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davidpdx

(22,000 posts)

177. I don't think racism has ever acceptable

Sat Jun 20, 2015, 07:59 AM

Jun 2015

But I think it does get swept under the carpet and ignored too often.

This is a bit off-topic, but an interesting illustration. I teach ESL in South Korea and in the last chapter of the book this term there was a question about public behavior. The question was something like: If someone behaved improperly in public, would you speak up and say something to the person? Now Korea is a much different society. Conflict is avoided and harmony is important in Korea, so not surprisingly most of my students said no.

Ok, back to my point....

I do have to wonder how many ordinary people in the US would speak up if they saw something happen in public like racism. While I think most Americans are more open about their feelings (certainly more than Koreans), I have a sense that many people would not speak up.

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Wanna Know Who Made Racism ''Acceptable Again'' in the good ol' USA? [View all] Octafish Jun 2015 OP

Well, I knew who you were talking about before I opened your post... Hissyspit Jun 2015 #1

''Pruneface.'' Octafish Jun 2015 #2

Mayor Young was refreshingly honest navarth Jun 2015 #51

+1 nt Quayblue Jun 2015 #58

Amen! 'The legacy of Saint Reagan is one of treachery, malfeasance and treason IMO.' Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #162

Murdered thousands of Gay people too randys1 Jun 2015 #201

Yep. n/t Gormy Cuss Jun 2015 #120

Lee Atwater, Rove's role model developed the "Southern Strategy" merrily Jun 2015 #3

ATWATER: “You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘Nigger, nigger, nigger'" 66 dmhlt Jun 2015 #5

then they said "crack, crack, crack" mopinko Jun 2015 #41

And then they fell to their knees, lit the incense, and prayed "Yes, Yes, YES!!!" calimary Jun 2015 #64

And when that story was told, they killed the messenger. Octafish Jun 2015 #97

well, it could be. mopinko Jun 2015 #145

I'll say what Prof. McCoy says. Octafish Jun 2015 #164

Big gitter player Octafish Jun 2015 #9

Good grief. What are they doing with their faces and why are they doing it? merrily Jun 2015 #14

There ws an extra $10 prize... bvar22 Jun 2015 #74

I recall seeing that live (or on the news the next day) during GHWB's inauguration Chiyo-chichi Jun 2015 #88

He certainly doesn't look African American when he does that. merrily Jun 2015 #92

Of course not. Chiyo-chichi Jun 2015 #98

Looks like the "duckface" that seems to be so popular on FB & Instagram today 7962 Jun 2015 #174

Me neither, but I guess that was obvious. merrily Jun 2015 #178

posted by MohRokTah napkinz Jun 2015 #17

Chilling. It sounds so current. SunSeeker Jun 2015 #167

Atwater got EXACTLY the karma hifiguy Jun 2015 #47

So it is fine with you for people to suffer for their crimes? Excellent.... MicaelS Jun 2015 #153

it wasn't inflicted by any outside force. hifiguy Jun 2015 #154

Of so it can't be an "Outside Force" huh? MicaelS Jun 2015 #155

I'm perfectly fine with it! He's the perfect candidate for the DP. 7962 Jun 2015 #175

I agree completely. MicaelS Jun 2015 #176

Hey, you've been here before!! 7962 Jun 2015 #179

I hear Atwater repented before he died. madfloridian Jun 2015 #151

Converted to Catholicism, too. Octafish Jun 2015 #180

That's the right answer. But on DU it's tricky to criticize Reagan, many here voted for him and Bluenorthwest Jun 2015 #4

In addition to defending Reagan, they defend Bush I, II and the rest of the Crime Family Octafish Jun 2015 #10

Huge +1! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #13

this post says it all heaven05 Jun 2015 #33

"Many here voted for him." Somehow, I doubt that. Comrade Grumpy Jun 2015 #63

I agree with you. pacalo Jun 2015 #90

Can't speak for others Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jun 2015 #184

+1 Bobbie Jo Jun 2015 #100

I've never found it tricky. LWolf Jun 2015 #182

He was a horrible man gollygee Jun 2015 #6

If there are such things as historians in the future deutsey Jun 2015 #18

Reagan could not have pulled it off without the willing acquiescence of many who should have known KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #31

and still think heaven05 Jun 2015 #34

Reagan was a fascist piece of shit, going back to his days as Gov. of California when he threatened KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #35

