

We agree and disagree to a point on this. I think lowering standards for people of certain races to get into college is a forum of slavery. In fact I think a lot of liberal practices actually do more to hold people down. Instead of lowering standards we should focus on making sure that ALL poor and lower income people have access to quality education. If they choose not to use it, too bad...

As far as predatory lending practices occur on a race blind level. I think poor people are targeted, but I really don't know enough about this to debate it with you.

This is how racism affects me, and I can only speak for me...

My wife's friend was intering at a innercity school and she heard the black teacher tell the mostly black students that she "White people hate black people and that the white people are holding black people down. My wife's friend reported this to UCF (her school at the time), Orange County Public Schools, and who ever else. Nothing was done and she was never contacted further.

Then last year we a teacher who gets fired because she wrote in her email (it made the news) that most of her Puerto Rican students are failing... (which was factual and not said in a bad context.)

When my grandfather came to America in 1924, he was riding at the back of the bus and was often called a "wetback" because he couldn't speak English, probably similar to your Italian ancestors, however, all he ever had to do to overcome the bigotry was learn English, blacks can't change the color of their skin. As I said before, there are MANY racist blacks, but if you think that racism is equally a two way street, you're nuts and this honkey knows what he's talkin bout.

Again I can only speak for myself and I judge people soley on how they treat me and act. To say that all Italians had to do was learn English is pretty ignorant however...

I absolutely think racism is a two way street and will always exist is some people's eyes. The only way to end racism is to get to a point is to treat people equally, to which special gifts for being a certain race does not promote. I think when white people see BET and see a channel that promotes ganstas, rap and murder that sends a certain message. I have seen (obviously considering where I grew up) black people call out there friends for trying to get an education, calling them Uncle Tom's, etc.. When you have a culture (not all black people of course, but this is an easy misconception) that promotes terrible English, no education, and other things out of tune with the majority culture you are going to have friction.

Well, let me posit this to you...

Suppose on the even of the election, Gallup conducts a poll showing Obama with a 7 point lead on election night and ahead by the same margin in places like Ohio, Florida and North Carolina. Everyone is saying the lead is insurmountable.

On election day, Obama loses by 1 or 2 points in each of those States.

Nothing, if memory serves me correctly, both Gore and Kerry where ahead in the polls and lost. Kerry by somewhat of a landslide, I think the polls (based on history) are always wrong. I remember the exit polls saying Kerry was doing so good (on liberal channels of course).

What then? Race?

No! The fact that a black man (in such a horribly racist country as this) has a lead in the polls says a lot for the charcter of this country. But I guess we cannot look at the positive and must rather stretch for the negative?

If he loses then that would indicate (as the past two elections have) that more people in this country are conservative. This may be shock, but twice the country has voted conservative, and both Gore and Kerry are white!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you telling me that you do not believe that some honkeys are telling pollsters they are PrObama, when in fact they have NO intention of "pulling the trigger" and voting for a black man?

I don't know but it sounds like you are speculating and treating your own assumptions as fact.

I'll guarantee you this... I don't know who will win, but Obama's poll numbers are MUCH higher than what he'll get in votes because I've had many other honkeys tell me that they "just can't vote for a black guy". Balee Dat!

Yet this is worse in your eyes then 93% of a race voting for their own? Double standard? That would be racism as well right? Or you believe in double standards and special priveledges as well?