Comments on: Obama: Too many dads MIA

By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:44:00 +0000

- (A few excerpts from article) –

POLITICO

Muslims barred from picture at Obama event
By BEN SMITH | 6/18/08

“Two Muslim women at Barack Obama’s rally in Detroit on Monday were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women’s headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate.”

“The campaign has apologized to the women, both Obama supporters who said they felt betrayed by their treatment at the rally.”

_________________________________

“Building a human backdrop to a political candidate, a set of faces to appear on television and in photographs, is always a delicate exercise in demographics and political correctness. Advance staffers typically pick supporters out of a crowd to reflect the candidate’s message.”

“When Obama won the North Carolina primary amid questions about his ability to connect with white voters, for instance, he stood in front of a group of middle-aged white women waving small American flags.”

Muslims barred from picture at Obama event

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By: eumaeus

eumaeus — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:55:38 +0000

you’re ability to succeed
you’re ability
you’re

Yes, I think the SAT is a fairly accurate representation of someone’s aptitude.

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By: Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:20:48 +0000

I agree with you Karen!

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By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:01:48 +0000

Karen,

Thank you for reading. I do think that you are confusing her point a little bit.

Her argument is not that all whites are racist.

She claims her experience with being taught about racism prepared her (and most the vast majority of white people) to think of racism only as something that disadvantages people of color and not as something that ADVANTAGES white people.

When you get pulled over in your car, you can most likely (I am assuming you are white) be sure that your race was not the reason why. And you are less likely to be ticketed! The advantages you have because of the effect of your whiteness are and should be thought of as racism, because they are real-world benefits conferred upon you because of your race that you didn’t earn.

Diversity in the police force is one of the ways to mitigate white privilege!

I don’t really know the situation with the police in your area, but I would ask you to consider the possibility that a standardized is written to “white values, standards, and ideas” which are given “untold and unquestioned authority” by the white power-structure to “benefit and pad” the lives of white people who can pass them. Just consider it; you very well may know more about this case than me.

Follow up question: If the tests are out, how are promotions being decided? Is it completely free of over sight? Are officers being promoted without the confidence of their superiors?

Follow up personal questions: Did you take the SAT? How did you do? Do you think that it accurately portrayed you’re ability to succeed?

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By: Karen O

Karen O — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:05:01 +0000

Thanks, NJL. I’d only heard a brief report about it this morning & was sketchy on the details.

I do believe that racial diversity in the police & fire depts. is a good thing, but not to be accomplished by “dumbing down” tests or requirements. Perhaps have special training.

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By: NJLawyer

NJLawyer — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:27:54 +0000

I heard that the exams were thrown out because no blacks had passed the exams for promotions. Whites and Hispanics had passed. They were writing about this on the Volokh if you’re interested in the legal issues. There is the possibility that there might be rehearing of the case and/or that it will go to the Supremes. It does seem unfair, and I hope the Supremes take it.

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By: Karen O

Karen O — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:52:00 +0000

Luke – You & I obviously interpret Xion’s words differently.

I read the link you posted in #39. I can see her point, but I think that she takes it a bit too far. Is she in fact saying that merely being white makes one a racist, or did I read that into it?

Sorry I don’t have time to get into all this more deeply, but I will be considering what I have read.

BTW, what do you think the answer is to “white privilege”? What can the average white person do in his/her daily life to make a difference in something that is, if it indeed exists, part of the fabric of society?

Also, there are a lot of white people who can tell stories of blacks or other minorities being given preferential treatment on the job to avoid charges of racism.

Here in Conn., a officials in one of our large cities just threw out the exams taken by people (I forget if it was for the fire dept. or police) because not enough minorities took or passed the test. Many people are angry about this, asking which is more important – having qualified cops/firemen or racial diversity?

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By: momof5

momof5 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:19:22 +0000

Obama is right that men should provide for their own families. I’d love to hear any politician champion abstinence until marriage, and then marriage for life to the same spouse as the solution to the underlying cause of the abandonment, which is not unprotected sex, but premarital sex. But I would be really surprised to hear Obama champion that point, because it would be judgmental according to many on the left (and the fiscal conservative/social liberals), and would cost him support. Furthermore, the absence of fathers empowers big, HUGE gov’t (which he advocates), because the pitiful circumstances of the abandoned pulls at our hearts, so we (read: our government) institute more programs and throw more money at the problem to prove how much we care. We’ll never be able to out-give the consequences of immorality and irresponsibility. We’ve got to provide not just assistance, but a moral framework to truly help. I think accountability must be part of any assistance, and it’s a shame that there isn’t much shame associated with premarital sex. Abortion is no solution, either–it only enhances the illusion that “free love” is really free. Its availability perpetuates irresponsibility, and lowers our overall value of human life.

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By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:54:38 +0000

“Actually, I meant the fact that he disagreed with Obama (or any other black person, for that matter).”

Oh, that is disappointing. I’ll refer you back to paragraph 1 of post 42.

“As for your qualification, that strikes me as an assumption on your part.”

Thank you for responding; we are half way there. Now can you please warrant your response? I would like to know what is your reason for think that my qualification is an assumption?

My reason for thinking it is not an assumption on my part is Xion’s words from post 10. I reacted directly to them in post 39.

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By: Karen O

Karen O — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:44:58 +0000

Luke – Actually, I meant the fact that he disagreed with Obama (or any other black person, for that matter).

As for your qualification, that strikes me as an assumption on your part.

The question of race is an extremely touchy one. There are certainly issues that need to be addressed. I don’t really see anyone claiming that these issues should be ignored, but rather a concern that they are the primary issue of a certain presidential candidate.

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