2000-2009 is almost over. Worst ever? What are we even gonna call it? "The Oh's"?
Subquestion: What's your favorite decade in whatever framework you choose? Movies, music, recreational drugs, sex, trends, politics, etc.
Discuss.
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I don't remember much of my years in the 60"s. Not because of any mind altering substances though. I was just too young.
The 70's were some of the best years of childhood. Good times really. But too young to really enjoy anything beyond family life.
The 80's were fun. High School. I really had a great time in high school. College was pretty well 4 of the best years so far. A lot of great, good and not so good sex in there. Lots of altered states. I'd go back and do it all again minus the hangovers. Met mrs. snark. That makes the whole decade worthwhile right there.
The 90's was grad school which was fun but probably not worth the debt. Marriage. No complaints so far about that. No serious ones anyway. And becoming a father at the tail end. Priceless. Culturally the 90's was kind of a vast wasteland for me.
The 00's? The highlight has obviously been the birth of snarkette #2. But my career has also been more satisfying the past 10 years. Socially we have really developed a nice intimate circle of really really great friends. I've learned to speak french! Blogs! 'Nuff said. I think having my kids be at ages where I can really engage with them intellectually has been great. Losing my mom would be the low point. All told however it's been a pretty good decade.
Okay, so good decade personally, but how about politically and culturally?
I was trying to think of something good about this decade, culturally. I'll give you blogs. The only other thing I can think of is how the success of The 40 Year Old Virgin gave rise to the return of the rated-R comedy.
After growing up on movies like Animal House, Caddyshack, The Blues Brothers, and Stripes, it's nice to see foul language and gratuitious boobies have their place in culture again.
Agree with the return of the r-rated comedy. Amen!
Other than that who's got time for culture these days?
But yeah, the 00's will go down as the "Reality" decade. GAG! "Reality" with tongue firmly planted in check of course. 20 years from now there will be a nonstop parade of "Where are they now...." shows with the former "stars" of Survivor, The Bachelor, Real Housewives etc etc being trotted out. GAG again! We are a woeful species.
Subquestion: What's your favorite decade in whatever framework you choose? Movies, music, recreational drugs, sex, trends, politics, etc.
Historically nothing can match the 60's. Everything afterward was comparably tame. Music, historic feats, drugs, sex, most trends and protests... best decade by far... it broke America's innocence.
I graduated from High School in 75. Saw a boat load of great concerts prior to graduating and afterward. Have the Bay Area to thank for that. Moved to Hawaii, back to CA, then back to Hawaii. Last half of the decade was a pot and drug induced haze.
The 80's started off with me getting off "Freebase" (crack to those who don't remember). Moving back (again to CA). Started drinking more, lots of girlfriends... occasionally homeless during Ronnie Ray-gun's decade. Ended up going into the Army so I could have money for college. Went to Panama and got hurt.
Spent a major part of the 90's fighting with the V.A. and trying to clean up my life. Highlight obviously was the birth of my Son in 1996. Another was finally paying off 10 thousand dollars in hospital debt the V.A. should have been responsible for, repairing my credit and purchasing my first home in 1999. Finding steady work in the licensed Water Treatment field.
2000's... "Oh fuck it!"
I thought they were calling this decade the "aughts." Don't know who "they" are.
I guess this decade is my fave, since my life is finally my own, and I'm not at the mercy of parents or a spouse who acted like a parent. I'm liking my kids grown up, and having no one to have to answer to, 'cept the job. (as long as that lasts, anyhow)
And they already do the "where are they now" thingy, I've seen it on my Entertainment weekly. Sheesh.
Saw Harry Potter and liked it, though they spent too much time on the kids' romance rather than the scary story. Still. It was a nice day out with both kids, which is the best part.
I'm loving the summer BBC America stuff - a new Doctor Who, new Torchwood, and now a new series Being Human about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost getting an apartment together to try and make a go of life amongst humans. Could be fun.
But yeah, the 00's will go down as the "Reality" decade. GAG!
Good point. The first season of "Survivor" was in 2000. Other than that, to me, it's the decade of terrorism, wars, the worst president ever, the destruction of the Bill of Rights, and musically -- zilch.
I was born in '71, so it wasn't until the 90's when I started having fun. Grunge, weed, college, meeting Shopgirl, independent film, etc. I dug it. It wasn't exactly free love and social unrest, but it was distinctive. Girls didn't have to be a size zero and dress like celebrities to be noticed. Mostly it was flannel and Doc Martens and everybody smoked and drank coffee and it was normal.
