Obama and racial biased

[NobleLord]

Firstly, I think the election of President Obama is a good thing and I believe he'll bring a new and fresh outlook to what most of us see as a dismal state of affairs in both the US and the world at large.... BUT.... why does this have to be an opportunity to celebrate racial equality the world over? Can't we focus on the bigger issues for once in our lives. He may be black, but so what, he's now the most powerful man on the planet and has an opportunity to bring good to the world, regardless of the colour of his skin.

Tonight's BBC 10 o'clock news is a sickening example of racial 'PC' at it's worst. The London local news topped it by covering endless celebrations around the capital without a single white face in front of the cameras. Endless black 'celebrities' being wheeled out to profess their support for the great man for no other reason that his skin colour.

Get a grip people.... this is a chance for someone to take a fresh view of global financial meltdown (amongst other issues) and take action.

NL

[Airbag]

You didn't live through the Rights Revolution, AICMFP.


ETA: See also http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Airbag on Tuesday 20th January 22:48

[NobleLord]

Airbag said:

You didn't live through the Rights Revolution AICMFP.

That"s not relevant to the job that he's been elected to do though. If he was a new anchor man on a news network that had previously only had white presenters, would people care so much that he was black? I suspect not.

NL

[Airbag]

NobleLord said:

Airbag said:

You didn't live through the Rights Revolution AICMFP.

That"s not relevant to the job that he's been elected to do though. If he was a new anchor man on a news network that had previously only had white presenters, would people care so much that he was black? I suspect not.

NL

No, and you're right to a certain extent, but to overlook the significance of his race would be ridiculous.

[razbox]

Because his election means so much more than just a brighter man being President of the US.

It means for all those Americans who sat in embarrassment as the US became an international pariah. Obama represents the clearest break with the politics of the past - he signals that the US can strive for greatness in a way not related to military conquest.

It means that the "colour bar" is very visibly broken and offers a clear manifestation of opportunity for all Americans of all faiths & races.

And, as Whoopi Goldberg said, it means that people like her can "finally feel at home, finally feel that I can put down my suitcase."

I am so pleased that Bush is out, and I am so excited about the real opportunity this provides for the world to come closer. Hey, even Israel timed its exit to coincide with the inauguration...!

[TWSTEEL]

NobleLord said:

Airbag said:

You didn't live through the Rights Revolution AICMFP.

That"s not relevant to the job that he's been elected to do though. If he was a new anchor man on a news network that had previously only had white presenters, would people care so much that he was black? I suspect not.

NL

Did you watch the inauguration?
It's very relevent to the job as he pointed out that sixty years ago his father would not have even been allowed in a restaurant in Washington. The world has come a long way in a relatively short time. Not without suffering I hasten to add.
The face of modern America changed today. For the good I hope. Time alone will tell but it will be different.

[KANEIT]

It pisses me off big time!
Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.
I wonder, other than skin colour, how much he really has in common with your typical working class Afro-American from Detroit and New Orleans. NOTALOT!

[Nocebo]

KANEIT said:

It pisses me off big time! Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.I wonder, other than skin colour, how much he really has in common with your typical working class Afro-American from Detroit and New Orleans. NOTALOT!

50 years isn't that long in a nation's history, it's not even a generation ago. And could we not level the same ctiticism at pretty much every other politician, how much in common do they usually have with the average working class man? NOTALOT I'd say. What's your point?

Edited by Nocebo on Tuesday 20th January 23:07

[Saddle bum]

Have we forgotten that Obama is half-white.

[Emsman]

I would like to have sen the worldwide reaction if it was announced:


.......and we welcome the 44th white president.

There would be an uproar


So, why should colour/creed make a difference.

The PC brigade are always slamming people for it, yet in this instance it serves only to reinforce the view of difference.

[Nocebo]

Saddle bum said:

Have we forgotten that Obama is half-white.

I wonder. When Obama fails to live up to the hype, and let's face it, he will fail with this level of expectancy, will everyonebe so quick to constantly remind us he's actually half white or will it just be back to black Obama, the failure? I wonder?

Edited by Nocebo on Tuesday 20th January 23:16

[AJS-]

I think this is a pure generational thing. My parents say exactly the same - that it's hugely significant because they lived through the civil rights movement and can remember blacks being treated as second class citizens in America, and even to some extent in the UK.

Myself I agree with the OP, the BBC coverage was absurd.

