Race Relations: Having A Conversation

Race Relations

George Zimmerman.

Treyvon Martin

Race.

I’ve never not thought that we needed to have a conversation about race.  Of course we need to have a conversation and we have to have one now more so than in the recent past.  It hasn’t been since Obama – McCain in 2008 that we’ve talked about race in a significant manner.  And this moment in time seems more poignant.

So yeah, let’s have that conversation.

And that means putting on your big girl panties.  A conversation means interaction; interaction in ways that might be difficult, emotional and divergent from your own views.

So here is Bill:

Controversial?  Yup.  Opinionated?  Yup.  A conversation starter?  Yup.

A response:

So, Hayes has an opinion.  I get that.  And his opinion is that he doesn’t like O’Reilly’s opinion.  Which, I guess, is fine.  But what we’re trying to do here is have a conversation.  Which, like I said, is about engaging with UNlike minded people.

Hayes isn’t doing that here.  What he’s doing is anti-conversation having.  What he’s doing is offering a soliloquy, a speech of one with no option of dissenting views.

Which, like I said, is fine.  But it’s not a conversation.  And we need to have that conversation.

7 responses to “Race Relations: Having A Conversation

  1. I want to comment on the second video and blacks being targeted. I am a white man and have lived in the Twin Cities for 20 years. I have driven up and down some of the worst neighborhoods at all hours of the day. I have never been pulled over for no reason… when by myself or with other white people. About 17 years ago, I was stationed in Mpls while in the Marine Corps. On one particular night, Myself, a good buddy of mine in the Corps and two friends we knew in the Navy were driving in St Paul, I was the only white dude. I cant remember where we were going or where we had been, that doesn’t matter. As we were driving on Snelling ave in St Paul, we were pulled over by the St Paul police. We were all told to get out of the car. We all thought this was weird as we had done nothing wrong. We all got out and that is when my Marine buddy and I recognized one of the cops as a reservist in the unit in which we served! Awesome, right? He’ll see who we are and straighten everything out. Nope. He wouldn’t look at either one of us. I asked him what was up and he walked right by me. After all of us were searched and it was determined that we weren’t doing anything illegal, we were told we were pulled over because someone reported this car stolen. I then started yelling “who reports a car stolen but the owner? My buddy is the owner! Why did we get pulled over”? They just got in their cars and pulled away. Nice, huh?

    Racism… its real. At all levels.

    • Racism… its real. At all levels.

      I don’t think anyone is making the case that racism, or bigotry or discrimination or prejudice doesn’t exist. I certainly am not.

      However, the point is, that with the first black president we should be able to have a conversation regarding race. And THAT means being able to offer your opinion without that opinion being attacked.

      Is Bill O right on all points? Most likely not.
      Is Bill O wrong on all points? Equally most likely not.

  2. Young black men commit homicide at a rate 10 times that of Hispanic and white men combined. Numbers don’t lie. Until that statistic changes, there will be racism. Period.

    • Until that statistic changes, there will be racism. Period.

      I think there are two parts to that.

      1. Until that stat changes, people are going to be more likely to view young black men, especially those on hoodies walking around a crime ridden neighborhood at night, with more suspicion than they otherwise would have.

      2. We as a nation have to come together and identify solutions that will bring that statistic down.

  3. Pingback: Race Conversation – Tarheel Red | The Rantings of Vern Rigg Kaine

  4. The Left does not desire a conversation, it wants a monologue. The Left is academia filtered through media, and academia lectures down to the proles who are then supposed to fall in line and vote for what they’re told.

    The last thing they want is dialogue — they simply aren’t interested in what the politically incorrect have to say.

    • The Left does not desire a conversation, it wants a monologue.

      Without a doubt this is true. In the same way they praise Occupy Wall Street protests and Moral Monday while mocking Tea Party gatherings.

      The Left is academia filtered through media, and academia lectures down to the proles who are then supposed to fall in line and vote for what they’re told.

      Could not have said it better myself.

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