Teenagers passing out racist fliers

[Himuro]

http://media.putfile.com/Racist-Fliers

-_-

Words cannot describe my emotions on this subject....
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She knows stuff.

[TruePerception]

You know, it never really said that the flier was racist, just that it talked about unfair societal situation against the supposed racial majority. The only mention racism was the supposed slurs on the page which the news station couldn't read (meaning its possible that they weren't really racist, but just taken in the wrong context, since we don't know what it says, we can't judge for sure). What really got me about this news report is when they interviewed the two heavy set black girls and the one said it would be rediculous to celebrate a white history month. If so, then why isn't black history rediculous. It's a definite double standard in the United States. African Americans get an entire month of their culture, asians get a day or two, mexicans get one day, and there is always a multicultural day in school (white isn't considered a culture for this case, or atleast it wasn't at my high school, which was quite diverse), the closest thing to a cultural day for whites is St. Patricks Daywhich wasn't even a culture day it was a religious holiday taken by the public as a day to get drunk. But its not just whites, but also Native Americans and Middle Easterners aren't considered for culture either. This topic also reminds me of an old friend in high school (he was actually an alumni with the band). He had tried to setup a European Club at the school. Why not? They had a Black Student Union, an Asian Club, A Pacific Islanders Club, a Latino group (I forget what they called themselves), but a European Club was throughly rejected and got huge grief, particularly from the Black Student Union. There was nothing racist about his intent, europeans do have culture, culture which was a huge founding of this country, but it was flat out rejected because the african-american students found it offensive. In that way, all such groups are racist and shouldn't be allowed, but if someone tried to shut down such groups, that would also be construed as racist activity. Why have we allowed this country to fall into such horrible unbalance just because we don't want to appear to have a racist nation. The fact will always remain, there will always be racial seperation of some sort, but the government cannot allow particular groups to much leway(sp?) and others absolutely none at all just because one group has a stronger history of being on the receiving end of racism. What I'm trying to get to is that everyone, regardless of any factors, should be completely equal, with no exceptions, free to be angry, free to dress as they please, and free to celebrate in their own way. As long as noone is harmed by such activity, why should any such thing be banned or frowned upon?
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Daily Funny Award for May 1st, 2008

[Arcana]

[Camus the Noble]

[Shrew]

Well, "white" is an amalgamation. For a long time, the Irish were not considered white. They were considered their own race, and faced quite a bit of prejudice. Eventually they became such a huge part of American Culture, and their accents started slipping away that they were considered to part of the norm, which is "white". The definition of "white" constantly changes.

There's no white history month, because what you study in school is white history. The purpose of Black History Month is to raise awareness about Black achievements that were glossed over. It's a reaction to not having any exposure for a long time.

European club doesn't make sense. Europe is too diverse to group into such a category. Austrian club, yeah; French club, yeah; Czech club, yeah; but Europe is way too broad. It's just a way of getting around calling it "white" club, which like I said, is just an arbitrary term. Latin groups, black groups, etc. share a specific culture/history. "White" does not. In addition, those clubs aren't allowed to ban members based on race. A "white" kid can join an African American Club, or an Asian Club (I actually this a lot); the only thing stopping them is their own fears, and the perceptions of the group, which can overcome.

Anyway, those kids were pretty stupid. One of them brought a good point about being called "Honky" which shouldn't be allowed, but that's not enough reason to do something this extreme.

I'd be interested in knowing what the racial slurs were.
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[Himuro]

I agree somewhat. There SHOULDN'T be a need for Black History month. However, when all we ever learn in school is from the white perspective and not everyone else's perspective, and we rarely ever touch on the other cultures that have helped create America, then what are going to do? Just make people forget? The white people have their history every single day, month, year, whatever, but for people like us who really can't even trace our family bloodlines further than the late 1800's because of slavery, yeah, we'd like to know our history. If you haven't noticed, everything is white in the country despite it's diverse population. Every tv channel is white, most advertisements are white. When some people of another ethnic group have their own thing for awhile, the white people go batshit. What's with that? Until they full integrate everyone's history into American textbooks it's needed. In fact, I, as a black person, wish that Asian had their own month and Hispanics as well to balance it out. It's all American history but unfortunately we never learn about it.
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[TruePerception]

European doesn't exactly specify white, because australians are also white, not to mention Spain is part of Europe. If I had wanted to study European culture in school with a group of my peers and be allowed to gather on school campus, why should that not be allowed. There is a definite amount of culture from Europe, though other cultures would say there is none. This is only because this country was founded on European culture, so its just the norm to Americans, but it is certainly there. For one example, much of the music that we listen to today, even pop music and rock, has strong foundations from western classical music, which comes mostly from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Russia and other surrounding countries.

Edit: this last statment is made clear for any who read/play music as much of music is written in either english, german, french, or italian.
Also, to himuro. We don't learn white history in America, we learn US history, Global History, and how our Government and Economics systems work. The emphasis is not on white culture, it is on American culture. If you payed attention in high school, there was much reference to injustice and inequality in early America towards African-Americans, Asians, and Irish (as, I believe, Camus mentioned) Edit: oops sorry, Shrew

[Shrew]

What is the path of white history? Greeks-Romans-Medieval Europe-Renaissance-Industrial Age-Modern Times. Maybe you had a different world history class, but that's pretty much what we studied in it. Oh, there was a chapter or two on China, a nation which was often powerful than the west at any of those given times. We never studied the Arab nations, even though they were much more advanced than Medieval Europe, and keep the scientific advance of the Greeks alive during that period until the Renaissance saw a revival of interest in Europe. Most Greek texts we have today are translations from Arabic.

My point is that world history courses tend to be focused on Western civilization, "white civilization", because that is what is currently in power. We tend to follow the forces that went into developing America, the west, while ignoring those that created other powers in China and India.

There is a great deal of talk about inequality in class, but only in regards to America or western imperialism. You don't spend much time studying the history of Africa, or much of Asia. In fact, the China chapters in my classes focused mainly on the fall of China, when it was taken over by western Imperialist nations. Heck, even Japan doesn't get much focus until the Meiji Restoration, when in began being influenced by the west.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't study Western History. It's important to know where we came from, and how history works. But the history of other cultures and nations is also important, and needs more recognition.

And you just proved my point that European is too broad a concept. You talk about how Spain is also in Europe, and is not "white". Europe is too divided to just have a huge club devoted to it. There is too much, and each nation is very different. The music of England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Russia are all different and have their own unique traits. They are not just European music.

No one is denying that countries in Europe have cultures, I'm just saying that "Europe" as a whole does not have a single definable culture. Trying to create a European Club is like trying to make a "White" Club because both are just amalgamations of several distinct groups.

I mean, what is white? Depending on your definition, Jews are not white, Spaniards are not white, Irish are not white, Eastern Europeans are not white, Italians are not white, people of mixed race (say 1/16th black) are not white, Turks are not white, Germans are not white, French are not white, Scandinavians are not white. In the end, all you're left with is Anglo-Saxon is white, and really, how many people are Anglo-Saxon.
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Fear our Vagueness.

[TruePerception]

I wasn't saying that Spanish are not white, I was simply saying that they are a part of Europe, though most people associate them, rather, with Mexico and South America. As far as music, I was talking about Western Classical, which I have studied. Yes there are differences between different parts of Europe and there take on classical music, but it is called Western Classical, because it is the classical or original styles of music in the western world. Also if you break down the musical roots, most come from Germany, but all Western classical music has the same foundations, even though there are subtle differences. And, all europeans are considered white until you break them down to point of origin, in which terms such as black, white, brown, yellow, and pink dissapear. "White" is basically racial profiling. People are people, and should be looked at as such, not as one the billion miriad colors of the rainbow. You say that European is too broad, but think of the fiasco that would occur if my friend in high school had said he wanted to start a German Club. Because of the strong sense of racial hatred towards the Germans due to there past Human Rights crimes, I would be suprised if complaints about his endeavors ended at just the local 10 o'clock news. Like I said before, his point was never one of racism and he (and his older brother, who I also knew) were very bright people, but also came from a diverse background and society. I live in the East San Francisco Bay Area. There is to much diversity in this area for any smart person to put there @$$ on the line by being so stupid as to be racist!
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Daily Funny Award for May 1st, 2008

[Shrew]

There was a German club at my school. Granted, it focused on speaking the language, but it also covered German culture and history.

