Black-ish Race Conversation

CHRIS FREIND Black-ish Race Conversation
By Chris Freind

Jerry Seinfeld to priest in confessional: Well, I should tell you that I’m Jewish.

Father: That’s no sin.

Jerry: Oh good. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Dr. Whatley. I have a suspicion that he’s converted to Judaism just for the jokes.

Father: And this offends you as a Jewish person.

Jerry: No, it offends me as a comedian.

After watching ABC’s new “black-sitcom” “Black-ish,” a Seinfeld-ism must be invoked. I was offended — not because I’m white, but because it wasn’t funny.

* * *

Is it offensive that a show openly touts race in both its title and content? Not at all. Or at least it shouldn’t be.

We’re supposed to be grown-ups. We can change the channel if something doesn’t meet out tastes.

That’s called live and let live, where people don’t have to scream in righteous protest over every single thing they dislike. But that type of tolerance is in increasingly short supply, replaced by double standards that inflame tensions and needlessly generate intense resentment between races.

Could you imagine the backlash if a network tried to air “White-ish?” Producers would get fired, actors blackballed and the network would spend countless hours issuing nauseating apologies and mandating racial-sensitivity training.

But it will never happen. Just as there will never be a White Caucus in a legislature or White Entertainment Television.

And that is where our system breaks down.

The issue isn’t the racially descriptive entity, but the increasing resentment among white Americans who, as the oddballs, are not allowed to do likewise. Their perception, not without merit, is that they have become the only race without the same rights as everyone else.

White comedians get censured for saying the same things as their black counterparts. Black politicians openly advocate the election of black mayors. Whites lose out on job opportunities and college admissions in the name of “diversity.”

Racial discrimination, in all its forms, must be battled. And that includes reverse discrimination.

But unfortunately, selective discrimination has been deemed acceptable, even trendy, in today’s America. Far from creating racial harmony, as its advocates naively believe, reverse discrimination is quickly becoming the flashpoint in the powder keg of America’s race relations.

Nowhere is that more on display than in Missouri.

First, in Ferguson, 6-foot-4, 300-pound, 18-year-old Michael Brown, who had allegedly just committed a felony, was shot after disobeying, then physically engaging a police officer.

It should have made no difference that the officer was white and the shooting victim black, since, until it was unquestionably proven otherwise, race played no part in the shooting. But that became the headline and riots and violent protests ensued, facts be damned. Black anger erupted nationwide, directed at both whites and the police.

Now, it’s Round 2, as an off-duty police officer working as a security guard shot and killed a man near St. Louis who police say engaged him in a gunfight.

Large protests were organized as people were bused in from near and far. The heart of the protests was, of course, “racism,” since the officer was white and the shooting victim black. But no one has the guts, on either side, to ask the most important question: “So what?”

Lost on the protestors, a smorgasbord that grew to include the Occupy movement, unions, gay-rights activists and those protesting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (must have been a boring weekend for a lot of people), were the pertinent facts that A.) The victim was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time he died, a court-ordered monitoring system as a condition of bail in a gun case, and B.) The police claim that he fired several rounds at the officer and was attempting to shoot more when his gun jammed.

The deceased’s family says he was unarmed, carrying only a sandwich. So either turkey clubs have become the new gun of choice, or he was, in fact, armed when he shouldn’t have been. Whether excessive force was used and whether the shooting was even justified remain questions that will be answered only after a thorough, impartial discovery process.

That’s why God made investigations. And in this case, it will be immeasurably easier than the Ferguson shooting to determine the truth.

So, to automatically assume “race” is simply wrong.

Does anyone of sound mind really believe that, in this day and age and in light of recent events, a white officer is going to deliberately seek out and shoot a young black man “for no reason?” Not only would his freedom be in jeopardy, but his life. That’s not to say it couldn’t happen, but a long list of other possibilities must be exhausted before coming to that conclusion.

Yet, inciting and woefully inaccurate statements, from the victims being “executed” to leaders stating they were both shot from behind (medical examiners determined neither were), serve only to push race relations closer to the edge. Sooner or later, when we go over the cliff, there will be a backlash of epic proportions, which could make the riots of the 1960s look tame.

If we ever hope to eradicate racial tensions, we need strong leaders of all races to unite and demand colorblindness for America, from police to entertainment to the workplace. “Equal opportunity for all, special treatment for none” should be our motto, where race should be an afterthought.

America’s uniqueness makes it the envy of the world, where even its most downtrodden can overcome adversity to become extremely successful.

But that rise must never come because, or at the expense, of race. When it does, we all lose a part of what makes us so special, our common bond: being Americans, and ultimately, members of the only “race” that matters: The human race.

 

Black-ish Race Conversation

Taney Dragons Name Traced To Infamous Judge

Taney Dragons Name Traced To Infamous Judge

Taney Dragons Name Traced To Infamous Judge

The Taney Dragons, the melting pot of a baseball team from Philadelphia with a black girl pitcher, won the hearts of all with their just-ended Little League World Series run in which they finished third in the nation.

So where does the name Taney come from? It’s from Taney Street, a four-block stretch of pavement that runs from Pine to Bainbridge just across the Schuylkill River from Penn.

And for whom is Taney Street named? That’s the irony.  It is for the man who wrote the Dred Scott decision, the most racist and viciously destructive Supreme Court decision in our history.

Dred Scott was more hateful and irrational than Roe v Wade. It was more racist than Plessy v Ferguson. It was crueler than Buck vs Bell.

It declared blacks to be less than human. It started the Civil War.

Roger Taney was a Democrat — no surprise, really –from Maryland who was picked by Andrew Jackson to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1835 after the great John Marshall died in a stage coach accident.

It is said he favored States’ Rights but that certainly wasn’t the case concerning slavery. In 1842, he ruled that Pennsylvania could not stop a Maryland man from seizing former slaves that had taken up residence in the Keystone State.

It was in 1857, he really let the mask drop.  In Dred Scott he wrote regarding blacks:

It is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in regard to that unfortunate race which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and when the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted; but the public history of every European nation displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken. They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far unfit that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect

So much for “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”

Those governing Philadelphia at the time apparently thought the decision was peachy.  They named the street for him the next year.

Three years after that our country’s bloodiest war began. Taney died before it ended on Oct. 12, 1864, still the chief justice and giving as much grief to the Lincoln administration as he could but with his fangs largely pulled.

So thank you Mo’ne Davis and the rest of the Dragons, for the deserved mocking you gave to one of America’s great bigots.

 

 

Ferguson Shows Widening Racial Gulf

CHRIS FREIND
By Chris Freind

For all the pain endured during the Civil Rights movement by people of all colors, the racial chaos that has descended on Ferguson, Mo., makes one wonder how disenchanted those equality pioneers must be.

In the 1960s, barriers were knocked down by heroes who fought courageously and peacefully, not just to be equal, but to live in a color-blind society. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best, stating that people should not be judged by the color of their skin. Those ideals won the day back then, yet it is with tragic irony that today, race relations have been hijacked and taken on a race to the bottom.

It is no exaggeration to say that, in many respects, race relations are worse today than they were half a century ago. And that is a tragedy of our own making. As Ferguson shows, the racial gulf continues to widen, a trend that will only accelerate until we take a hard look in the mirror and remember what the Civil Rights movement fought for in the first place.

In Ferguson, an 18-year-old was shot and killed by a police officer after the two struggled in and around the officer’s patrol car. An autopsy is being performed, and an investigation is ongoing.

That should have been the story line from the beginning. Period. Nothing about race should have entered into the equation until, and only until, it was determined to be warranted.

Instead, protests ensued. Confrontations between citizens and a heavily armed police force were displayed before a national TV audience. The unrest in Ferguson spurred the FBI to launch a civil rights investigation, and the U.S. Justice Department is conducting what will be a third autopsy. Calls for the officer to be charged as a way of bringing “justice” for the deceased, Michael Brown, further enflamed tensions. Curfews were imposed and the National Guard mobilized.

Disregarding the spin and not-so-hidden agendas of some shameless self-promoters, let’s take a sober look at the situation:

1. Brown, who is black, was killed by white police Officer Darren Wilson. Does that mean Wilson, a decorated police veteran, is racist, and that his shooting was racially motivated? Absolutely not, especially because, up to this point, no racist elements have surfaced regarding Wilson. He deserves the benefit of the doubt that his encounter with Brown had nothing to do with color and everything to do with performing his job.

Obviously, if it is determined that race was involved, there should be consequences. That’s why God invented investigations. Common sense tells us that only after the investigation is concluded should anyone be protesting. To do so now is flying blind, since virtually no facts are known, and at least one eyewitness statement — that Brown was shot in the back — seems to have been contradicted by the medical examiner hired by the Brown family. Let’s not forget the innocent until proven guilty principle.

2. Inflammatory rhetoric only ignites the powder keg. Calling Brown’s killing an “execution” (as the Brown family attorney did) is not just ludicrous, but dangerous to everyone. Where are the leaders denouncing such statements?

3. There are conflicting stories as to how far away Brown was when he was shot. Police state that the first shot was fired while the two tussled in the police car, yet we don’t by whom (some reports have Brown shoving Wilson into the car). Regarding the ensuing shots, let’s assume that Brown died 35 feet away from the car, as some reports state. First, that doesn’t mean he was shot 35 feet away, as people can stagger quite a distance after being shot. Ballistics tests and autopsy results should provide the answer.

