Only in America

[kendoiwan]

http://blogmaverick.com/2008/09/18/thanks-for-the-advice-on-josh/:mellow:

Edit:http://freedarko.blogspot.com/2008/09/high-tech-lynching-or-exercise-in.html

[kendoiwan]

:popcorn:


Below is Star Jones' informed and provocative response to Bill O'Reilly's

comment about 'having a lynching party for Michelle Obama if he finds

out that she truly has no pride in her country.'

Bill O'Reilly said: 'I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama

unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels.

If that's how she really feels - that is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever -

then that's legit. We'll track it down.'

Star said: 'I'm sick to death of people like Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, and his stupid

and ignorant thinking that he can use a racial slur against a black woman who

could be the next First Lady of the United States, and then give a half-assed

apology and not be taken to task and called on his crap. What the hell is if it's

'legit,' you're going to 'track it down?'

And then what do you plan to do? How dare this white man with a
microphone and the trust of the public think that in 2008, he can still
put the words "lynch and party' together in the same sentence with a
reference to a black woman; in this case, Michelle Obama? I don't care

how you 'spin it' in the 'no spin zone,' that statement in and of itself
is racist, unacceptable and inappropriate on every level.

O'Reilly claims his comments were taken out of context. Please
don't insult my intelligence while you're insulting me. I've read the
comments and heard them delivered in O'Reilly's own voice; and there
is no right context that exists. So, his insincere apology and 'out-of-context'
excuse is not going to cut it with me.

And just so we're clear, this has nothing to do with the 2008
presidential election, me being a Democrat, him claiming to be an
Independent while talking like a Republican, the liberal media or a
conservative point of view. To the contrary, this is about crossing a
line in the sand that needs to be drawn based on history, dignity, taste
and truth.

Bill, I'm not sure of where you come from, but let me tell you what
the phrase 'lynching party' conjures up to me, a black woman born in
North Carolina ..

Those words depict the image of a group of white men who are angry
with the state of their own lives getting together, drinking more than they
need to drink, lamenting how some black person has moved forward
(usually ahead of them in stature or dignity), and had the audacity to
think that they are equal.

These same men for years, instead of looking at what changes they should
and could make in their own lives that might remove that bitterness born
of perceived privilege, these white men take all of that resentment and
anger and decide to get together and drag the closest black person near
them to their death by hanging them from a tree - usually after violent
beating, torturing and violating their human dignity. Check your history
books, because you don't need a masters or a law degree from Harvard
to know that is what constitutes a 'lynching party.'

Imagine, Michelle and Barack Obama having the audacity to think that
they have the right to the American dream, hopes, and ideals. O'Reilly
must think to himself: 'How dare they have the arrogance to think they
can stand in front of this nation, challenge the status quo and express
the frustration of millions?

When this happens, the first thing that comes to mind for O'Reilly and
people like him is: 'it's time for a party.'

Not so fast...don't order the rope just yet.

Would O'Reilly ever in a million years use this phrase with reference
to Elizabeth Edwards, Cindy McCain or Judi Nathan? I mean, in all of the
statements and criticisms that were made about Judi Nathan, the one-time
mistress turned missus, of former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani,
I never heard any talk of forming a lynch party because of something she
said or did.

So why is it that when you're referring to someone who' s
African-American you must dig to a historical place of pain, agony and
death to symbolize your feelings? Lynching is not a joke to off-handedly
throw around and it is not a metaphor that has a place in political
commentary; provocative or otherwise.

I admit that I come from a place of personal outrage here having buried
my 90 year-old grandfather last year. This proud, amazing African-

American man raised his family and lived through the time when
he had to use separate water fountains, ride in the back of a bus, take
his wife on a date to the 'colored section' of a movie theater, and
avert his eyes when a white woman walked down the street for fear of
what a white man and his cronies might do if they felt the urge to
'party'; don't tell me that the phrase you chose, Mr. O'Reilly, was
taken out of context.

To add insult to injury, O'Reilly tried to 'clarify' his statements, by
using the excuse that his comments were reminiscent of Supreme Court
Justice Clarence Thomas' use of the term 'high-tech lynching' during his
confirmation hearing. I reject that analogy. You see Justice Thomas did
mean to bring up the image of lynching in its racist context. He was
saying that politics and the media were using a new technology to do to
him what had been done to black men for many years -- hang him.

Regardless of if you agreed with Justice Thomas' premise or not, if in
fact ---Bill O'Reilly was referencing it the context becomes even clearer.

What annoys me more than anything is that I get the feeling that one of
the reasons Bill O'Reilly made this statement, thinking he could get
away with it in the first place, and then followed it up with a lame
apology in a half-hearted attempt to smooth any ruffled feathers, is
because he doesn't think that black women will come out and go after
him when he goes after us. Well, he's dead wrong. Be clear Bill O'Reilly:

there will be no lynch party for that black woman.