If you start a German Club and focus on why Germans are better than everyone else because they have cooler culture and drink beer, then yes, that is wrong. If you start a German Club to focus on how German Culture is different and how it is different, but not neccesarily better than anything, that is great! If someone complains about that, then yes, I agree they are stupid.

I don't think your friend is stupid or racist for trying to start a European Club. He just felt that because there are Black Clubs and Asian Clubs, there should be a club for everyone else. The problem is that there is no "Everyone Else". That's too broad. You can't divide the world into "Black" or "White"; "Africans, Asians, and Indians" or "European". It's a world of "Africans", "Asians", "Indians", "Germans", "French", "English", "Italians", etc. No group is better, each is merely different.
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Fear our Vagueness.

[Camus the Noble]

[Himuro]

We're talking about American history here. What do you think white history is?
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[Jorge Prima]

*sigh* I really wanted to stay away from this topic. I knew I was going to be offended one way or another, but alas, here I am. Let's start on a happy note. At the very end of the video the news reporter looked pretty funny... Didn't he?

It was wrong for those kids to make those fliers, period, end of discussion. You can debate that the "poor kids wanted a club just like everyone else" that's ludicrous. They're just bigot little kids who where trying to be funny. I actually caught a few of them by pausing the video.


You have the United Negro College Fund
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Heehoah.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET.

If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) you would call us racist.
If we had a White Pride Day you would call us racist.
If we had a white history month, we'd be racist.

Blacks are allowed in Miss America... but they still have Miss
Miss "White America, we'd be racist.

If we had an organization for only whites to "advanc

If we had a college fund that only gave white students

In the Million Man March, you beloved that
If we marched for our race and rights you

Now, can you see where some people can get insulted? The whole tone of the filer sounded US vs THEM. If those kids were really tried of people calling him a "Honkey" why didn't he call a teacher? It's not like the administration is going to.....argh....never mind. Besides everything these kids have said, the one that gets me the most angry is the "The Million Man March" one, especially the last part which says "if we marched for our race and rights"

African Americans in America MARCHED because there fellow Americans did not believe that they had no right to vote in America. And the 40 aches and mule that the government promised that ever single African American would receive after slavery was abolished would have been helpful to say the least.

To say that Black History month is not needed, is an irresponsible statement. A lot of African Americans complain today, that they got the shortest month of the year. To say that it is not needed? That is just wrong. Why is Black history month important? Well, for educational standards for one, but also to remember all the people that fought for equal rights, and justice for all people.

I to, I'm California, actually from the bay area which is actually the most liberal place on earth! Even here there are racial hatred, towards Latinos. Although, everyone here calls them Mexican. Though, I have no Mexican blood in me, yet I get confused to be a Mexican.

I've been called many racist names,(trust me, they were not as nice as some mention on the news) I was looked down upon among other people because of my color. My father has seen in my hometown (which is today a VERY liberal place) a KKK rally taking place. People don't realize it, but at times, I feel like I live a in a different world than a "white" person. That is why black history month is important, and why kids who make such insulting remarks on school ground should be kicked out of school.

*phew* I'm glad I got that out of my chest. Oh, and please note, I did not mean to offend anyone, just giving my honest opinion.
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J et J

[Sophita]

Can't get the media file to work, so am just going on what's said in the thread....

I think "Asian" club (or "African" club) is too broad as much as a "European" club would be; after all, the culture of Korea is different from the culture of India which in turn is different from the culture of Japan or China or any so many other countries. To have a "French" club and an "Asian club" is placing one European culture higher than all Asian cultures combined.

[rane]

Did you also know that when the US defeated Spain in the islands of the Philippines. the country a colony becomes a colony again in the hands of the US.

ironic that US back then had colonized another country, when she itself fought for freedom from it's colonizers.


cmon "where is the love?''
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