Don't like to be a doom and gloom merchant (maybe I do...) but the expectations placed on him now, set against the mess we're in currently mean that he can't help but to disappoint in many ways. With all the focus put on his race at this stage there is a danger that this focus will be carried over when he does eventually and inevitably let people down.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Saddle bum said:

Have we forgotten that Obama is half-white.

Seems so, Half black half white, so how does that make him black.

[TWSTEEL]

KANEIT said:

Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.

Don't you get it A lot of people who lived through that era are still alive today. You could have got odds of millions to one that there would EVER be a black President at that time. I was a teenager in the UK then and we had very few people at school who were not caucasian and they were just pals. We couldn't believe what was happening at the civil rights protests and that black people lived in such segregation in "Modern America".
Try watching the Mississippi Burning movie - it's not THAT long ago.

[razbox]

Nocebo said:

KANEIT said:

It pisses me off big time!
Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.
I wonder, other than skin colour, how much he really has in common with your typical working class Afro-American from Detroit and New Orleans. NOTALOT!

50 years isn't that long in a nation's history, it's not even a generation ago. And could we not level the same ctiticism at pretty much every other politician, how much in common do they usually have with the average working class man? NOTALOT I'd say. What's your point?

I had dinner tonight with a 54 year old white strong Republican who said that as he was growing up in his home town they had cafes banning "coloreds", and he went to a segregated school. It wasn't a long time ago - and a lot of the people in power today, in governments and corporates, are of the generation of my friend. For them, this is a truly amazing day that they did not forsee. So it is very signficant, and the 44th *white* president would not be, simply because the other 43 were also white.

Edited by razbox on Tuesday 20th January 23:18

[Emsman]

TWSTEEL said:

KANEIT said:

Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.

Don't you get it A lot of people who lived through that era are still alive today. You could have got odds of millions to one that there would EVER be a black President at that time. I was a teenager in the UK then and we had very few people at school who were not caucasian and they were just pals. We couldn't believe what was happening at the civil rights protests and that black people lived in such segregation in "Modern America".
Try watching the Mississippi Burning movie - it's not THAT long ago.

I would have had a double at the bookies, rolling over the winnings from the black president, to there being a mars landing.
Imagine the odds on that eh.
Oh, and they both happened

[69 coupe]

I have a black neighbour, who always salutes me with a black power fist, even more so today, three fecking times.
I assume he thinks I do not realise the meaning of this, been a honky and all that.
Twat!

[KANEIT]

Nocebo said:

KANEIT said:

It pisses me off big time!
Lynchings ended years ago and black Americans no longer need a saviour in that respect.
I wonder, other than skin colour, how much he really has in common with your typical working class Afro-American from Detroit and New Orleans. NOTALOT!

50 years isn't that long in a nation's history, it's not even a generation ago. And could we not level the same ctiticism at pretty much every other politician, how much in common do they usually have with the average working class man? NOTALOT I'd say. What's your point?

Edited by Nocebo on Tuesday 20th January 23:07

My point is that black people are identifying with him SOLELY on skin colour regardless of whether he actually represents them in any other way and regardless of his upbringing and social background, whether he has struggled and faced real life as it is for most black Americans. We appoint our leaders to deal with today and tomorrow, not for yesterday. It is a criticism of them not him.
It's like me voting for John Prescott for PM simply because he is a Yorkshireman.

[AJS-]

KANEIT said:

It's like me voting for John Prescott for PM simply because he is a Yorkshireman.

Is there some other reason that anyone would ever consider voting for John Prescott for anything?

[mephistopheles]

There is definitely this unspoken 'thing' that today's black population are still victims of the white man and all his false supremacy.

I abhor what happened (and continues to happen in some moronic parts of the world) but it is not my fault and I don't see why there is still this seeking out of a Martin Luther King every 5 minutes.

That said I do like the faint divide that exists for innocent things such as we can't dance or sing the same. This keeps a light and friendly banter going, which is always a good thing IMHO.

Airbag said:

NobleLord said:

Airbag said:

You didn't live through the Rights Revolution AICMFP.

That"s not relevant to the job that he's been elected to do though. If he was a new anchor man on a news network that had previously only had white presenters, would people care so much that he was black? I suspect not.

NL

No, and you're right to a certain extent, but to overlook the significance of his race would be ridiculous.

I fully agree with this though, however.