Who are you voting for in Nov and why?

[itadakimasu]

Shut up Animeniax . You don't even know what it is I have a problem with but you're talking about looking at things objectively, and I'm not one to defend black people. Anyway you already seem to have your mind made up as to what my POV is, which is why I said it would just be a waste of time.

I thought abdula was black?

anyhow... lets start calculating up all the welfare and food stamps that have been paid out to black people and then add up the money black athletes and rappers and actors make... subtract from the total pupulation of blacks at end of slavery multiplied by whatever reparations they were supposed to get and value of however many acres... etc..

black people would then end up owing some back taxes on over-paid repairations.

[Animeniax]

He is, which explains why he's upset by my comments.

White folks get just as much in welfare and food stamps as the blacks, and make up a higher percentage of those on welfare because of their sheer numbers. Only yellow Asians as a group are too proud to accept handouts.

[Abdula]

I thought abdula was black?

I am black and I think the idea of reparations is ridiculous, and any black person who suddenly feels entitled to anything, if Obama is elected, should be beaten.

-Missed Ani's post. Animeniax you're an idiot.

[Animeniax]

Your ad hominem attacks are nothing more than spam and should be moderated by a moderator.

You may think the idea of reparations are ridiculous, but then you would be among the minority of minorities.

[Sapphire]

You guyz make me laugh.

Anyway, as I am slightly liberal, I will be voting for Obama (not that it makes a difference who I vote for in NY or TX). I also like the fact that he thinks scientific research is mega important and his goal to expand various technologies etc. (I won't get into everyyything)

[Abdula]

Ad hominem, really? I guess you would know better than anyone else right.

.I personally feel that blacks will unnecessarily see his victory as a cultural statement that they deserve something more: more affirmative action, maybe slavery reparations, more representation in public offices, more executive jobs in corporations, etc., whether they earn it and deserve it or not. The funny thing is, Obama himself is a rich elitist who has more in common with wealthy white people than he does with 95% of black people.

Anyway this statement just completely took me by surprise and I wanted to know what you were basing this on. I'll agree that the only thing Obama has in common with the majority of black people is his skin color, but that is what makes him black right. It just seemed to me like you were making baseless assumptions about how the black community feels about Obama, and black people in general. Oh and I don't think Obama running for President is any kind of cultural statement.

Anyway I'm not going to waste time arguing with you about your political views or black people.

[animus]

I'd go and vote for obama, but it doesn't really matter since I live in NY, am too lazy, and popular votes not gonna mean shit anyways.

[The Heretic Azazel]

Your ad hominem attacks are nothing more than spam and should be moderated by a moderator.

Much like your blatant racism.

[Animeniax]

I was wondering when someone was going to throw that out there. Congrats on being the first. I prefer to think of it as looking at things from a cultural perspective versus one of race.

I wonder how many blacks you or even Abdula talk to or deal with on a daily basis. I get the feeling Abdula normally only interacts with blacks in his immediate family. I get the feeling your interaction with black people is limited to those who might be customers at work or that you see on TV.

I don't mean to generalize too much, but I think my views are a lot better researched than either of yours.

[Sapphire]

Chris Rock said the exact same thing about black people after the election. Either way, generalizing about entire "races" is completely retarded and should only be used for humor anyway.

[Abdula]

Wow Ani way to go. I'm glad that your views are so well researched and I'm glad you know more about black people than an actual black person. I don't even know what to say to that.

You're so pathetic its laughable and as far as generalizing goes. I think you missed this post.

My views on the election:

If Obama wins, racial tensions in the US will become a major issue. I heard on the news today some white guys got arrested for planning to kill black people and Obama. I see something terrible happening to Obama if he is elected president, and the subsequent riots and racial anger will be equally terrible.

I personally feel that blacks will unnecessarily see his victory as a cultural statement that they deserve something more: more affirmative action, maybe slavery reparations, more representation in public offices, more executive jobs in corporations, etc., whether they earn it and deserve it or not. The funny thing is, Obama himself is a rich elitist who has more in common with wealthy white people than he does with 95% of black people.

The upside of his presidency is that Obama can say things that a white politician can't without being branded a racist. He can say "black folks need to take care of their own business and stop relying on government handouts" and guys like Al Sharpton can't dismiss him as a bigot and call for his impeachment. These same kinds of statements were what got Jesse Jackson so upset with Obama when Jackson made the infamous "I want to cut his nuts off" comment.

