With the riots, looting, protests, and general anarchy and lunacy sweeping across the United States, I'd like to discuss what other Americans think about the question of race. Please, feel free to contribute to this thread! Thanks.
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Black Lives Matter
Absolutely! It cannot be stated more clearly. The entire nation can proudly stand together as one and proclaim Black Lives Matter. In a movement to continue to drive our country toward true equality for everyone. After we are all fully focused on continuing the struggle to end all forms of discrimination, literally marching toward this goal together, we have again been distracted and fractured. Instead of being focused on the universal goal to make America the greatest nation on earth, through working within the framework of the U.S. Constitution and laws written, amended and corrected towards this goal, we get sidetracked. This is where our society immediately goes into anarchy, hatred, and division because those who care to do so, have educated themselves on the Black Lives Matter organization and the anarchist who run it, and say Hell no!
A Vox article from July 11, 2016, says a better way to look at the BLM's catch phrase is to see it is Black Lives Matter, Too. Definitely! But, it is not really the goal of the leaders of the organization to assimilate into American society as equals. They are avowed Marxists who seek black power, through the dismantling of the nation. In fact, the American society we have, based on capitalism is not what the three founders of BLM want at all. What the majority of their supporters fail to see, is the stated radical beliefs and goals of the founders, which is more in line with the violent black power movements of the 1960s.
On the BLM website, the bio of Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors is all flowers and rainbows, avoiding her actual hateful and radical anti-American views. But, video interviews don't disappear once they hit the internet. Her true training and ideology is Marxism as she stated in the video below. "We actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular are trained organizers. We are trained Marxists*. We are super versed on ideological theories."
Patrisse Cullors
BLM, Executive Director and Board President
* Marxism is a political and economic way of organizing society, where the workers own the means of production. Socialism is a way of organizing a society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the proletariat. Karl Marx proposed that this was the next necessary step in the progress of history.
The ultimate goal of Marxism is to do away with the entire capitalist system and establish socialism. No private ownership of the means of production by the bourgeoisie but instead by the proletariat (the workers). We know how this turns out; the most recent example being Venezuela mentioned later. But, beyond this, the three founders of BLM are way more radical and violent than they want their "woke" followers to see. Our Constitution and entire society are at odds with their ultimate goals.
Opal Tometi, one of the three founders of BLM, not mentioned as a trained Marxist in the previous video, however holds the same core philosophy as the other two. The ultimate move to full Socialism and the destruction of the entire economic structure of America. Her views are in line with those of former ruler of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez pictured below.
Cofounder of Black Lives Matter, Opal Tometi (on right), posing with Nicholas Maduro. About 6,000 people a year are murdered by Venezuelan “law enforcement” — six times the number of people killed by US cops, in a country 12 times smaller that has banned private gun ownership.
It is clear the founders of BLM are not out for justice, insofar as justice and equality for all. The movement has latched onto a very emotional subject and gained millions of followers, because they are trained to take the weak-minded and pander to them. Not to be insulting, but from the interaction with BLM supporters all over the nation, memorialized on video, it is clear they have no idea the true nature of the organization or don't care. America is full of sheeple willing to take an emotional subject which everyone supports, the ending excessive use of force by police, and just fall in line with those who have a completely different agenda and then put on the blinders. It is not hard to see how a nation like Germany could be convinced to follow the Nazis, considering how many are now marching with an organization bent on the total destruction of America as we know it.
Know BLM and What You are Supporting
https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/
What We Believe
Four years ago, what is now known as the Black Lives Matter Global Network began to organize. It started out as a chapter-based, member-led organization whose mission was to build local power and to intervene when violence was inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
In the years since, we’ve committed to struggling together and to imagining and creating a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive.
Black Lives Matter began as a call to action in response to state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. Our intention from the very beginning was to connect Black people from all over the world who have a shared desire for justice to act together in their communities. The impetus for that commitment was, and still is, the rampant and deliberate violence inflicted on us by the state.
Enraged by the death of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent acquittal of his killer, George Zimmerman, and inspired by the 31-day takeover of the Florida State Capitol by POWER U and the Dream Defenders, we took to the streets. A year later, we set out together on the Black Lives Matter Freedom Ride to Ferguson, in search of justice for Mike Brown and all of those who have been torn apart by state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. Forever changed, we returned home and began building the infrastructure for the Black Lives Matter Global Network, which, even in its infancy, has become a political home for many.
Ferguson helped to catalyze a movement to which we’ve all helped give life. Organizers who call this network home have ousted anti-Black politicians, won critical legislation to benefit Black lives, and changed the terms of the debate on Blackness around the world. Through movement and relationship building, we have also helped catalyze other movements and shifted culture with an eye toward the dangerous impacts of anti-Blackness.
These are the results of our collective efforts.
The Black Lives Matter Global Network is as powerful as it is because of our membership, our partners, our supporters, our staff, and you. Our continued commitment to liberation for all Black people means we are continuing the work of our ancestors and fighting for our collective freedom because it is our duty.
