"He's gone off the deep end" - But for different reasons

[AspenRose]

I will share the conversation I had with my (republican) husband re: Ray Nagin.

He asked me what those "on my side" (read: liberals) thought of Nagin's comments. I told him that some thought he went off the deep end.

He seemed to agree, but then followed that with "I thought it was racist, myself."

That's when it dawned on me.

For some progressives, Ray's comment was controversial because of the "God punishing blacks" element.

But for some conservatives, Ray's comment was controversial because of the "chocolate city" element.

I found this telling, but not necessarily surprising.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. In the "chocolate city" comment we have an example of what I

call school yard finger-pointing amongst whites. While black people are merrily going about their business after the "chocolate city" comment and Hillary's "plantation" comment, you have whites going, "UUUUUUMMMM! Teacher, teacher, they said a naughty word!!!!!!

Well, we know why the right-wingers are whining. It's all an attempt to score political points from black voters, but it's disingenious because right-wingers don't believe in PC.

Meanwhile, blacks are thinking, "What a bunch of phonies. People died unnecessarily in New Orleans and they're pissing over themselves looking for the next 'N' word."

Well, who knows. Maybe they'll succeed. They managed to reinvent mudslinging with their swiftboating tactics.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. You got it

They are finger pointing. Some black guy was on "Hardball" either last night or Monday with Al Sharpton and he had this fake outrage going on about Hillary's comments and he kept saying how the democrats have no plans and everything. :eyes: And Sharpton told how Bush said the democrats were taking blacks for granteed even though 98% vote for democrats.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Sharpton saw right through that poser.

And he handled him in exactly the right way.

I learned this lesson years ago when I learned from the mainstream media that blacks preferred to be called African Americans. So, I started using the term "African-American" and an old college bud of mine asked me why I was suddenly using that term. I told him that the mainstream media told me that was the correct terminology and that even some black leaders came out and said that it was more appropriate. He said that he didn't get the memo and that "black" was fine with him.

I'm sure that among older blacks, the term, "colored" is fine with them too, because that's what they're use to.

I'd have to say that sometimes a person's reason for complaining is far more insidious than the reason the word was originally spoken.

[AspenRose]

3. I just wonder if DH would have thought it "racist" had Rush not told him

that it was. x(

I mean, goodness. I'm from San Antonio. Anyone who's been there knows of the hispanic influence and culture. If for some reason S.A. was destroyed, I would hope they would hold fast to the latino history and culture, or else it would cease to be the San Antonio I know and love. And I don't consider that racist.

San Antonio and New Orleans have that in common; the uniqueness of each city stemming from the ethnic background and history of the original (and majority) inhabitants. I'd throw Montreal in there too.

[Army]

5. I Don't Know

Iowa is pretty unique, but if it were destroyed and some mayor said he wanted it to be Vanilla again, I'd have to think he was a nut too. And racist as well.