Saw a lot of great, struggling bands in the Chicago clubs and, of course, we had Bill Clinton.
We also had OJ, but that was probably the one blight on that decade.
Still don't know what we're gonna call this decade! The Zeroes?
Saw Harry Potter with the mrs over the weekend. I liked it too. Mrs. liked it but having read the book felt that too much was missing.
...too much time on the kids' romance
I don't know. Hermione is turning into quite the little hottie. I'd snog 'er. ;)
the "aughts."
WTF does that even mean?
I know someone coined this new generation (the children of Generation X) as "Generation ME".
Seems fitting.
I totally love Hermione! But yeah, there was a fabulous battle in the room with the transporter cupboard that was cut. And since the title of the book referred to Snape, it would have been a good idea to spend more time on the advanced potion book and Snape's story. Not liking this director. As I said long ago, Guillermo del Toro should have done these last 3 movies. That would be fookin' cool! And Ron's getting buff, isn't he? They made sure he had a scene with a tank top on to show off his "guns."
The "aughts" is an old fashioned term for something with leading zeroes. Aught is a synonym. Haven't you heard Grampa Simpson talk about "in aught two, we wore onions on our belts, as was the fashion of the time..."
...to me, it's the decade of terrorism, wars, the worst president ever,
Yeah but it's also the decade where we've seen the most upper levels of our government truly begin to take on the physical complexion of the nation. The old white man monopoly on power is on it's death bed. First black president. First hispanic SCOTUS Justice (if they ever get around to voting for her).
The only unfortunate aspect of it all is it doesn't necessarily look like the new more colorful crop of politicos is gonna be much better than the previous lily white bunch. But I've not lost all hope. Yet.
...it would have been a good idea to spend more time on the advanced potion book and Snape's story.
That's what the mrs. said. Perhaps I'll go back and read The Half-blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows in anticipation of the final films.
Love Alan Richman btw. Since the Die Hard days. He's one of the great alltime creepy guys.
He's also good at the romantic comedy - my faves were Love, Actually, and Truly, Madly, Deeply. I just love him as Snape, though, and as Hans Gruber, like snark said. He's just got that snotty snarl down pat!
And I should re-read Deathly Hollows just 'cos I was so excited to finally get it, I sailed thru it in a day. Must learn to ration out my reading!
The "aughts" is an old fashioned term for something with leading zeroes.
Okay, I get it now, but... meh. Back to the drawing board. 8)
First black president.
Yeah, gotta give you that one too. But that was pretty late in the game. Still counts, though.
Love Alan Richman btw. Since the Die Hard days.
And Galaxy Quest, of course.
And Galaxy Quest, of course.
Sorry, if it has Tim Allen in it I don't watch it. Can't stand that putz.
I can't either, but that's a helluva movie. Tell 'em, Twink!
And I'm gonna go on record right now saying the best decade for movies was the 70's.
OMG, I never saw one ep of Tim Allen's sitcom, but dang, Galaxy Quest is the absolute best sendup of Kirk and Star Trek, evah! And Sigourney Weaver is teh saxay, and yes, Rickman is amazing. It's a classic.
BTW, over at Sadly No, someone mentioned a zombie flick Fido that I'd never heard of. The trailer looks hilarious, a Shaun of the Dead sorta thing. I'm going to have to get it.
And I'm gonna go on record right now saying the best decade for movies was the 70's.
Yeah.
Thanks Irwin Allen!
Towering Inferno! Ha!
Whenever vhs/vcrs became affordable, that was the best decade for movies! I tend to like the older films, too, so the '40s were great as well.
And I'm gonna go on record right now saying the best decade for movies was the 70's.
Yeah, It's close but I'll agree with that. The 30's were a pretty good decade for films.
Truly, some brilliant movies were made in the 30's and 40's. Including some of Hitchcock's best work (Rebecca, Spellbound, Rope).
And you guys are free to sing the praises of Chaplin and Buster Keaton too.
But as for movies you actually feel like watching? 70's, baby.
Although I do watch Rebecca whenever it's on.
Next to the 80's, the 'aughts (that's gonna take some getting used to) didn't produce much worthy of note. And more recently, they don't produce anything original, with rare exception.
Somebody said recently, "Any movie released before 1990 should now be called a 'premake'."
