How to Be White

What? your parents died while you were an infant and you were not allowed to attend public school? Tell us more about your life so different from ours.
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I am not really sure of your point here...if you are trying to say that because my parents cared for me as a child and that I attended public school I am being disingenuous in my statement you are really grappling for something...are black children without parents or turned away from public education? I did well in school on my own steam and worked my way through college, got merit scholarships, etc... same story as a friend of mine who happens to be asian, same as her bf who is black....so I stand by what I said. Smart capable people are not given things, they work hard for them. My point is is that my life is NOT different...it is much the same as most average hard working middle class people.

White people are not handed anything nor should they be...my workplace is extremely diverse..all incredibly smart hard working people. To say that white people are given things because of their race is ignorant. I was given nothing, I have worked for it all..same with everyone I know white and black. people that are not successful are either too lazy or too stupid. thats really what it boils down to...but I guess its not PC to say that. Some people are not as intelligent as others..has nothing to do with race. stop making excuses. You absolutly cannot tell me that a well educated black person would be unable to find a good job...thats stupid..there are many around me...in my corner office currently as a matter of fact. this illusion of institutional racism is perpetuated to KEEP blacks from becoming successful..."American exceptionalism" we are great as a nation no matter the color...embrace it and stop making a big deal of something that is so far in the past
Posted by: heresathought1 | July 31, 2009 10:55 AM
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I agree 100% with everything you said.

Was this column written by a fifth grader?

"I stood in Grant Park in Chicago and watched all the white people crying. I was crying. I asked myself why we were all crying..."

Really?

You think you were crying then... just wait until cap and trade and healthcare kicks in. You'll be bawling like babies.

I am white too. I was a child during school integration in the south and a teenager during the civil rights movement. I do not feel guilty at all. I have moved with the times and am living in the present. I am perfectly comfortable with people of all races. I have moved on into the modern, multicultural world we are living in. I think it is African Americans like Gates, Rev. Wright and Obama who cannot let go of the past and continue to use the race card to try to intimidate white Americans. I will not be intimidated because I know that I judge people by their actions - not their color or ethnicity. I expect a President of the United States to be a modern African American and not one living in the past. All this race talk is really not fruitful because it offends people and creates resentment. The whole issue needs to be dropped! It should NEVER have been brought up by a President of the United States! MOVE ON!

C C N L: Whoever You'ar This below is for your-Eyes only:

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Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...A.O!

Great Post RHDscott
Carotonio, If they are demagogues, it isn't for white males, but for all people. No matter what your race. Wouldn't it make sense that all politicians are demagogues even more so, because they are actually fighting for political power.

To say that white people are given things because of their race is ignorant. I was given nothing, I have worked for it all
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What? your parents died while you were an infant and you were not allowed to attend public school? Tell us more about your life so different from ours.

White people are not handed anything nor should they be...my workplace is extremely diverse..all incredibly smart hard working people. To say that white people are given things because of their race is ignorant. I was given nothing, I have worked for it all..same with everyone I know white and black. people that are not successful are either too lazy or too stupid. thats really what it boils down to...but I guess its not PC to say that. Some people are not as intelligent as others..has nothing to do with race. stop making excuses. You absolutly cannot tell me that a well educated black person would be unable to find a good job...thats stupid..there are many around me...in my corner office currently as a matter of fact. this illusion of institutional racism is perpetuated to KEEP blacks from becoming successful..."American exceptionalism" we are great as a nation no matter the color...embrace it and stop making a big deal of something that is so far in the past

"I am African-American and would love to see the day when we acknowledge one race - the human race." -- Posted by: rayeraye1
I second "rayeraye1"'s statement. Thistlethwaite (who, being a Christian theologian should know better) talks about shifting worldly power. The only power that will annihilate this problem is the power of God's love put into action by people living out rayeraye1's statement in their lives. Skin color is just one of hundreds of discernable "differences" among people. Until we accept each human being for the true individual he or she is, we will have difference mongers making careers out of pitting one set of peopel with a particular characteristic against those with out it. The choice is yours: Open your eyes to this reality and begin living or condemn yourselves and those you love to perish because of your willful blindness.

One just needs to count the numerous reactions to this "How to be White" column to know we in America have a real problem. While many of the comments come from one's heart; are informative, educational and well stated and intentioned; and written with that gusto from that window finally opening through which we can all stick our heads out and yell...ENOUGH!! Enough of intellectualizing RACE. It's time we all turned deeply inward and recognized and accepted our skin is what it is - nothing we can do about that. But what we can do something about is marshalling all of the cultural intellect possible on "How to be Human".

I really do appreciate this commentary.

The one thing that I want to see is people realizing that institutions are set up where one group of people (usually white males) automatically get privilege while the rest of us have to struggle just to stay above water. I mean, I have worked really hard for what I have. But, the thing I hate the most is to see black people give up because they know that it will be such a struggle to get certain advantages that are handed over to white people. I hate more that white people don't even seem to acknowledge that this phenomenon occurs. I know that white people struggle too. I've seen it, and I've even helped some of them through it. But, when you look at whites as a group versus any other race of people as a group,they have gotten it a lot easier, historically, than the rest of us.

I say all of this to say that it is not only a matter of changing the individual thought and perceptions about race but also the institutions that have been established during a time of racial segregation and whose foundation still remain. I work in education, and I see the disparities everyday. My work involves helping institutions create an environment that is not only welcoming to all but sustains the success of all. That's the progress I'm looking for when we talk about race relations in America.

Racism is alive and well in America. Racism comes from all people of all colors and is anathema to American values. It must end. That said:
You can't win an argument on facts that show the President was wrong without some bozo dubbing you a racist. Even the President admits he went too far. But it all boils down to smearing anyone who speaks out when the Supreme Leader, peace be upon him, as most folks think, made a bad mistake. Content of character not color of skin is not what those who charge racism believe. They use the charge as a club to curb freedom of speech.
This was nothing more than a damage control effort by the President, who had to backtrack from his original unwarranted statements that showed a lack of judgment on his part that bodes ill for this country in other matters. He created a firestorm and had to retreat. He then compounded his first move by trying to spin it. That didn't work so he called the parties to the White House for a photo op. This was less about Gates and Crowley than it was about Obama's deep resentments still there from years of Jeremiah Wright and his own grandmother, according to him.
A great politician, he chose to sit as close to Sgt. Crowley as possible, leaving Professor Gates closest to Joe Biden. Obama could not bring himself to apologize to the Cambridge Police Department and to the American People for his blunder. Neither did Gates but that is understandable as he was the guy getting hauled away in cuffs.
Our President cannot apologize. He never has. He has said his actions were "boneheaded" once when pushed into a corner over his dealings with the now convicted felon A. Rezko using his help scoring a mansion in Chicago, but "I apologize" are words that cannot escape his lips. That is true of most narcissists, but I cannot prejudge.
As for Sgt. Crowley. He did his duty and is above reproach in this sad business.
Race relations has been set back by Obama and the posts I have read and the polls I have seen bear this statement out. There is a great divide between us and having a president that doesn't understand that coming out strong on one side or the other of any controversy without having the facts is acting "stupidly" That is the teaching lesson of this fiasco.
Comment on: It Wasn't One for the Guinness Book at 7/31/2009 10:11 AM EDT
Read the Police Report. The facts are undisputed and contained therein and a witness also signed on to it.
If Obama had waited to read the report before spouting off he would not have created this media frenzy and set race relations back 60 years.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

Sunday is racism day. Try keeping up with the losers guys. If you can't, well so what. Make a buck and try being green.

“I have been white all my life”, what does that mean? What else is she going to be unless she has a race change? When I came to that comment I realized that the article was going to be just another inane article by someone suffering from pathological liberal guilt.

@Athena4
I am white. I certainly don't want Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Bill Orally to speak for ME! I'm embarrassed enough by these losers.
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Just like people of my generation are embarrassed of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Rev. Wright etc...

Psychology 101:
All of these people claiming "reverse racism" and "blacks are more racist than whites" are really just 'projecting' their own bigotry onto others.

There are absolutely, positively no credible studies that show blacks (in general) harbor negative views toward whites. I implore anybody here to cite one piece of research that shows blacks are more racist than whites.

What's really sad is that all of these people won't even listen to alternate viewpoints--their minds have been made up already and have been shut tight under lock and key. They speak as if they are experts on race when they have done absolutely nothing to inform themselves about it aside from what they see on television.

As a white guy, I can say that my beliefs have nothing to do with liberal white guilt (people can only feel guilt for their own actions, not the actions of others), but a desire for truth, knowledge, and compassion. The ignorance espoused in many of these comments only fuel my fire and strengthen my resolve, so in that regard, I guess I owe you my thanks.

