Originally posted by BaM*BaM
I will always take great exception to this kind of "good ol boy' language.
I am sure when you, or others, call a car to be 'niggered' up, or call another car, a bouncing 'beaner' mobile, visions of "HATE" are NOT going thru your minds. Because,.. errr,... "gosh and heck,... we are just talkin about a car,.... not about someone's momma!"
(Sigh)
You beat all I've ever seen, man. I think it speaks volumes about your mindset that you don't even know me, yet you assume I use language like that. I don't. And I don't know anybody who does. My neighborhood is 30 percent Hispanic and I'm just a few blocks from an area that is virtually 100 percent Hispanic - so I see the lowriders hopping and throwing scrapes all the time – but I've never heard the term "beaner-mobile" in my life. We just call them lowriders.

Just out of curiosity, on what are you basing your belief that I make use of racial slurs? Will you at least tell me that?

You know what I think? I think there are basically two types of racists in this world. First, there are the blatant racists – the stereotypical ignorant loudmouths. The ones you probably refer to as "good ol' boys". Yeah we've got some of 'em down here. You've probably got a few in Idaho too don't you? (isn't that where the Aryan Nations is headquartered?) These people really don't bother me much. They have very little effect on the world. Sure they're obnoxious, but everybody knows they're racists so whatever they say is discounted by the general public. The only people who pay attention to them are their fellow racist buddies. It's an insular existence.

Then there's the far more dangerous type. These self-righteous, ivory-tower-dwelling racists constantly, yet very subtly remind certain people that they are of a different race - that they are, after all, minorities. They enforce their secret prejudices through various institutions and systems that on the surface appear to benefit minorities. Their patronizing views are cloaked in euphamisms, but a thorough examination of their actions reveals that they assume minorities have neither the full humanity nor wisdom nor good judgement to make decisions affecting their lives. It is assumed that important decisions must be made for them, not by them. Dependancy grows as freedom and responsibility are denied. This type of subtle racism will destroy one's dignity, integrity and positive self-image.

Every Tuesday on my lunch hour I tutor at a local elementary school. For the last five years, I've tutored the same kid. He happens to be black, but the subject of race has never once come up. He doesn't care that I'm white - all he cares about is that I'm there for him. And I never think about what color his skin is. All I'm thinking when I walk into that school on Tuesday is "Please, God, help me to teach and inspire Jamari. Help him stay focused. And please help him to concentrate on his homework instead of playing video games when he goes home this afternoon." But from now on I think I'll also add "...and God, as he goes out into the world - please protect him from the subtle hate-mongering divider-men..."