ETA: including Bill.

how this nation has not yet even come to terms with its dark past of slavery, not to mention the genocide committed against native Americans as a part of our 'manifest destiny.'

The N word isn't cool, ever, for a white person to say, but it is even less cool that we have a playing field so slanted against people of color. We start with massive cuts in programs that help pre-schoolers with nutrition and to get ready for school. Then we have shitty, inequitable schools that aren't financed at nearly the same levels as schools in more affluent suburban neighborhoods. Then, we have a dearth of job opportunities for youth and adults in inner cities, and purposeful voter suppression.

Finally, we have a whole segment of the population propagandized to think all POC are looking for handouts and are the 'enemy' that we 'shouldn't trust.' This divide and conquer strategy of pitting white working class people against POC has served dirtbag freaks like the Koch brothers and the Mercers for quite a long time.

I know Bill didn't mean it - it was just a stupid joke. I think he was really stoned and forgot he was on the air and not at home talking to friends. My inclination is to forgive him, but then, I'm white.

Last edited Sat Jun 10, 2017, 08:33 PM - Edit history (4)

a civil war's and of course that is so true (he meant the US). We had unity issues in Canada in the early 1970s. And we did what we had to do to understand each other. And though there is talk of independence in Quebec every few decades, the world has changed to such an extent that we would still be economically interconnected if it happened. But we understand each other. We get it. And hundreds of thousands of English speaking kids go to French immersion school in grade school and guess what the cherry is on top: learning a second language as a kid helps you think as an adult. Why the rich always make sure their kids learn another language in the US. Point is that powers that be in the USA have not wanted a reckoning in the last 50 years, as the world became less racist, as race is such an efficient tool of politicians on the right. The most horrid and blatant racism was stopped, but without a unifying process. The sad thing is that black culture has made americans on the whole more extroverted through rock and roll, emotions and other such ways over 400 years. And that different culture, as compared to England or Canada, gave the US a leg up the 20th century when the middle class exploded. US has been the best at so much. But especially at extroversion (and financial wealth because of slavery) . Other non wasp cultures helped too. (Canada and Briain are losening up as we speak due the variety of immigrants we have these days - and Canada is opening up to indigenous culture because of all Trudeau has done). But the US will not talk about both sides of the street and who gets to take blame and credit for all of the bad and great things in America. Because the GOP has an agenda to win elections using the southern strategy wedge of all wedges - so that rich people don't have to pay taxes.