I wish there were more people from my age group posting on here, but I realize the majority of people my age (20's) are more likely to be commenting on Perez Hilton or Mediatakeout. Anyway, I was born in '84 I never experienced institutionalized racism. I harbor no ill feelings towards whites and I know that the majority or people posting racist comments on here come from a generation in which that was the only way to think if one wanted to be socially accepted. I dont care about all the stats and sterotypes you want to throw in my face, those numbers and extrapolated generalizations do not make me. I am a strong, proud, married young man who is continuing my education and supporting my wife while she goes to nursing school. I wish that people would stop ignoring the blacks such as myself who make up the majority. Racist always want to say "the majority of blacks do this or that" when the statistics that they present clearly show otherwise. But, I just dont care. Racism is not going to stop me from getting my Masters, nor will it hinder me from making one dollar. So, to all my brothers and sisters out there I need to say this; yes there are racist people out there but, WHO CARES!!!! There are many of us who chose not to complain and find excuses. I hold this view because of my life experiences though, my parents and grandparents will probably never be able to see the world the way I do due to the injustices they had to put up with to make it a better country for me and all other n on-whites in this county. We as a race need to stop placing blame and take accountabilty. When I get in the position of power and financial stability I plan on being a part of the solution. I refuse to get rich and look down on my people. We have to create problems to uplift and inspire and if I can make a change in one person's life then I will make a huge difference. So, please save your statistics for those who care. Blacks have overcome, now it is time for us as a whole to overachieve. Peace

racism is a fact. it is the media and a minority of black/white fools that keep it going.religious factions also keep it cooking

"1 – Absolutely not. I’m not ashamed of white racists. I’m not ashamed of black racists. I can’t imagine why I would be ashamed of them."
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Agreed. I have nothing in common with that segment of the population who has refused to evolve past the level of Cro-Magnon man. I get tired of people telling me I need to be ashamed (and thus guilty and responsible) for other people's behavior that I don't endorse and don't personally display. Let the people who display such characteristics be ashamed of themselves.
Posted by: ebleas | July 31, 2009 7:51 AM
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Exactly, Ebleas. I'm not responsible for the actions of racists or any other version of superstitious people. I'm not responsible for people who burn witches (thousands die every year for that). I'm not responsible for people who kill people who pray to the wrong Deity (tens of thousands die every year for that). I'm not responsible for Professor Gates and his "racial narratives". And I'm not responsible for that stupid cop in Boston with his "jungle monkey" comments.

The world is full of people doing horrible things in the name of various superstitions, racism is just one of them.

If Ms. Thistlethwaite chooses to feel responsible for some of these fools, that's her choice. She is welcome to it.

Leeh, this isn't about white guilt. I don't feel guilty that my skin color and gender gave me opportunities and advantages that were denied to others, because I could do nothing about that at the time. But I do see myself as having a responsibility to condemn inequality of opportunity and to work toward equality of opportunity. Equalizing opportunity for all doesn't mean reducing or taking away opportunity for some - that's what the demagogues would have us believe.

Hi Susan, I must admit to being in the boat as others who found parts of your column confusing.

Since this is the On Faith column, I thought I would try to tie together the idea of racism and faith.

Ask any evangelical the following question: Do you believe you are partially responsible for past transgressions against blacks? The answer of course is No (as it should be). Even if an evangelical Christian from the south (where I live) is asked whether they believe they should be held somewhat responsible for the way blacks were treated in the south, from slavery to segregation, the answer is uniformly the same. I'm not responsible for what happened over a hundred years ago.

Now, ask another question: Do you believe, that a person who died on the cross 2,000 years ago can wipe away all of the sins that you committed or will ever commit? The answer this time is uniformly yes.

It strikes me that when it comes to our treatment of other people, we believe that our actions alone should be the basis for accountability and responsibility. But when it comes to generational sin or forgiveness, evangelicals heartily believe it's perfectly reasonable for God to hold a grudge from the beginning of mankind. In essence, most evangelical Christians believe we are outside of paradise today because of a sin committed by our earliest ancestor, thousands of years ago. Or, that we are forgiven for any sin already committed because of the sacrifice of someone 2,000 years ago.

When it comes to religion, we believe in ancestral transference of sin and forgiveness. When it comes to our relationship with others, we do not.

I find these two lines of thought inconsistent.

The reason that liberals insist on piling on conservative commentators is that the latter do not join them in their habitual crying sessions. They talk about blacks as if the days of slavery and Democrat-imposed Jim Crow laws are actually over. Many Americans are neither white nor black but children of immigrants who had not a thing to do with oppression of blacks. The liberal idea of dialogue is one way with themselves calling those who dissent from their simplistic views "racists."

Great post, Rhdscott.

Susan,

I ask you to read the comments posted here and tell me if you still feel the same. There are racists, both black and white and they get the most attention because they are loud and everyone loves a spectacle. As a black person, I don't want you to feel guilt, you weren't there. Just as I can separate you from them, I'd appreciate you and others like you returning the favor. I am not black culture, I am not the black race, I am not a black group, I am a woman, a mother and wife with black skin. I am proud of my culture and the diversity within it.

I feel sorry for this woman, SUSAN BROOKS THISTLETHWAITE, who feels her own baby is born guilty and not innocent simply based on skin color. That it is born with an obligation to apologize.

JLS, from the few times I've listened to Beck and Limbaugh and O'Reilly, they don't strike me as people who hold racist beliefs. But they do strike me as demagogues, seeking to convince white males that they are in danger of being disenfranchised. One can be a demagogue without believing in one's rhetoric.

My great-great uncle volunteered in 1864 to join the Union army. At eighteen years old, he was shot in the head and killed at the battle of the Crater. His grave in Philadelphia is now a meeting spot for black drunks and drug addicts, and is frequently littered with broken bottles and spent needles.

Am I supposed to feel white guilt? My ancestors died fighting for freedom for blacks, many of whom never joined the union army but stayed happily employeed in NY city and other northern towns, happy to get better jobs when white boys went off to fight for their freedom.
Am I supposed to feel white guilt? My father nearly lost his job working for integration in th3e 1960s. Many blacks refused to cooperate, not wanting to cause truoble. Am I supposed to feel white guilt?

I am not sure why noone acknowledges that white people are victims of racism as well??? I went to a high school that was very diverse. I loved it and had friends of all races..but a certain large group of black students "ruled" the teachers were afraid of them and they treated white students terribly...and got away with it because officials were afraid they would pull the racew card. racism happens anytime we over obsess about race. this article...is racist...because it stereotypes white people and judges that they are ashamed and racist b ased only on the color of their skin..weee what im saying? stop obsessing about race and live your life. and i do think that friendship- is the best way...who can hate their friend
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This is such BS. I will never ever feel any guilt for what happened. I had no part in it so why should I feel guilty or apologize. This sounds like a major Liberal does of "White Guilt". It would be nice to mention that the African Slave trade involved all races not just whites. Arabs, Black Africans, and Europeans all profited from the trade. So enough of the 'White Guilt' let us move on to more pressing issue.

You cannot reason with insanity because people who are insane cannot recognize that insanity. Rush Limbaugh and his side kicks Hannity, Beck & O’Reily went crazy years ago when their obsession over blacks gaining equality over took their ability to reason. It is not hard to find approximately 3% of the population that is equally insane I think they call them ditto heads.

These groups of insane individuals are incapable of expanding their intellectual capacities due to their insanity. These people due to their insanity believe that they are superior to others. They insanely believe that all that they accomplish is based on their ill-perceived abilities and not because they receive special privileges because of the color of their skin.

Insane people cannot change. Fortunately God recognized this problem and created death as a way of removing filth from the face of the earth. We all die and make way for future generations who will care less about the color of ones skin.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS.

I think if anyone actually listened to Rush Linbaugh or Glen Beck, you would know that they are not racist. And uninformed comments by this and other commentators just perpetuate false impressions of them.

Another big problem is the "not in my neighborhood" mentality. "It's fine for minorities to seek equality somewhere else but not too close to me." I work and live in very racially diverse communities and I overhear alot of conversation. It seems being Black is less of a problem than wanting to be. People are up in arms over their sons listening to our music, wearing our clothes, and speaking our language (at least that's how they see it.) And the biggest problem is their daughters having our children. I'm not so naive as to think racism doesn't exist but I was shocked to find out how many people feel the way I just described.