True dat!
Here's a list of the top 100 movies of the 1970's.
How's that for a six month-long film festival?
Truly a classic list MV.
I was thinking of "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" from 1939 to name a couple... plus the jump from black and white to color.
How in the hell did Supermanmake it onto that list?
How in the hell did Supermanmake it onto that list?
Did you mean Speilberg, Lucas or Bruce Lee?
I bet it was a box office hit.
Superman was crap, and Christopher Reeve was definitely not a good actor. But yeah, there were quite a few good movies in there.
Now, Enter the Dragon... There's fine film making for ya!
Imo both Breaking Away and Heaven Can Wait deserve to be higher on the list. Warren Beatty and Jack Warden. Comedy gold. Beatty didn't do anything as good until Bulworth.
How in the hell did Superman make it onto that list?
Um, I dunno. Maybe because Christopher Reeve WAS great, plus Gene Hackman, MARLON BRANDO, a legendary score by John Williams and a script by Mario Puzo who wrote a little book called... what was it again... oh yeah, The Godfather!!
Okay, so it's in my Top Five of all time.
Okay, so it's in my Top Five of all time.
Ummmmm. Ok. Maybe it was just Margot Kidder as Lois Lane that killed it for me. That and the really cheesy Superman costume.
I don't think they've ever cast a really good Lois Lane. I wonder what the problem is there.
I met Margot Kidder a couple years ago. Nice lady, but definitely a screw loose there.
Oh, I forgot to mention Glenn Ford as Pa Kent. And Terrence Stamp. 8)
"They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way."
Off topic, what's your take on this Harvard professor being arrested in his own home? With all the apologies and interviews and Obama calling the police stupid, I still can't figure out exactly what happened.
Here's what I have. Guy comes home from a trip to China and a woman calls the police to report a possible break-in. Cop shows up, asks the man for ID. The man asks the COP for ID. They have an ID Standoff. The guy's yelling about "BECAUSE I'M A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA??", but eventually he does show ID.
Then he gets arrested anyway.
I can't figure what's going on here. Whaddayou think?
I think the Prof mouthed off to the cop about being harassed because he's a "black man in America" and the cop got his macho on because he didn't feel like he needed to listen to this guy jawing at him when he was just doing his job etc. etc. I have no doubt that both were at fault. The Prof should have kept his wits and kept cool and the cop should've let it slide. Once the cop arrested him things had clearly gone to far and the cop was just trying to embarass the guy. Just a dumb situation all around. I understand the racism problems in this country. But the cop was responding to a breaking and entering call. In good faith. And the front door was broken. What's the cop supposed to do? Not show up to investigate because it's a black mans house? Hmmmm...seems like that's a bit of a problem too. And what's the appropriate way for the Prof to respond? His front door has been vandalized, his neighbor calls cops to report suspicious activity and what's he do? He flings racism accusations at the responding cop. Two losers in my view.
The man shows up to his own home in a limo. He finds that the front door is jammed, goes thru the back to turn off his alarm, and he has to get the driver (I think) to help force the front door open and carries in his stuff. A cop shows up at the front door and says there was a call, and can he prove the guy lives there. The guy brings the cop into the kitchen and shows him several pieces of ID. He escorts the cop (who admitted that he made a mistake in IDing the guy) to the front door where a bunch of other cops are. He asks for name and badge number, which pisses off the cop, who refuses. Owner of the house busts his ass, cop asks him to step outside because they have no cause to go into the house to arrest the guy who's rightly cussing the cops out. As soon as he steps outside, the cops slap a disorderly conduct on him and drags him to jail. You think that would happen to a white guy? You don't think he has reason to be pissed?
A cop shows up at the front door and says there was a call, and can he prove the guy lives there. The guy brings the cop into the kitchen and shows him several pieces of ID.
What I heard was that Gates was confrontational from the get go. The cop got a report of breaking and entering and there was visible damage to the door. Again, what's the cop supposed to do? Walk away? I agree that once id was produced the incident should have ended. I maintain, however, that Gates could have handled the situation better himself. That's all. And the fact that he's letting the situation drop with an apology only reinforces my belief that he realizes he reacted poorly.
