tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post112240247459142958..comments2023-11-30T03:44:34.585-05:00Comments on Opinions Nobody Asked For: Revisiting the Farley FlapJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11683622475941901572noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1122651951742554312005-07-29T11:45:00.000-04:002005-07-29T11:45:00.000-04:00I stopped reading at 42. I thought the discussion...I stopped reading at 42. I thought the discussion was over, or I would have said something there, but anyway, here's my two cents. <BR/><BR/>Anytime the subject of race comes up, I feel it is necessary to point out how, in this country, people of different races view the subject completely differently. Therefore, it is very difficult to have a productive conversation about race, because in general, the people who are conversing can't or at least don't, take into consideration how the other person views the topic. Differently from most white people, black people generally consider being black as part of their identity, and see that as a healthy response to their surroundings. That is a part of valid American black culture, which forms ideas and opinions on race differently from other cultures. I don't pretend to understand why, because I thought it was pretty obvious that you weren't, but I found it interesting that black people who read the comments thought that they must be coming from racists. Rather than react defensively to that accusation, we should be trying to bridge that gap of misunderstanding. Now how to do <I>that</I>, I have no idea. But it will probably take a lot of buzzwords, like synergy and paradigms.<BR/><BR/>I'll shut up now.emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01098874507330051814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1122437896692147462005-07-27T00:18:00.000-04:002005-07-27T00:18:00.000-04:00Wow, 49 comments! I stopped reading them after 5....Wow, 49 comments! I stopped reading them after 5. Reading through the comments now, I wish I had kept up. As you know, Jeff, I normally don't make very many comments, but this is something that I have a lot to say about. In fact, apparently I have so much to say about it that I don't think you want it in your comment box, so I made a post (http://bouncyballsandmarbles.blogspot.com/2005/07/google-this.html).<BR/><BR/>I agree with you on seeing "black" and "white" as labeling, and not our identities. It's easy for me to see it as a label because every time I am asked what race I am (from people such as an employer or school), I have to ask what my choices are because the answer is different almost every time. Maybe if all Americans were required to go visit other countries with different ideas on race, they would understand how much it is just a label.Whimsicalifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13401690438461575663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7603499.post-1122412374305165982005-07-26T17:12:00.000-04:002005-07-26T17:12:00.000-04:00As you may or may not know, I strongly oppose the ...As you may or may not know, I strongly oppose the death penalty. This obviously does not mean that I advocate rape, murder, torture, or any of the crimes in the histories of those on death row. The two issues are distinct in my mind.<BR/><BR/>Yes, perhaps I should spend my time addressing the crimes, rather than the punishment. After all, the rape victim more clearly deserves defense than the rapist.<BR/><BR/>However, the ethics of the crime have already been exhaustively explored. Rape is wrong. Murder is wrong. Pedophilia is wrong. End of discussion. I choose to discuss treatment of the criminal because that's where the discussion is. It's where I can add <I>new</I> opinions, rather than parroting that which has already been decided.<BR/><BR/>Eva criticized you, Jeff, for defending the slave owners instead of the slaves. This does not mean you're racist, it means you've <I>already accepted</I> the belief that slavery was wrong, and that you're not wasting your time on a topic to which you have nothing to add.<BR/><BR/>I hope I haven't put words in your mouth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com