News-Record.com

Odd that Hussein Obama receives accolades from an adoring press for 90 minutes of whining about the status of victocrats in America, while Mr. Shuford's well presented facts are "spreading fear".

"I'm sure they get plenty of letters with inflammatory viewpoints, and use their better judgment to not print them. What happened here?"

versus

"I just happen to have an open mind."

Lets see, someone who is open minded is advocating censorship?

"If you look at Hillary Clinton's political agenda and that of Barack Obama, they are almost exactly the same."

I've heard Hillary offer more specifics on issues than Obama and I've heard Obama talk a lot but he doesn't mention specifics but promises the world on a platter if he becomes president.

Oh, and yesterday, I heard Barak say that "Children are punishment" for young girls who make a "mistake", haven't heard Hillary say anything like that yet.

Gerry Smith: "Mr. Shuford obviously lives in fear: fear of change, fear of listening, fear of understanding, fear of accepting."

If you know history, Mr./Ms. Smith, you know that not all change is good. You know that not all that is heard is true, and that all perceptions of reality ["understandings"] are not equal. And you also know that acceptance ought to be earned.

In any case, here is the full text of my letter --- with supporting links:

Skin color does matter
Greensboro News & Record
March 21, 2008
http://blog.news-record.com/opinion/letters/archives/2008/03/skin_color_does_matter.shtml

"What does the color of the man's skin have to do with his presidential platform?" asks ZuQorah Williamson (letter, March 13). Plenty.

In a preliminary sense, the color of the man's skin has strong predictive value: Politically, black America is almost socialistic.

"There's a feeling that the government is the vehicle that's going to lift us to equality, and without the government, we'll never make it" (Shelby Steele, African American scholar, Hoover Institution).

In sizing up Sen. Obama, a voter who isn't socialist would be wise to look for evidence of deviation from the socialist orthodoxy of the black community. Such evidence is scant. Obama was rated the most liberal senator in 2007 by the National Journal. Speeches about hope and change—with little substance— obscure a political belief system that is perfectly in line with what one might presume from the color of the man's skin.

Tom Shuford
Lenoir

COMMENT: Permissible speech or not? Vigorous political debate in a mutli-ethnic country is extremely difficult. Europe, for example, is steadily ratcheting up controls on speech and behavior because one group or another is always offended by something.

In the U. S. an informal regime of political correctness limits speech almost as effectively. I admire the News & Record for being brave enough to print my letter. I don't think the sky will fall if people like me occasionally get to air our views.

This letter is just as lame as Shuford's letter.

"If you look at Hillary Clinton's political agenda and that of Barack Obama, they are almost exactly the same."

Excuse me if I beg to differ. There is quite the contrast between these two. One uses every tactic possible to "DIVIDE" people, while the other has based their campaign on "UNITING" people. One (Clinton) speaks down to people, while the other raises America up.
Obama's campaign is very reminiscent of Reagan's "Morning in America" but the 'GOP First, America Second' crowd can't see it for TWO reasons:

He's a Democrat
AND.....
He's Black.

Note to ditto heads:
Time for Dan to act like Obama's pastor is running for President and to tell us all how "conservatives" are great and Dems or anyone else is just unfit....yeah, after 7 years of Bush you have a lot of credibility! Oh yeah. LOL!
---------
"By the way, I'm a Republican, white and retired military....."
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

I saw no reason Tom Shuford's letter should not have been printed.
I also think Obama know's skin color matters, or else he wouldn't be the leading Democratic contender.
This year gender must also matter.
I see this election as the most "lesser of the two evils" that I can recall.

I think black people are stereotyping themselves just fine by themselves . . .

If you don't believe me . . . we can all run over to them White hating black churches on Sunday and listen to them spread their hate filled speeches . . .

BTW when are they going to issue an apology . . . or are black people entitled to this kind of hate?

The Liberal Conservative: "By the way, I'm a Republican, white and retired military....."

Then why the fear of posting under your own name?

I'm genuinely curious. Anonymous posting by people with bosses is perfectly understandable. You, on the other hand, have an independent source of income ---- a pension as "retired military." You can't be fired for anything you say.

If "credibility" is important to you, why not put it on the line? Identify yourself. What' the risk?

While I don't agree with Mr. Shuford's letter, the newspaper should have printed it. He has a right to his opinion. On the other hand, he also should expect to be opposed. If he chooses to use statistics to support his views of black people, that's his prerogative. But, as I've communicated to him, statistics can also be used to refute a point. Based on newspaper stories, the TV news and shows like To Catch a Predator, one could assume that white males make up the majority of pedophiles and serial killers. But, that snapshot wouldn't be fair in dealing with white males as a whole. Mr. Shuford uses the concept of "fear." He's not along in using it. Basically, you can insert anything after the word "fear" - blacks, gays, Mexicans, terrorists and the list goes on. How does the saying go "...you fear those things that you do not know?"