Oh, certainly, he could have held his cool; he's lucky he wasn't tazed. But since when is it okay to arrest people because they piss you off? And why should it piss a cop off to be asked for name and badge number? The cop overstepped his authority for a personal vendetta - something that's happening more and more frequently, many ending in tazer deaths, or like the fucker in the BART incident, cold blooded execution. Also, one would think the neighbors would know that there's a black man living next door, if not know them on sight. 'Course, I couldn't pick my neighbors out of a lineup.
You think that would happen to a white guy? You don't think he has reason to be pissed?
I think before the nation uses this as another trigger to bring about a discussion of race relations, we should know what the hell happened.
Nothing I read this morning said anything about a driver forcing the front door open. I'd be grateful if a neighbor called the cops if they saw something like that outside my house.
And when the cops showed up, I would've shown my ID, explained the situation, and thanked them for checking to make sure it wasn't an actual B&E.
It definitely sounds like both sides were too hot-headed. Gates shouldn't have thrown the race card and made a scene and the cops should've left him alone.
And yeah, he's lucky he wasn't tazed.
Someone helped him with the door.
Here's him talking about it. He says the police lied in the report, nor did they read Miranda to him.
You think that would happen to a white guy?
Not no, but hell no!
A white guy would have been assisted by the police force.
You don't think he has reason to be pissed?
Damn straight!
He was already pissed because he couldn't get in his OWN home to begin with. Police should have understood his aggravation, not escalated it with a STUPID response.
Twinky is right on this one... 100%.
And yeah, he's lucky he wasn't tazed.
Surprised he wasn't!
Post-racial America?
Just, wow.
Just, wow.
And the more excuses I hear for it... the madder I get!!
Man, in the 21st century, this is the GOP's message. I can see why everyone's losing hope.
I don't know. I'm gonna refrain from commenting on this because I don't know why he couldn't get inside his house or what exactly went on between the cop and the professor.
I don't understand how the man ended up getting arrested or why. I'd like to know more about the nature of this interaction before jumping into generalities and assumptions.
And of course, the whole "post-racial America" thing is bullshit.
I'm gonna refrain from commenting on this because I don't know why he couldn't get inside his house or what exactly went on between the cop and the professor.
Once he showed proof of home ownership the cop should have been assisting him in whatever manner possible. End of story... not escalating the situation.
The cop's side of the story:
"He was arrested after following me outside the house, continuing the tirade, even after being warned multiple times, probably a few more times than the average person would have gotten," Crowley said.
"He was cautioned in the house, meaning calm down, lower your voice," Crowley said. "Once we got outside in front of the general public and the police officers that were assembled there, two warnings, the second warning with me holding a set of handcuffs in my hand. It was something I really didn't want to do, but the professor at any point in time could have resolved the issue by quieting down and or going back in his house."
Crowley continued, "There are so many things in this incident that keep me scratching my head wondering. I apologize, I was not aware who professor Gates was. And when I read the name off the card, it wasn't like I said, 'Oh, Wow, that's Professor Gates.' I'm still just amazed that somebody of his level of intelligence could stoop to such a level and berate me, accuse of being a racist, of racial profiling, and speaking about my mother. It's just beyond words."
So there's the cop's side and the professor's side in Twink's link.
I still don't know what to think.
In the memorable words of the great Rodney King;
"Can't we all just get along?
Sorry to make light of the situation but that's the point of this blog in'it?
They were both wrong. I said it before and I'll say it again.
Yeah, I think you're right, snark. It's just not a good idea to mouth off to a cop whatever your skin color.
Perhaps the cop wasn't aware that one can say what one wants in one's own home. Or just didn't care. The fucker arrested a guy out of spite. Doesn't matter if he was called a mother fucker or a child molester. Words aren't illegal in your own home.
Well, they used to be. Apparently not any more.
Who's not getting along? I'm just saying it's a scary world, made scarier by people like this. But we'll change the subject, if you want. How 'bout that Manny Ramirez grand slam?
Gates and the cops, apparently, were not getting along.
Dontcha think?
And sorry, but being a member of a discriminated against race does not absolve one of the obligation to behave in a responsible manner. No matter the circumstances.
And when I read the name off the card, it wasn't like I said, 'Oh, Wow, that's Professor Gates.' I'm still just amazed that somebody of his level of intelligence could stoop to such a level and berate me, accuse of being a racist, of racial profiling, and speaking about my mother. It's just beyond words."
Come on... the cops attitude would have been totally different if it was an irritated white guy. He would have excused himself from a white professor's house asking for forgiveness. Can't figure why you guys can't see the difference.
