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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (55224)	10/28/2002 3:33:02 PM
From: KLP	Respond to of 281500

Thank you Hawk. I too echo your words, especially these: But most of all, I find it extremely offensive when one political faction uses it to destroy the career of another minority (such as Powell) who have earned every bit of their recognition based upon their merit, and not on their race. Because the only way we're EVER going to get past this issue of race in this, or any other country, is to judge people not on their color, but on their ideals and their ability

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (55224)	10/28/2002 3:48:04 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Hawk, I wasn't really referring to your use of the word as I find you a most excellent commentator on a wide variety of matters [though with an excessive bias toward power as a defining aspect of relationships - to understand how limited the use of force is as a means of establishing and maintaining relationships, one need only think of raising a baby to adulthood, or marriage]. Your post just made me think of the meaninglessness of labels [your usage is usually good, as far as I understand the words]. It's the bossy types who want to run other people's lives for them who are the most enthusiastic users of labels - probably because it avoids the need to think and reason, which would lead to people running their own lives. Farming people like sheep hasn't had a good or successful track record. We the sheople! On the use of 'nigga', many decades ago, my father explained to me how some people can use the most polite words but be dripping with contempt, arrogance and bad manners. It's the tone and meaning behind words which matters, not the actual words. In our culture, calling somebody a 'useless bastard' could well be a term of endearment. We have a birthday song "Why was he/she born so beautiful, why was he/she born at all? S/he's no bloody use to anyone, s/he's no bloody use at all". I think nigga, useless bastard, and the birthday song are group inclusiveness, identity and reminders of the humanist idea that people are equal and community dependent. People outside the group don't get such affectionate denigration [which I hasten to add is not a racist word here]. They get polite, respectful words. People outside the group shouldn't presume use of affectionate abuse. I wouldn't walk into a group of melanin-rich people calling themselves nigga and presume to use the same word. That would be insulting to them and I would expect to fail in establishing any kind of relationship other than an invitation to depart the scene in less than formal terms. If things are really serious, such as a person being a criminal, people would use formal words - such as "Mr" Winn, which would not be a mark of respect, but of distancing. But "Mr" might also be simple respect. It's a complex business all that stuff and it's not surprising it's hard to keep international relations on the straight and narrow. Okay, over and out. Mqurice

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (55224)	10/28/2002 5:43:05 PM
From: Condor	Respond to of 281500

Hell... at least Jerry Falwell, moron that he is, had the good sense to apologize for his comments on Muhammed... Point # 1 ...agreed..he is a moron Point # 2...disagree.......not good sense....it was simply outright fear. C

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (55224)	10/28/2002 6:45:07 PM
From: Neeka	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

But some people need to perpetuate the race card.. In fact, some political activists use race blatantly in order to accomplish other goals having nothing to do with race. Some, and I opine Belafonte is one of these, use race to demean all blacks that disagree with him political viewpoints. He uses race to prevent someone of a different political view from being able to debate policy on its merits... It's an incredibly narrow minded, and down-right racist perspective for him to have. And it should be liberals, not conservatives, who should be taking the lead in admonishing him and anyone else who uses such tactics. It is narrow minded, but I think it is a political tactic that has been used quite successfully in the past. What isn't discussed is the disrespect of, and attack on Colin Powell's honor. That is the real offense here. In his response, Colin Powell proved his superior moral integrity. It would also be interesting to read a discussion regarding HB's motives, but probably best left to another thread. It matters that it is another black man making these charges, but it could have been any black man. Harry Belafonte is so far let that is it difficult for most anyone to really take him too seriously. (the HB sheople excluded) Perhaps he needed to jump start a very badly sagging career, want's a new boat, craves attention? M