I agree that the comment mentioned in this account is racist. It does not mean the individual is a racist. People say stupid crap all the time.

On the other hand, welcome to our (conservatives) world. Your opinions were not respect by the guidance councilor and your right to free speech was challenged.

Conservatives experience this everyday. The left does their best to shout us down and call us names. I can only say, turn about is fair play.

[...] Racism and the election. [...]

I think that you were definitely treated unfairly as that was potentially a racist comment. I’m really hoping that it was a joke, a poor one, but a joke. If that’s truly the way this person thinks, that’s kind of sad. I do have to ask - if someone said that Mr. Obama should win because he’s black, would you also have called that racist? If so, then I take heart at your ability to do so. If not, why not?

I’ll admit to surprise about the teacher’s comment. I happen to agree with it, but more because I can see that the money to pay for his dreams is coming out of my pocket and I am by no stretch of the imagination considered wealthy. I see myself joining the ranks of the poor if we start implementing yet more big government projects, especially healthcare. With their track record on social security, welfare, medicare, medicaid, care for veterans - why would any sane person trust that “this time” they’ll get it right?

And having grown up in CT, I can tell you that these “delusional conservative whack jobs” have always been there, albeit in the minority. I don’t know why they stay, especially in the more recent years. I was quite glad to leave and move somewhere where the cost of living is reasonable, I’m not taxed on everything, and where we have judges who actually think that the legislature should make laws and don’t make a new law from the bench.

It’s hard to say what my response to the Obama should win because he’s black comment would be. I think I would be thrown off guard and still tell the person that his skin color should have nothing to do with the election. The par that really floored me was “It’s called the White House for a reason” comment.

It was a dumb statement so was probably meant to be a joke. Even the candidates were on TV cracking jokes the other day. The Racism of the people in this Country is very evident because even with all the extremely bad things Obama has been involved in, he is still getting over 95% of the Black vote.

I think you handled it quite well. Racist comments is not a conservative value, I’m sure of it. The current flexing of drive by comments and statements even I am hearing is extremely destructive. Unfortunately, even adults are prey to be gullible to follow repeating what is on the squakbox, without really making an opinion, but just regurgitating what they betray as loyalty to a party, even when the comments are just a slap in the face and no way can be defended.

Being from the deep South, (Mississippi) I wouldn’t have a problem voting for a black person for President if he/she were the right person for the job but Obama isn’t that person. Despite his charisma and elegant speech making he just isn’t right.
Democrats are notorious for raising taxes and Obama won’t be any different. How’s he going to give everyone that wants to go to college $4000/year, cover everyone on some kind of health insurance and spread the wealth around without more taxes? He’s lying and he knows it.
Don’t forget, when he announced his run for President he’d only been a Senator 143 days. That’s like the Navy taking someone who graduated the academy and giving them command of an aircraft carrier! That wouldn’t work nor will Obama being President.
Not to mention his wife who is an extreme racists herself by her own account according to her theists.

I was at a campground campfire and couldn’t believe the racist comments from the people there. One person said, “I ain’t votin’ for no nigger”. Another said, “HUSSEIN, duh”. They used terms, “kike, spik, raghead” etc. Good old racism is alive and well in the US of A.

I grew up in an area where racism was alive and well. It still is today. It does not shock me that your school is infested with it. The reality is that some people would rather have a senile white guy in office than anyone of color no matter what his qualifications may be. Too many times I have had to put some ignorant individual in their place because they said something stupid and racist thinking I would agree because of the color of (or lack there of) my skin. Keep speaking out against stupidity, but be careful. Too many times, people who are not stupid are outnumbered by those who are.

Definitely a racist comment. At least that person was out in the open. Older people with those prejudices - who don’t want to admit it, are using any reason they can get to say why they won’t be voting for Obama, but the real, hardcore reason will be race.

Peter, ” delusional conservative whack jobs”? You’re placing that marker on a school girl?

Calling the statements racist in nature is appropriate. Is it a valid response to then label the person as racist? Probably not on just those two statements. Other labels are open for consideration: crass, insensitive, uninformed, victim of her culture (home opinions shape us in our early life).

Your counselor sounds as though he may have overreacted to you a bit but keep in mind certain policies he may be required to enforce if certain key words or catch phrases come out. Racist labels may require administrative investigations to ensure that racism is not being condoned on campus or that you are not creating some form of libel against the other person for your own benefit or pleasure. Unfortunately to avoid long involved investigations quick ones are done to quash the activities rather then dealing with the root issue. I suspect that is more of what happened.

Person rushes in to counselor and claims someone hurt my feelings by calling me a name, a bad name. Call her a slut or whore and you probably would have gotten off easier as there are times these could be seen as compliments by some. Counselor calls you in and says you can’t call people names even if they have done things that earn them the title, it isn’t nice.