I guess it must always be nice to be white in America. ;)
I guess my attitude is stronger because I'm a Hispanic living in Sheriff Joe's county.
Come on... the cops attitude would have been totally different if it was an irritated white guy. He would have excused himself from a white professor's house asking for forgiveness. Can't figure why you guys can't see the difference.
I don't think that's definitively true. You're making a big assumption.
I'm just saying - they knew it was his house. The arrest was out of spite/embarrassment. Why is the onus on Gates to be responsible when the cop was not? Of course, Gates should already know we're living in a police state, so, yes, he shouldn'ta gotten uppity in his own home. Shoulda just filed a lawsuit quietly and let it go. Course, there wouldn't have been a problem if the cop said sorry and left or Gates hadn't called him names for being a dick.
It's not racism, at all, it's testosterone poisoning. Fookin' guys and yer swingin' dicks!
The spokesperson from the Cambridge police said it best. This was a confrontation between two individuals in a given set of circumstances where, unfortunately, cooler heads did not prevail.
That's it. And it prolly wouldn't have made it to the national level if Gates wasn't mildly famous and we didn't have a black prez. Frankly, I don't give much of a shit about it, except as another example of the police overreaching their authority out of pique.
So. I got a pool. A li'l one, but big enuff to float on an air matress. Supposed to get into the 90s this weekend.
Of course, Gates should already know we're living in a police state, so, yes, he shouldn'ta gotten uppity in his own home.
But the cop was so out of his element in an African-American home.
I wonder if Obama had Gates as a professor.
Why is the onus on Gates to be responsible when the cop was not?
By what account are you assuming that the cop was not being responsible before Gates became abusive?
Marcy's on it!
"UPDATE: Via Rayne's link to DKos in comments, and the Boston Globe, the Statement of Facts from the official police report in the Gates arrest:
On Thursday July 16, 2009, Henry Gates, Jr. ___ of ___ Ware Street, Cambridge, MA) was placed under arrest at __ Ware Street, after being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior, in a public place, directed at a uniformed police officer who was present investigating a report of a crime in progress. These actions on behalf of Gates served no legitimate purpose and caused citizens passing by this location to stop and take notice while appearing surprised and alarmed.
Signed: Sgt. James Crowley
And therein lies the problem for Sergeant Crowley and the Cambridge PD. It was a patently illegal and insufficient arrest from the start. Gates is arrested for disturbing the peace - of Sergeant Crowley. See the words "directed at a uniformed officer"? This is the epitome of contempt of cop, and that is an illegal and unconstitutional arrest. What is not contained in the statement of facts is any reference to an identifiable citizen/member of the public being disturbed. None whatsoever. This is precisely the type of conduct castigated historically by courts as generally described in Duran v. City of Douglas."
Our little comment blog is microcosm of what is happening in America. The two minorities on this blog sympathize with Gates and the fact that blacks and latinos are disproportionately discriminated against. The white males withhold full comdemnation until further proof is provided.
The white males withhold full comdemnation until further proof is provided.
That's a mischaracterization of what I have said here.
I firmly believe both parties were at fault.
Ok, I'll make it better.
Our little comment blog is microcosm of what is happening in America. The two minorities on this blog sympathize with Gates and the fact that blacks and latinos are disproportionately discriminated against. The white males firmly believe both parties were at fault.
The white males withhold full comdemnation until further proof is provided.
Is it a white male characteristic to want to know what happened before condemning anybody?
Is it a white male characteristic to want to know what happened before condemning anybody?
Not typically. ;)
And I thought Terri Hatcher was a perfect Lois Lane.
Look, I've had a NYC cops 9mm in my face. Literally inches from my face. Was I at all at fault? Nope. Did I let rip at the cops and verbally abuse them? No. I said, "No problem officer. I understand." That's all Gates had to do. And the whole thing could have been avoided.
By what account are you assuming that the cop was not being responsible before Gates became abusive?
By his own account:
“While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence,” Sergeant Crowley wrote in the report, “I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me.”
Once he found out that the man owned the house, he should have apologized and left. He let the irate owner get to him, trumped up a "contempt of cop" charge and hauled him in. Of course, Gates should have known that in America, cops are gods and the union will lie cheat and steal to protect their own, so, yes, he was wrong to believe he was free to do as he pleased in his own house. Doesn't make him wrong in spirit.
“While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence,” Sergeant Crowley wrote in the report, “I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me.”
Right, Gates was abusive before the cop did anything unreasonable. My question stands.
What was wrong, though, was Obama making a statement about it. He should have known better.
I said, "No problem officer. I understand."
Were you in your own home?
He should have known better.
Agreed.
Were you in your own home?
No. But the only reason the cop was in Gates' home was because someone called in a B&E call. It's not like the cop just saw a black man entering a house and decided to investigate. He was doing his job. And had Gates just said, "No problem officer, I understand" it would have ended there.
In other words, Gates had the first opportunity to diffuse the situation and he did not take it. It does not excuse the cops actions but he could have handle the situation differently.
Is it a white male characteristic to want to know what happened before condemning anybody?
Of course it is... especially in discrimination cases. ;)
In other words, Gates had the first opportunity to diffuse the situation and he did not take it.
I still stand by my "assumption" that this doesn't happen if it was a white professor... in fact, the B&E call doesn't happen if it is a white guy.
Fucking Reid is delaying the healthcare debate until the fall. Weak-ass SOB.
I still stand by my "assumption" that this doesn't happen if it was a white professor...
Perhaps one could "assume" that a white professor would have handled the situation differently?
...in fact, the B&E call doesn't happen if it is a white guy.
So now the cops AND the neighbors are shameless racists?
'Kay, I'm done. You want to make a legal case, and I'm making an emotional case, and never the twain shall meet.
Perhaps one could "assume" that a white professor would have handled the situation differently?
Well of course he would... he would have just pulled out his KKK hat and him and crowley would have had a big laugh together.
So now the cops AND the neighbors are shameless racists?
White robes all around... must be the heat!
Wonder if the delay in healthcare reform sent stocks higher today?
Over 9000!
Or was it the sweetheart deal the major banks got?
Twinky,
You know Lambert just loves the attention you give him. What with how lonely it is over at his blog these days.
I know. He's such a dick, and I know he hates being called a puma.
And I hope I didn't give the impression that I was pissed off here. We had a good discussion, I thought.
Not at all. It was a fine exchange.
Did you see this law they're trying to pass in Ohio that will require the father's consent for a woman to have an abortion? Idiots. It will never stand up under challenge.
Yeah, those guys just can't help themselves. It really does piss me off that Reid capitulated, again, on health care. I really wish the dems in congress had some convictions other than the next election.
At least now, they're openly going against contraception. Not a smart move, IMO.
Good discussion, indeed. I just wanna add one point tho. It really sucks to be unfairly called a racist.
The only time it happened to me, I was tending bar during a "Multi-Cultural Comedy Exchange" at this ballroom. Several black and Latino comedians, 500 people came out, mostly minorities. 4 bartenders, including me.
I worked my ass off. At one point, this African-American gentleman threw his plastic cup across the bar at me and said, "Gimme another one."
I asked him what he was drinking. He scoffed and said, "Oh, I forgot. We all look alike to you."
Now, I know. Just a drunk guy talking shit. Maybe looking to start trouble, I dunno. I explained to him that with a crowd of 500, I couldn't possibly remember what each person had ordered. He backed off and was kind enough to remind me what he was drinking.
But it really stung. I've met a few racist people and there's an ugliness of character there that I can't comprehend. I know it's based on fear and ignorance, but there's enough hate in the mix to make me ill.
My focus, when I have to focus on people, is on their individual character and actions. Always has been, always will be. Each person is unique.
So yeah, maybe I sympathize with the cop a little bit. When you get called a racist, you're lumped in with a whole lot of historic evil that you've done nothing to perpetuate. It's a nasty feeling. And it shouldn't be thrown around lightly.
In this case, I think once Graves showed the cop his ID, the cop would've politely left, just like he would have for a white professor or a yellow one or a pink one or a green one.
Racism exists. So does profiling. It's wrong. And those who are guilty of it should be called what they are. But it's not a charge that should ever be used lightly. And I'm sure it's what threw this unfortunate situation out of control.
One love.
Neither party gave respect.
So neither part got respect back.
It's a problem that transcends race. It's symptomatic of our society as a whole.
Did I call MV racist? If that's what it sounded like, I apologize! There is such a thing as white privilege, and a lot of the time, it's unconscious, but you'd have to have studied up on it to see how it manifests. I think Hatersville does a series on it, if you're interested...heehee...
Did I call MV racist? If that's what it sounded like, I apologize!