Twelve Percent
Twelve percent, twelve percent of a massive population
How could 12% have so much effect upon a nation?
How could 12% garner so much attention?
Other than by conditioning and manipulation
Let’s say all 12% were gangsters and rappers
Let’s say all 12% were looters and shoppers… were singers and tappers
How could 12% cause such focus of attention?
Other than by conditioning and manipulation
Why is it that 12% that have been here since the indoctrination of this nation have to stand at its gate and shout/moan “please allow us”
Could it be that right to justice really does mean...“just us”?
Twelve percent of anything cannot make or break a system built upon a solid foundation
For 12% to wreak so much so called havoc…It may be time to investigate the motivation
Let’s say all 12% were unfamiliar with the rules of sovereign society
How could this bare such a hardship on the haves, the have not(s) and the want to be(s)?
Even if all 12% were involved in rape, murder and robbery
This would not explain the 88% of the crimes being committed in this nation
So, why does 12% of a massive population get so much attention?
It must be with intention
Not intention to be…intention not to be a part of a sincere unity
If all 12% were attending university
How could this be such an infringement upon another’s right to prosperity?

©Tracy Cannon 2001

"We must not forget the disproportionate amount of welfare able-bodied blacks collect for doing nothing." MMM11110, you don't know your statistics. The majority of people on welfare are white. People like you, LeePefley1, and WmarkW are part of the problem and don't appear to want to be part of the solution. I, a Black man, was jumped and beaten by white males while I was stationed in the south during my Army tour in the early 90's. I don't fear all white males because of that. Your "they have to stop taking drugs and committing crimes" logic is only an excuse for your racism. I had a childhood friend who said his father was racist because he was jumped and robbed by Blacks. My reply was, "If it had been whites would he hate them?" I'd rather a racist just say, "I hate minorities just because I do" than to hear all these bogus excuses. The Limbaughs and Becks of America don't want a united country or they wouldn't say the things they say. Sadly, as long as there people like you guys who buy into this crap, we'll never get to where we should be as a nation. The diversity of our people should be our greatest strenght but, sadly, it remains our greatest weakness.

Good morning,

I find it interesting that we are to read Ms. Thistlethwaite's column and comment about "racism", without knowing how she defines the term. However, it seems that her definition is something White people do, or think in negative terms towards minorities, especially African-American and Hispanic. I must reject this one sided definition. Racism has become an ongoing cause for African-Americans and Hispanics, who without it would have no excuse for failure and would have to account for their own successes and failures in life, without the endless cry of racism. And why do you reject Mr. Beck, Limbaugh, and O'Reilly? Ms. Thistlethwaite, you need to listen to all sides as many Americans do. And, where do all the Asians fit into all of this? Answer, they do not. Why is it the Asians tend to do so well, and the two other aforementioned minorities do not? I submit that the African-Americans and Hispanics tend to not do well, not because of racism, but because of some other problems. Those are problems the Asians have overcome.

"1 – Absolutely not. I’m not ashamed of white racists. I’m not ashamed of black racists. I can’t imagine why I would be ashamed of them."

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Agreed. I have nothing in common with that segment of the population who has refused to evolve past the level of Cro-magnom man. I get tired of people telling me I need to be ashamed (and thus guilty and responsible) for other people's behavior that I don't endorse and don't personally display. Let the people who display such characteristics be ashamed of themselves.

To be racist, out and out white supremecist RACIST, that is what the Republican Party has become.

The Republican Party is making its final transformation from the party of emancipation to the REPUBLI-KLAN.

Only in this new Republi-Klan, the members do not cover their faces; they are not ashamed.

Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Glen Beck, and yes, even New Gingritch are the generals in this new racist army.

Why not say it? It is all true, isn't it? The new Republi-KLAN, the white people's Christian party.

I for one, am willing to push back. I, for one, would fight against them, if there is to be a second Civil War.

I am a sixty seven year old black man. The main impediment to race relations is segregated schools and neighborhoods. I live in the Clearlake area of Houston and have lived in this area since moving to Houston in the eighties. Clearlake, Nasa Bay, Webster, Kemah and just about every city in this area are segregated. The Clearlake high school is segregated. The University of Houston in Clearlake is segregated. The police departments and the fire departments are segregated. The black areas like those off of Scott Street are segregated.

What do I mean by segregated? When a school system does not reflect the makeup of the country it is segregated. When there are overwhelming numbers of black people or white people or Mexicans in a school that school is segregated. When there is an overwhelming number of a particular race in a police or fire dept those depts are segregated. When there is an overwhelming number of a race in a neighborhood that neighborhood is segregated.

It is important that people interact with each other in order to gain confidence in their actions and their intent. As long as we remain apart in America based on race we will have racism in all races.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AMERICANS.

"How to Be White"?

An improved concept of being black might go a little futher.

"So, Dwight, are you implying you want Beck, Limbaugh and O'Reilly speaking for you? (My bet you have the most in common with O'Reilly based on your past posts)
There are three wars converging in America. The first is race, the second is religion and the third is over class.
The constant stirring of the Gates affair and racism from both sides is evidence of this war. The demonization of Mexican and other Latinos over immigration is more evidence.
The second war is religion with evangelicals, Mormons and Dwight's flavor of O'Reilly Catholics striving for theocratic dominion over the rest of us by exploiting Rovian wedge issues of gays and abortion. We see this every day.
The third is over class - the haves and the have-nots. Even though Obama promised change, the haves, who can afford health care and education for their familes, resent the have-nots for wanting reform in these areas and cry socialism while their banks are bailed out by the government.
What is really interesting is that there is a ven diagram of people from each of these three wars who are sometimes enemies and sometimes allies over the same issues. Both white rich and poor are tired of the collective guilt they have been fed for decades over slavery. Religious Blacks join their white counterparts (albeit many of whom are racist as well) to fight gay marriage and abortion.
Both poor blacks and whites watch as the economy goes to hell, unemployment rises and both black and white banking and insurance executives both receive obscene bonuses from Federal tax money.
So this leaves us good old Dwight-not poor by any means, said he would fire his employees who voted for Obama, and lives in conservative Virginia - but crosses over with may Blacks on religious issues and maybe at least Michael Steele on politics.
What about Thistlewait? White, liberal, not poor, but crosses over with blacks on issues of race and and with some blacks and whites on religion.
Who would I rather spend time with? I think from my posts, the answer is obvious.
The real question, however, is will this ven crossing of opinions and beliefs be enough to save this country from tearing itself apart at the constant urgings of Limbaugh hate radio and RNC Fox News?
Posted by: coloradodog | July 30, 2009 4:05 PM
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as far as race is concerned, I am latino...
when I got my Colombian Citizenship, I went thru normal channels, didn't just show up and live there illegally when I did live there...
I am a Catholic, and I don't remember any sermon spewing the crap you were talking about...
and as for being poor, I am...
yet I don't want anything I didn't earn...
I'm not like you...
and i don't want to be...

Did I really read this drivel in the New York Times? How to be white? Feel guilty? Feel ashamed? Sorry babe, I have to laugh now. Don't project your oatmeal-brain notions on the rest of us. Instead, how about I advise you on how to be a good cult member. Or maybe that there are some promising treatments out there for early onset Alzheimer's. I voted for Obama. I would do so again, and it had absolutely nothing to do with race.

"This 'I am more special than you because I am a minority' has got to stop."

That's largely a straw man. What minorities are protesting is the idea of the majority trait as the norm or default, or the idea of a minority trait as a form of deviancy. (Those ideas are pervasive - I read an essay a while back about a black female doctor who gets the "Are you really a doctor?" reaction even from other blacks.) Except for some of the demagogues, minorities aren't claiming that they're more special, they're saying that they're special, period. That doesn't equate to the majority being less special - that's zero-sum-game absolutist thinking. The real problem here is the idea of Other.

Since I can never know how many of the people around me would rob me if they could, I have to take certain clues.
If I need to use an ATM and see several elderly women walking into a restaurant for lunch I don't worry. Turn them into 20-something black men with doo-rags and I might just not need cash right then.
People will stop associating blacks with crime when they stop committing so much of it.
Posted by: WmarkW | July 30, 2009 1:06 PM
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What you wrote is called racial profiling by the media. I must say, though, that I profile all the time. My personal safety comes first and foremost. I do not give a hoot about political correctness.

I do associate black and Hispanic males with crime. I will stop doing so when they stop committing so much crime. At any one time, a quarter of black males are involved with the criminal justice system. I think it is only fair and just to associate them with crime. The statistics do not lie.

It's not racism, my dear, but behavior. As long as black people commit violent crimes at 20 times the rate of white people, and cannot finish high school,and take(and sell)illegal drugs at a phenomenal pace, and whose children are overwhelmingly (70%) illegitimate, and endowed with an average I.Q. of 85, and who believe basketball to be a higher calling than medicine or engineering, who must be given preferential treatment in order to find employment, and who after three centuries still can't speak normal English... Anyone who does NOT look with suspicion and fear upon the members of this bloc is a fool.
It's not racism, love, that causes us to disapprove of the Mafia.
Posted by: LeePefley1 | July 30, 2009 1:23 PM
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The media want to ignore FACTS such as these. Blacks must take responsibility for their own behavior if the want to succeed. I must say that they excel at using the race card every chance they get.