The medical examiner hired by the family stated the bullet that struck Brown’s in the front of his head could have hit when Brown was giving up or charging the officer. He stated that he found no gunpowder residue near the entry wounds, preliminarily indicating the shot was not from extremely close range, but also said he hadn’t examined Brown’s clothes, which could contain that residue. Again, we must wait for the full picture before casting judgments.

If Wilson shot Brown while the two struggled, that would seem justified, especially if Brown, as reports say, was grabbing for Wilson’s weapon. If, however, Brown was shot at a considerable distance (and not charging the officer), then Wilson is at fault. A shooting can never be justified (if the assailant is unarmed) from a considerable distance, no matter how much adrenaline may be pumping through an officer. Part of the job is to make correct split-second decisions, especially when firing a gun. Noble as being a police officer is, wrong actions in the line of duty have consequences.

4. There was a video released allegedly showing Brown, reported to be 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds, stealing cigars from a liquor store 15 minutes prior to the shooting. The Justice Department and the Missouri governor both criticized the video’s release, but why? Irrelevant is whether Officer Wilson knew of that situation (we don’t know yet). What matters is that Brown had allegedly been engaged in a criminal act, pushing and threatening a much smaller clerk on his way out the door. Therefore, whether or not the shooting was justified, he should not be made out to be a hero.

5. The Ferguson police have been criticized for their strong showing. OK, help me out on this. Given the unrest, including burning and looting, and Molotov cocktails and gunfire being directed at police, what exactly should they have done?

Sadly, race relations will never improve until we stop viewing everything through a racial prism. As long as race is our go-to answer for everything, Dr. King’s dream of a color-blind society will remain just that — a dream.

Ferguson Shows Widening Racial Gulf

Michael Brown Autopsy And Unarmed Teens

Michael Brown Autopsy And Unarmed Teens

The diagram from the  Michael Brown autopsy report showing where the bullets entered. If he had his hands raised as is claimed Officer Darren Wilson was doing some pretty weird shooting.

We’ve  felt for the last week that the claims of police oppression motivated by racism concerning the riots in Ferguson, Mo. may have had some legitimacy.

It’s looking like they don’t.

The last straw may have been the release of an autopsy report showing all six shots fired by officer Darren Wilson entering Michael Brown from the front which would mesh with official claims and a description of the events made in  contemporaneous conversation  as captured by a bystander with a video camera.

Media reports continue to describe Brown, who was 18, as an unarmed teenager.  It should be noted that our society considers someone who is 18 to be an adult.

It would be far more reasonable and accurate, and far less inflammatory, for the media to describe Brown as an unarmed 6-4, 300-pound man who had just committed a strong armed robbery at a convenience store.

If Wilson  was motivated to shoot Brown because of hurt ego or racial hatred, he should not merely be removed from the force but charged with murder.

However, if Wilson acted in self defense — and it appears that this is something well within the realm of possibility — he deserves exoneration and his good name back, and every black person, leader or otherwise, with an opinion on the matter has a moral obligation to help him get it back if it should be reasonably shown that Brown’s death is Brown’s own fault.

Here is the video. Most of it concerns angry residents repeating what  they heard whispered down the lane. The comments from a person who actually saw the incident start at the 6 minute mark and describe Brown as leaving the police vehicle, being chased by an officer and then “comes back towards” the officer.

 

 Ed Note: it appears the owner of the video does not feel comfortable with the attention it is getting him and the conclusions being taken from it.

Jonathan Explains Ferguson Riots

A fellow identifying himself as Jonathan has posted a Youtube video explaining the Ferguson, Mo. riots.

He says Black people have to change and stop blaming White people.

It’s a beautiful rant. It pretty much sums things up.

Here it is courtesy of Cathy Craddock:

Ferguson Police have issued a statement concerning what led to the shooting. They said Michael Brown, 18, and another man were encountered by the officer, whose name has not been released, on the street. They then assaulted him, pushing him into his squad car. At that point shots were fired by the officer resulting in Brown’s death.

Police said the officer suffered facial injuries.

Dorian Johnson, who says he was the  man with Brown, has a different story. He says the officer ordered them out of the street then opened his squad car door too close to the men causing it to bounce back in his face angering the officer. At that point, he says, the officer left the car, grabbed Brown’s neck and tried to pull him into the car. When Brown broke his grasp, the officer pulled his gun and started firing. Johnson says Brown had has hands raised when he was shot.

Regardless of whose version is true — and be certain the matter will be investigated by authorities beyond Ferguson — those rioting are not interested in justice.

 

Jonathan Explains Ferguson Riots

Jonathan Explains Ferguson Riots

Democrats Pay Blacks Less

Democrats Pay Blacks LessDemocrats Pay Blacks Less

Democrats pay blacks less according to a study by New Organizing Institute.

Thirty percent less it should be noted.

