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Motokid
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 Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: You Are A Coward |
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WASHINGTON – Eric Holder, the nation's first black attorney general, said Wednesday the United States was "a nation of cowards" on matters of race, with most Americans avoiding candid discussions of racial issues. In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.
"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Holder said.
Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, but "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."
Holder's speech echoed President Barack Obama's landmark address last year on race relations during the hotly contested Democratic primaries, when the then-candidate urged the nation to break "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years" and bemoaned the "chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races." Obama delivered the speech to try to distance himself from the angry rhetoric of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Holder cited that speech by Obama as part of the motivation for his words Wednesday, saying Americans need to overcome an ingrained inhibition against talking about race.
"If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other. It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified," Holder told reporters after the speech.
Holder urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for honest discussion of racial matters, including issues of health care, education and economic disparities.
Race, Holder said, "is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable... If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."
In a country founded by slave owners, race has bedeviled the nation throughout its history, with blacks denied the right to vote just a few decades ago. Obama's triumph last November as well as the nomination of Holder stand as historic achievements of two black Americans.
Holder told hundreds of Justice Department employees gathered for the event that they have a special responsibility to advance racial understanding.
Even when people mix at the workplace or afterwork social events, Holder argued, many Americans in their free time are still segregated inside what he called "race-protected cocoons."
"Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not in some ways differ significantly from the country that existed almost 50 years ago. This is truly sad," said Holder.
Andrew Grant-Thomas, Deputy Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University, praised Holder's general message but said the wording of the speech may alienate some.
"He's right on the substance, but that's probably not the most politic way of saying it. I'm certain there are people who will hear him and say, 'That's obnoxious,'" he said, adding that what was missing from Holder's speech were specific examples of what painful subjects need to be addressed.
Hilary Shelton, vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the speech "constructively provocative."
"Nobody wants to be considered a coward. We've learned to get along by exclusion and silence. We need to talk about it. People need to feel comfortable saying the wrong things," said Shelton.
Holder is headed to Guantanamo Bay early next week to inspect the terrorist detention facility there. Obama has assigned Holder to lead a special task force aimed at closing the site within a year.
Holder's Justice Department will have to decide which suspects to bring to U.S. courts for trial, which to prosecute through the military justice system, and which to send back to their home countries.
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What ch'all think about that?
Is this guy right on the money, or perhaps 2009's biggest a-hole to date? |
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trevcam11
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: You Are A Coward |
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I'd have to disagree, at least with respect to the younger generation. Obviously it depends on your area, but on my campus town it's very diverse in terms of groups of friends and what not. I'm sure some deep south places still are behind (as usual) but I think race is just the hot ticket right now. I for one am not surprised that the first Black history month with a black president brought these problems. Quite the opposite in fact, I expected more bullshit from people.
[quote="Motokid"] | Quote: |
Holder urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for honest discussion of racial matters, including issues of health care, education and economic disparities.
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As for this, this is the age old "white man holding us down argument"
I went to a mixed school, the black kids had just as much right to an education as I did...they chose to go to jail and drop out instead. |
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Motokid
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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You don;t see a problem with a Government official trying to tell you who and how you should spend your free time with?
In fact, he's implying you are doing it wrong.
Isn't your private life private? |
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trevcam11
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Motokid wrote: | You don;t see a problem with a Government official trying to tell you who and how you should spend your free time with?
In fact, he's implying you are doing it wrong.
Isn't your private life private? |
Either way, it is delivered really poorly and will probably get A LOT of scrutiny. It does seem like like he's almost putting a "quota" system on who you hang out with (i.e. have 1 black friend, 1 asian friend, then you aren't racist). I think somewhere in there he has a deeper message. He's saying people are too scared to make any comments basically acknowledging races together which is kinda true. We are so damn PC about everything, I don't even know the proper terms for anyone anymore.
It's a black politician, they always have their own (race) agenda. I never take them serious anymore. |
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Motokid
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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This guy is a jack-ass of epic proportion.
Is it the governments job to regulate the private lives of it's citizens?
I hang with my wife and kids.
Apparently, according to this nimrod, I'm a coward because of that? |
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trevcam11
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Motokid wrote: |
I hang with my wife and kids.
Apparently, according to this nimrod, I'm a coward because of that? |
Yes. By his logic at least.
It's really just reverse racism if you ask me. Using guilt to make people mix races. |
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Sphenoid
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Motokid wrote: |
Is it the governments job to regulate the private lives of it's citizens?
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Motorcycles for kids 12 and under are now illegal.
Helmet laws.
Seatbelt laws.
Marijuana is illegal.
Affirmative action.
Fair housing.
In the capital of our country you are not allowed to have an operable gun.
Smog laws.
Insurance laws.
Where have you been?
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Motokid
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Sphenoid wrote: | | Motokid wrote: |
Is it the governments job to regulate the private lives of it's citizens?
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Motorcycles for kids 12 and under are now illegal.
Helmet laws.
Seatbelt laws.
Marijuana is illegal.
Affirmative action.
Fair housing.
In the capital of our country you are not allowed to have an operable gun.
Smog laws.
Insurance laws.
Where have you been? |
I know. I get all that.
Motorcycles for kids will be back.
My state does not have a helmet law....not exactly any way.
Seatbelt laws ..... I have trouble with it, but it does save lives.
Marijuana will be decriminalized before I die. I predict.
.....
But telling people they are cowards because of who they spend their spare time with is insane.
I am a racist coward because I spend most of my free time with my family??????
This is government intrusion on a whole different level. |
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trevcam11
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Helmet laws and seat belt laws are so worthless. What a waste of legislation. Both of these ONLY impact the person who is making the decision. Unless it involves parents not buckling their kids up, why does it matter? If someone wants to drive a motorcycle without a helmet, so be it. When they crash and their head blows up all over the road, that doesn't affect anyone but them. I buckle up solely because I was in a car crash where it saved my life, but it still should be my choice. |
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EvilJay
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| trevcam11 wrote: | | Helmet laws and seat belt laws are so worthless. What a waste of legislation. Both of these ONLY impact the person who is making the decision. Unless it involves parents not buckling their kids up, why does it matter? If someone wants to drive a motorcycle without a helmet, so be it. When they crash and their head blows up all over the road, that doesn't affect anyone but them. I buckle up solely because I was in a car crash where it saved my life, but it still should be my choice. |
It's 100% because insurance companies fought for it this way. They don't want to pay for health care or death benefits for accident victims.
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| lloydy wrote: | | im going to have a scroll with her handprints, name,dob,a quote underneath held up by 2 angels ,then just making it look beutifull, as if it would be a scroll that jesus had sent, duff's flying round it and stuff, |
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trevcam11
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| EvilJay wrote: | | trevcam11 wrote: | | Helmet laws and seat belt laws are so worthless. What a waste of legislation. Both of these ONLY impact the person who is making the decision. Unless it involves parents not buckling their kids up, why does it matter? If someone wants to drive a motorcycle without a helmet, so be it. When they crash and their head blows up all over the road, that doesn't affect anyone but them. I buckle up solely because I was in a car crash where it saved my life, but it still should be my choice. |
It's 100% because insurance companies fought for it this way. They don't want to pay for health care or death benefits for accident victims. |
Yeah, I understand all that and it makes sense from a business stand point but...honestly, If I want to kill myself, I should be allowed to. At least there's no law against me chugging bleach in my basement. |
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Sphenoid
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| trevcam11 wrote: | | EvilJay wrote: | | trevcam11 wrote: | | Helmet laws and seat belt laws are so worthless. What a waste of legislation. Both of these ONLY impact the person who is making the decision. Unless it involves parents not buckling their kids up, why does it matter? If someone wants to drive a motorcycle without a helmet, so be it. When they crash and their head blows up all over the road, that doesn't affect anyone but them. I buckle up solely because I was in a car crash where it saved my life, but it still should be my choice. |
It's 100% because insurance companies fought for it this way. They don't want to pay for health care or death benefits for accident victims. |
Yeah, I understand all that and it makes sense from a business stand point but...honestly, If I want to kill myself, I should be allowed to. At least there's no law against me chugging bleach in my basement. |
Suicide is against the law.....
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reefdiver
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| true, but there is no insurance claim.......... |
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buttwheat
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| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Sphenoid wrote: |
Suicide is against the law..... |
Not here in Washington if you let your doctor kill you.
| reefdiver wrote: | | true, but there is no insurance claim.......... |
Not true here if the doctor kills you for you. your family still gets the benefits.
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| EvilJay wrote: | | you need to get out of the trailer-park more often... |
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Sphenoid
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| Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| buttwheat wrote: | | Sphenoid wrote: |
Suicide is against the law..... |
Not here in Washington if you let your doctor kill you.
| reefdiver wrote: | | true, but there is no insurance claim.......... |
Not true here if the doctor kills you for you. your family still gets the benefits. |
Yeah, beastiality is legal up there too. Doesn't mean it's right.
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