And this black woman assures you that if you come for her, you come for
all of us.'

Star Jones Reynolds

[Incurian]

Boo hoo.

[kendoiwan]

Boo hoo.

Right, why shouldn't people be able to throw lynch parties if they want to? That makes perfect sense, to me too.:stupid:

[nittanylion302]

Only in Spain:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2008/08/10/spanishbasketballteam.jpg

[Nunki]

I dislike B.O. as much as anyone, but I doubt his comment reflects racism. More likely it was a case of thoughtless word association. I've been known to put my foot in my mouth with entirely innocent intents, as well. I'm sure everyone has.

[kendoiwan]

I dislike B.O. as much as anyone, but I doubt his comment reflects racism. More likely it was a case of thoughtless word association. I've been known to put my foot in my mouth with entirely innocent intents, as well. I'm sure everyone has.

Sure lynch party is such a common phrase. I say it all the time.

[Nunki]

Word association. That has nothing to do with word frequency. One might, for instance, derive gastropod (extremely rare) from gas (extremely common).

Yes, I would like another reason to loathe O' Reilly. No, I don't think this is it.

[kendoiwan]

Word association. That has nothing to do with word frequency. One might, for instance, derive gastropod (extremely rare) from gas (extremely common).

Yes, I would like another reason to loathe O' Reilly. No, I don't think this is it.

Oh yeah I make that mistake ALL the time:stupid:

[Nunki]

Yes, because I'm sure you often discuss the possibility of running smear campaigns against Michelle Obama and other black personages.

[pan_sonic_000]

I doubt he made the lynching reference as an intentionally racist comment, but he should apologize nonetheless. That's what any decent human being would do after saying something like that. Then again, B.O. isn't a decent human being so I wouldn't hold my breath.

Sometimes, I think whites and blacks need to just have it out in the streets. Like two guys who settle it with five minutes of fisticuffs and then feel purged afterwards even though nobody "won". THere's so much tension and it can't be healthy to keep shoving it down into the collective psyche.

[kendoiwan]

Yes, because I'm sure you often discuss the possibility of running smear campaigns against Michelle Obama and other black personages.

Never. Who would do such a thing? Nothing worth discussing I'm sure.:stupid:

[Nunki]

I have to insist that you stop hitting your forehead. You'll get a concussion, which is never pleasant.

[Nomadic]

I doubt he made the lynching reference as an intentionally racist comment, but he should apologize nonetheless.

Lynching has pretty clear connotations when the subject is black. Just like gassing has pretty clear connotations if the subject is jewish.

Clearly he was being deliberately offensive.

[kendoiwan]

I have to insist that you stop hitting your forehead. You'll get a concussion, which is never pleasant.

No, this is much more pleasant than the alternative:stupid:

[kendoiwan]

Lynching has pretty clear connotations when the subject is black. Just like gassing has pretty clear connotations if the subject is jewish.

Clearly he was being deliberately offensive.

Pfffft. People ALWAYS make random lynch party threats all the time. Just last week that one white guy threatened to lynch that other white guy. Yeah... :stupid:

[Nunki]

The alternative to giving oneself a concussion is allowing oneself to remain unconcussed. Ergo, you want a concussion.

[kendoiwan]

The alternative to giving oneself a concussion is allowing oneself to remain unconcussed. Ergo, you want a concussion.

Sure. That's exactly what I'm saying and exactly what I meant. You're a sharp one:happpy:

[kendoiwan]

Fc6yLmQjyPo

God this racism is killiing me

[avolkiteshvara]

At least he didn't call her a nappy headed HO.

That would've been really heinious.

[kendoiwan]

At least he didn't call her a nappy headed HO.

That would've been really heinious.

Right, then he'd have to be fired from Fox and get rehired at MSNBC... That'll teach him

[Nighthawk]

I'm far from the most politically and socially astute individual ... but it wouldn't occur to me to use the phrase "lynch mob" in association with any person.

[kendoiwan]

I'm far from the most politically and socially astute individual ... but it wouldn't occur to me to use the phrase "lynch mob" in association with any person.

Sure you would. Happens all the time, by accident, they said so...:happpy:

[starla]

I doubt he made the lynching reference as an intentionally racist comment, but he should apologize nonetheless. That's what any decent human being would do after saying something like that. Then again, B.O. isn't a decent human being so I wouldn't hold my breath.

Sometimes, I think whites and blacks need to just have it out in the streets. Like two guys who settle it with five minutes of fisticuffs and then feel purged afterwards even though nobody "won". THere's so much tension and it can't be healthy to keep shoving it down into the collective psyche.

I believe people tried this in South Central after the Rodney King trial and it didn't turn out very well.

