Why?
 

The wife and I watched some Olympics last night, including the USA Gold Medal champion in gymnastics. When the talking heads started talking about her, I told my wife to "wait for it", and sure enough, I think the third sentence informed all of the world that this young lady was "African" American. Why couldn't she just be a little girl from America? What if she considers herself an American period? Can we really not get past this crap? I think it was tasteless, insulting, and simply racist to proclaim this child "African" American. To me, that means African first, American second. I'd like to know if this is how the little girl feels, and if so, how did the sports caster know? I always check Native American on any form that asks about race. I was born in America, so I figure that makes me a Native to this country. I'm just tired of everyone's race being their "identity", whether they like it or not. I have lots of black friends, but we never talk about race, it just isn't important. I blame a lot of this on the current administration too. It seems to me that instead of the uniter we were promised, Obama has been a great divider, and has set racial equality progress back 50 years. I hope that the little girl's feelings were not hurt during what had to be the most special moment of her life.

You're so sensitive. :o


Seriously though, it was a pretty stupid thing to say on the announcer's part.
But to the rest of your rant, racism doesn't go away when white people want to "get past it".

And I'm curious to know what you're referring to when you say that President Obama has divided the country and set the issue of race back in time. I can't even guess what you have in mind. I'm interested to hear.

Becasue I thought it was the political opposition who met the night of his inauguration and pledged to make their number one priority defeating Obama in 2012. That's the priority over every other thing; jobs, defense, the economy... --that, of course, and all the racists his election energized. Membership in race-based hate groups skyrocketed in the months following his election.

But what did he do? That's what I haven't heard.

.

Whether you like it or not, she's the first African-American to win a medal in gymnastics, a gold one at that. It's significant, whether or not you have the capacity to understand why.

So, if you won a gold medal, they would describe you as "the first guy with a gay ass avatar" to win a gold medal. Fuck labels!

I would see the point if this was truly a color blind society. But alas we haven't reached there yet. A great milestone for sure!



Barney

Making inane statements is a requirement for a sports announcer. The coverage is so bad that I've given up trying to watch the Olympics. I was speaking with some European friends that live here and they pointed out how biased the U.S. coverage is compared to the telecasts they remember in Europe.

BTW, contratulations to Gabby. She is also the first American gymnast ever to win both the team and individual all-around gold at the same Olympics

Dogs, how can America get past race when folks keep it alive? :confused:

Listen to this as just as an example of the many popular songs. Count how many times the N word is used.. and rap is very popular among our youth today. Folks can't forget the differences between people if they are reminded though music every day. :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAkLgdbaytg

1. Fraud.
2. Racist.

Manifest Destiny is STILL bullshit.

I suppose we'll get 'past this crap' in this country when all of us can look at an African American (for example) and see a person who happens to be black instead of seeing a black person. Anyone who believes that racism does not exist as a part of American society lives in a different America than I do.

What percentage of the American public believe Obama was not born in this country? 25% And what percentage of the American public believe W, McCain or Romney were not born in this country? 0% Kindly explain to me in terms I can understand why the color of Obama's skin has nothing to do with that.

Double dog

The announce was compelled to mention that Gabby was both African and American as both were significant to the story. It's that simple.

I think you need to ask yourself why such a simple and accurate comment bothered you.

As long as black kids with hoodies are murdered for being black kids with hoodies we won't be getting over anything.

I didn't realize until later last night (after i posted in this thread) that what the annoucer actually said was that Gabby was the first African American gymnast to win gold. And I agree; that's significant regardless of Twodogs' inability to understand it.

I also feel duped by Twodags' omission of the context in his rant. Looks like someone's been learning some reporting tricks from Faux "news".

And Twodogs, when you say you consider yourself Native American, although it does, on the surface, make for a cute little zinger, it really shows your racist ignorance.

I'll bet you're a troll in real life too.

Fixed, check the stats.


So how do all you smart libs know that she wasn't offended, and actually likes being labeled an African American. My Dad's Grandma was a Blackfoot Indian, but I don't run around looking for special deals and handouts because of it. The Indians in this country should be ashamed of how they have sold out to the almighty dollar.

You don't know anything about me.

You probably think Jackie Robinson was just another ballplayer.

Presuming she was a fullblood (giving you every benefit), that makes you 1/16. But here's the rub: you know that "Blackfoot" isn't even a tribe, right? It's -- at best -- a regional colloquialism of four tribes only one of which is indigenous to the United States.

In sum, not only do you not know a damned thing about American Indians, you know even less about you own history, he who is most likely Canadian.

Could you be more specific? While there are lots of things to lament about about our current global culture, what you espouse isn't one them. Were that the case, living conditions would be different.

I know you're not very smart. (And, apparently, know less about yourself than the rest of us do.)

