I was curious recently about a statement by Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC’s the Ed Show, that Sen. Jim Demint, R-S.C., used racist langauge in his opposition to Obamacare when he said “If we are able to stop Obama on this [health care law], it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” There are ample reasons to criticize this statements — not the least of which is the notion that we will destroy health care simply to gain a political advantage. However, is “break him” a racist term?
Schultz also accused Herman of pandering to “white Republicans out there who don’t like black folks.” I am not sure how that tracks either.
However, I was most intrigued by the support given to Schultz for his view that “break him” is racist. Dr. James Peterson, director of Africana studies at Lehigh University, agreed that “break” is a racist verb, “a term that was used to destroy, mentally and physically, slaves.” He insists that the Demint comment is proof of “how dark some of these racial discourses can be in presidential politics.”
I may disagree with Demint about many, if not most, things. However, I do not believe that his comment was racist or that “break him” is a racist term — anymore than denouncing “dark” politics. I do not question Professor Peterson’s account of how slaves were often “broken.” However, the term “break” someone goes back to Roman times if not before. A broken man is a common expression in literature and common language.
I also do not believe that Cain is pandering to white people by running against Obama and advancing many of the same positions as his Republican colleagues. There is no doubt that there is racism in this country and in this election. However, it does not advance the effort to combat racism by manufacturing controversies. We have plenty of real racists and racist comments around.
Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson, however, insists that Cain and others need to address “post-intentional racism” – racism that people don’t intend to have or to act upon. I am not sure how one defines “post-intentional racism” (which sounds like unintentional racism), but I am pretty sure that the verb break is not a racist term. Moreover, I am not sure how much of a burden Cain should have beyond other candidates in fighting “post-intentional” comments.
What do you think?
Source: Washington Examiner
Bron, I think you are on to something. Herr Stormfront is on the wrong blog.
Peter Happe:
are you a white nationalist? It sure looks like it from your face book friends.
eniobob:
“The thing that fascinates me is there seems to be so much hatred for the President,and for now at least one of the leading contenders on the right is another Black Man.”
I dont think it is racism, it is ideas. The right doesnt like Obama’s ideas and the left doesnt like Cain’s ideas. I think Cain is right on most of the issues and like his resume. I will right his name in if Romney or one of the others get the nomination.
This isnt about racism but about philosophy. If Cain were white, the left would not like him and if Obama were white conservatives would not like him. Now it may be that the level of dislike is higher on both sides because of race but is that even relevant? Once you dislike a man’s ideas and want to defeat him does it matter if there is some racial motivation?
United States
Main article: Multiracial American
Multiracial US Americans officially numbered 6.1 million in 2006, or 2.0% of the population.[5][6] However there is considerable evidence that the actual number is much higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their multiracial heritage. Consequently many Americans today are multi-racial without knowing it.
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Mr. Happe, John Sedges says that the only cure for the racism rampant in our Country and others is the effect of interacial marriage and the off-spring of same on our population. I think it’s actually happening!
🙂
OS,
I wish you wouldn’t beat around the bush!
peter happe
lets ask the afrikaners or the rhodesians.
but to be honest, they never tried to “integrate”. subjugation not integration.
Otteray,
As I recall, this continent wasn’t originally populated by white Europeans, was it? As I recall, Africans didn’t come to this continent of their own free will, did they?
Thank you Elaine. That wasn’t too wordy was it?
Otteray,
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
Blouise sez:
“Betcha his wife is..”
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Betcha ya got that right…
Dear Peter Happe,
Bullshit.
Yours truly,
OS
Mespo,
I didn’t realize that DeMint was so big!
I’m really upset now. Look at this anti-Italian-American salvo:
Nobody is flooding and “integrating” black nations and ONLY black nations with non-blacks and calling native blacks evil racists for opposing their replacement. This is happening in white nations and ONLY in white nations. They say they are antiracist. What they are is antiwhite. Antiracist is a code word for antiwhite. And what they want is genocide.
Otteray Scribe,
“I suspect he may not be quite as attuned as those AA citizens who live in South Carolina.”
Betcha his wife is..
i’ve also heard it called obamney care.
they should be on demint like white on rice.
I apologize if someone else pointed this out but “Obamacare” is the pejorative. This is the term the republicans used, and continue to use, to denigrate (is that word now racist(?) the affordable health care act.
AY,
Yes to both!
mespo, I am not sure regarding your question as to whether Obama took it as racist. His cultural history and experiences were quite different from the average African American person who grew up on mainland USA, especially those from the deep south. I suspect he may not be quite as attuned as those AA citizens who live in South Carolina. They know very well what a comment like that means.
http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/slavery-black-slaves-back-littered-with-scars-from-whipping.jpg?w=305&h=460