Republicans don’t it seems.

Those who run the Democrat Party are users who despite all the preaching about equality and social justice are basically in it for themselves.

Their goal is to seek fermentation and division to prevent those who would otherwise unite on shared values from doing so and disrupting their gravy train.

The party has racist roots, and, yes, it has never left them.

Democrats Pay Blacks Less

 

Hat tip TheDailyBeast.com

 

 

Obama Parties While World Burns

Obama Parties While World Burns

Obama parties while world burns

Riots have erupted in the environs of St. Louis after  police in the suburb of Ferguson shot and killed an unarmed black kid named Michael Brown.

Questions and even anger are appropriate but when passersby are attacked just because they can be attacked and stores are looted just because they can be looted, the matter of Mr. Brown’s death gets buried beneath more pressing matters of right and wrong.

Just about all those rioters, if they voted, voted for Barack Obama for president. It is not unreasonable to think that he can calm things down and stop the destruction of property belonging to innocent people not to mention assaults on those people

So where is he? Why he’s golfing on Martha’s Vineyard.

Bombs are falling on Iraq, Christians are being killed by Islamic progressives; unattended children are being pushed across the Mexican border; Russia is conspiring to invade Ukraine, and may have inadvertently shot down a Malaysian jetliner as part of the conspiracy; U.S. wages are down 23 percent and a deadly disease is threatening to engulf the world.

And he’s out golfing.

For two weeks.

Way to go hipsters.

 

Obama Parties While World Burns

 

 

Gary Cobb Fights For Fathers

Gary Cobb

Gary Cobb Fights For Fathers

Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Gary Cobb is seeking the vacated Congressional seat long held by Rob Andrews in the staunchly Democrat 1st District of New Jersey.

He’s running as a Republican. Cobb, like many, started off as a D went to the GOP  after watching how the policies of the Democrat Party destroyed African American families.

“(They were) an incentive for the man to leave the home, and it’s destroyed African-American families throughout the country,” he said.

“All my brothers and sisters have gone to college,” Cobb said. “The reason we were able to have some success was our dad was there, there was some discipline in the home.”

The 1st District includes Camden County and  parts of Burlington and Gloucester counties..

He will face state Sen. Donald Norcross, who is brother of George Norcross, the one-percenter Democrat power broker who just lost control of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.

The publications’ parent company, Interstate General Media, is now under the sole control of H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, who bought out the shares of Lewis Katz following his death.

Gary Cobb Fights For Fathers

Tenure Found Racist

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu on June 10 banned teacher tenure in California  on the grounds that it violated the Brown v Board of Education decision that education “is a right which must be available to all on equal terms.”

The case was Vergara v California.

School officials in Los Angeles were shipping incompetent teachers with tenure to minority schools depriving them of their equal rights, Judge Treu found.

So tenure is racist. It works for us. It certainly is bad policy to be prohibited from removing poor performers from jobs that impact children.

What works even better for us is to give parents the power to fire their child’s teacher just like they would his pediatrician. Just like they would an electrician or plumber with whom they were dissatisfied.

School vouchers allow this and this is why the lazy and incompetent fight them so hard as it would end their ability to milk the system.

Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis has an excellent article on Vergara v California

Tenure Found Racist

 

Tenure Found Racist

 

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended

Sean Bergin a reporter for News12, which is a “cable-exclusive service” for the New York metropolitan area, was suspended for what he said while reporting the death of rookie Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago.

Santiago was shot in ambush in Jersey City by area-resident Lawrence Campbell who apparently was motivated “to be famous”.

He was 23.

Campbell acquired the murder weapon by assaulting a security guard at the  Walgreens drug store where the shooting occurred.

Campbell was subsequently shot by police leaving behind a wife, Angelique, and at least one child, a six-year-old girl.

Mrs. Campbell did not express much regret for her husband’s passing. She did say that she wished he had murdered more human beings serving as police officers before his date with judgement.

Campbell’s friends set up a small shrine at the store featuring candles, balloons,  a bottle of cheap liquor (empty), and gang paraphernalia urging the late citizen to “Thug in Peace”.

It was too much for Bergin. He said this:

“It is worth noting that we were besieged, flooded with calls from police officers furious that we would give media coverage to the wife of a cop killer. We decided to air it because it is important to shine a light on the anti-cop mentality that has so contaminated America’s inner cities. This same, sick, perverse line of thinking is evident from Jersey City to Newark and Patterson to Trenton. It has made the police officer’s job impossible and it has got to stop.

“The underlying cause for all of this, of course: Young black men growing up without fathers. Unfortunately, no one in the news media has the courage to touch that subject.”

His employers were displeased and suspended him.

We say God bless Sean Bergin for speaking truth to power.

Here is the report itself:

Sean Bergin Speaks Truth, Gets Suspended