I remember that, even though I was a student in the UK at the time GCP Jun 2015 #57

Reagan called in the National Guard over 4 "dirty words" in The Berkely Barb stuffmatters Jun 2015 #137

No question deutsey Jun 2015 #37

The roots go all the way back to the First Gilded Age. hifiguy Jun 2015 #87

Yes, and the break between Taft and Roosevelt deutsey Jun 2015 #91

I am not so sure about that. hifiguy Jun 2015 #94

Give the interview a listen deutsey Jun 2015 #99

The thing to remember about RWR is that he started as a Cold War Dem. He's the missing link leveymg Jun 2015 #80

Good points all. Simply add a little astrology to the mix and, voila, you've got KingCharlemagne Jun 2015 #84

I've been saying that for twenty years. nt hifiguy Jun 2015 #48

Agreed. CrispyQ Jun 2015 #69

Racism is going to get worse as competition for the few good jobs that are still Baitball Blogger Jun 2015 #7

Yep. And the GOP messaging that tells white people that PoC are the "takers" cui bono Jun 2015 #72

I was thinking that while he was still in office. Boomerproud Jun 2015 #8

Meh...Reagan was as phony as a 3 dollar bill... Wounded Bear Jun 2015 #11

...because of Reagan, bvar22 Jun 2015 #75

K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #12

Bingo deutsey Jun 2015 #15

Racism has always been acceptable in the U.S. sufrommich Jun 2015 #16

+1 gollygee Jun 2015 #21

So you're saying whathehell Jun 2015 #38

I said nothing like what you're claiming I said. nt sufrommich Jun 2015 #39

I didn't claim anything, I asked a question to clarify your statement. whathehell Jun 2015 #40

+1 zappaman Jun 2015 #81

+1. This country was built by African slave labor and the extermination of indigenous peoples YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #103

Maybe that's why Republicans love him so much. He made hate fashionable again. Initech Jun 2015 #19

Bigotry, stupidity and greed. hifiguy Jun 2015 #89

How Ronald Reagan used coded racial appeals to galvanize white voters and gut the middle class Octafish Jun 2015 #191

Rick Perlstein's books recount the entire story in painstaking detail. hifiguy Jun 2015 #205

And that is true, from my own experience. zeemike Jun 2015 #20

So black people were the Pet Rocks of the '70s? sufrommich Jun 2015 #30

Well if that is how you want to spin it. zeemike Jun 2015 #52

To be fair MountCleaners Jun 2015 #206

the Reagan Library is in Simi Valley olddots Jun 2015 #22

the devil incarnate heaven05 Jun 2015 #23

# underpants Jun 2015 #24

Uh....yeah... ileus Jun 2015 #25

Hate radio has also played a huge role in ramping up racial hatred riderinthestorm Jun 2015 #26

He is responsible for much of the backward movement in this country etherealtruth Jun 2015 #27

It was always acceptable JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #28

President John F. Kennedy found racism unacceptable. Octafish Jun 2015 #83

If you are talking Presidents - that's one thing JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #85

+1 YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #106

We were in Alabama when Kennedy was shot, and Dad was working in Huntsville (Apollo program stuff) hatrack Jun 2015 #123

Yeah JustAnotherGen Jun 2015 #134

Bolden's story is one far more people should know. hifiguy Jun 2015 #96

Abraham Bolden gets no mention in the history books for a reason. Octafish Jun 2015 #124

Yep. hifiguy Jun 2015 #125

''He called me, 'Mr. Bolden.''' Octafish Jun 2015 #128

Lee Atwater had an army of racists and supremacists he used to political advantage. blm Jun 2015 #29

Do tell! MountCleaners Jun 2015 #207

Lee Atwater had SC wired with his racist hit squad including a group from Bob Jones Univ. blm Jun 2015 #210

And yet in an interview with Mike Wallace in 1988, Ronny couldn't understand why so many muntrv Jun 2015 #32

Yes he did. MuseRider Jun 2015 #36

His mouthpiece: marions ghost Jun 2015 #42

Yup. Octafish Jun 2015 #146

The Powell Memo. calimary Jun 2015 #157

YEAH...this guy yuiyoshida Jun 2015 #161

Actually, the Dixiecrats who revolted against Civil Rights gains in the 60s and became Southern Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #43

This needs to be a Separate Post All On It's Own..... LovingA2andMI Jun 2015 #169