We must not forget the disproportionate amount of welfare able-bodied blacks collect for doing nothing.

This is typical media psycho-baloney.

Find something to write about that makes sense.

I am very proud to be a White-American.

Hmmm where to begin, where to begin....

Let's just drop the politeness and be honest okay?

Pookie and all of the people who believe as he does think Black people are criminals because they're alive. He says it doesn't matter when a criminal is in his own home. In other words, Gates is a criminal who happens to live there because Pookie thinks Black people are criminals because they were born.

Why I'm sure if Obama was unfortunate enough to be so uppity to dare to walk on the same street Pookie was on, he'd claim self-defense against a criminal and justify...well we know what you want to do to Obama and all Black people.

This is just a lot of psycho-babble. How does being ashamed of racism enter into the picture. Are we also to be ashamed of how we treated the Chinese and Japanese in this country? And, how about how we used the Mexican undocumented workers in a good economy and now are deporting them even though Mexico is our #1 Export Country? Speak up about racism ... don't ignore the snide racist remarks ... stop people in mid-sentence when they diminish the humanity of undocumented workers ... but feel ashamed? ... that is worthless.

How to be white

Quite simple: Be antisemitic. This is one racism shared by white AmeriChristians, as well as their black and brown co-religionists.

The AmeriChristians and their European co-religionists exported their antiJewish racism to the Middle East and Asia, where it develops apace. Hence Christians/Catholics of all hues happily break bread with Muslims, even Hindus, while vilifying Jews. In private, in the workplace, on the streets, on blogs, in the newspapers multicultural antisemitism brings together an ugly mosaic.

Antisemitism, my dear Susan,that's the key. It is the way and the lightener. Everybody, every antiJewish racist gets bleached.

Now, moi, je suis brown and Jewish. No hope. My nephew, black and Jewish, no hope. My brother-in-law "white" and Jewish, an oxymoron, as he says, no hope. None of us can be bleached.

But you have already been bleached, have you not? Born bleached, a reader of the "OT," yes?

Well, let's start out my calling ourselves Susan Brooks Thistlewaite, then show our breadth of knowledge and experience by being shocked that someone was arrested IN THEIR OWN HOME! THAT NEVER, EVER HAPPENS, I TELL YOU! THEN DO THE LITTLE FINGER-ACROSS-FINGER THING WHILE CHANTING SHAMEY, SHAMEY SHAMEY! Then click your heels together three times and hope with all your might "There's NO redemption like reparations, There's NO redemption like reparations, There's NO redemption like reparations."
Yes, the post-racial Thistlewaite, like the post-racial Obama, presumes to tell us how to "be white". And we'll just have to take it .......on faith.

Children today do not see race, none of my grandchildren do in in multiracial California. It is the liberals who insist on talking about it. Look how much worse things have gotten since Obama got in office. This "I am more special than you because I am a minority" has got to stop. It would be a great idea if we could be all just Americans instead of African or Hispanic or Asian. The intent of the founders was that we would be a melting pot and be as one. Racial preferences did nothing to advance a special group but only created animosity when those who worked harder and were more qualified got accepted to a school or promoted. Hopefully the Supreme Court ruling on the Ricci case will put an end to this nonsense. Martin Luther King asked that all people be treated as equals. Can we just do that and stop poisoning our children's minds by identifying people by race and making quotas?

Posted by: katie6 | July 30, 2009 11:19 PM
_______
Katie,,

Sniff. Sniff. Such 'Noblesh Noblige". I am sure (I think.) that you meant well, but in totality your comments reek of self-serving platitudes and dangerous misinformation. Your 'illustrious' founding fathers did in fact speak eloquently of the equallity of all men, but deemed my anscestors to be only 3/5 of a man, and denied your mothers the right to vote.

All in the past, I'm sure you reply. Cool. Let's move on. Yeah! But the 'special group' whose special privileges you so roundly denounce has been nothing more than white Americans, who now fear that their special advantgage is eroding. And your value-laden assesment that "things have gotten so much worse since Obama got in office..." speaks volumes. Forgive me if I mischaracterize but it seems to say " See, I told your that it was a mistake to have that Darkie in charge of things. He is going to speak for his kind against us." Where were your complaints about such inequity when you were secure in the fact that your tribe was in charge?

Yes, all merit should be rightfully rewarded. That is to say, ALL merit should be rightfully rewarded regardless of any imposed quotas; and , none - none - should receive an unfair advantage based upon skin color based privilege. That, I think, is what Dr. King was trying to get at. Please don't get his message 'twisted' to suit your tribal view.

There can be no more evidence of the ambivalence of many white Americans than the comments posted on this column.

Please, go ahead and post these convoluted self-serving screeds.I don't suppose you happened to see the documentary on TV tonight about the FIRST integrated high school prom in a specific Mississippi high school -- in 2008?

No country is perfect. In an odd way, it gives us something hopeful to aim at. But all you folks who want to deny our blemishes do none of us any favors.

Racism is seen by many blacks as an umbrella term that explains why they are deprived of any luxury their hearts desire, all the coddling they want, and immunity from prosecution when they taunt and belittle whites. Racism is used as a mantle of protection for childish indulgence of fallacious thinking, unearned jobs and positions, manipulation and back-stabbing, and even crimes against whites.

Children today do not see race, none of my grandchildren do in in multiracial California. It is the liberals who insist on talking about it. Look how much worse things have gotten since Obama got in office. This "I am more special than you because I am a minority" has got to stop. It would be a great idea if we could be all just Americans instead of African or Hispanic or Asian. The intent of the founders was that we would be a melting pot and be as one. Racial preferences did nothing to advance a special group but only created animosity when those who worked harder and were more qualified got accepted to a school or promoted. Hopefully the Supreme Court ruling on the Ricci case will put an end to this nonsense. Martin Luther King asked that all people be treated as equals. Can we just do that and stop poisoning our children's minds by identifying people by race and making quotas?

What laughable, mindless, utterly preposterous tripe.

There is no more reason for the average person to be "ashamed" of racism than there is for that person to be "ashamed" of murder or embezzlement or bestiality.

The image of this writer standing tear-stained in Grant Park, enraptured by her messiah, is the funniest damn thing I've read all week.

And if she thinks racial justice is about jobs, she needs to tell that to her job-killing messiah.

blacks are way more racist than whites. what should they do for their part? i would suggest stop whining like little victims and take control over their lives instead of waiting for the government to do it for them...
there is very little chance of that however...
Posted by: fred100012003 | July 30, 2009 10:44 PM
_____
Fred,

I know it's gonna' be a stretch, but try not to confuse anger and general overall just being a human jerk (as happens with all folks of all Races) with an institutionalized system of oppresion and economic exploitation that sought to channel all power, wealth and privilege merely on the basis of white skin. I'd venture to say that if the positions were to be reversed, you'd be damned angry and perhaps a bit hateful too. But, that would not be Racism, just an emotional response.

blacks are way more racist than whites. what should they do for their part? i would suggest stop whining like little victims and take control over their lives instead of waiting for the government to do it for them...

there is very little chance of that however...

I'm white and feel no guilt for what others may have done. I also feel that I would have been arrested, like Gates, if I started verbally harassing a police officer who was trying to do his job.

I'm a strong supporter of the President and fear that this was very bad politics on his part. The healthcare issue is being squashed by Republicans and industry lobbyists while he gets sidetracked.

An Independent

Blacks are more racist than Whites these days.

Yay, thank you! This post is music to my ears.

Is it my imagination or does anyone think it a wee bit odd that the majority of the spokesmen for the White wing of Amerikka are of Irish extraction, e.g. Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Buchannan, Coulter, ad infinitum. I am certainly not meaning to imply that these few speak for the whole of the Irish diasphora; but, sheesh! What gives? Is there really fire beneath that smoke, or just an odd coincidence? Gosh, perhaps being so recently 'deemed' white gives them incentive to use any means conceivable to keep the rules of skin color based privilege with the resulting pecuniary perquisites in place for as long as possible.

Racism (which is a belief, not a power structure; don't make up a definition to suit your argument) inspires many emotions in me - disgust, anger - but why should it inspire shame? I am not racist, and I have no reason to feel guilty or ashamed over it.

Ms. Thistlethwaite, if you are troubled by feelings of guilt over your own racist beliefs, don't try to assuage them by projecting them onto others. That's just plain offensive!

Don't give yourself a free pass with doctrinaire rationalizations, "everyone is racist, and they just need to acknowledge it." They're not, and they don't. The problem is not with everyone; it's with you.

You should stop pointing fingers and get some counseling to work through your issues.

Whites should only feel guilty if racism is a one way street.

