Jesus H. Christ
So, a friend (and someone who doesn’t jump the gun with assumptions) just informed me that the KKK believes black people actually are gorillas and that could be the basis for some of the uproar here.
But, really? I can’t possibly imagine why, in mainstream society where we aren’t marching around hoping for the degradation of African Americans (is that proper people?), describing someone as having that appearance would equate to being racist, or would equate to hurt feelings by the masses. Truly, when something is not said, nor written, in an prejudicial spirit, it can be, in no way, racist. It can only be construed as racism and those who perpetuate that should be ashamed. Racism can only linger if we let it.
I don’t have a copy of the KKK manual here, and because I’m about as far from racist as possible, it never occurred to me that someone would take that comparison and twist it into something depraved. Why would I? Gorillas are obviously no more closely linked to black people than they are to people of any other race. If you believe in evolution, we all descended from primates, not just black people. And if you believe in creationism, then we’re not related at all. So why, exactly, is that comparison offensive at face value? It’s offensive in the sense that she probably doesn’t like such an unflattering comparison, but it shouldn’t be offensive in a racist sense. Without the KKK reference, it has no racial meaning whatsoever.
Now clearly, if I espoused racist beliefs and KKK policies, you could accurately call me racist. But I don’t and I never will. Because I’m not. Race has never been a blip on my radar screen. Until now. This election has proven that racism is rampant, both from the scary fringe on the right, and more importantly and historically, from a lot of “normal” people on the left who’ve just been dying for the chance to scream racism. Obama’s speeches often brought racism to the forefront and even his speech last night included mention of slavery. In truth, it’s sad that we aren’t moving past such rhetoric, but are resurrecting old pain and inflicting it upon everyone.
Stop looking for racism everywhere you turn. It’s not always there even though you may want it to be. I don’t know that I’ve even ever met a racist person and I’m from the South. Stop discussing slavery and oppression. Yes, it was truly a despicable moment in history, but it’s over. People want to be equal, but equality will never exist as long as people throw the term racism around so frivolously. Racism requires intent and unless you can prove that someone intends to be racist, you should probably think twice before putting such a condemning word into the atmosphere. Because what do you think happens when you accuse non-racists of being racist? You create a divide that wasn’t there before, one that will be as hard to heal as the wounds of oppression. You create prejudice where it never existed.
The posts in question are going to be deleted because I’m not going to allow people to come here and call me a racist when they cannot fathom the idea that they could be wrong. Call the comment offensive to your sensibilities, but learn to use your words appropriately and use the word racism sparingly and only where it belongs. For those of you who left constructive and intelligently written comments, I apologize for sending them into oblivion.
potty-mouthed responses
No truer words were ever spoken.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 10:15 amWhat a busy day you have going on over here. It is truly sad that the first assumption people jump to is racism. Unfortunately, we will probably continue to deal with that for our entire liftimes. People enjoy drama. If there is none, some will be created.
I didn’t read your comment to be racist. I didn’t get to comment before and I am trying to avoid politics like the plague, but to carry on crying racist is absurd. Dumbasses!
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 10:59 amYou’ve got to be kidding me?!!! In all the time I have been reading your blog, never have I read a trace of racism in your words. I am sorry that there are those that have attacked you in this way. This is your blog for gods sake and you should be able to write without having your words twisted.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 11:07 amYou would not BELIEVE the crap that is getting thrown my way for my own ideas. WOW is all I can say. I feel your pain, not specifically with the racism thing but I understand.
And yes, I agree, it is your blog. But *sigh* people love to comment and jump in others worlds. Especially when they think they are right.
This race, as in presidential, is very heated. I think it’s being made about race, as in ethnic background, when it’s not. That’s wrong.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 11:19 amYou know, I’ve always wondered what the “H” stood for.
Henry? Hank? Herbert? Hal? Howdy Doody?
I mean, why not “Jesus Q. Christ” or “Jesus M. Christ”? I kind of like that - Jesus Melvin Christ. Has a nice ring to it.
Oh, stop - it could be worse; I could have gone the Frank Zappa route and decided on “Motor Head.”
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 11:21 amWell, I happen to think, that all the black people who vote for Obama ONLY BECAUSE he’s HALF black, are racist to white people. So there.
Oh wait. It’s impossible to be racist against white people. I forgot.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 1:11 pmYour email hates me. Says I’m spam. Booo.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 1:16 pmAt least we don’t have to watch political ads anymore! That’s about as black and white as it gets with me!
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pmBecause you said she looks like a gorilla (which I can see the comparison) that suddenly makes you a racist? People are so overly sensitive these days and political correctness is going to kill me. You can’t say this, you can’t say that. Pretty soon you won’t be able to say anything at all people. Bush was compared to a monkey by the media the whole time he was in office and you never heard anyone screaming anything about racism.
Everything is getting so ridiculous.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 2:52 pmI always figured it was Jesus Howard Christ, Howard being an old family name.
“Our Father,
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmWhich art in Heaven,
Howard be thy name….”
CGHill, you got me there. I concede.
Although I think Melvin is still rockin’, myself.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 4:47 pmI still think you should have left those posts up and let the fucktards scream all they wanted. Just hit the delete button on those kinds of comments. It’s simple, really.
Oh, and how come I’ve grown up seeing that Darwin’s Theory of Evolution chart where it shows the monkey eventually turning into a person. A white person. It’s never a black person so should I have been screaming “racism” all these years?? I’m going to start. I’m practicing blaming everything on the new administration and screaming “racist” even when I’m asked if I prefer white bread or wheat.
Posted: November 5th, 2008 at 7:24 pmWe love ya, girl. Hang in there and don’t let ‘em get you down cause they can’t eat ya!!!
Anybody who can read half a word (Bob excluded, he’s a moron) can tell that you’re not racist. It’s really not difficult to see and I pity anyone who thinks otherwise because they’re lacking in a fundamental basic intelligence.
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 12:17 am“Stop looking for racism everywhere you turn.”
AMEN. To me, calling someone a RACIST! has damn near become a cliche — that’s how overused, and inappropriately used, the word is now. It’s lost meaning. At least it has for me.
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 6:31 amLeave a Reply