''Liberal Media'' - ''Liberal Mind''... So... Octafish Jun 2015 #181

RACISM has always been around and never went out of style. There never was a time when Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #44

What's a bullshit argument? navarth Jun 2015 #55

Saying that racism is "acceptable again" implies that there was a time when racism Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #188

Don't you find it odd when a president leads the racist resurgence? Octafish Jun 2015 #190

Wrong. Nixon led the resurgence. Read again. The Southern Strategy was Nixon's agenda. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #199

That shows how something can be wrong and right at the same time. Octafish Jun 2015 #208

You simply won't admit your mistake. The assertion you made, "Reagan was responsible for racism's Liberal_Stalwart71 Jun 2015 #211

No, I wrote Reagan was the key figure in its resurgence. Octafish Jun 2015 #212

Yeah, you'd *better* say Reagan ... eppur_se_muova Jun 2015 #45

Reagan was one of the worst Presidents for the poor, the marginalized, the historically oppressed YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #118

Ronald Reagan was crack cocaine for America ... eppur_se_muova Jun 2015 #131

YES!!!! One of the most practically RACIST presidents in US history!! uponit7771 Jun 2015 #46

The Reagan administration was a stain on our country. bigwillq Jun 2015 #49

Reagan did so much to hurt the USA, the mean-spirited asshole. kr PufPuf23 Jun 2015 #50

Well there you go again... liberal N proud Jun 2015 #53

I hate very few people I have never met. 99Forever Jun 2015 #54

I remember it all too well. byronius Jun 2015 #56

good reminder! Fast Walker 52 Jun 2015 #59

My guess ... GeorgeGist Jun 2015 #172

It's always been acceptable. Solly Mack Jun 2015 #60

It stopped -- for a time, anyway -- in the Oval Office during the Kennedy Administration. Octafish Jun 2015 #193

So what? SpartanDem Jun 2015 #195

So what? Lyndon Johnson was a civil rights hero. But also a racist Octafish Jun 2015 #198

I'm sorry, Octafish. Racism never stopped being acceptable. Solly Mack Jun 2015 #200

Cause George Wallace was really a PussyCat? One_Life_To_Give Jun 2015 #61

George Wallace had a lot of help from his friends. Octafish Jun 2015 #78

Nat'l assoc of Governors meeting One_Life_To_Give Jun 2015 #95

Really? The AP says 1983. Octafish Jun 2015 #112

July 30th, 1983 One_Life_To_Give Jun 2015 #116

Thanks! Good times. Octafish Jun 2015 #117

I am SOOOOOO bookmarking this thread. Several different ways. calimary Jun 2015 #62

Bookmarked. Octafish Jun 2015 #82

A truly righesous rant, calimary. hifiguy Jun 2015 #108

+++Gold Star Post+++ Agony Jun 2015 #132

Absofrigginlutely! shadowmayor Jun 2015 #140

Welcome to DU, shadowmayor! calimary Jun 2015 #156

Stunning reply shadowmayor Jun 2015 #163

another thing I think he is at fault for d_r Jun 2015 #202

I have a web site on Reagan's racism scoobiedavis Jun 2015 #65

Outstanding Resource! Thank You! Octafish Jun 2015 #186

Thom Harrmann is referencing this right now n/t phylny Jun 2015 #66

"Ronnie Raygun vs. the Welfare Queens From Outer Space!" LongTomH Jun 2015 #67

Thanks for your great posts. nm rhett o rick Jun 2015 #68

He is called Ray-GUN for a reason. lark Jun 2015 #70

Woodstock had a song about Ronald Raygunzap. Octafish Jun 2015 #76

And Roselyn Carter KT2000 Jun 2015 #71

And he raised greed to sacrament status. calimary Jun 2015 #130

It was never not acceptable. iandhr Jun 2015 #73

Yep, the war on welfare (now conflated with SSI) is code for racism daredtowork Jun 2015 #77

Let's hope whatever it was never returns. Zorra Jun 2015 #79

Jayzus riding a unicycle and juggling fish. hifiguy Jun 2015 #110

As horrendous as the senile old fraud was, he was the symptom and the carrier, hifiguy Jun 2015 #86

Brilliant! Let's make this go viral. nt Damansarajaya Jun 2015 #93

Not to mention he kicked off his Presidential campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi as a symbol of Hoyt Jun 2015 #101

