My OU: get your torches ready

ToledoDeux

Jolaine83:

Okay, ladies, I enjoyed this - honestly - even if you did think I was a nightmare, an idiot, a whiny white girl, whatever.  My point was that it was an unpopular opinion and I knew I'd get flammed to hell for it.  But I learned something and I feel better for at least getting some opinions, either way.

I'm not going to keep responding for a while because I'm going to be truly tortured at the dentist.   It's not because I sulked away in shame.  But I'll probably respond more later.  I think this is something that should be talked about more.  Maybe there would be less racism if we understood all sides a little better.

I am truly LMAO that you see yourself as a valid part of the discussion on "ending" racism.

Jolaine83

Okay, this is my final post on this whole thing since it blew up a lot bigger than I figured it would.  It's obviously been cross posted on other boards.  And I can't take the time anymore to sort out posts and respond.  Well, that and I don't think many are actually here to read my posts.  This has become a bonfire.

I read all of the posts, despite the fact that many of them were written with the point of insulting me rather than furthering the discussion.  That's more than I can say for some of you. I shouldn't have written this as an UO because I did it on a whim during my son's naptime.  Obviously, I should have researched my points a little more so that my examples could have been better.  I definitely should have explained myself better in the first place.  And maybe this is such an explosive topic that I shouldn't have even mentioned it at all.  But it is unpopular opinion thursday, so I guess I fit that requirement.

And yes, it did take guts for me to say this.  Because I'm not usually one who starts debates like this.  It has nothing to do with being from Iowa (which is completely a pointless statement) and has everything to do with the fact that I don't like confrontation.  It's a personality thing.  I highly doubt my hands are shaking at this point because I'm an Iowan.  I just figured this would be a discussion where people could tell me they disagreed and why.  Like an adult conversation with a little flamming, not the bonfire of attempts at quick wit and mob mentality set in.

But now I can see why people DD things. And why they make their profiles private.  

Thanks for everyone who was adult about the conversation.  I really did see some flaws in my viewpoint and I can see how it looks from other POVs now.   That was my whole point.  How am I supposed to understand others without putting myself out there?

And I do want to apologize to anyone who was offended by my examples.  I certainly don't consider myself a victim of racism.  I was just trying to give examples of what I thought reverse racism was. Since I don't know your experiences, I couldn't include them.

My whole end point is this: all racism is wrong, no matter the color.  Obviously some is worse than others.  Judging someone for what they look like is wrong.  Maybe I was just too idealistic to think people could agree with that simple point.  I've just learned this arguments are best face to face rather then in written form. 

Everyone have a good 4th and hopefully I can come back after the weekend without the scarlet mark of this poorly worded UO.  Well, at least on my own boards, since I have no idea where the hell most of you came from.  Because seriously, it would be pathetic to judge me off of a post gone to hell and back like this one.

talltalltrees

I still want to know which programs you were cut out of for being white. 

mrsbecky07

talltalltrees:

I still want to know which programs you were cut out of for being white. 

I don't think we're ever going to know TTT.  

talltalltrees

mrsbecky07:

talltalltrees:

I still want to know which programs you were cut out of for being white. 

I don't think we're ever going to know TTT.  

Apparently not.

How convenient that she suddenly decided to stop posting after I asked a specific question.  

EmilyAndSammy

Wow... I got in on this way too late, but hopefully at least someone out there will see this... I just want it to be known that the OP does not represent the opinions of all Iowans.  Thank you and have a great day.

BalancingJane

ToledoDeux:

Jolaine83:

Okay, ladies, I enjoyed this - honestly - even if you did think I was a nightmare, an idiot, a whiny white girl, whatever.  My point was that it was an unpopular opinion and I knew I'd get flammed to hell for it.  But I learned something and I feel better for at least getting some opinions, either way.

I'm not going to keep responding for a while because I'm going to be truly tortured at the dentist.   It's not because I sulked away in shame.  But I'll probably respond more later.  I think this is something that should be talked about more.  Maybe there would be less racism if we understood all sides a little better.

I am truly LMAO that you see yourself as a valid part of the discussion on "ending" racism.

I am a little late to the game on this post that has clearly already become very nuanced, but I want to make a comment about this. 

IMO the OP did come across as naive and didn't make a very cogent argument (especially when she brought Hitler into it (sigh). However, as several people pointed out, she did make a point that rings as true for many people, especially white people who recognize that racism is wrong, haven't really experienced a lot of multi-racial interaction, and don't quite know how to move forward from there. It is just as wrong from a logical standpoint for a black person to make assumptions about a white person based on the color of her skin as it is the other way around. And it is racist (not reverse racism, that's a silly term).

As several people very rightly pointed out, this from of racism is not steeped with the history, the systemic implementation, and the overall oppression of white on black racism. 

 However, to imply that the OP cannot be part of the solution to "ending" racism is so disheartening. She has to be. If the only people who can be part of the solution are people who have it all figured out and who truly understand racism and oppression, society is in trouble, because that number is such a minority. The OP may not be at the point where she understands this problem, but she is questioning it, and questioning is the beginning of opening minds and changing attitudes. If more people were willing to have real, honest conversations with people who truly want to question the way that racism works, I think we would be able to move forward a lot faster than we are.