AFRICAN AMERICAN.

[rex6666]

I really can't say where people came from.
But GOD came from OKLAHOMA

...and all the racists in it. Diversity abounds; can we lay it at God's doorstep?

PLEASE PLEASE explain what i said has to do with being racist.

[Blackhawker]

Despite race, color, religion or even political standpoint, I think people are just people and they all fall into one of two categories: idiots and non-idiots.  The trouble is that the idiots are rapidly outnumbering the non-idiots these days.

[rex6666]

Despite race, color, religion or even political standpoint, I think people are just people and they all fall into one of two categories: idiots and non-idiots.  The trouble is that the idiots are rapidly outnumbering the non-idiots these days.

+1
and some times it is very hard to tell the difference

[yellowtail3]

PLEASE PLEASE explain what i said has to do with being racist.

  Nothing that I can tell; no accusation from me.

[rex6666]

I really can't say where people came from.
But GOD came from OKLAHOMA

...and all the racists in it. Diversity abounds; can we lay it at God's doorstep?

PLEASE PLEASE explain what i said has to do with being racist.

sure looks like some kind of statement

[yellowtail3]

sure looks like some kind of statement

well, it is. I'll expand on it, since you'll get it wrong if you guess: racists come from OK, just like... God?

God isn't from OK; that's just silly. But we know are racists that hail from there.

[SHOOTALL]

No matter the composition of a group some one will be picked on . It could be as small as a construction crew or large as a nation .

[bearmgc]

African American, northerner, southerner, Middle easterner, Asian, Chicano, Yooper, all names. I call people what they want to be called. If your name is Fred, and you want to be called Jack, cause Jack is your middle name and your family calls you Jack. Then I call you Jack. If your name is Eleanor, but you want to be called Torchy, because that's been your nickname for 60 yrs, then I call you Torchy. If you're black and you want to be called African American, I call you African American.  Of course if a president wants to be called Messiah, then sorry. I gotta draw the line.

[powderman]

LONGTOM. Agreed Sir, all true. Seperating Americans by race or nationality is wrong. POWDERMAN.

[yellowtail3]

LONGTOM. Agreed Sir, all true. Seperating Americans by race or nationality is wrong. POWDERMAN.

it was the policy of gov't, churches, and society in general for many generations

[SHOOTALL]

If it is illegal to profile then why are we required to list what we are on fed gun forms ?

[sagegrouse715]

I don't remember ever hearing an American President wanting to be called the Messiah.

[SHOOTALL]

Some believe its comming to a soap box near you soon !

[yellowtail3]

I don't remember ever hearing an American President wanting to be called the Messiah.

None have, that I can recall. Any assertion or insinuation otherwise, about the current Prez, is just so much disingenuous BS.

But it it makes 'em feel good to whine.

[Dee]

Despite race, color, religion or even political standpoint, I think people are just people and they all fall into one of two categories: idiots and non-idiots.  The trouble is that the idiots are rapidly outnumbering the non-idiots these days.

Plus 1 there Blackhawker!
I am Cherokee (half), therefore, I am "Native American", others are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, European Americans, Anglo Americans, and the list goes on and on.
But there are also Democratic Americans, Republican Americans, True Conservative Americans, Pseudo Conservative Americans, Liberal Americans, RINO Americans, and on and on.
It seems most like putting others in boxes, and being in boxes themselves, without even realizing it.

                                      BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS RIGHT!

[bearmgc]

I don't remember ever hearing an American President wanting to be called the Messiah.

None have, that I can recall. Any assertion or insinuation otherwise, about the current Prez, is just so much disingenuous BS.

But it it makes 'em feel good to whine.

I don't whine. But putting a halo around the earlier pictures of the Obama was indeed an insinuation by some of his followers...get a clue, here's a dollar.

[SHOOTALL]

Dee Its more important that the American part be true than any prefix . We must stand as one or we will be conqured .

[mtdotcomm]

Despite race, color, religion or even political standpoint, I think people are just people and they all fall into one of two categories: idiots and non-idiots.  The trouble is that the idiots are rapidly outnumbering the non-idiots these days.

