Is America a Nation of cowards...
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Original Post
when it comes to race?
I don't think he should have used the word coward in what he was saying... that is for sure. But I get it.
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"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Holder said.
Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, but "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."
Holder's speech echoed President Barack Obama's landmark address last year on race relations during the hotly contested Democratic primaries, when the then-candidate urged the nation to break "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years" and bemoaned the "chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races." Obama delivered the speech to try to distance himself from the angry rhetoric of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Holder cited that speech by Obama as part of the motivation for his words Wednesday, saying Americans need to overcome an ingrained inhibition against talking about race.
"If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other. It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified," Holder told reporters after the speech.
In the speech, Holder urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for honest discussion of racial matters, including issues of health care, education and economic disparities.
Race, Holder said, "is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable... If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."
cont....
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/18/ag-holder-race-makes-us-a_n_16793...
Posted at 11:31pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
Responses
We're cowards. Politically correct too, and it sucks-- people can have a black college scholarship fund, but not a white college scholarship fund.
We might as well just all wear blindfolds, it would get rid of the stupid race issues fast. Race shouldn't matter.
Posted at 11:33pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
mathaowny
mathaowny says:
We're cowards. Politically correct too, and it sucks-- people can have a black college scholarship fund, but not a white college scholarship fund.
We might as well just all wear blindfolds, it would get rid of the stupid race issues fast. Race shouldn't matter.
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lol. Are you referring to the United Negro College fund?
Posted at 11:37pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
I doubt mathaowny means that there shouldn't be a college fund for black students. I think she means that there should also be a college fund for white students. Actual equality. I could be wrong about what she means.
Posted at 11:46pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
I don't know that cowards is the right word.
Perhaps an unspoken awkwardness, at least amongst those who are not biased against people of color?
Posted at 11:47pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
That is why I asked.
I will say this. Do you wonder why funds like that were created?
Posted at 11:47pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
CharmingDarling
CharmingDarling says:
I don't know that cowards is the right word.
Perhaps an unspoken awkwardness, at least amongst those who are not biased against people of color?
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I agree coward wouldn't be the right word.
Posted at 11:48pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
all i have to say is i hate all the "PC" crap about race.
my mom is a teacher and her students (10 year olds) told her that black is a bad word and is raciest and this is the most mixed class i have seen 5 white kids, one black girl and the rest are bout half middle eastern or asian
Posted at 11:49pm Feb 18, 2009 EST
I think that it should be a fund for "college students" not "black college students" or "white college students". It's discrimination to say you can let one group of people have a fund, but deny the other group because it would be 'racist' if they made a fund that fit their race.
Part of the reason racism still lives is that we keep dividing ourselves like this. No division might lesson the stupid racism, don't you think?
Posted at 11:50pm Feb 18, 2009 EST