Keep to your convictions and work to let others know when they say rude, insensitive and/or crass comments. It is not acceptable and you had every right to be offended and speak out about it. Makes you wonder though if you had not said anything to her but rather brought it to the attention of the counselor to deal with the “racist” comments heard in the public areas of the school how or if it would have been handled doesn’t it?

The problem is with the system, not you. You are right, the comment was racist.

This is one of those things that defies logic - similar to the eyewitness account of someone being shot by another, and 10 witnesses having a complete clear view, along with one of those witnesses wielding a digital camera, capturing the entire event - yet our system maintains that we refer to the perp as ‘the alledged criminal’, when in fact there is abundant evidence of immediate guilt.

Not sure how quick you are on your feet, but I, in your place would have pointed out that there is no defending the statement - whether deemed racist or simply proof of cretin-level IQ, it is wrong, and the person that made the statement should have been the one admonished to keep quiet.

“It’s called the White House for a reason”

I guess persons who dress in all black are in huge amount of trouble!

The right- wing, and the McCain campaign has done it’s best to whip up and exploit racism and other fearful, basal instincts, reminiscent of the KKK. It is how they work, because they have little else to stand on, and it works because there are a lot of easily manipulated people out there. It is particularly important to be aware of racism, see it for what it is, and call it out when it is appropriate. But calling someone a racist is painting them with a pretty broad stroke, like any kind of name calling. On the other hand, telling them that what they said ’sounded racist’ gives them the opportunity to own or disown what they said, and basically to label themselves. Ethan, you sound like a good person, a person who is rising above this fray, and I commend you for that. Best of luck to you.

that amrica is racist is a given. Yet I believe we can rise above this stupid racism. There are enough people who see beyond the hatred and can see the true america of freedom and love which is the true america.

There’s also plenty of people that are voting for Obama just because he’s black. There’s racism on both sides of the aisle.

Sure it’s racist. I haven’t heard or seen an Africian American NOT for Obama….

You did the right thing. Mindless prejudice (as this clearly was) should be challenged every time. To be silent is to give consent to the spreading of hate. The most effective rebuttal is to attack the idea, rather than the person expressing it, so it doesn’t matter whether the PERSON is a racist or not. When someone expresses bigotry in any form (not necessarily limited to racism) they may simply be repeating what’s acceptable inside their circle of family, friends and associates. By letting them know such ideas are NOT acceptable, you may cause them to re-examine their views for the better. As far as the counselor and teacher are concerned (or any “authority” figure for that matter) a more diplomatic approach is probably required. Example: “Ms Jones, I don’t agree with the comment you just made.” If they ask why, you have an opportunity to explain. If they don’t open it up to discussion, you’ve at least registered your objection and they know their statement has been challenged. They can’t accuse you of being disrespectful without having to explain to someone else what they said to generate your response. Either way, you’ve made your point that their opinion is not universally accepted.

The society was built on the extermination of Native Americans because this was their continent and they refused to work for nothing for the invaders, then on the enslavement of Africans.

Clearly racism survives and prospers in America.

It’s always right to oppose immediately, clearly and obstinately any expression of racism. It just makes sense.

Why the heck would anyone decide that person wasn’t racist? What else would you call someone who embraces racism and espouses racist ideas? The guidance counselor, on the other hand, while perhaps not an idiot, behaved idiotically. I hate it when people are in positions of authority and dismiss as incorrect any thinking other than their own. People who don’t think that individuals younger than them can form reasonable opinions of their own shouldn’t be allowed to influence our youth.

Since when did racism because an issue? Arn’t we over this already? Arn’t all American’s born with equal rights? I don’t know what country the person that wrote this was in, but it deffinatly wasn’t in my part of the country. Is there a difference in a people that don’t have the same skin color as me? So because my friend and I bought the exact same truck the only difference is the color… does this mean his truck is better than mine or vis vera? I think that it’s still the same truck, requiring everything that the other one is going to require to run. My skin is white I didn’t know that entitled me to more or less of anything. I though we were all the same on the inside. I guess I live in a different America than some people do.

The sad part about the blacks voting for hussien obama because he is black, is the fact he is not black.

Well, it was Jesse Jackson the one to used the “N” word to describe Barack Hussein Obama:
http://tinyurl.com/66h2lf

And he was the one who used the expletive “heimi town”:
http://tinyurl.com/5z4m99

And you’re worried about racism?

I have no place for racism or ethnicity in my convictions; it’s too small a satellite, Earth , the one on which I travel in this universe.

I even refuse to fill in the “qualifiers” in my US Census forms.

I’m not from Mars or elsewhere, ya know?, so I must be from Earth, just like the rest of you.

Weeze all da same!, or ain’t I?

i agree that she made a racist remark. but now that the election is over look up the percentage of black voters that voted for obama. that is racism at its best. over 90%of blacks voted for obama in most states. are we expected to believe they all knew what he stood for and all agreed with his beliefs. i dont hardly think s. they voted for obama because he is black.

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