White America

I foresee this one being difficult to write. Let me preface it by saying that I am not a racist; I am merely opinionated. I have been places and seen things that contribute to said opinions. As a member of the United States military, it is my perception that there are no races, no black, white, red, yellow, whatever. Everyone is green, everyone is equal. The topic I am about to discuss is a sensitive one, one that tends to get me riled up, so do not be surprised if I, for the first time since being brought on, introduce the swear word into my writing.

With that out of the way, it really fucking (oops, that was quick) grinds my gears when people play the race card in every situation. This is the 21st century, people, stop bitching that you can’t get a job because the “white man” is holding you down. No, you can’t get a job because you dropped out of school, you didn’t go to college, or, more likely, you’re just not trying. You didn’t get arrested because you’re Hispanic, you got arrested because you showed your ass in public and you don’t understand that people very rarely get away with crimes anymore. Racial double standards plague this country and that is what prevents us from moving forward as a whole.

I can’t believe I’m going to admit this, but yes, I have seen the movie “Bring It On: All Or Nothing.” In it, Camille, played by Solange Knowles, refers to Britney, played by Hayden Panettiere, as “white girl,” on more than one occasion. Due to social faux pas and the inevitable political fall-out that would stem from it, Britney never once refers to Camille as, “black girl.” Perhaps someone in the audience can answer this for me: how is it okay for one party to describe another in terms of skin color, and yet be hyper-sensitive if the other party does it in return? Can you imagine what would happen if someone was called “black girl” in a film or on TV? Al Sharpton would grow 15 stories tall and start shooting laser beams from his eyes and breathing fire all over Jena, Louisiana.

Set to go to trial this week is the case of an African-American woman in Missouri, who 3 years ago cut in line at a Walmart checkout. Witnesses and police statements say that the woman shoved someone else’s merchandise off of the conveyer belt and placed hers down, just so she could join her cousin whose line was moving faster. They say she became belligerent and violent, kicking one customer and splitting another’s lip while resisting arrest. According to the accused, a white customer pushed her from behind after she cut in line, and police officers physically assaulted and racially demeaned her as she was being placed under arrest. Now, I don’t have all the facts here, nor am I a member of the community where this event took place, so it’s difficult to comment one way or another, but why would a handful of witnesses and policemen (some of which may not have been white) falsify statements simply to see a black woman be put to justice? It seems more likely that someone being arrested would lie in an attempt to get out of trouble.

In other news, The United States Supreme Court today let stand a decision made by a lower court that the Washington Redskins of the National Football League will not be responsible for changing their team name and mascot. Previously, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the National Congress of American Indians had waited too long to file a complaint against the team; the “Redskins” trademark was issued in 1967, and the lawsuit filed in 1992. Apparently 25 years is too long to decide you want to stir up the pot and bitch about something.

This brings me to my next point: why is it okay for an ethnic group to use perceived slurs when referring to themselves, but complain when others do it to them? For example, the Union Youth Football Association, a member of the Indian Nations Football Conference, also goes by the name “Redskins.” Since they’re members of an American Indian football organization, that term is okay, but since the NFL organization isn’t, it’s not okay? I’ll leave the dreaded “n word” out of this, but suffice it to say that hypocrisy really pisses me off.

If you’re going to get upset because someone demeans you or your people, fine, but don’t turn around and call me a honkey or a cracker or a white boy and expect me to let it slide. If you want your own TV station that airs programs that you enjoy, cool, but tell Jesse Jackson not to get upset if I want one too. If you join a group that’s dedicated to the advancement of a particular ethnic group, I’m all for it, but don’t tell me I’m not allowed to join as well; after all, white is a color too, is it not?

Final thought, taken from USA Today reader TheVoiceOfReason:

“Isn't all of this "you hurt my feelings with that word" getting a little ridiculous? I have a 4 and 7 year old daughter and eight or ten times per day I have to listen to that from them. (And just how often do we hear that sickening whine from the gayers, Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpton?)

My response to the people who walk around with their feelings on their shoulders is the same as I tell my kids: "Don't let other people control your emotions with words. The best way to get back at them is to laugh and ridicule them for using the word and then completely ignore them to show that their words have absolutely no effect on you"

We need a movement in the United States called ‘People dedicated to adults growing up’!”

- Fluffy