[kendoiwan]

I believe people tried this in South Central after the Rodney King trial and it didn't turn out very well.

quit with the truth stuff, you'll ruin it for him :popcorn:

[Ivy]

Lynching is a fairly common phrase in politics in general as a metaphor for ruining someone's political career by exposing them, whether they did anything or not. IMO it shouldn't be used frivolously like that in light of its history, but it is. Still, only an idiot would use it in this context. And yeah, we are talking about Bill O'Reilly so that's not out of the question. He probably didn't intend to reveal himself as a straight up racist asshole, but he doesn't seem to be too self-aware of how he is presenting himself. That's a common side effect of narcissism.

[Ferrus]

but he doesn't seem to be too self-aware of how he is presenting himself. That's a common side effect of narcissism.
My personal feeling would be that, yes, he is perfectly aware of how he is presenting himself - the narcissism feeds on the attention. It especially helps when your clientele are idiots themselves who will lap up any of this, whilst any punitive measures takrn against you will only increase your popularity.

[Ivy]

My personal feeling would be that, yes, he is perfectly aware of how he is presenting himself - the narcissism feeds on the attention. It especially helps when your clientele are idiots themselves who will lap up any of this, whilst any punitive measures takrn against you will only increase your popularity.

True, good point. He has a feedback loop common to narcissists, wherein he engages in egregious attention-getting behavior, and then protests the negative attention by claiming people are just threatened by his holy rightness, leading to more negative attention.

[Ferrus]

True, good point. He has a feedback loop common to narcissists, wherein he engages in egregious attention-getting behavior, and then protests the negative attention by claiming people are just threatened by his holy rightness, leading to more negative attention.
Well... he realises that he can guarentee a good number of lower class people to feel that he is a victim of a conspiracy of all pervasive 'political correctness' and make a martyr out of it.

[Ivy]

I'm trying to forget about the fact that it works on a lot of people, can't you just play along with that, Ferrus? God. ;)

[Ferrus]

Actually I feel it is tensions like those in which the educated don't want to speak about, and which the uneducated never dare speak in front of the educated are the cause of most of the latent tensions in society. The hate that dare not speak its name.

[Spartan26]

My personal feeling would be that, yes, he is perfectly aware of how he is presenting himself - the narcissism feeds on the attention. It especially helps when your clientele are idiots themselves who will lap up any of this, whilst any punitive measures takrn against you will only increase your popularity.
I agree. He knew exactly how the context of his words would be taken. It was a way to draw more attention to something he was saying. From there the snowball builds until more off shoots of the argument are being discussed than the words of his initial topic itself. Pretty soon, he's the one seemingly boo hoo'ing for an apology.

I get more upset at the attempt to manipulate and aggitate many times than the direct words themselves. It's like personally I don't care what he thinks of her but what a dick move to to try her, (and at the expense of so many people). My general response is to ignore such kind of comments/behavior, though I understand as a society somebody's gotta lay down the pimp hand against those who just self-servingly try to expliot things and then cry "who me?!"

[kendoiwan]

Actually I feel it is tensions like those in which the educated don't want to speak about, and which the uneducated never dare speak in front of the educated are the cause of most of the latent tensions in society. The hate that dare not speak its name.

If you pretend it doesn't exist it doesn't right?:stupid:

[Ferrus]

If you pretend it doesn't exist it doesn't right?:stupid:
Well, pretending it doesn't exist by not speaking about it, and forcing it into non-mainstream discourses. It actually happens and used to happen more with a lot of 'moral issues' that traditionally people refused to speak about, but when there is a disconnect between what people think and what they say, well the dissimiltude causes tension.

[kendoiwan]

Well, pretending it doesn't exist by not speaking about it, and forcing it into non-mainstream discourses. It actually happens and used to happen more with a lot of 'moral issues' that traditionally people refused to speak about, but when there is a disconnect between what people think and what they say, well the dissimiltude causes tension.

You think something like that happens?:happpy:

[kendoiwan]

So how come what Poppa Bear said isn't racial, but http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081005/ap_on_el_pr/palin_s_words_analysis is?

[lowtech redneck]

So how come what Poppa Bear said isn't racial, but http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081005/ap_on_el_pr/palin_s_words_analysis is?

I don't see how anything she said is racist, sorry.

[kendoiwan]

I don't see how anything she said is racist, sorry.

I didn't say it the article did

[Ferrus]

It says she implied racist undertones (i.e. an implicit doubt on the patriotism of the black population).

[stopharian]

only blacks were lynched?

[kendoiwan]

only blacks were lynched?

Mostly but you can't forget those coon loving whites who dare to upset the social order, they too got lynched:happpy:

[Nomadic]

only blacks were lynched?

why does that matter? - For example, if you were gay, and I called you a bummer, and you told me not to use insulting words for gays, would it be a reasonable defence for me to say "Ah, but some straight people bum each other as well"...

In this case, is it really a defence to say, "Ah, but it's not racist, because lynching is a time-honoured tradition, not just for blacks, but also for vagrants and paedophiles."...

it becomes sophistry.