Racism
WARNING: YOU MIGHT FIND THIS VERY POLITICALLY INCORRECT,
AND I DON’T CARE.
Is anybody else growing tired of the way the charge of “racism” is getting tossed around? I am. And somebody will likely label me as racist JUST because I said that. The most recent episode is former President Jimmy Carter saying that Joe Wilson’s famous “You lie!” remark to President Obama was racist. Never mind the absurd irony of pre-judging the motives of someone you wish to smear as prejudiced. How on earth do you make the jump from inappropriate (stupid, even) to “racist?”
Glenn Beck has called President Obama racist. I heard Tiger Woods, yeah – THAT Tiger Woods, whine about the pain of being denied access to golf courses because of his race when he was young. Really? Gazillion$ … and world-wide fame … and marriage to a super-model white chick … and you’re whining about perceived racism? Really? I even found a website lamenting (& I’m not making this up) “The 9 Most Racist Disney Characters.”
Stop it already. Racism – at least as I understand it – is believing that your race is inherently superior to another. Or it is hating/assuming the worst about another race. I, for one, want real racism pointed out … called out … stamped out. But conveniently flipping the race card out just to put someone on the defensive does us all an immense disservice. For one thing, it is the lazy way to argue. But MUCH more importantly, it weakens our ability to deal with REAL racism.
Is it racist to notice that SOME stereotypes about SOME ethnic groups seem to come true SOMEtime? I hope not. I notice it. Is it racist to point out humorous things about black or white or brown people? I hope not. I notice that most running backs and wide receivers and NBA players seem to be black. I notice that most guys working on construction sites these days seem to be Hispanic. And the worst dancers at the high school prom are usually white. Does that mean I’m racist? I think it means I’m wearing my glasses.
Hey – I can love you and make fun of you at the same time. Deal with it.
My pet peeve…unless you were born in Ireland and have now become an American citizen, you are not Irish-American (You are an American of Irish decent.)
We need to quit segregating ourselves.
If you were born in America, you are AMERICAN.
the pic is hilarious!
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Tiger perceived racism when he was young and was denied access to a golf course based on his color.
Forest Lake Club in Columbia, SC
http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1006156
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/24/rnc-chair-hopeful-belonge_n_146044.html
And a former whites-only club, but it was whites-only as recent as 1990.
http://www.thegrio.com/2009/09/condoleezza-rice-connects-with-alabama-roots-plays-golf.php
So I think it’s difficult to say that there’s perceived racism on Tiger’s part, especially when there are golf courses out there that don’t allow people to play based on the color of their skin.
The facts actually back up any claim Tiger has.