Are you typical of your ethnicity?

[Truthiness Inspector]

[Johnny__Motown]

1. what a dumb poll... sorry

[Truthiness Inspector]

2. How did you vote? n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. I have no idea, really

because I'm not quite sure what a "typical" person of my WASP ethnicity is like. Unless you mean stereotypes about WASPS--but then there are so many, and some contradictory! I mean, are you talking about the Purtian WASP, the Redneck WASP, the fundamentalist WASP, the university WASP, or the blue collar WASP?

I can say that I think I'm not typical of my high school graduating class. I was a loner back then, but from what I've heard from reunions, I'm the only one who went into a Sufi order and who still wears tie-dye and grins like a fool in her photographs. Does that count?

[SoxFan]

4. This pretty well sums it up

You'd be amazed at how accurate this list is...

Being Irish Means.......
* you will never play professional basketball
* you swear very well
* at least one of your cousins holds political office
* you think you sing very well
* you have no idea how to make a long story short
* there isn't a huge difference between losing your temper and killing someone
* much of your food was boiled
* you have never hit your head on the ceiling
* you spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling
* you're strangely poetic after a few beers
* you're poetic a lot
* you will be punched for no good reason...a lot
* some punches directed at you are legacies from past generations
* your sister will punch you because your brother punched her
* many of your sisters are Catherine, Elizabeth or Mary...and one is Mary Catherine Elizabeth
* someone in your family is incredibly cheap
* it is more than likely you
* you don't know the words but that doesn't stop you from singing
* you can't wait for the other guy to stop talking so you can start talking
* 'Irish Stew' is the euphemism for 'boiled leftovers from the fridge'
* you're not nearly as funny as you think you are, but what you lack in talent, you make up for in frequency
* there wasn't a huge difference between your last wake and your last kegger party
* you are, or know someone, named 'Murph'
* if you don't know Murph, then you know 'Mac'
* if you don't know Murph or Mac, then you know 'Sully'
* you'll probably also know Sully McMurphy
* you are genetically incapable of keeping a secret
* your parents were on a first name basis with everyone at the local emergency room
and last but not least... Being Irish means...
* your attention span is so short that---oh, forget it.

[UALRBSofL]

5. I would say I'm not typical of my ethnic group

I could be wrong but since I'm not a heterosexual does that mean I'm different from my ethnicity?

[stillcool]

29. I loved those Irish funerals...

the bag-pipes, the stories, and inevitably the fights. The 'harmonized' singing is pretty good too..and the relatives that are cops come in handy.

[SoxFan]

48. Harmonized singing

Like this, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

[stillcool]

52. my sides hurt...

:rofl: :rofl:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

61. Being Irish Means.......

"* you will never play professional basketball"

Two words

Shaquille O'Neal

[Political Heretic]

6. I am typical in that I share the same white priviledge and internalized racism of every white person

:shrug:

[Truthiness Inspector]

7. Wow. "Internalized racism of every white person."

Number one: You are purporting to speak for a whole lot of people you do not know because you share the same skin color with them.

Number two: You are a racist?

[ecstatic]

16. I have more respect for people who are honest about

their shortcomings than people claiming faux innocence/purity.

[Truthiness Inspector]

22. I have NO respect for anyone who says all white people are racist

Do you think all white people are racist?

[ecstatic]

23. He didn't say that. Neither did Obama

nor anyone else.

[Political Heretic]

34. sigh. I wish a few more people had mandatory classes in race, class and gender.

In Western Civilization, white people, particularly white men, are born into privilege that they inherit before they have any conscious thought about it. The reality of that privilege alone creates a system of institutional racism in which we are all caught. The race distinctions between institutionally and culturally over-privileged whites and institutionally and culturally underprivileged "everyone else" contribute to internalized racism.

Not overt racism. We're not talking about chosen, deliberate, willful, explicit racism. We're talking about racism that we inherit from a racist system of privilege and a cultural legacy.

Those are just the facts. And the longer people keep trying to deny this and make some claim to false purity, the longer we will continue to hit roadblocks in progress towards a more equal society.

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

[Moochy]

41. Not All

But most white people benefit from white privilege.

[Political Heretic]

17. It has nothing to do with any individual person. It has to do with being born white

First you have to actually understand the phrase before you go of half-cocked and sound like an idiot.

Internalized racism is not a judgment on someone's character, or their desire to treat people equally. It is not overt racism. It is the racism that we all inherit as "privilege" from a racist legacy and a racist institutional structure. And it is simply a matter of fact.

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

[2rth2pwr]

11. racist!

hissssssssssssssss

[LisaL]

12. Typical Obama supporter, I see.

[Political Heretic]

18. If typical means well educated and honest, then I guess yes.

In Western Civilization, white people, particularly white men, are born into privilege that they inherit before they have any conscious thought about it. The reality of that privilege alone creates a system of institutional racism in which we are all caught. The race distinctions between institutionally and culturally over-privileged whites and institutionally and culturally underprivileged "everyone else" contribute to internalized racism.

Not overt racism. We're not talking about chosen, deliberate, willful, explicit racism. We're talking about racism that we inherit from a racist system of privilege and a cultural legacy.

Those are just the facts. And the longer people keep trying to deny this and make some claim to false purity, the longer we will continue to hit roadblocks in progress towards a more equal society.

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

[LisaL]

26. Well educated and honest?

Sorry, that's not how Obama described a "typical white person."

[Political Heretic]

27. Typical Obama supporter or typical white person

which is it?

[LisaL]

31. In your case, it's both.

[Political Heretic]

33. Okay. I'll take the insults. Now that I accept your insults would you like to comment on substace?

:shrug:

In Western Civilization, white people, particularly white men, are born into privilege that they inherit before they have any conscious thought about it. The reality of that privilege alone creates a system of institutional racism in which we are all caught. The race distinctions between institutionally and culturally over-privileged whites and institutionally and culturally underprivileged "everyone else" contribute to internalized racism.

Not overt racism. We're not talking about chosen, deliberate, willful, explicit racism. We're talking about racism that we inherit from a racist system of privilege and a cultural legacy.

Those are just the facts. And the longer people keep trying to deny this and make some claim to false purity, the longer we will continue to hit roadblocks in progress towards a more equal society.

http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/emc598ge/Unpacking.html

[CitizenLeft]

51. it's really sad that you have to keep explaining this...

...over and over and over again as if there were some language barrier.

Mike Malloy would salute you. He's said the same thing almose weekly at some point or another, and Randi Rhodes has come very close. But Malloy will say it outright.

[RestoreGore]

63. The brainwashing is almost complete

Obama a uniter? Hardly.

[joshcryer]

35. White guilt, eh?

[Mudoria]

47. I must have been out sick the day they were

handing out "privileges".

[shraby]

8. I have no ethnicity except Heinz-57 American

my family has been here since the mid 1600s.

[Truthiness Inspector]

9. What is "typical" Heinz-57 American?

[shraby]

13. A Heinz 57 has no typical anything.

That's why we call it Heinz 57. When a family has been in this country that long, there is no ethnicity. We are not ___-American. We are American-American. We were here before it was the United States. I might add, if it weren't for the largess of the very early settlers letting immigrants of all stripes in, this county wouldn't have the diversity it has. Immigrants from different countries brought with them different talents, trades and skills. That is what makes this county great!

[Truthiness Inspector]

15. Exactly. Great post. n/t

[Zynx]

10. Honestly, I never even think about my race. I think this last week was the first time

I really even thought about it in years. I don't exactly wake up every day and think of myself as an Irish-Polish American. I have no idea what is "typical" of being white. I know what the stereotypes are, but I really don't conform to them.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

36. That actually is a characteristic of many white people in this society

You don't think about your race because you are the default.

[Zynx]

46. Am I supposed to always think of issues in racial terms?

I am of the opinion that is not constructive. I am not ignoring history, but I am trying to be pragmatic. I don't think that gets us anywhere when everyone is trying to construct an "identity" for themselves.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

93. That's your prerogative

Stephen Colbert does a really good riff on that attitude with his "I don't see race" line.

[pansypoo53219]

14. as a mutt, it would be very hard to tell.

and i am rather untypical as a human.

[Fovea]

19. I don't know who my biological father is

So I have no way of answering this poll. Which is good, because I would not have anyway, and don't need to think any further about why this poll offends me.

Wait, I think it is its hair splitting cheeziness, yeah, I think that is it.

[Warren DeMontague]

20. Yes. I scratch myself in public, groom my family members, I'm territorial & can use tools.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. I'm an Alaskan

Is that typical?

[stillcool]

24. I grew up with attitudes..

and am definitely a product of my environment. I left when I was 17. There are people I left behind that are still sitting on the same barstools.

[TML]

25. Atypical here

I don't drive a Chevrolet, speak little Spanish and I like a Canadian hockey team.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

28. I'm a kick-ass Dutch woman - and proud of it....

I wouldn't say I fit ALL of the sterotypes - but most of them.

[Milo_Bloom]

30. Pretty typical white guy.

Middle class up bringing... college, law school, own my own business.

[better tomorrow]

32. I'm special because.....

I'm an older white female who isn't voting for Hillary.....

[CreekDog]

37. I don't count

Is that typical?

[better tomorrow]

39. were you disenfranchised?

[CreekDog]

40. no, it's just that although I'm in a state that counts,supporting my candidate makes me insignficant

:shrug:

[better tomorrow]

42. oh, well, I was disenfranchised in my state.....

so, I am special....

[CreekDog]

43. yeah that sucks

of course, this is the only primary where my vote ever mattered, for what that's worth.

[PerfectSage]

38. Yep I'm an atypical Dutch Canadian asshole.

So much fun watchin' Bush lovin' gop christian's blow their stack, when you accuse them of belonging to homosexual religious cult where males have a submissive, loving relationship with a male deity. Priceless. :rofl:

God Allmighty! So much fun.

GObama!
Go Dean's 50 State Strategy!
Go Grassroots!

[davidpdx]

44. I would say I'm not typical either in my race or nationality

I've lived overseas for 4 years in a foreign country, speak the language and am married not married to an American. It gives one a unique perspective (much like Obama has had himself growing up in different places) on how you look at race and nationality.

[Hoof Hearted]

45. I'm waiting for Obama to define my identity and that of my peers.

We all hang on hooks, waiting for his words.

[LWolf]

49. I'm not typical of my species. n/t

[CitizenLeft]

50. I'm African-American, and my likes and dislikes are totally...

...atypical. I've never met another black person who likes the same things I do, though assuredly they're out there somewhere, LOL.

But I AM typical in this way: I've listened to the older members of my family, heard the stories of racial discrimination and ugliness, the daily battles to keep the insults from entering their very souls, and if I carry anything in my DNA, it's the memory of all the suffering and humiliation and systematic oppression and violence that people I love - who are STILL LIVING - have been subject to. And while I have suffered little from racial discrimination - and it's because I'm very light-skinned, NOT because it has disappeared - YES, there is a difference in skin hue when it comes to how you are treated - I have seen first hand white men hold a door for a white woman, then let it slam in my mother's face; seen white women ignore my mother at the check-out counters; seen a young white girl shoplift undetected because security was too busy following my 50-year-old mother around in a store. These are the things that make me TYPICALLY furious; in that regard, I am a "typical" African-American.

[Seabiscuit]

53. According to your candidate, I'm just another whitey racist. So he can go fuck himself.

[polichick]

55. Except that he meant "typical" as in NOT racist.

[LisaL]

56. Obama described his grandma as a person who was afraid

of black men, and uttered racial and ethnic stereotypes that made Obama cringe.
Then he said grandma was just a typical white person.
What does Obama think a typical white person is like?
Hmm?

[polichick]

58. You've missed the point entirely...

He was saying that even "typical" non-racist whites have internalized experiences that can make them afraid or politically incorrect sometimes. Obviously Obama gives people far more credit for being able to see themselves than they deserve.

[RestoreGore]

59. Nice way to trash Americans

We are all misguided and ignorant, but oh, Obama is PERFECT. The day he comes out and admits he has the same thoughts then maybe I will believe his speech was nothing more than a way to trash those he is actually prejudiced against.

[polichick]

64. The ones who can't grasp what he is saying ARE misguided...

He IS saying that we ALL have such thoughts ~ remember, he is as white as he is black.

[RestoreGore]

67. Oh, so he admitted he does as well?

Where?

[polichick]

69. That's exactly what his race speech was about.

[RestoreGore]

72. Then cut and paste the quote of him admitting it about himself please.

[polichick]

74. Listen to the whole thing - every word - yourself.

[LisaL]

77. I read it, and I see nothing of the sort.

[RestoreGore]

84. Lame cop out.

[polichick]

86. I consider your wanting to be spoonfed a lame cop out...

Senator Obama's speech was brilliant and clear as can be for people who are willing to THINK.

[RestoreGore]

89. Look, you claimed he admitted it of himself in that speech.

If you can't point out the exact words where he admitted it of himself then just say so. He looks his nose down on everyone in these speeches as if we are all the ignorant masses yearning for his his messianic leadership. Sorry, but I don't need it. I can think for myself, which is why at this point neither of these candidates are getting my full support. There is going to have to be a heck of a lot more than speeches coming down in the next eight months to change my mind about that.

[polichick]

91. I said that's what the speech was about - ALL of us...

For whatever reason, you're choosing not to understand what he's saying. I can't help you.

[Seabiscuit]

60. Self-delete. n/t

[polichick]

62. I think you missed it - and have also forgotten that he's as much white as black.

[Alenne]

79. He didn't miss it at all

His comment before he edited an entire post proved he got it.