Thanks. I did mention that, though. Octafish Jun 2015 #102

Sorry, I missed that. It's always the first thing I think of when people fawn Hoyt Jun 2015 #104

I am sorry I sound so pedantic...lots of history being rewritten when it comes to fascism. Octafish Jun 2015 #107

I have to admit, I'm on my phone and pretty much just looked at the photo. Just went back Hoyt Jun 2015 #111

Racism has always been acceptable in the US YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #105

Except Reagan worked to reverse the progress other presidents had made. Octafish Jun 2015 #109

Presidents can't do anything progressive without masses of ordinary people demanding that they do it YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #114

That is one cruel and awful person. Guatemala and all the others... SaranchaIsWaiting Jun 2015 #113

Reagan was one of the worst since Andrew Jackson. Admiral Loinpresser Jun 2015 #149

Well, in all fairness to Ronnie the Empty Suit, Tricky Dick was really pretty bad too: struggle4progress Jun 2015 #115

The difference is that Nixon was caught doing criminal acts YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #119

Ronnie was caught too, but the House decided not to pursue impeachment struggle4progress Jun 2015 #121

Which is to their eternal shame and discredit YoungDemCA Jun 2015 #122

Had Reagan been impeached, his forced testimony would have outed his alzheimers stuffmatters Jun 2015 #141

Would've outted Poppy Bush's treason, too. Octafish Jun 2015 #194

Thom Hartmann referred to your post this morning on his radio show. Cleita Jun 2015 #126

Great thread. K&R (eom) CanSocDem Jun 2015 #127

FTR: Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner were more than "marchers"; WinkyDink Jun 2015 #129

Thank you. That is an important distinction: ''Workers.'' Octafish Jun 2015 #139

I totally agree gopiscrap Jun 2015 #133

What a monster! Also, for what he was responsible for in South America.... Joe Chi Minh Jun 2015 #135

K&R myrna minx Jun 2015 #136

Don't forget the site of Reagan's first speech after receiving gthe 1980 Republican nomination. bulloney Jun 2015 #138

+1,000 n/t Admiral Loinpresser Jun 2015 #152

Philadelphia, Mississippi had a population of about 5,000 and had no significance whatsoever aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2015 #183

Great thread, many thanks, big bookmark! stuffmatters Jun 2015 #142

Sometimes actors come across as pretty superficial, but I often think Joe Chi Minh Jun 2015 #143

A lot of retrograde thinking keeps.... wolfie001 Jun 2015 #144

Reagan also killed sulphurdunn Jun 2015 #147

K&R! I thought it was going to be Poppy Bush refering to Jeb's kids as his "little brown babies".... Ghost in the Machine Jun 2015 #148

Bush Defends 'Little Brown Ones' Term for Grandchildren, Tells 'Pride and Love' Octafish Jun 2015 #185

Thanks for the background and links, Octafish! Ghost in the Machine Jun 2015 #187

Yes, following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon. Blue_In_AK Jun 2015 #150

Bookmarked and K & R. Thanks for restoring some historical perspective to the debate. Surya Gayatri Jun 2015 #158

R#255 & K!1 n/t UTUSN Jun 2015 #159

UTUSN! Octafish Jun 2015 #166

Racism has always been acceptable in the United States. man4allcats Jun 2015 #160

That's why I find it odd for the PRESIDENT to lead its resurgence. Octafish Jun 2015 #165

It was screamed in the 80's, and it was 100% true: Reagan was a god damned puppet. C Moon Jun 2015 #168

Octafish, I can always count on you to cut through the crap. silvershadow Jun 2015 #170

Wow! I so agree..... bobGandolf Jun 2015 #171

Reagan Rafale Jun 2015 #173

I don't think racism has ever acceptable davidpdx Jun 2015 #177

Sec. of Education Terrel H. Bell spoke up. Ask Ed Meese. Octafish Jun 2015 #192

I commend him for that davidpdx Jun 2015 #204

Today in 1964 MinM Jun 2015 #189

Only the most pollyannaish white liberal could ever believe this BS SpartanDem Jun 2015 #196

Hey! That's EXACTLY what my Republican neighbor said! Octafish Jun 2015 #197

don't forget this d_r Jun 2015 #203

Yes.........k and r.. he validated racism for those who need that...nt Stuart G Jun 2015 #209