J Peterman Reality Tour, your user name is appropriate considering what came out of Michael Richards' mouth. You are really taking that character assimilation to the extreme.

General question for all: Is having a dislike of another's culture considered racism?

Hugh: "General question for all: Is having a dislike for another's culture considered racisim?"

In many quarters, yes. The concept of "cultural relativism" is a central tenet of modern American political and academic discourse. All cultures are equally worthy of our respect. That belief is the basis for such slogans as "Diversity is strength" and such like.

Of course, it's nonsense. But no one is supposed to say that.

Conundrum has a fear of the J. Peterman Reality Tour . . . and the truth.

The J. Peterman Reality Tour is based upon J. Peterman's whimsical musing and exposures (tho some embellished) in life.

Kramer was a nutt . . . just like Rev. Wright is

God Bless Everyone

Re: "Are all white women socialists, too."

I will admit to being very cautious when voting for women, since the women who go into politics are, with a few exceptions, somewhat to the left. I do tend to assume a female politician is pro-abortion and wants to tax everyone into oblivion "for the children" unless that woman proves to me that she shares my principles.

Race and gender are not the only clues people use to make assumptions about political leanings. For example, one can generally assume that the average social worker is politically to the left of the average nuclear engineer. Again, these are just generalizations and are no substitute for seeking out the positions of individual candidates.

I agree with you Tom. The term racist has become perverted in recent decades from it's original meaning of "a sense of superiority of one's own race".

There are a lot of things about different cultures that I personally dislike and choose not to associate with as well as the exact opposite. People are people and their race, even if it is my own, is not the determining factor in whether I adopt their ideals and culture as my own.

A foul and obnoxious, inconsiderate and rude or mean and hateful person is going to be exiled from my daily life based on their demeanor and personality. It doesn't matter if they view their actions as being perfectly acceptable within their segment of society. It's how they behave around me that sets the standard for my association with them.

Tom Shuford,

Only reason I do not post my name is because of the nutz like neocon, Ghost, Hugh and you. Don't need to be awakened at 4:00 AM just because some idiot with last night's supper on them, wants to debate!

The quote you attribute to me is from the letter----guess reading the letter before commenting is "optional" with you?

Mr. Shuford,
Trust me...THE LIBERAL CANADIAN is not retired military.

As hard as we (may) try not to, everybody stereotypes everybody. Even if we don't publicly acknowledge it. At least that's how I feel. I wouldn't consider recognizing cultural trends racism but assuming every member of a certain culture follows all of the trends might be.

And perhaps Black America is justified in believing that the government will (or at least should) 'lift them to equality,' since it was the government who allowed them to be kept in slavery until the 1860's and legally discriminated against afterwards for a long time. But they also need to realize that the government can only get them so far (and maybe we're pretty close to that point).

Also, I think latent racism and discrimination does exist. (Like maybe subconciously (or conciously) a landlord rents an apartment to a white family instead of a black family). But I think this can only go away with time and future generations. I can only think of my parent's extreme aversion to interracial relationships. (Your cousin's dating a BLACK man! Better not bring him to church...!) For me, that's not there so much. So...

"Based on newspaper stories, the TV news and shows like To Catch a Predator, one could assume that white males make up the majority of pedophiles and serial killers. But, that snapshot wouldn't be fair in dealing with white males as a whole."

Maybe not, but I'm a little leery of white guys from Wisconsin.

TLC: "The quote you attribute to me is from the letter [chastising with the News & Record for publishing my earlier letter] ---- guess reading the letter before commenting is 'optional' with you?"

You got me, TLC. I misspoke. Did I ever tell you about the time I posted on this board while under sniper fire?

Now Tom, that one made me laugh out loud! Thanks!

`

neocon said:
"Mr. Shuford,
Trust me...THE LIBERAL CANADIAN is not retired military."

Well, since you brought it up oh little one, did you see the latest statistic from the Iraq war? A female soldier is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier or superior than to be killed in Iraq. Yep. Over 2,000 instances in the past year of sexual misconduct by male soldiers upon women.
Makes you real proud, now doesn't it.
Oh, I guess I'm being unpatriotic little neo?
Well, how about 97% of the more than 4,000 dead occuring AFTER Bush declared "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".

Yeah, the "neocons" really know how to run a White House and a war. If it weren't so sad, it would be funny.

`

Gee, I guess you were right all along, THE LIBERAL CANADIANETTE...The US military is nothing more than a gang of war mongering, sexist rapists. I stand corrected in my thinking that they are some of the best America has to offer.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom...and your true colors.

neo,
You just don't get it.

Pull your trousers up.