Let me make this perfectly clear. I despise the race-baiters of Fox Noise, and they don't speak for me. But I'm not guilty about racism. I accept that I was raised in the suburbs, where it was more white-bread than a Wonder bakery. But, living my adult life here in the DC area has been eye opening. In my own neighborhood, we have Africans, Vietnamese, Hispanics, whites, African-Americans, and Indians (dot, not feather). I don't feel guilty for the way I was raised, because I learned a better way. Do I feel guilty for being white? No. Do I feel embarrassment for the idiocy of the so-called "defenders of the white race"? Yes.

Excuse me, I'm going to go put on a P-Funk CD now.

iknew1 wrote: "As an African American, I have become even more dismayed by the tenor of race relations and comments (not dialogue) about race relations of late. I thought that our country was moving in another direction and that enough whites had been educated about racism and what it means. I have been sorely disappointed."

Many younger white people have never seen or even met white people who are racist, this is because many americans separated out based on idealogy before many people in their 20's and 30's were born. In the newer business culture racism is a big taboo. We are much more likely to run into our peers, young black people who are confused about their identity. Young foreign students tend to have their own identities and young latinos can get into their work culture and just ignore other groups. So younger people who are in the process of making their own identity will look to who is confident and who is causing problems. People who are projecting their emotions everywhere cause drama and irritate their peers. This is not to say that people want to go back to the day where the klan was running the show but younger people do not live in the same world with the same constraints as their elders. While you might not be post racial, many younger people are much closer to that ideal.

If nothing changes we are going to be a class based society, as well as a race based society, and people would be judged by the content of their charactors and how they dressed. But does more accurate profiling as to class as well as race, really solve anything with regards to race?

Is this advice for old people? I grew up after segregation. I do feel sorry for some of the inner city youths, as they were basically screwed by their school systems and ignored by their cities, unless the cities wanted some victims to wave around to the citizens at tax time.

This advice might still be relevent for people who have some racial hangups, however it is dangerous for people who are not racist. If too many liberals eviserate themselves with guilt, there is no good system for keeping checks and balances working on people of color, who now are in positions of real authority. You need to hold everyone accountable and when there are special 'minority priviledges' and power dynamics, everything goes to hell.

Besides, white guilt mucks up politics all over Africa as we keep feeding money to dictators...

The common themes of Limbaugh and Fox are FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT. They get ratings like any other shock jock: political, racial and religious divisiveness. Listen how often they tell you to be afraid.
Posted by: coloradodog | July 30, 2009 7:02 PM
___________________________________________

FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT pretty much describes America today! I'm really happy for you that you live the exact opposite life. Please share.

Ah, Thistle, I was perhaps a bit rude.

Problem is, this reminds me of 11:00 p.m. in the dorms, back in 1968. Its lumping people together and treating them as groups. Many of us back then found out the hard way that all white people aren't bad and all black people aren't good. That is to say that there were white victims as well. Nowadays I simply treat people as individuals and don't worry so much about the groups, unless they try to curry large favors for the group. Saturday afternoons are spent at the "Y" and some of the kids are overgrown and overmuscled young black men who are trying to figure out how they fit into the world. Trying to just set an example while keeping the mouth shut can be a job. As for Beck and the rest, much of what they say is correct and we could use a bit more straight-up honesty. Call it racist if you want, but seventy percent of children out of wedlock is not good. It does not bode well for them or the country. As for your articles, Thistle, they sound more like a slick campaign for the Democratic Party. I will stick with the conservatives. I left the dorm talk behind a long time ago.

It's not racism, my dear, but behavior. As long as black people commit violent crimes at 20 times the rate of white people, and cannot finish high school,and take(and sell)illegal drugs at a phenomenal pace, and whose children are overwhelmingly (70%) illegitimate, and endowed with an average I.Q. of 85, and who believe basketball to be a higher calling than medicine or engineering, who must be given preferential treatment in order to find employment, and who after three centuries still can't speak normal English... Anyone who does NOT look with suspicion and fear upon the members of this bloc is a fool.
It's not racism, love, that causes us to disapprove of the Mafia.

Posted by: LeePefley1 | July 30, 2009 1:23 PM
Re
*********

YOU GAVE YOURSELF AWAY. YOU ARE CLEARLY A RACIST AND LEAVE THE MAFIA OUT OF THIS. YOU CANNOT USE THE MAFIOSA TO COVER YOUR OWN RACISM. WHITE SOCIETY HAS GLAMORIZED THE MAFIA TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF THINK THEY ARE ACCEPTABLE. YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER RACIST TRYING TO TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF IT. WHITE RACISM IS STILL RAMPANT IN AMERICA AND IT SHOWS ITS UGLY HEAD WHEN RACISTS TRY TO EXPLAIN THEIR WAY OUT OF IT. LIMPBALLS, BECK AND O"REALLY AND THE ENTIRE REPUBLI CAN CONGRESS WOULD NEVER DARE TO STAND ALONE BEFORE A BLACK MAN EQUAL TO THEIR SIZE, AND SAY TO HIM THE DIRTY ROTTEN THINGS THEY GET AWAY WITH WHILE SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED BY BODY GUARDS. THESE MEN ARE COWARDS JUST LIKE THE RACISTS WHOSE COMMENTS ARE ON THIS BOARD. COWARDS WHO HIDE BEHIND THEIR KEYBOARDS AND BODYGUARDS. YOU BELONG WITH THAT BUNCH. ADMIT IT!

Sorry to be overly literal and nitpicky, but modern root canals are essentially painless under a professional endodontist (I've had three.) No one who really needs one should delay getting it.

Thats OK, I have had a root canal (or two) and this posting really made me laugh. You can be picky like this any time.

How bad can racism be when its leading (white) exponents, like the Skinheads, are the single most marginalized group in society?

Here's something sensible about the extent of modern racism:

"The black who whines about facing a "struggle" is not prevented from going about his business, or living his daily life as he chooses. The society he now lives in places no life-threatening obstacles in his path. The degree to which he can prosper is determined by the limitations of his own natural abilities, and vicissitudes of his family, social circle, and upbringing – as is true for everyone else. The very real racism that prevented that 1930s sharecropper from expanding his choices in life is the only type of racism that matters. "

http://issuesviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-self-worth-fake-racism-and-black-vip.html

The common themes of Limbaugh and Fox are FEAR, UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT. They get ratings like any other shock jock: political, racial and religious divisiveness. Listen how often they tell you to be afraid.

"A root canal would probably be more fun than dinner with Thistlethwaite."

Sorry to be overly literal and nitpicky, but modern root canals are essentially painless under a professional endodontist (I've had three.) No one who really needs one should delay getting it.

A root canal would probably be more fun than dinner with Thistlethwaite.

How to be WHITE?????? You mean, there's separate standards for how to be BLACK, how to be ASIAN, MIDDLE EASTERN, JEWISH, ETC ETC AD NAUSEUM?

Why not "HOW TO BE A HUMAN BEING"? How about "treat others as you would like to be treated"?

The more this racism thing gets shoved down our throats, the more it desensitizes the readership to any perceived problem. Fact is, we have the first black President..first black Attorney General...and legions of blacks in positions of authority.

It's high time to get off the pity pot, folks. This is nothing more than wedge issue politics.

Can you clear me up on how any of the three of these posted above have constantly urged this country to be torn in two. The keyword being urged as opposed to warned.
-----

The tea party movement was a Fox News promotion and once Fox pulled out of it, it collapsed. There is countless evidence that they are urging this and if you need more than one concrete example I can post them.

Rush Limbaugh's big book is "The Way things ought to be" which is an activist revolutionary statement.

Posted by: coloradodog | July 30, 2009 4:05 PM
The real question, however, is will this ven crossing of opinions and beliefs be enough to save this country from tearing itself apart at the constant urgings of Limbaugh hate radio and RNC Fox News?
___________________________________________
Can you clear me up on how any of the three of these posted above have constantly urged this country to be torn in two. The keyword being urged as opposed to warned.
Posted by: ssol4569 | July 30, 2009 5:47 PM
___________________________________________

I didn't think so.

Many years ago I took stock in myself and accepted and acknowledged how incredibly privileged I was in society.

I was generally Christian so the Christmas season was there for me, not something that I didn't want to deal with.

I was straight so I could hold my date's hand in public almost anywhere.

I was a man so I didn't have to deal with guys hooting and hollering at me on the street like my female friends.

I was white so I didn't have to deal with people making comments that they thought "black people liked this" or whatever. This is less true now than back then.

My parents loved me so I didn't have to deal with that level of rejection- took me until college to recognize people who dealt with that at a serious, psychological level.

My parents were educated so that I was brought up right with the right focus and didn't have to rebel against them to be successful.