[Animeniax]

Wow Ani way to go. I'm glad that your views are so well researched and I'm glad you know more about black people than an actual black person. I don't even know what to say to that.

On the one hand you state Obama is black but has little in common with most blacks, then on the other you claim that it's not possible a non-black person knows more about the black mindset than an actual black person would.

Chris Rock said the exact same thing about black people after the election. Either way, generalizing about entire "races" is completely retarded and should only be used for humor anyway.

All of Chris Rock's humor is rooted in truth as he knows it and demonstrates his personal convictions. He chooses comedy as a medium for social commentary, but humor aside, his social and political views come through in his work.

The funny thing about humans is that we do everything possible to make it easy to categorize us, and we have an inherent need to group people and concepts together so we can understand and deal with it. Kind of like how The Heretic Azazel grouped me with the "racists" so he could get a general grasp of what I was saying and then deal with it by dismissing my ideas as racist rhetoric so he could ignore it and get back to his tv show.

[Sapphire]

"All of Chris Rock's humor is rooted in truth as he knows it and demonstrates his personal convictions. He chooses comedy as a medium for social commentary, but humor aside, his social and political views come through in his work."

Of course, as do many comedians. Hope you don't think he believes everything he says though.

Doesn't mean it's true though.

"The funny thing about humans is that we do everything possible to make it easy to categorize us, and we have an inherent need to group people and concepts together so we can understand and deal with it."

Sometimes categories are relevant and there is a need for them, especially in anthro. However usually when categorizing actions based on race....

[Animeniax]

Of course, as do many comedians. Hope you don't think he believes everything he says though.

I can't say if he believes everything he says, but there's no reason to believe otherwise. Sure on some subjects he'll caricature points in order to get a laugh.

Doesn't mean it's true though.

Doesn't matter if it's true or not, just means people can't dismiss my argument as racist, since here's a black guy who thinks the same as me.

Sometimes categories are relevant and there is a need for them, especially in anthro. However usually when categorizing actions based on race....

Yes but we're talking about ideas and beliefs, not actions. And you'd be surprised how much race actually does tell you about a person. As they say, stereotypes are rooted in truth.

[Sapphire]

Doesn't matter if it's true or not, just means people can't dismiss my argument as racist, since here's a black guy who thinks the same as me.

So black people who say something similar to you aren't racist?

[Abdula]

just means people can't dismiss my argument as racist, since here's a black guy who thinks the same as me.

Actually we still can, it doesn't matter if a black person said it too, you can't because you're not black. Are you not familiar with the Don Imus scandal. Besides there are numerous black racists out there, i.e. black people who hate their own race.

Yes but we're talking about ideas and beliefs, not actions. And you'd be surprised how much race actually does tell you about a person. As they say, stereotypes are rooted in truth.

I wouldn't say rooted in truth. Sure no matter what the stereotype is you're bound to find people who fit the bill but generalizations are generalizations.You can't judge an entire race of people based on some stupid stereotype. Anyway I think thats enough we're way off topic as it is.

[Animeniax]

So black people who say something similar to you aren't racist?

That was the litmus test proposed by Abdula, who is also black.

[Sapphire]

You people and your stupid double standards. I'll come back when this conversation turns logical.

[Animeniax]

Actually we still can, it doesn't matter if a black person said it too, you can't because you're not black. Are you not familiar with the Don Imus scandal. Besides there are numerous black racists out there, i.e. black people who hate their own race.

I would say they hate aspects of their own culture, much like when my Mexican friend makes fun of other Mexicans who write their names in calligraphy on the rear window of their car. The Don Imus deal was completely different, he mocked the lingo and culture by parroting the words. 99% of the time you hear the phrase "nappy-headed hos", it's a black guy saying it. I don't doubt that Imus has racist beliefs, but in this case I think it was a witch-hunt.

I wouldn't say rooted in truth. Sure no matter what the stereotype is you're bound to find people who fit the bill but generalizations are generalizations.You can't judge an entire race of people based on some stupid stereotype. Anyway I think thats enough we're way off topic as it is.

Back on topic, if I was voting, I'd vote for Obama.

[itadakimasu]

but you're not voting?

I just wanted to vote for president... i didn't relaly like that they have all sorts of other people to vote for on the ballot that i've never heard of. Or people running uncontested, there were 4 like that and i didn't vote for them because a vote requires 2 or more parties.

i voted straight libertarian for criminal court justices and then mixed and matched my other votes.

and this.. is our democratic process. Marvel at its wonder.