I have been stewing over a commentary written the other day by Racine's Fair Housing Director Morris Reece. Read it here.
Morris was reacting to an incident in Raymond where racist graffiti was "inscribed" on the fence of an interracial couple, he African American, she Asian. Morris wrote "We know these types of racist groups do not exist in a vacuum."
To the best of my knowledge, there is not a shred of evidence that the vandalism was committed by more than one person, much less a group. But Morris is convinced apparently that not only was this the act of a group, but that there must be other groups since such a group does not operate in a vacuum. In other words, there are multiple racist groups operating in and around Raymond. This is an irresponsible smear on the good citizens of Raymond, who, according to a previous JT article on the subject responded appropriately to the incident, condemning it while offering support to the victims.
Why would Morris suggest, absent any supportive evidence, that there are multiple racist groups operating in our area? I can't be sure but I will note that Morris would not have a job as Fair Housing Director if not for the perception of persistent mistreatment of minorities. As such, Morris has a financial incentive to promote the notion that we are plagued by racist groups. Moreover, I am troubled that someone who must evaluate racist intent for a living, and dish out penalties accordingly, would reach such a conclusion absent any supporting evidence. His essay ought to disqualify him from his job.
And finally, has Racine solved all its problems? Is an isolated racist incident in Raymond worthy of comment when we hear little or nothing from him concerning more serious problems in Racine's black community? We know there are problems with "groups" in Racine. They are called gangs and in addition to vandalism they are engaged in selling drugs and shooting at each other.
All in all, I think Morris should focus more on real groups that are operating in Racine and less on those operating in his imagination.
this post is laughable denis. You have reduced "free racine" to a diatribe of nonsensical race-baiting speak.
ReplyDeleteyou have got to step your game up.
since you're an expert on black people, please enlighten us as to the "serious problems in racine's black community" that u speak about.
ReplyDeleteNot anecdotes please or stereotypes, just facts.
I would humbly submit that teenage pregnancy, single parenthood, gangs/crime, and poor educational achievement are greater problems than an isolated incidence of racist graffiti in another community. If you disagree, have at it.
ReplyDeleteand i would agree with the first anon. also i would submit that all those issues you mentioned are prevalent in other ethnicities as well. I work with a large contingent of service orgs in racine county, i see first hand that none of those issues you mentioned are race specific. These are community wide issues that affect white, black and hispanics.
ReplyDeletePedophilia is a major problem, and has been statistically proven that the majority of convicted pedophiles are white males, is this solely a "white community" issue?
Your attitude of separating community issues into a simple "us" and "them" context only serves your own race-baiting dialogue. For you to think that most black folk in racine are riddled with the problems you mentioned is just down right ignorant and stupid.
Anon 7:25, I was asked by anon 6:20 to give examples of problems facing the black community, and I obliged. The mistake you are making is to conclude that I think these are only problems for the black community. I have never said such a thing. This is called a straw man argument, it is a rather week but common technique used by lefties. Yet somehow I don't expect an apology. At the very least you could take on my actual argument that is there for all to see instead of arguments that I have never made nor would.
ReplyDeleteOriginal post is spot on.
ReplyDeleteThe louder the call of "racism" (well founded or not), the more money gets thrown toward the likes of the Urban League and Fair Housing Bureau.
anon 6:20 is spot on.
ReplyDeleteYou spent time out of your day to write that nonsense?
if their are black community issues, then what are white community issues?
ReplyDeleteGood question anon 8:33! Let me preface my answer by saying I don't think in terms of a white society or a black society or a whatever society. Rather, I respond to those who do. For instance, Morris Reece is employed as a Fair Housing Director, tasked to confront discrimination against, it seems to me, members of minority groups. So his very job requires him to categorize people into different groups. By definition, this is divisive.
ReplyDeleteSo, one problem we have as a society at large involves political/philosophical thinking. I have no doubt whatsoever that white people or institutions heavily influenced by white people have advocated seriously mistaken ideas that are harmful to society. Communism, socialism, progressivism, relativism, atheism, you name the ism and white people have had a hand in promoting such philosophies which are an ongoing threat today. Of course these are not merely theoretical problems to be discussed only in classrooms. They have profoundly damaged our society and will continue to do so.
Of course these philosophy problems do great harm to those who buy into them the most. So we divide people into groups, declare or imply some such people inferior or victims and in need of our kind paternalism, we "help" them to such an extent that they become dependents on government. Do that to any grouping of people for a few generations, then sit back and watch the disfunction blossom.
Now again, I don't like to think of people primarily along racial lines, but I will conclude by admitting that white people have had a dominant role in shaping the thinking that has been most harmful to black people. That thinking tends to promote blacks as helpless victims incapable of taking care of themselves without the assistance of the larger society - white society if you want to continue with the racially divisive labels.
