Is our country's current political environment jeopardizing or fostering future political trust or influence?

PO3 Phyllis Maynard — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 02:25:37 -0500

In two separate dialouges with an Islamic citizen and a Mexican citizen, on two separate occasions, both expressed that racism is being celebrated in this country and there is no remorse, embarrassment, or disapproval.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2019 3:16 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 03:16:46 -0500

PO3 Phyllis Maynard You have radicals on both sides of the political spectrum. Other than these folks, I do not see that racism is being celebrated in this country.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2019 5:20 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:20:34 -0500

You phrased your statement wrong and this is one of the things that we have to change. It should of read American of mexican descent or American who happens to practice islam. We should all be Americans first, everything else second. If someone doesn’t like people who are muslims they are bigots not racicts. How about if a muslim doesn’t like someone who is jewish just because they are jewish. That makes the person a bigot. There are radicals on both sides that display bigoted behavior and racist behavior. We cannot let the views of these people taint our views of everyone on that side. We cannot allow one side to insult every member of the other side and call them racists simply because they have differing political views. That is bigotry. We have to do our own research and see that the majority of us who exist in the middle of the political spectrum have more in common with those on the other side who are also middle of the road, than we do with those on the far left or far right of our “own party”. We need a middle of the road party.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Feb 1 at 2019 2:24 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:24:25 -0500

A look at the large increase in hate crimes across the nation shows we have allowed that old hatred to surface again. (I do not believe it ever really went away, just submerged into the darker part of our society)
As long as people turn their backs on the issue, it will continue to fester and divide us.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 1 at 2019 8:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 20:11:42 -0500

I firmly believe the level of hate is increasing in the country.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2019 1:55 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 13:55:03 -0500

You are joking, aren't you!?!?!?!?!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2019 6:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 18:22:24 -0500

I think racism (actual belief in some kind of biological superiority along racial lines) is limited mostly to a (probably small) portion of older Americans and some small fringe groups of obvious extremists. Bigotry is more common than racism, but I don't think it is significant enough to be a major problem across society as a whole. To say that there is no disapproval of racism or bigotry is to be completely disconnected from reality. Hipsters and the political Left throw accusations of racism at virtually everyone and everything that they disagree with.

I'd also like to point out that neither Mexican nor Islamic are races but rather the first is a nationality and the second a religious affiliation. Both have the nation of Mexico and the religion of Islam have members of various racial backgrounds.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2019 2:02 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 02:02:13 -0500

Hate crimes are up in this country.
Racism, bigotry, and prejudice still exist, and are becoming increasingly overt.
Claiming there are racists on both sides deflects, and may be heard as, yeah, but that group is racist, too. It also ignores that racism requires a system that can be used to discriminate. So, while there may be bigots and prejudiced folks in every group, the group that controls the system is the only one that can be racist.
I've seen prejudiced and bigoted posts on her about Spanish speakers and muslims.
I don't know whether those folks believe they are bigoted or prejudiced. There responses and justifications for their position suggest they may not believe they are. In fact, when I pointed out Army policy, and that the Army's position was that it is prejudiced to tell people they have to speak English in the workplace when having personal, non duty related conversations. They stated they didn't care, and they believed it was rude.
Literally whining about someone's language choice during a personal conversation, but criticize, and label as snowflakes, those who complain about being discriminated against in a clear cut example.
This suggests they may actually believe it isn't bigoted or prejudiced, to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I heard an older white woman interviewed after a town hall meeting held by Senator King, make the statement that people of European descent are being accused more frequently of being racist, and that we (European descent) need to push back.
Here in VA, a 1984 yearbook photo with one person in blackface and one with a Klansman uniform on. The governor (Democrat and Veteran) admitted, during a specially released video address, that he was one of the people in the photo. He claimed he couldn't remember which one was him. He stated that the hurtful and racist photo did not represent who he is today. I noted that he failed to say whether that racist behavior and attitude represented who he was then.
The next day, he claimed that after discussing it with classmates from that period, it wasn't him in the photo. He did, however, admit to using black polish on his face to dress up like Michael Jackson.
He blames the times then, and growing up on the Eastern Shore for his attitudes towards race.
He also said that he believes he is the best one to lead the state through this tough discussion.
Now, I dont know about anyone reading this, but I offer that if one used black face, or dressed up in a klansman uniform, they would recall. I can tell you exactly how many times I dressed up in black face, or have worn a Klansman outfit--Zero.
Certainly, people of all races are bigoted and prejudiced. It shouldn't be accepted by anyone, and should always be called out. However, if you're the one who has experienced bigotry, prejudice, or racism, knowing that your parents did, too, I can understand feeling a certain type of way.
I don't know the solution, but, yes, bigotry, prejudice, and racism are still ongoing, and some have begun to be more overt with it.