I grew up in a neighborhood with countless great role models.

Once I recognized those were privileges given to me that I didn't earn and had no right to, then I was able to come at race and ethnicity from a much better situation.

The problem I have now is that I meet young people who think that the content of their character cannot be judged due to our ethnic differences. That's absolutely not what MLK said. When someone chooses to say something, or chooses to dress a certain way, or chooses to listen to music, or chooses a car, hat, pants or shirt, those things are on the menu of what we're allowed to criticize and not be considered bigoted.

In a city with a long-standing African-American power structure and African-American majority it doesn't make sense to consider oneself a minority. I will be very intrigued when more cities and states become "majority minority" and the old arguments about power structures no longer apply.

Do you manage to listen to the President? How can you be so stupid to say that American is making no progress on race when we elected a black President? The question is why Dr Gates reacted as he did when his local leader, his state leader, and his national leader are all black? What does not seem to change is the idiocy of racial ideologs who continue to profile racial realstions is ways that were not appropriate event in the past.

Posted by: coloradodog | July 30, 2009 4:05 PM
The real question, however, is will this ven crossing of opinions and beliefs be enough to save this country from tearing itself apart at the constant urgings of Limbaugh hate radio and RNC Fox News?
___________________________________________

Can you clear me up on how any of the three of these posted above have constantly urged this country to be torn in two. The keyword being urged as opposed to warned.

It is indeed a pity that Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O'Reilly have to be the spokesmen for white outrage. Our leaders haven't the guts to tell the blacks to go to hell.

I am not ashamed of white racism and have never met a white person who was. What you call racism is simply self-defense. What about all the whites who have been racially profiled by black thugs and criminals for violence to person and property?

What a silly commentary.

Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs are the current day heros of the American citizen. Maybe you don’t agree with all they say, but they are honest and real and have common sense. I don’t believe a thing that you have written, you actually believe. I am not sure what world you came from, but for me a 50+ year of white male, I was a student of immigration in the 60s, which understand madam was 40 years ago, and since that time the advantage in this country has been to the minority and the rich. Easier grades obtained in high school because of quotas, faster rank in the military because of minority status, more grants and assistance in college, and pushed in front of the line in the business world with equal or less credentials, more moneys state and federal for minority entrepreneurs, free tax and law assistance as business men through minority grants. Now, I only have one life to live and this is it. Therefore, please be honest when you talk about racism in this country. The laws have favored the minorities all my life. Beck, Limbaugh and Dobbs point this out. They are the only folks in the media that are honest about race. Is your goal to continue to babysit the minorities into the next century? Doesn’t that say something about your thinking toward people of a minority status? Even if Obama and Gates were 100% black (and not ½ black), that does not give them the right to go outside the law and looking for support from the loyal minority status quo is demeaning. Both should apologize. I believe that all Americans should have a level playing field, a chance, and we must demand that, but do understand that not all majority folks want to act like minorities and not all minorities want to act life majorities. God bless all of them.
Maybe you carry a chip on your shoulder for Americans like me, but I ask you who is being honest with themselves and I think you will find it me. Be human and be equal not a pitty finder. That is racism.

This argument is a bit simplistic in that it assumes that all areas in America are completely white-dominated. It conveniently forgets that many urban centers in the US are majority black. I guarantee you that blacks get a better shot at jobs in the DC government than I as a white guy would ever have.

Ditto for the local political structure.

«There are three wars converging in America. The first is race, the second is religion and the third is over class.»
«Posted by: coloradodog | July 30, 2009 4:05 PM»

O Colorado, you left out «gender».

Here is truth, there is not war in America. War, real war, is Hell, soldiers slaughtered, homes bombed and burned, civilians driven to flee, mass death, mass wounding. Differences, arguments, between rich and poor Americans, Anglo and Hispanic Americans, Christian and godless Americans, Black and White Americans, it is a demeaning of the word «war» to call these disagreements and difference «war». Real wars, look at places where there are real wars, look at Palestine, look at the Congo, look at Kabul, look where no one is safe. And thank Heaven that you are living in Colorado in America, where there is no war, and stop trying to scare us.

So, your saying that whites who are racist have an excuse until blacks and latinos show no signs of racism? You forget which race institutionalized racism into law, who those laws benefited and who suffered under those laws. Today the laws have been cleansed of racism and all are equal under the law. No one should give anyone of any color an inch when it comes to racism.

Point out latino and black racism all you like, but understand where it historically comes from and where white racism historically comes from. Neither is good, but they are different in nature and effect.

Posted by: Fate1

___________

Obama constantly reminds people not to hold him responsible for thing which happened when he was a child. Yet at the same time blacks and Latinos cling to their anti-white beliefs because of things which happened decades and centuries ago.

Until and unless blacks and Latinos who engage in anti-white behavior have their careers destroyed in the same way as whites who engage in similar behavior, there will be no equality in this country.

That includes Obama's membership in a church where anti-white rhetoric was joyously celebrated and Sotomayor's anti-white comments. Those in our society who excuse that away are perpetuating racism. Those who condemn it are trying to end racism.

how i spell race today- 'gimme,gimme ,gimme. you go ahead and feel guilty. maybe you can get ahold of the right rev. wright and get him to forgive you. and ask farrakhan to while your at it.

Sorry but can keep your book and all your ologies on your own property...I was born innocent and raised well. I don't accept the shame of others upon myself. That little act of Jesus on the cross, that was for my sins and my shame.(you should know that)

How to be white, that is an obnoxious statement....

Anderson, did Gates actually call Crowley a "stupid Irish paddy without a degree"? If not, then what is the point of injecting that into the discussion?

I am white, and I did not feel any joy, pride, or satisfaction whatsoever over the election and inauguration of Obama, who promised everything to everyone during the election campaign and essentially "conned" a white majority into voting for him. As to his race, let's not forget that scientifically he is half white. Blacks are criticized for "acting white" by their fellow blacks for such actions as completing their education, getting and holding a job, staying out of trouble with the law, and responsible parenting. That's my problem with the black culture in America, it's become totally self-destructive. I can't change it, I can only run and hide from it.

Posted by: pookey12 | July 30, 2009 2:51 PM

White people are not that easy to con so don't self deprecate to be cute. So you are well aware of some of the inner problems of the Black community. Thank You for acknowledging those of us who work hard and take care of our children in 2 parent households. There are quite a lot of us, so thanks! Can't get with how this is self destructive though......
We are a growing segment of the populus so help me out here?! You have nothing to fear from me. I'll stop here before I say anything resembling a "Wise Latina" remark so you don't lose your mind. But Help me out!?

I hate to bust your bubble Ms. Thistlethwaite but I am white, I live in an urban area among blacks and hispanics and I don't see a difference spiritually between us. We simply have different color skin and have different cultural traits. I've always believed that the reason why there is racism in America is because we're constantly told there is. "You are what you believe yourself to be." If you cried in Grant Park that night in Chicago I'm glad you were finally able to relieve yourself, but believe me, not everyone is just like you nor feels the same way you do. Just because you wrote it doesn't make it so. It is simply your opinion based on your lifes experiences. Above is mine.

I am WHITE. Very WHITE. I'm no racists, nobody in my family is a racist, we have no racist friends, and, to the best of our knowledge, no racist acquaintances. There is ZERO slave ownership in our family tree. Many of our friends are non-white. We feel ZERO shame. I don't believe that virulent, professional race baiters like Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, Farrakhan, as well as the other, numerous black race baiters, and, apologists for fellow black race baiters, need to be "ashamed": that's how they earn their (pathetic) living.

THIS TOTALLY DEVOID FROM REALITY!
Are you a blind idealist or just being cute? What do you call David Duke? Type in the words White Supremacist into google and do a little surfing.

"I am white. I certainly don't want Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Bill Orally to speak for ME! I'm embarrassed enough by these losers.
Posted by: Athena4"

do you want SUSAN BROOKS THISTLETHWAITE the racist speaking for you...
I think not...

Posted by: DwightCollins
______________________________

So, Dwight, are you implying you want Beck, Limbaugh and O'Reilly speaking for you? (My bet you have the most in common with O'Reilly based on your past posts)

There are three wars converging in America. The first is race, the second is religion and the third is over class.

The constant stirring of the Gates affair and racism from both sides is evidence of this war. The demonization of Mexican and other Latinos over immigration is more evidence.

The second war is religion with evangelicals, Mormons and Dwight's flavor of O'Reilly Catholics striving for theocratic dominion over the rest of us by exploiting Rovian wedge issues of gays and abortion. We see this every day.

The third is over class - the haves and the have-nots. Even though Obama promised change, the haves, who can afford health care and education for their familes, resent the have-nots for wanting reform in these areas and cry socialism while their banks are bailed out by the government.