You're just an elitist and entitlement racist.

Go back to Canada or Europe, wherever you're from: you're embarrassing the rest of us trying to be American.

Special deals and handouts?
What special deals and handouts has she been running around looking for?

Your taking this wrong. Twodogs states nothing in his post referring to her receiving hand outs.

Everyone who reads your posts knows a few things about you. Unless of course you approach your writings here on PC as works of fiction and not really your own views and opinions.

One thing about you that becomes increadingly obvious is that you're not very good at responding to inquiries about some of what yo say. I mean really, I ask you to share with us what you see the president doing to divide the nation and set race relations back and all you can come up with "you don't know anything about me."?

you're so mysterious.

Or maybe half Irish and half Polish. Frequently pissed off, but doesn't understand why.;)

Or Canadian by admitted ancestry. :rolleyes:

Normally, such folk are lot more intelligent and cordial although I'll take a Pabst over a Molson, any day.

Wait'll BigErik gets a load of this....;):D

Both are pretty close to swill and interchangeable IMHO. OTOH, such beers go for $40/case in Ontario. For $40/case, you can buy some mighty fine beer here in the US.

Elitest beer snob!:D Been drinkin Newcastle or Modelo Negro for a long time. Guiness is bilgewater from a wooden hulled fishing boat unless it's cut with Bass Ale.;)

Sometimes, quantity over quality.

When going quality, I am a big fan of Stone Brewing's Ruination IPA.

To this point, sir, I had you pegged as discerning and intelligent. Your taste in IPA, however, leaves much to be desired. Best widely distributed IPA in the land is Dogfish Head. 60 minute rocks, 90 minute is for sipping over good conversation and pleasant music, 120 minute if it's been a horrible f*ckin day and you need to lose yourself for awhile.

So sayeth a devoted Dogfish Head IPA devotee.

If you are speaking of Molson Golden I might agree but not Molson IPA. The Canadian expression (prior to the micro brewries) is that most American beer is like making love in a canoe.;)

You are aware that all beer in Ontario is only sold through government stores, there is a goodly chunk of tax in that $40.

As to the OP;

Only a moron would even bring this issue up.

Is the girl complaning?

No.

If black folks or any given black person, don't care about being referred to as African-American, then I don't care.

So stop your fuckin' whining.

Your attempt to make this into an issue is utterly pathetic.

So, Tit for Tat. Watch for the upcoming thread.

Dave

I know that you spoke as a racist out of the box here at Political Chat (when the site launched.) It was so natural for you that you seemed surprised when I challanged you on it.

Other than that I don't know to much except that I get under your skin when I challenge you in race related matters and that other than that your a good egg even if you have been a little more than rude to me on occasion.

I'd still buy you a the beer if I ever met ya.

Many sports have been closed to blacks for both socioeconomic reasons and racism over the years. Hence when someone black "breaks through" it is correct to mention this.

I am sure if a white man is ever found that can jump the media will point this out as a big story as well. ;)

And from what I understand, it pays a significant portion of their national health care system (or so says my cousin in Kingston, ON). Seems like a decent trade-off to me, particularly since I drink so little beer anymore (though I bet the Canadians also have high prices on my preferred libation, single malt Scotch.)

Not to mention the process of self-segregating. What we white people generally fail to notice is that people-of-color live in a white world. And in this country, they always have. I'm sure there are some white folks reading this that feel uncomfortable when they realize they are the only caucasian on a full subway car, or a busy street or crowded market. This is the closest personal experience I can think of that opens some empathy for the experience of living as a minority. But it goes w/o saying that I don't have 400 years of being enslaved to further inform the experience.

One way I can relate this to sports is in cycling. That's a very white sport IMO (and one that I do myself). I meet very few African American road riders, and I've never ridden a mountain bike with a person of color. I wonder if showing up at a group ride as a person of color might elicit the kind of "visitor in a white world" experience I'm talking about.

(---and no, simply having a discussion about race, and asking these questions does not qualify a person as a racist. In order to truly get past it, it's time to talk more about race, not less IMO)

As is hockey, swimming, tennis, polo (and anything else involving horses), sailing, rowing, the shooting sports, ....... I think there are socio-economic factors at play here too.

That's true, I'm sure. Class and race and easily combined/confused.

It's that GOP reliance on short attention spans that may work with so many in their base.......but isn't going to work with us.:)

Oh, and coming from Scottish and English heritage, I'll thank you to refer to me as British-American.

How dare you try to deny me my heritage, Jay!!!:p

As a Brit can you exp[lain to me why Britain has a women's soccer team in the Olympics instead of the Irish, English and Scotts each having their own?

Britain = England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

German\Englisch American here.:D I need a bier.:rolleyes: