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Editorial
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Published: October 13, 2002 Sticks
and Stones
These
are a few of the names white people called black people to their Traitor.
Ventriloquist dummies. Handkerchief Head. Con Man. These
are a few of the names that certain black people Affirmative action should be completely abolished, the sponsorship of exclusive, race-based gatherings by "objective" newspapers is disgraceful, and the very idea of reparations for slavery is ridiculous. Black "leaders"should not purport to speak on behalf of the black community. In the words of Justice Clarence Thomas: "I reserve the right NOT to have my views dictated to me as if I were an intellectual slave." For
a black person to have such views is considered heresy Why do black liberals call black conservatives insulting names? The simple, child-like answer is: "Because!" Whenever black liberals hear "heretical", conservative opinions coming from other blacks, a high degree of emotionalism is typical. The inability or unwillingness to intelligently challenge arguments made by black conservatives instead of calling them names continues to divide. This emotionalism is apparent at the mere mention of "black conservative." At the recent 93rd annual national convention of the NAACP, Julian Bond, a respected leader of black liberals, Chairman of the Board of the NAACP, and a college professor, called black conservatives "ventriloquist dummies." He referred to Ward Connerly, the California man who championed Proposition 209, the 1996 voter-approved measure that ended gender and race-based preferences in state hiring and college admissions, as "con man Connerly." Outright slander. Justice Thomas has been called every name imaginable. Black journalist, Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D., even once wished him an early death at the hands of none other than his white wife. Why the venom? The list of reasons is inexhaustible, but here’s one standout: Black liberals think black conservatives have little or no awareness of past racism, no sense of racial unity. They think they are, by their very opposition to liberal views, mouth-pieces for white conservatives. They reason that anyone who is black and believes affirmative action should be done away with must have little regard for their race. That generations of black people suffered from race-based discrimination doesn’t matter. Real racism, the kind that actually set up road blocks to impede black progress is not distinguished from "racism" as theorize by the liberal media. Black liberals contend that racism is still thriving in full force and if we’re not careful, we’ll be sitting in the back of the bus again. What a shame. What a laughable attitude to have in 2002. What’s one of the actual problems in the black community? The high rate of illegitimate births. Radical idea, isn’t it? A disproportionately high percentage of black babies grow up without fathers. These children grow up to become unmarried, teenage parents who have children who grow up to become unmarried, teenage parents, and so on, until the pathology slowly (or quickly, as the case may be) rots the organism. Innumerable problems in the black community stem from this one, incontrovertible issue (for lack of space can’t be enumerated here). But, according to black liberals, the fault lies with the racist attitudes and policies of the oppressors. Simple, naive thoughts from another brainwashed black, a front for the extreme Right, a self-hater. Hardly. The double standard, the standard that gives black liberals license to hurl insults at black conservatives (or any conservatives) in the national media, no less, in lieu of meaningful, respectful dialogue, is scandalous. Why aren’t black liberals offended by white liberals’ implication that they are incapable of having an independent thought in their heads? "Independent" doesn’t necessarily mean conservative, just something different from the same old party-line, the party that takes for granted the black vote. The most valuable skill any person can acquire is the ability to think critically, independently. When there is a lack of such skills, that lack leads to ad hominem attacks, replacing debate in the liberal community, black and white. Independent, critical thinking is considered a heresy in the black community. Stray one inch from the party-line, and out comes a barrage of insults and ridicule, and downright disrespect. Contrary to the familiar rhyme about sticks and stones, words hurt all of us in more ways than we think. --The author, a conservative black woman, may be reached at barbersview@yahoo.com |
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