What is really interesting is that there is a ven diagram of people from each of these three wars who are sometimes enemies and sometimes allies over the same issues. Both white rich and poor are tired of the collective guilt they have been fed for decades over slavery. Religious Blacks join their white counterparts (albeit many of whom are racist as well) to fight gay marriage and abortion.
Both poor blacks and whites watch as the economy goes to hell, unemployment rises and both black and white banking and insurance executives both receive obscene bonuses from Federal tax money.

So this leaves us good old Dwight-not poor by any means, said he would fire his employees who voted for Obama, and lives in conservative Virginia - but crosses over with may Blacks on religious issues and maybe at least Michael Steele on politics.

What about Thistlewait? White, liberal, not poor, but crosses over with blacks on issues of race and and with some blacks and whites on religion.

Who would I rather spend time with? I think from my posts, the answer is obvious.

The real question, however, is will this ven crossing of opinions and beliefs be enough to save this country from tearing itself apart at the constant urgings of Limbaugh hate radio and RNC Fox News?

WHy do so many people keep refering to "in his own home"?

The police may arrest a criminal in his own home. Being "in your home" does not excuse or condon criminal behavior.

Crowley was trying to help the owner /occupantt of the dwelling. The actual owner/occupant was present but tried to "shuck-n-jive" ol'whitey PoPo using his business card as an ID.

You just try using your business card next time you are at the airport or a traffic cop says "Show ID". See what happens!

Gates got, what Gates himself would call "intentionally uppity" - that has never, ever worked with a cop...has it? "Do yo know WHO I AM...you stupid Irish Paddy without a DEGREE?"

So Crowley used "the letter of the law" and insulted a powerful balck man by simply turning his back and walking outside - where he knew he would he could claim "disorderly conduct in a public place".

And guess what? Ol'Uppity Gates couldn't resist and followed the cops out into the public domain shouting "instigating and provocative" remarks....including "Yo Mamma"...TO AN IRISH COP WITH A RED FACE! Com'on!! Talk about stupid?

Gates got what he deserved - black or white. Period. Give it up white soccer mommy sympathizers.

I disagree with the writer. Some (not all) of our racism can be resolved with friendship. But it takes time, lots of time, many interactions. I went to desegregated schools in the 70s in the suburbs. Simply attending school with children of other races did not solve anything right away. It did help me, however, learn to get along with others, and to work with them. It helped me personally many years later in developing friendships at work with men and women of different backgrounds. I'm now in a position to hire employees; those early friendships in the fourth grade make a difference now, because I feel I can make decisions based on the person, not the externals of race. Yes, we all have biases, and yes, they will never be completely eliminated, but really, friendship and working together is a great place to start.

Its difficult having friends who happen to be black, because in the end its always about them being black rather than just being people… its constantly about Black Entertainment Television, Ebony magazine, the Black Caucus or this other “black” thing – thereby separating themselves from other people with double standards…

Dwight Collins -

Yes, I do. I've been on this site a long time, and I respect Dr. Thistlethwaite's intelligence and candor. Even though I don't follow the same faith that she does, I would love to sit down and have a nice, long chat with Dr. Thistlethwaite.
She can speak for me any time.

Why do you think that she's a racist? Because she wrote something that you disagree with? In psychology, there's a defense mechanism called "projection" that occurs when a person's own unacceptable or threatening feelings are repressed and then attributed to someone else. There seems to be an epidemic of this disorder recently.

As a white man, I perceive the problem to be not necessarily white racism but white resentment. For decades, whites who weren't rich or powerful drew false comfort from knowing that their skin color gave them status over non-whites. While white skin still carries some degree of automatic privilege in American society, that degree continues to shrink, and many whites appear to find this deeply threatening. While I understand that fear, I cannot condone giving in to it. And I particularly condemn the Becks and Limbaughs and O'Reillys for stoking the fires of resentment, offering convenient scapegoats.

I should add that I also condemn the Al Sharpton type of racial ambulance chasing. However, the difference between the Sharptons and the Becks is that the latter's agenda has the effect of perpetuating inequality and white privilege. That's because the Becks treat the protestations against white privilege as the problem, and not the white privilege itself.

You have unwittingly invoked Somerset's Law (one of them, anyway): Anyone in a position of power or advantage will work so as to maintain that advantage, whether they believe it's right or not.

I am WHITE. Very WHITE. I'm no racists, nobody in my family is a racist, we have no racist friends, and, to the best of our knowledge, no racist acquaintances. There is ZERO slave ownership in our family tree. Many of our friends are non-white. We feel ZERO shame. I don't believe that virulent, professional race baiters like Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, Farrakhan, as well as the other, numerous black race baiters, and, apologists for fellow black race baiters, need to be "ashamed": that's how they earn their (pathetic) living.

I am afraid that there is going to be a race war soon - just about the time when Hispanics become the majority (I think 2015), if not sooner.

I think black conservative Shelby Steele understands the race issue better than anyone. The problem is that the moral imperative is not the same as the practical imperative.

Morally, whites should do everything the can to erase the legacy of slavery, segregation and the invisible boundaries of a racist society. But they can do that all they want, and it won't change the effects of ghetto culture, illegitimacy, low education priority and crime, which white's can't do much about.

When "acting white" becomes a norm and not an insult, we'll talk about those other things.

Dont expect any apologies from the Messiah!

This just in from White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs....

"This is not an after action report," adding that the White House "is not here to mediate any apologies."

This author states that she "has been white all her life." Other than this bit of information, I learned nothing else from what she had written.

There won't be an honest dialogue on race until we acknowledge and address the enormously higher rate of violent crimes committed by blacks than by whites, Hispanics, and Asians.

In particular, there's far more racially motivated crime by blacks against whites than the contrary, in spite of the highly publicized cases (Howard Beach and so on).

It's the source of fear even among other blacks, and it's suppressed by the press.

If Eric Holder's dialogue on race is to occur, unpleasant, non-PC facts must be addressed.

"I am white. I certainly don't want Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Bill Orally to speak for ME! I'm embarrassed enough by these losers.
Posted by: Athena4"

do you want SUSAN BROOKS THISTLETHWAITE the racist speaking for you...
I think not...

How odd to learn that morality is about the distribution of power and money.

I am white, and I did not feel any joy, pride, or satisfaction whatsoever over the election and inauguration of Obama, who promised everything to everyone during the election campaign and essentially "conned" a white majority into voting for him. As to his race, let's not forget that scientifically he is half white. Blacks are criticized for "acting white" by their fellow blacks for such actions as completing their education, getting and holding a job, staying out of trouble with the law, and responsible parenting. That's my problem with the black culture in America, it's become totally self-destructive. I can't change it, I can only run and hide from it.

what racist hate crap you spew...
you should be ashamed...
you should be let go for the crap you write...

What a great article. Honest, thoughtful and to the point. For those who post stats
about crime and race did you ever stop and think that the Black near you or next to you may be one of the 20 or 30 percent that
have not robbed anyone.

"...the successful exploitation of racial tension by the far Right..." There is plenty of "exploitation of racial tension" to go around. The great Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, of course, come to mind. From the Tawana Brawley debacle (how many innocent lives were destroyed by the left wing racial expolitation in that case) to the cause of the day, Professor Gates. The hijinx of Jackson, Sharpton, and his ilk feed the flames of racism as much, if not more so, than the right.

I just don't get it?!! What is it that made so many Whites so cold. Many went to church and then packed picnic lunches, took their children with them to watch the Lynching of Blacks. This is no more removed than 65-70 years ago. The age of some of your parents or grandparents. Are the Klan, Neo-Nazis, Skin Heads, not domestic terrorist? Or is it just Acorn? from whom no-one fears bodily harm. Are you not all God fearing, church going people? It just doesn't add up! Take us inside this secret world and let us see and hear, to understand how this indoctrination takes place. How are these sentiments born. How do they become emotionally detached as humanity is concerned. The house drafts a resolution for the President to apologize to Officer Crowley, but wont' draft one to apologize for Slavery. Educated Whites don't see the Irony in that?

On election night many (whites; blacks; Asians; Jews; Christians, etc., etc.,) cried for sheer joy - especially after Bush. I think it's dangerous when we say what any groups thinks/feels/etc.

Susan,

I am appalled by the quality of posts thus far. Your thoughtful piece certainly deserves more thoughtful and reflective comments.

As an African American, I have become even more dismayed by the tenor of race relations and comments (not dialogue) about race relations of late. I thought that our country was moving in another direction and that enough whites had been educated about racism and what it means. I have been sorely disappointed.

As you noted racism goes beyond "biases" to the issue of power, specifically institutional power, privilege and oppression. Your question asking "who made the rules?" is right on target.