+another.... I decend from a long line of people from different countrys of Europe, as well as a Great x 3 Cherokee Grandmother, a Hinze 57! I dont feel I have one day to celebrate a race, dont matter much.... I'm just me !!
I have a Grand daughter who is half black and half my daughter..... I dont think I've seen anybody as Beautiful, maybe I'm a little biased but, its purdy special when she says, "I love you Papa". She is only four years old and hasent seen raceism raise its ugly head, it would be nice if she never does. Looking at her I've realized, this is a way to be rid of raceism..... we will breed it out. We all come from the same Creator, I choose to find my weight in him and look at other people beyond the difference and see the person, as God would have me, sometimes it hard, but I'm working it, I'm no better than anyone else.
If we were all the same; Northern, Southern, Black, White or whatever it would be kinda boreing.
The way I see it..... Live and let live and Celebrate the differences for we are all "Fearfully and Wonderfully made" !!!

[Blackhawker]

Despite race, color, religion or even political standpoint, I think people are just people and they all fall into one of two categories: idiots and non-idiots.  The trouble is that the idiots are rapidly outnumbering the non-idiots these days.

Plus 1 there Blackhawker!
I am Cherokee (half), therefore, I am "Native American", others are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, European Americans, Anglo Americans, and the list goes on and on.
But there are also Democratic Americans, Republican Americans, True Conservative Americans, Pseudo Conservative Americans, Liberal Americans, RINO Americans, and on and on.
It seems most like putting others in boxes, and being in boxes themselves, without even realizing it.

                                      BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WAS RIGHT!

Dee, after I wrote what I did, I realized that I forgot to add this qualifier:
We are all capable of being both (idiots or non-idiots) from one moment to another (we've all been there before) but it's up to each and every one of us to make the choice of which we want to be.  I guess that's another way of looking at what you wrote about being in boxes.  When we observe and point out that one is an idiot or in a box, do we not ourselves then become idiots or put ourselves in a box?  
Perhaps I should define "idiot" so that no one jumps down my throat.  Idiot being any one of the following: fearful, jealous, selfish, greedy, etc.  Ironically it's the "fearful" that is the driving force of them all.  

Dee, being "Native American" I guess you are the only one that can truly box yourself as American.  The rest of us are NOT American, we're really "United States-ians".  

Parting shot:
I have no intention of calling anyone here an idiot, by the way.  I was just trying to show that we're all capable of doing wrong and/or doing things that are intrusive to others.  I include myself here too.

[Graybeard]

How can someone who has NEVER been to Africa, likely NEVER will go to Africa and mostly like the same applies to the previous three or four or more generations within their lineage be called African anything? Sorry but having black, dark brown or some other shade or tone of skin color does NOT make one African anything.

Kinda like folks calling all feral hogs Russian boars. Iffen they didn't come off the boat or plane from Russia they ain't a Russian boar and iffen they didn't get off the plane or boat from Africa they ain't African.

[Dee]

My point exactly Bill. Everyone except a few of us seem bound and determined to be some sort of hyphenated American.
Everyone believes themselves to be special, and in fact none of us are, except to our families, and in some cases not even there. To have a label others have EXPECTATIONS of that labeled person being a certain way.
The Republican Party is a perfect example. They are as liberal as their counter part, but you'll never convinces some of that.


                                        Benjamin Franklin was right!

[Cabin4]

How can someone who has NEVER been to Africa, likely NEVER will go to Africa and mostly like the same applies to the previous three or four or more generations within their lineage be called African anything? Sorry but having black, dark brown or some other shade or tone of skin color does NOT make one African anything.

Kinda like folks calling all feral hogs Russian boars. Iffen they didn't come off the boat or plane from Russia they ain't a Russian boar and iffen they didn't get off the plane or boat from Africa they ain't African.

I simply refer to myself as a "Discontent American". This will allow me to pass the above stated GB test.

[Cabin4]

My point exactly Bill. Everyone except a few of us seem bound and determined to be some sort of hyphenated American.
Everyone believes themselves to be special, and in fact none of us are, except to our families, and in some cases not even there. To have a label others have EXPECTATIONS of that labeled person being a certain way.
The Republican Party is a perfect example. They are as liberal as their counter part, but you'll never convinces some of that.


                                        Benjamin Franklin was right!

Benjamin Franklin was a "Smart American".