Every day, we recommit to healing ourselves and each other, and to co-creating alongside comrades, allies, and family a culture where each person feels seen, heard, and supported.
We acknowledge, respect, and celebrate differences and commonalities.
We work vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people.
We intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.
We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position. To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a prerequisite for wanting the same for others.
We see ourselves as part of the global Black family, and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black people who exist in different parts of the world.
We are guided by the fact that all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status, or location.
We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.
We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.
We build a space that affirms Black women and is free from sexism, misogyny, and environments in which men are centered.
We practice empathy. We engage comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.
We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.
We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.
We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).
We cultivate an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with the capacity to lead and learn.
We embody and practice justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.
Yes, Donald Trump Said This!
"We must love each other, show affection for each other and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.
Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs including the KKK, neo Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
We are a nation founded on the truth, that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our creator, we are equal under the law and we are equal under our Constitution."
President Donald J. Trump, August 14, 2017
Goodyear, Goodbye!
After listening to Goodyear explain their policy concerning political and social expression in the workplace, how could you possible characterize their stance as anything but discrimination? It's easy in 2020. In 2020 reality has taken a 180° turn and nothing is obvious or common sense anymore.
At the 05:27 point of the video, a spokesperson from Goodyear clearly and plainly says it is ok to show pride by one race and certain political/social organizations, but not others. Discrimination pure and simple. It would be very interesting to hear someone debate the validity of the argument or color this as anything else.
The craziest part of this subject and my interaction with the Leftist Brits mentioned earlier is Jordan Peterson actually acknowledges the existence of white privilege. This black American man does not!
Although I have never had a positive outcome talking to Leftists, I have had positive and mutually beneficial, thought-provoking discussions with very liberal friends and acquaintances. The problem is of course, you really cannot tell the difference on the surface between a Liberal and a Leftist. You must wait and gauge their reaction when debating with facts and logic. It's the only way to see if their stance is based on reality or emotion. A Leftist or Left Wingnut as I call them in my book Wingnuts: The American Mind and Political Landscape, will always get "triggered" and get angry and loud to the point no further discussion is possible. I've experienced it a few times firsthand until I learned the lesson of, better understanding with whom I am talking.
Recent though, I decided to give it another try with a friend of a friend on Facebook on the subject of "white privilege" and the result was just as I should have expected. Ironically, the discussion had begun about the BLM movement and why I thought they were divisive and not good fo the cause of ending police violence. But, quickly went to the subject of white privilege, surely because the participants looked at my FB profile and saw I am a white man. In any event, it didn't end well and went something like this.
After only a few comments into the discussion from both sides, their true colors began to show. Apparently they were triggered by me not acknowledging even the existence of a white privilege in America in 2020. The first insult came when one respondent asked "are you drunk?" because I would not say I believe I had grown up with white privilege.
Having grown up poor in the American south, joined the Army at 17, as did both of my brothers, and was willing to fight and die for my country, everything I earned was from hard work only. No privilege was ever afforded me, period. Their argument of course continued along the same narrative lines they have been brainwashed to believe without question, I benefitted from white privilege even if I didn't realize it.
As I stood in line with others of all races to get my physical exam to enter the military, I don't recall them letting me go to the front of the line, or a special line for white guys. They never said, "Ok, all the white guys go to the front of the line for chow." They never put a big WHITE stamp on my ID card allowing me to use it whenever I wanted special privileges. Nope, we all did the exact same shit. As my career progressed or stalled, I knew it was because of my performance or decisions and had nothing to do with the color of my skin. I know for a fact those around me of all colors felt the same about their careers.
When I shared a video of Jordan Peterson talking about the subject in a very intelligent and insightful way, the response was "if we have gotten to the point we are talking about Jordan Peterson, then this conversation is over." Shortly afterwards I bowed out of it as well, after realizing only then, the four people who were debating me were young white women from England! (one saying she is mixed) One thing I can guarantee, none of them has ever listened to Jordan Peterson with an open mind and none of them had spent any period growing up in America after the 1960s. They were all just ignorant idealists who have been brainwashed to think America is the same as it was in the 1950s and all the social ills of western society were caused by the evil white man and I have to pay the price.
There is a narrative in America which would say the Republican Party is the party of racists and not the Democratic Party. However, as pointed out with facts laid out by Dr. Carol Swain in this video, it cannot be honestly disputed the party which most supported freedom and opportunity for black after the civil war was and is the Republican Party. It can also not be disputed, and is backed by facts, southern whites were against the Republican Party and formed the KKK in an attempt to terrorize southern blacks and their white supporters against exercising political rights. Any attempt to spin these facts about the KKK is politically motivated, false, and an attempt to deceive. 1) The KKK was formed by former Confederate Soldiers 2) Was formed to intimidate southern black and white Republicans through violence and 3) Aligned itself with the Democratic Party https://www.history.com/topics/reconstruction/ku-klux-klan