As an university professor, I am less concerned about the most recent generations "getting" the message about racism and white privilege. It is their parents and grandparents who worry me. Entitlement and superiority are deeply ingrained as evidence by the earlier comments.

As a point of contrast to the earlier comment about changing one's mind at the ATM when black men with doo-rags are around, I too have to be observant of the whites around me. Not so much for criminal behavior (although we know that most bank robberies are committed by white men who are invisible in plain sight; and the uniquely "white-form" of criminality perpetrated and death sentence offered by Bernie Madoff and Allen Stanford makes one really question one comment about disassociating with those who act criminally-these guys would be your brothers, sons and friends. Need I say, look at the recent scandal in NJ...?), but for offensive, insensitive, incompetent, and non-observant behavior. Entitlement gets confused with merit, and merit gets confused with being white.

However, I digress. Again, thank you for your thoughtful column and I hope that you continue to use your voice in such a powerful way.

First, acknowledge that you are ashamed of racism.

1 – Absolutely not. I’m not ashamed of white racists. I’m not ashamed of black racists. I can’t imagine why I would be ashamed of them. Which racists do you think I should be ashamed of in Rwanda – the Tutsi or the Hutu? Which racists should I be ashamed of in Palestine – the Jews or the Muslims? Which racists should I be ashamed of in Bosnia – the Serbs or the Croations or the Bosniaks? I have nothing to be ashamed of and I don’t care if you think I should.

Second, realize that racism is a pattern that is larger than you, no matter how many racial/ethnic minority friends you have.

2 – I have no idea what you are talking about or how it relates to me. There are many superstitions like racism that are very widespread. I don’t really care about any of them. I actually met a guy once who thought someone had hexed him, it was kind of spooky.

Third, don't overreact.

3 – Heheh, this one will be easy.

The way to be white in America is to frankly acknowledge we are not there yet on racial/ethnic equality.

4 – Susan, go tell someone else how to “be”. I don’t acknowledge the existence of “race” - there is only one Race, the Human Race, all else is illusion anyway.

I would think twice about using an ATM machine if I saw a group of tattooed, broken toothed, body pierced white guys hanging around.I would not give using an ATM a second thought if I saw a group of well dressed black chruch ladies by the ATM. I think my judgement is more on an economic appearance than race.

Most of these columns have nothing to do with religion or any other mythology-based belief system Today's column is just another implicit reminder that religion aggrandizes to itself the invention and cultivation of all that is seen as good and ethical; the truth is likely elsewhere, to say the least. But be that as it may, is this a column on religion or on generalized good feeling, proper politcal thought and ethics? Perhaps the foundational texts of the mythology-based belief systems are a little dodgy when it comes to topics such as racism, sexism and tolerance of The Other; in those cases the solution for the religious is to simply ignore them and pick and choose the good parts. Its as if religion cannot evolve, but thats the box you are in when your belief system is based on your reverence for the received voice of the mythological constructs as recorded 5000 years ago.

Forget the Racist NOAh Story. Forget White, Brown, Black, Yellow, Red etcc INSTEAD;

Imagine, In Jerusalem, On Earth, located Over the Western-Wall, a "3rd-NEW-TEMPLE" Built on-Stilts w/out disturbing the remains of the old 2nd temple below and Al Aqsa Dome next-door THAT

will house the 4-Major ancient Abrahamic Faiths SYSTEMs (each already have their Own Books..) but also the other 4-Major ancient VEDIC" systems (Whom also have their own Geeta.. Books..)

Yes, a NEW PANTHEON! Jerusalem can be A-New-Center of International Learning For this NEW-RELIGION or Synthesis of such Teachings, for PEACEfull Purposes not only Nuclear, Of ALL, EVERY and ANY Abrahamic and also Vedic Religions side-by-side!

Imagine earning a Degree with Knowledge Of both Vedic & Abrahamic Beliefs/Faiths and similars, as Accredited Theologians thereof? WE alredy have the Pantheon of HOLYWOOD & BOLLYWOOD of Int'l Actors & Actress's to share Fantacy-Time With (includes Pantheon of Musicians) so, WHY NOT in a 1-G-D, 1-Religion, 1-Earth via this Pantheon Temple of All Temples?

Too bad I can't Show You the Drawings of What this "3rd-TEMPLE" (A PANTHEON OF ALL FAITHS & SCHOOL of ALL RELIGIONS) will look like.

But You get the Drift!

Oh, The 4-Major "Abrahamics" faiths are: 1)JEWISH, CHRISTIAN, ISLAM and MORMAN. and

the 4-Major "Vedic" faiths are: 1)HINDU, 2)BUDDHIST, 3)CONFUCIUS and 4)SHINTO.

Imagine, A true "HOLY OF HOLY's" where genuinely, as someone said here a "Religion Of Everything before the Science of everything" which inevitably becomes everybodys Religious-Reality where dillusions therefrom disappear? And Thus

Ushering in that Dream of a real GLOBAL long lasting PEACE & HAPPINESS along with Prosperity and Education that will come with it regodless of ones Color, Sex etc.

This is "OUR-FUTURE" not only Yours!

alstl wrote: "The true racists among whites are those who excuse this behavior on the part of blacks and Latinos. Those are the white people who treat them as inferior. Those who condemn anti-white behavior are treating blacks and Latinos as equals."

So, your saying that whites who are racist have an excuse until blacks and latinos show no signs of racism? You forget which race institutionalized racism into law, who those laws benefited and who suffered under those laws. Today the laws have been cleansed of racism and all are equal under the law. No one should give anyone of any color an inch when it comes to racism.

Point out latino and black racism all you like, but understand where it historically comes from and where white racism historically comes from. Neither is good, but they are different in nature and effect.

It's not racism, my dear, but behavior. As long as black people commit violent crimes at 20 times the rate of white people, and cannot finish high school,and take(and sell)illegal drugs at a phenomenal pace, and whose children are overwhelmingly (70%) illegitimate, and endowed with an average I.Q. of 85, and who believe basketball to be a higher calling than medicine or engineering, who must be given preferential treatment in order to find employment, and who after three centuries still can't speak normal English... Anyone who does NOT look with suspicion and fear upon the members of this bloc is a fool.
It's not racism, love, that causes us to disapprove of the Mafia.

Wow, talk about Rorschach tests. I'll go you one better. I was able to vote early so there was no group pressure or influence to cry. I cried, spontaneously, as soon as I saw Barack Obama's name on that touchscreen. I felt so silly because I thought, who else would ever cry about this? I found out on Election Day -- lots of people!

But I wasn't crying at all out of embarrassment or shame, as you apparently imagine. I cried for so many reasons, but mainly joy and pride.

I cried, a little, because my parents were in the civil rights movement but did not live to see this day. I cried because as an American voter, I had the privilege to be able to make history that day. For a brief moment I could almost feel the weight of 400 years of history on my hand as I reached out to cast my vote. After all, the people who made the history that day were us, the voters.

I even cried to see that name on the ballot. That alone was so powerful for me as an American. A small voice said, I don't even care if he wins, although really I did. I was just so proud to see a black man nominated for President by a major party. I truly believe that will never be remarkable again. After all, did anyone notice we also elected America's first Catholic vice president?

And I cried because I had worked so hard to make this happen in the primary election (remember the icestorm) and the general election campaigns, to make it happen.

I'm shocked that any American would think my tears were tears of shame. They were tears of joy, pride, and living history. Don't put your own spin on my emotions.

We have a president who was a member of a church in which there is video evidence of the congregation joyously celebrating anti-white rhetoric from the preacher.

We have a supreme court nominee who made anti-white statements.

There will never be equality in this country until blacks and Latinos are held to the same standard as whites regarding the topic of race. Allowing them to get away with behavior that whites would be damaged by infers inferiority.

The true racists among whites are those who excuse this behavior on the part of blacks and Latinos. Those are the white people who treat them as inferior. Those who condemn anti-white behavior are treating blacks and Latinos as equals.

Black people are not the only people who commit crimes. What planet are you on? Have you checked on the number and races of people in jail lately??? It is people like you that need to get educated.

While I acknowledge the horrible wrongs of past generations, I realize we live in the 21st century and it is past due time for all "race cards" to expire.

I am African-American and would love to see the day when we acknowledge one race - the human race.

I have no idea what you were writing about and to whom.

Since I can never know how many of the people around me would rob me if they could, I have to take certain clues.

If I need to use an ATM and see several elderly women walking into a restaurant for lunch I don't worry. Turn them into 20-something black men with doo-rags and I might just not need cash right then.

People will stop associating blacks with crime when they stop committing so much of it.

SUSAN BROOKS THISTLETHWAITE

Do you honestly believe that racism is restricted to the white race?

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

I am white. I certainly don't want Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Bill Orally to speak for ME! I'm embarrassed enough by these losers.