One more thing: I hate them Golden Dawn motherf*ckers, total scum dirtbags!!

Man George, you really are an optimist. 🙂

I don’t think we’ll ever see a world without racism (it is too often used as a political tool to appeal to the least common denominator, look at the rise of the Golden Dawn in Greece), but I do agree that the younger generations don’t seem to have the baggage that our parents and their parents did. It does give me some hope. But at the same time, I think the reason for that is the efforts of those out there fighting day in and day out to point out the ugly racism not just in the system (the “war on drugs”, mandatory sentencing for crack vs cocaine, stop and frisk, etc etc) but also in society. Years ago, if Paula Deen would have said some nonsense like this people would have either applauded her or at least let it slide. Now she gets called out on it, which I think is great. Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing, but it doesn’t mean you have the freedom to say whatever you want and not get criticized for it.

Thanks George for at least ending this convo on a good note. Faith in the youth. I’m certainly pulling for them and it sounds like you are too.

I think we have come far enough to envision a country and a world with no racism. Why am I saying that? I see my kids in school and who their classmates and friends are and I am seeing no racism at all. Yes my kids go to public schools. I refuse to send them to all whitey (lol) or Catholic schools, I want them to blen in with real America.

Disclosure: I have no issues with all whitey and all Catholic schools either and I support your right to do whatever you deem necessary for your own children.

I need to finish my post for tomorrow now. I think I have a scoop on something!

Obombya.

Well, I must say I agree with everything you said! Time will show how both of these Presidents did. And I think history will not be too kind on GWB.

I don’t want to get into politics here and it is my fault I brought it up! Debating about politics, religion and abortion can be….endless:-)

Anyway, my point was that too often the melanin deficient majority (soon to be majority-minority, or maybe it already is, I forget) brushes stuff like this under the rug. And sorry George, but I entirely disagree with you and Cosby about not talking about racism. Not talking about racism only serves the interests of the privileged by reinforcing the commonly held belief in this country that minorities are mostly at the bottom of the totem pole because of some inherent trait of theirs, not because of a systematic institution of white privilege that has existed since the founding of this country (and before even, when the term “white” was invented to keep european sharecroppers and black slaves from coalescing and increasing the chance of rebellion against their masters). Now sure, you can’t trace everything back to racism, but to pretend if we stop talking about it the fact that black people were property up until the mid to late 1800s and were then systematically denied the right to vote and equal treatment under the law during my parents lifetime (and I’m 31) will just disappear is Ludacris (and should definitely Roll Out!). We can’t whitewash the history of our country. We have to teach our children (and sometimes the adults, here’s looking at you Rick Perry) our real history (maybe make them read Zinn?) so that when they see the state of our nation, they understand how we got here. Only then do we have a shot at fixing anything. Racism is real and continues to this day. Ignoring it just ensures that it will continue to have a negative effect on our society.

And as far as people saying dumb racist crap, I’m not saying we just write them off as bad people. Often they learned these beliefs from society at large, so it’s our job to teach them why it’s wrong.

It is an issue where an old fucktard has gone angry and nuts.

If Obama just wasn’t GWB 2.0, especially in foreign policy. Here are two presidents in a row, that had golden opportunities (few presidents have that opportunity) to take the country in a new direction. GWB had the country united after 911, and took the country in a very sad direction, filled with fear. BHO had the opportunity to clean up the banks and financial sector in 2008 (and take the foreign policy in a new direction). Neither of them were man enough for the job. Sadly, the biggest “game changer” with Obama is that he is not purely white. If he could only change the game by (i) ending the Iraqi quagmire, (ii) mess in Afghanistan (Soviet 2.0-> don’t learn from history), (iii) Guantanamo bay (as a lawyer, let people stand trial on US soil for their crimes, worked in WWII), (iV) have a middle east policy, how about finally broker peace between Israel and Palestine). In reality Game changer=more of the same, just a different skin color.

“The Republican party must change because demographics is blowing it away imho.” Sadly they’ll change because of the demographic numbers, not because the believe in the necessary changes.

I wouldn’t mind a good Thai recepie. Ritholtz used to be much better (1-6 years ago). Last year has been less analytical and more daily links to (often interesting) articles. Perhaps he doesn’t have much time sharing his opinion any more (sure his WP articles can be interesting). Calculated risk is pretty good to. Nice plots (best form of p0rn).

I read blogs all day too. 🙂
Still trying to find my niche as well …