And lastly, white people, or any people for that matter, do not all think alike. I for one soundly reject the harmful notion that black people are incapable of taking care of themselves without a paternalistic socialistic government. In other words, I don't think black people are inferior to white people. Liberals on the other hand....
soooo the answer to my question of what are problems in the white community would be what?
ReplyDelete1...."but I will conclude by admitting that white people have had a dominant role in shaping the thinking that has been most harmful to black people."... I am glad you admit that. when only one race of people dictate federal, state and local laws, dictate education policies, and hold the key to capital for the better part of 300 years, domination of ones life actions, thoughts and community usually is an end result.
2...."That thinking tends to promote blacks as helpless victims incapable of taking care of themselves without the assistance of the larger society"... this is a common myth that white folks have perpetuated for centuries via a plethora of Willy Lynch style tactics,..I sincerely hold that the only people who believe this garbage are white folks. This attitude is a symptom of the ruling class' mantra of superiority and the never ending desire for control.
3..."So we divide people into groups, declare or imply some such people inferior or victims and in need of our kind paternalism, we "help" them to such an extent that they become dependents on government.".....Denis, military veterans, the disabled, mentally retarded, refugees, political exiles, etc fall into these categories as well, but yet no one complains about government assistance to these groups, why is that?
Anon, problems are problems and they affect all types of people but not necessarily at the same rate. So name a social problem and it probably affects what you would call the "white" community.
ReplyDeleteRe#1: Though white people have had a dominant impact on our culture and our thinking, it is a huge stretch to conclude that white people dictate policy and dominate ones life and thoughts. Nobody is controlling your life and thoughts anon. Get a grip and think for yourself.
Re#2: I think that black people are quite capable of taking care of themselves without a big brother government ..... and this is evidence of my mantra of superiority and desire for control? Wow, really? Reread #1 and think for yourself.
Re#3: Military veterans have earned assistance via service to our country. Mentally handicapped are incapable of caring for themselves in many instances and as such have a strong moral claim for assistance. Have blacks earned assistance or are they incapable of taking care of themselves? Neither in my view. I suppose this is just more evidence of my "mantra of superiority." Can you say projection?
good, so it sounds like you agree with respect to the ignorance of separating community issues into "us" and "them" contexts. You are making strides, thats good to see.
ReplyDeleteRe#1 it is not a stretch in the least to suggest what i did. US Presidents, Federal judges, state supreme courts, congress, house of reps, and other major bodies of policy makers, both in private & public sectors, have been overwhelmingly white over the past few centuries. Its human nature to bring personal bias and prejudices based on life experiences and culture into play sometimes when policy makers make decisions, to not think this is true would be side-stepping the truth. great example is White folks who govern the state of Arizona came up with very vague and unconstitutional laws to specifically combat mexican illegal aliens. Just mexican illegal aliens, not other ethnic aliens, just mexican. To think this law has not affected Arizona hispanics in any way ,especially while in the presence of police, would be a blatant avoidance of the truth.
Re#2 and i quote ...." but I will conclude by admitting that white people have had a dominant role in shaping the thinking that has been most harmful to black people"....need i say more?
Re#3..."Have blacks earned assistance or are they incapable of taking care of themselves? Neither in my view."...Wow, really Denis? seriously? According to you, in your own words, blacks haven't earned the right to receive assistance when needed, even if they are a veteran or are retarded. wow. Black folks have only helped to build this country into the world powerhouse it is today by introducing technical innovations that changed the lives of millions of americans, serving their country willingly and honorably fighting and dying for rights they didnt even have themselves in their own country, being the backbone of American industry in the 19th & 20th centuries, shaping civil rights laws that changed an entire nation, giving us some of the greatest athletic performances the world as ever seen, i can go on and on. Black folks can definitely help themselves, but tell me what successful person or any other entity for that matter has accomplished anything solely by themselves?
Re#3..."Have blacks earned assistance or are they incapable of taking care of themselves? Neither in my view."...Wow, really Denis? seriously? According to you, in your own words, blacks haven't earned the right to receive assistance when needed, even if they are a veteran or are retarded.
ReplyDeleteNot my words anon. Yours. I am not suggesting that black veterans or retarded black people should be denied assistance. I am suggesting that blackness, by itself, is not a condition that necessitates assistance. Your attempts to misrepresent my point of view are dishonest and have no business being included in rational discussion.
I am getting a bit bored confronting your straw man arguments.
not much to dispute i see. when you have nothing left to stand on, thats what happens.
ReplyDeletei think anon won this argument
ReplyDelete