[skarke]

No offense to those of us who are Native-------American, but I think of myself as one.  I mean, I am a 5th generation decendant of German immigrants to Galveston.  I have Scandinavian and English ancestory as well, but I do not claim Europe as "home".

"Native" Americans, as traditionallly described, are also immigrants to this Continent, likely coming through the Bering Straights some 40,000 years ago.

While I admit that there is a large difference between 150 years and 40,000, it's all relative.  Geologically speaking, both time spans hardly register a blip on the screen of Earth history.

So, at the least, I'll consider myself an honorary Native-American, and hope that I don't offend my rosier complexioned brethren. 

[SHOOTALL]

If you were born here you is American . I have worked two men from Africa . They were seperated from their family who were killed and sent to America by the Catholic church . They want to be Americans one day . One found out his mother was spared and alive . He is working to get her here . These men know what Africa offered them and what America offers them and have made their choice . They are grateful for what has been done by all to help them . They were good workers and will make good citizens . They had no trouble telling others how lucky they are to have been born in America.

[MGMorden]

No offense to those of us who are Native-------American, but I think of myself as one.  I mean, I am a 5th generation decendant of German immigrants to Galveston.  I have Scandinavian and English ancestory as well, but I do not claim Europe as "home".

"Native" Americans, as traditionallly described, are also immigrants to this Continent, likely coming through the Bering Straights some 40,000 years ago.

While I admit that there is a large difference between 150 years and 40,000, it's all relative.  Geologically speaking, both time spans hardly register a blip on the screen of Earth history.

So, at the least, I'll consider myself an honorary Native-American, and hope that I don't offend my rosier complexioned brethren. 

I can't argue with what you said, but it is an issue of mere semantics.  Ethnically, the population of America pre-1492 was very different from the people who settled here from Europe.  The people whose ancestors came here from Africa are obviously ethnically different from those whose ancestors came here from Europe.  While race isn't something that should be used to discriminate, it can be something than can be celebrated (ie, going back to the regional heritage thing - being proud of your Southern Heritage is fine - claiming that Northerners are inferior is not).  

Soo, for those who do wish to identify and/or celebrate their race, we have to have names for them.  Ok, you want to be a Native American too.  Ok, fine, but in doing so you invalidate the term used to previously refer to a specific group (for which you are obviously not a part of).  You invalidate that label and a new one must be created.  Same as if you claim that since people whose ancestors are from Africa aren't African - ok, fine, but if we do away with that term we need a replacement term to refer to the same group of people.  "Blacks" isn't a good term as it's too simplistic, and inaccurate (and within the realm of it's limited accuracy, it's ambiguous).  So whether we call them "Native Americans" or "Gloiebinelaiewns", or "African Americans" or "Boweksliens" (the latter in both cases are just random made up gibberish), the groups still need names, and it's best if the name has at least SOME resemblance to the criteria used to determine membership in the group.  Perhaps "Ethnically Original Americans" and "African-Descended Americans" would be more acceptable?

[SHOOTALL]

MGMorden , then what do we call a hybrid ? Say a English decent white looking guy marries an African decent type girl person ? and the offspring comes out well mixed as to both color of skin and  features ?
 This is pure BS . We are Americans at some point that has to be the only discription . Why do we have to include heritage in the description ?

[Dee]

Being more than half Cherokee I would tend to agree with "skarke", and disagree with MGMorden. Haven't we separate ourselves enough? Can't we have a common goal without trying stand out from the rest just because one has a better tan than the other. Can't we just be AMERICANS, or NON-AMERICANS?
What race? How bout the HUMAN RACE.

[mtdotcomm]

MGMorden , then what do we call a hybrid ? Say a English decent white looking guy marries an African decent type girl person ? and the offspring comes out well mixed as to both color of skin and  features ?
 This is pure BS . We are Americans at some point that has to be the only discription . Why do we have to include heritage in the description ?

+1

[Dee]

MGMorden , then what do we call a hybrid ? Say a English decent white looking guy marries an African decent type girl person ? and the offspring comes out well mixed as to both color of skin and  features ?
 This is pure BS . We are Americans at some point that has to be the only discription . Why do we have to include heritage in the description ?

WOW! There's a curve ball MGMorden. See how far you can hit that one.

Excellent point SHOOTALL.