I think MV was talking about Gates calling the cop racist.
Ah.
Did I call MV racist?
I'm sure that was his lead in to his story.
There is such a thing as white privilege...
Twinky, As usual, you have been able to put into words what I have trouble doing. This is what I've been talking about in this thread.
Being half Hispanic - half White... I've felt the full spectrum of the racial divide. Many episodes from the white side and the hispanic side I could relate but it's just not worth going into detail over.
I think everyone can learn from this Gates/Crowley episode. No helping those knuckle draggers who have their minds closed and won't even discuss it.
Hey, I'm imperfect still and have a ways to go as human but I feel I'm a lot further along than most.
It was just a lead-in. I didn't mean to imply that anyone here called me that.
But that one time I was called racist, it got to me. It's a serious charge to level against someone. And I can't help but wonder if Sgt. Crowley was thinking, "Shit. I'm just here in response to a B&E and now suddenly I'm Mark fucking Fuhrman."
It's what he did in response to the resident's ire is what got him into trouble. There's precedent for his actions, and its illegality, and it has nothing to do with race, from what I gather. That's at Marcy's link, above.
But on Maddow's show, someone I really really trust is Melissa Harris-Lacewell, a Princeton prof in racial studies among other things, and she said it wasn't so much these two guys at all, it was more of a springboard incident the real bigots have been waiting for to help drive home the "reverse racism" trend that's dogged Obama for a long time, and is the point of stirring racial tensions. You saw it, and are still seeing it with Sotomayor. The players change from news cycle to news cycle, but the way that the media glommed onto the story for ratings pretty much confirms to me that the GOP has settled on their lizard-brain message: Whites are under siege. Listen to the winger rhetoric and then listen to their reps in congress. It's primal, it affects everyone, it's tribal warfare. Our kind is being over run. I think it can be effective, at least listening to the casual instances of maybe not racism, but white privilege in day to day interaction with others. Most people won't even know their lizard-brains are being targeted, but I can see a big market for a fear campaign based on the other is going to supplant your kind, and then they'll be making the rules. And if they're anything like us, they'll be putting us in FEMA camps! I can see it working on a large part of the populace.
Also, I heard Friedman say that 85% of Americans have health insurance. Is that true?
Can I just say that I hate the term "reverse discrimination" or "reverse racism"?
Racism is racism and it's wrong whichever direction it goes. "Reverse Racism" implies that, yeah it's still racism, but it's somewhat more justified. And maybe it is.
Maybe it's just less ugly when it's coming from a minority because white people have been doing it longer?
Why don't you ever hear about cases of "reverse sexism"?
If mean old Mr. Wilson next door shouts obscenities at every kid that cuts through his front yard, is he guilty of "reverse agism"?
Regarding the "whites are under siege" thing, I don't really know. I've been out of touch with the whole conspiracy theorist/tea party crowd. If I run into a racist white guy, I'll ask him and I'm sure he'll agree. Which is fucking scary because that's so clearly the mantra of the Klan.
That pissed me off when all those white power groups started showing up at Ron Paul's speeches. Suddenly people think being a libertarian means you also hate minorities. So I walked away from that. Once the wrong group of troublemakers comes in, the party's over. I'll just go be an independent.
Unfortunately, that's the whole schtick of the right wing loonies, the "reverse racism." A lot of perfectly nice people who think they're tolerant of minorities could be susceptible to that charge, too, if it's said in the right way. Which is why the immigration stuff flares up over and over. "Help, help, we're being oppressed!"
A lot of perfectly nice people who think they're tolerant of minorities could be susceptible to that charge, too, if it's said in the right way.
For example?
Okay, jobs are getting hard to find. Someone in the news (Lou Dobbs, f'rinstance) connects the scarcity of jobs to illegal immigrants, and blames the gov't for letting them drain the system so whites don't get access to jobs or services. I hear it all the time from people at work who don't think they're racist. "All the jobs are being given to them, draining the system!"
All the wailing about Affirmative Action is about getting people riled up about "reverse racism." "Whites have to take a back seat to inferior minorities!!!"
And with the Sotomayor confirmation process, it's a continual thing. At first, they tried to drive in the "wise Latina" comment she'd made to prove that she thought latinas were smarter than whites. It was trickling down to regular people. When out and out calling her a racist didn't work, the GOP has switched to her disturbing pattern of "bias." Someone on the news this week, maybe Maddow, quoted a series of pundits and GOP officials saying the same phrase over and over about her bias against whites, it's a talking point designed to stir that tribal feeling in whites that somehow the hispanics are going to take over and turn everything into minority heaven. I don't know how much exposure you've had to right wing sites, or the teabagger shit, but they and Rush and Beck are all pushing idea that Obama is oppressing them to create a minority paradise, and regular people are falling for it. It works. And you don't think that idiot reporter who asked Obama about the Gates case didn't know what she was doing? Obama stupidly fell right into her trap, because he gave them the "stupid" sound byte they wanted to blast "Obama sides with black guy" headlines from coast to coast. You don't think the lizard-brains of the regular folks are going to be tickled by that appeal to tribal warfare?
An example of white privilege is the insistence that standardized tests aren't biased when a huge majority of whites always get the highest scores. How many people have you heard say that blacks need to study harder to pass them? Another example from daily life is the chicks at work always passing the overseas calls to me because they can't understand the person on the other end of the line. I'll get on, and it's just a vague accent - but my co workers won't think it's at all racist to wonder why those people won't learn proper English. My co workers can't speak more than one language, and even then, they don't know good English.
Wow. I'm really out of touch with white people. I didn't know Obama was trying to create a minority paradise. I just thought he was trying to fix stuff. But I don't go to the right wing sites or the teabagging shit. Occasionally I'll hear people at work gripe about Obama, but I tune it out. Couldn't even tell you what's been said.
I don't have much interest in these people I work with, let alone their politics, which I assume to be ill-informed.
How many people have you heard say that blacks need to study harder to pass them?
I have heard white people say that. I can see how that would be racism. Same with the foreign accent thing. And the "wise Latina" thing was sickening.
Food for thought.
Why is it every time you talk about the "lizard brain" I have this urge to punch somebody, eat a pizza, and whack off? 8)
...punch somebody, eat a pizza, and whack off?
All at once?
No. Sequentially, but not necessarily in that order.
Holy fuck, I read paradox's post about the conference call 3 times and I still don't know what he's talking about.
Huh, you don't like lizards? Or you have a love/hate with the Geico gekko (to my disgust, the local summer festival here last week was advertising an appearance by this fookin' prop). How many people couldn't wait to see it? Morons! Or the new word I learned "motards."
Who ever knows what paradox is talking about? That guy's a walking stream o' consciousness, without the consciousness.
Paradox is a mess.
Couldn't go on long enough about how he could care less about not being one of the "in" bloggers.
And he should be jailed for adverb abuse.
I play a little game: as soon as I get to the word "obstreperous," I stop reading. It saves a lot of brain damage. Haven't finished one of his posts yet.
So there was a conference call, he didn't get invited, he knows of a couple of people who did, he saw links to the transcript but didn't provide them, and GO HEALTH CARE!
And the rest is him trying to be clever. And failing miserably at it.
Ugh. I want to tell him how much he sucks, but it's not worth the effort.
...and GO HEALTH CARE!
Maybe we could set up a blogger deathmatch between Paradox and Deacon Blues!
As long as neither of them survives.
Is there anyone left on that site who can write worth a damn? Otherwise, just post something that'll bring out the trolls so we can scuffle. That's the fun part anyway.
Deacon just annoys me, and now I realize he's a closet puma. I'm getting sick of the left falling into the posturing of "I'm not an Obamabot, see??? I'm criticizing him." As if it's a badge of honor. Sure, there's reason to criticize, but fookin' A, get over the primary already! If you don't criticize, you've drunk the koolaid, or if a puma hasn't seen you criticize, then you're a koolaid drinker. If you don't put him down in every sentence you just might be an Obamabot... Not once have I seen anyone say don't criticize, just people saying "stop it with the knee jerk shit." I'm getting so I can't stand the left any more than the right.
But yeah, Death Match 2009 - I'm in, as long as there are no winners!
Is there anyone left on that site who can write worth a damn?
I hear that Erin Alecto chick is fookin' brill, but she never posts.
Great minds, eh? Some Buddhists we are...
Brill, huh? I like it. But I've never heard of her. Another name on the banner we never hear from, I guess.
Nitwit! That's me. And no, I can't get it up to write something publishable these days.
Mary and Steve are still the best. eRiposte goes into way too much detail for me.
And yes, Erin is awesome.
May I just say SoS is pretty awesome hisse'f!
Mwah!
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