[Seabiscuit]

65. Sorry, "Ignored". I can't see you.

[polichick]

71. LOL - apparently the truth hurts. :)

[LisaL]

68. Sorry, he did indeed describe his grandma as someone

afraid of black men in his speech.
This is an exact quote.
"...can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother -- a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

[RestoreGore]

70. Shame on him for that ...

I remember an incident my mother and I had when I was a little girl... we were walking in our neighborhood (not the best neighborhood in our city) towards a grocery store one day, and two black men were walking towards us... they approached us, took a look at my mother and stated, "we won't take her down she looks too poor anyway." Good thing my mother usually wore her tattered coat around to go food shopping because she was afraid of being mugged and skin color had nothing to do with it. Was my mother then afraid to walk on the street with a black man after that? No, she was wary walking on the street with ANY man after that incident more so than she already was. And so was I when one day walking home from my high school, a white man pulled over his car as I was walking past a gas station and tried to pull me into it. Luckily I had an umbrella with me and knew how to use it and a gas station attendant came to my aid and called the police.

So, while Obama wishes to label his grandmother a racist because she feared black men on the street, some people unfortunately had a fear placed into them by actual experiences of being robbed on the street. That isn't to state that all black men are muggers, just that there are two sides to this, and the second side is one that Obama conveniently leaves out when calling his grandmother a "typical" white person. There is bad in all races, and I sometimes cross over while walking simply because I don't have a good feeling about who is approaching me because let's face it, we do live in a dangerous world and crime happens regardless of race.

Women in general regardless of race have something to fear on the streets in this society since rape and other crimes against them because we are considered the weaker sex still happen on our streets, and these crimes are committed by black men, white men, and all types of men. But of course, let's not have a dialogue on addressing crime IN GENERAL. Let's now reduce it to saying that those who have a legitmate fear only have it because they are racists.

[polichick]

73. You just said what he said - that even typical non-racist people like his grandma have had...

...experiences that made them afraid.

[RestoreGore]

85. No, you didn't get it

My mother was not wary because she was a racist as he intimated his grandmother was. It is he who cannot see the bigger picture here.

[polichick]

88. As I've tried to explain, Obama was saying that his grandma is NOT racist..

Obviously you want to believe something else - too bad.

[RestoreGore]

90. No, she was just a "typical" white person who made racial slurs

Spare me.

[polichick]

92. LOL - yes, that's what you obviously need to believe but it's not what he meant.

[Hoof Hearted]

98. Is that like the phenomenon of people claiming to know the mind of God?

You just "know" what Obama meant?

Do you have a statue in your garden of "the one?"

[Seabiscuit]

82. Jesse Jackson once commented on this phenomenon

by pointing out that street crime among blacks *is* higher than among whites: he notes than when walking down the street and hearing someone walking behind him, he always feels relieved if it's a white man instead of a black man. He told that story to illustrate the problem of crime in the poorer black communities, and that it's something black people need to focus on to correct.

[Seabiscuit]

75. Thank you for the correction.

Guess my memory of that quote was a little faulty. I'd better look it up before posting next time.

[LisaL]

78. You are welcome.

[pansypoo53219]

95. he is talkin about when your grandparents say stupid racially

things. my gramps was married to a woman who had native american blood but then got all anti-indian during their fight to regain spearfishing. not horrid bigotted, but still bad. and talking about blacks, but i understood it was HIS era. and grandma a calling brazil nuts-n toes. YOU HAVE TO LET IT SLIDE. my great aunt favorite is dirty jews. but she is 96. what do you do?

[Breeze54]

54. I'm different from everyone in my family and on DU and in the world.

Just as you are.

Pretty goofy poll though. I didn't vote in it.

[Seabiscuit]

66. Worse than "goofy". I won't vote in it either.

[RestoreGore]

57. What a bs poll

Obama supporter?

[GoneOffShore]

81. Careful there -

I'm an Obama supporter and I think this is a BS poll.

:hi:

[RestoreGore]

87. LOL, sorry. ;-)

[GoneOffShore]

76. The point of this poll would be: What?

This isn't even Lounge material.

Do you have a point, a point of view, a real question?

Anything?

[Bluenorthwest]

80. Typical?

I was raised thinking my ethnic group was Democrats. And I'm not really joking at all.

[Keefer]

83. I don't know.

What is "typical" of a white guy, born in America almost 50 years ago? How am I supposed to be perceived?

[SoCalDem]

94. I wouldn't even know

father born in Cuba to a French mother and a Spanish father

mother born in Kansas to a Bohemian-descent mother and an Irish father

What political leaning do mutts have? :)

[boppers]

96. I am a unique and beautiful snowflake.

Just like all the others.

[Solon]

97. Yes, I drink, I'm loud, and I get into barfights, I'm a fucking Mick, you got a problem with that?

What a fucking stupid assed poll! :eyes: