Racism, Alive and Well

[Danmark]

The 'liberal' media is talking about their claim that no Republican leaders are attending the 50th anniversary of the Selma march. This doesn't or shouldn't have anything to do with religion, but "liberals" and democrats and those who attend more liberal churches seem to be more sensitive to racial concerns and issues than "conservatives," Republicans, and the Christian right, So...

Many of us have appreciated at least our perception of how race relations have improved and how there is less noticed discrimination these days. That is why our group of 12 or so lawyers who meet weekly to discuss the latest cases from the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court were so incredulous reading the facts of a 2014 case you can read @ https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/701282.pdf Our group is mostly "white" with two Latinos. Essentially the case was about one guy who complained about all the racist and sexist talk going on. The company fired him for complaining, not those engaging in the racist talk on a routine basis. The COA upheld the trial court's award of $600,969 in damages, attorney fees, and costs. I don't want to repeat the language that was used, but you can see it at the link provided.

So two questions for debate:
1. Have race relations really gotten much better in terms of the hearts and minds of Americans?
2. Is there evidence the Christian Right and the Republican party in general is more racist, or less inclined to be sympathetic to matters that involve racial discrimination?

[Danmark]

You wrote:

The root of this discussion was the idea that conservatives can't possibly have any reason for hating Obama other than race.

Please show where I said this.

What you said was:

In lieu of an objective motive for such hate, one considers irrational motives like race hatred.

Please admit there is a huge difference between what I said and "conservatives can't possibly have any reason for hating Obama other than race."

Let me help your analysis. In your version you essentially say there could not possibly be any explanation besides race.

What I said was one considers irrational motives, race being one of them.

I may not always succeed, but I try to choose my words carefully and I try to avoid broad, sweeping statements. You've turned my carefully worded, conditional statement into an absolute.

[rookiebatman]

You wrote:

The root of this discussion was the idea that conservatives can't possibly have any reason for hating Obama other than race.

Please show where I said this.

What you said was:

In lieu of an objective motive for such hate, one considers irrational motives like race hatred.

Please admit there is a huge difference between what I said and "conservatives can't possibly have any reason for hating Obama other than race."

Let me help your analysis. In your version you essentially say there could not possibly be any explanation besides race.

What I said was one considers irrational motives, race being one of them.

I may not always succeed, but I try to choose my words carefully and I try to avoid broad, sweeping statements. You've turned my carefully worded, conditional statement into an absolute.

That's a fair point to an extent, but I still feel like there's not a whole lot of difference between what I said and what you said. You said here, "one considers irrational motives, race being one of them." But in truth, isn't race the only one you've given any real consideration to? (You gave passing mention to religious ideologies and such, but it didn't seem to me like that was in the context of a reason that conservatives hate Obama.) And doesn't the phrase "in lieu of an objective motive" indicate that you don't believe there are any objective/rational motives to be found? If you answer both of those questions in the affirmative, then, as I see it, you are essentially saying that no motivations other than racism are under consideration.

[Danmark]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/wor ... e23383914/

The University of Oklahoma is looking to suspend or expel students who were found singing a song filled with racial epithets, its president said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the university closed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, which was linked to a video of students singing the song, ordered its members to move out of fraternity’s house and labeled the actions of those involved “disgraceful.�
....
Students were seen chanting in unison, using offensive language referring to blacks and vowing never to admit them into the fraternity.

The point of the OP is that this kind of thing is still going on. The more disappointing aspect is that it is not lone individuals, but even entire groups of young college kids.

[WinePusher]

Part of the problem is the great success President Obama has had both economically and in winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and not getting us into any new quagmires. The objective facts that compare the Bush administration to Obama's are overwhelmingly in Obama's favor.

Gosh, I don't even know where to start with this. You think Obama has had great success when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan? You are aware that Iraq is being overrun by Islamic militants, and that the growth of ISIS is the fault of Obama's decision to not leave a residual military force behind, right? Don't take my word for it though, listen to Obama's own Secretary of Defense:

I have little doubt the Republicans would love to get us back into a hopeless, pointless, expensive, economy destroying military adventure in the middle East. That is why they treasonously had NetanYahoo* speak to Congress.

You said that Obama has had great success in winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I pointed out that Obama's decision to leave Iraq prematurely allowed ISIS to flourish, and I cited Obama's own Defense Secretary to back this up. You then respond with a totally irrelevant remark about Netanyahu. Please try to stay on point. You said that Obama has had great success in the Middle East, so please explain how ISIS taking over Iraq (because of Obama's poor judgment) can be considered a 'great success.'

In the meantime, please give me the objective financial/economic data that demonstrates this country is worse off economically in 2015 than they were in 2008.

I never said it was. You said that the economy has been a great success under Obama, without offering any evidence whatsoever. I responded by pointing out that GDP in the 4th quarter was weak, which is unbelievable given the fact that this is the we're approaching the 6th year of the recovery. I also pointed out the durable goods orders over the past months, especially during the Christmas season, were weak as well and I also pointed out that many discouraged workers are dropping out of the labor force. So, in light of this how can you say that the economy has been a great success under Obama?