http://my.execpc.com/~dross/aw/regwhite.html#race
This is a link to Reggie White's infamous speech. It is long and unfocused, so skim it to find the points of contention.
I do not find anything to get my boxers in a bunch about. I would contend homesexuality is closer to an addiction than simply a "choice", but some would say that's splitting hairs. The comments regarding the ethnic strengths of certain peeps is certainly not racism, even if you disagree with his observations.
The problem is most people are afraid of characterizing a culture. This is due to the sacred status bestowed upon any culture, except American culture, that is. Culture is disposable, look at history, it's clear despite "progressive" romanticism with culture that is currently trendy, the rule of survival is to adapt. To adopt new views and traditions to replace old and unhealthy ones is the way the game is played, and if you didn't play it well, someone else replaced you.
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5 comments:
Why are fools hating on Reggie?
I'm going to ignore the homosexuality statements. The man believes something is wrong, others will invariably disagree. Why this is offensive is beyond me. I suppose that's why homosexuals want sexual preference (although it would have to be "orientation", because preference denotes decision) to be classified with gender and race because in our "culture" it is virtually impossible to have contending views on gender or race without being labeled ignorant or a bigot.
As far as race goes, I don't understand how our culture works. We "celebrate" our ethnic/racial/cultural differences, although I would argue that the only real differences are religious/cultural, and yet we abhore any statements declaring what those differences are.
"We need to celebrate our differences!"
"What differences?"
"Well, you know, differences. Your a man, I'm a woman."
"So how are we different."
"Well, you're white, and I'm black."
"So what's different about that?"
"You are Christian, I am Muslim."
"Yeah, I got that, but what about that makes you and I different? What's different about Christians and Muslims?"
Everybody is afraid to answer those questions. You can't say, "X is true about black culture," because you will be met with, "But not all black people are like that." Yeah, that's a given; but that doesn't discount that there exists X and it applies to Black Culture. You just may not be a part of that element of Black Culture.
Oneway,
OMG! If you weren't such an ethnocentrist racist, you would see that it is right and good to celebrate all cultures, except American culture - with the slight caveat that in all other instances good and bad is a relative term. You are definitely *not* on the invite list to my Kwanza party next year. I bet you didn't even know that 1000 years ago, there was a tribe of Indians that wrote poetry by tying knots in ropes! How amazing is that?!! I found that while browsing the web on my laptop with a wireless card using technology developed by Western civilization, but that is beside the point. Anyway, gotta get back to promoting diversity - it's a full time job.
Sincerely,
An English Professor
One more thing:
I'm Dutch. I'm American. I'm Christian (specifically Calvinist). There are alot of historical events, people, needs, desires, tradegies, and opportunities that have shaped the Dutch people that many of them are, like me: Dutch, American, and Calvinist. There also exists a Dutch culture in America that is very different from European Dutch culture.
There is probably no single person that typifies all the facets of Dutch/American/Calvinist culture. Personally, I don't typify many of them. I am evangelical, and expressive when I worship. Many DAC aren't. I am still a part of that culture, but not a part of that facet of DAC culture. I typify other elements. What makes the culture is that there are enough people that behave similarly enough to say that there exists some element X that is prevalent in DAC culture.
Reggie said, "White people are structured and economically savvy." Are all white people? No. Do there exist enough white people to say that as a culture, perhaps compared to other cultures, we are both structured and economically savvy? Sure.
"Asians are creative." Are all Asians creative? No. Does there exist enough Asians that are creative that it could be said that this is particularly true of their culture, even in comparison to other cultures? Sure.
"Indians are spiritual." All Indians? No. Enough. Yes. (Both Native American and Asian Indians, I would say).
"Black people are expressive and gifted in worship." All black people? No. Enough? Hell, yeah.
Are these differences static? Absolutely not!
What the problem is?
Houseward,
You are officially the first victim of trolling on Abe's blog. The english professor above may or may not be the individual that sublet to you over the summer. It is my duty to inform you that 'You have been trolled.' Henceforth, it shall simply be stated as
YHBT
-Ron Reagan
DAMMIT!
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