Slam dunk!
Posted on 12/16/2008 9:23:11 AM PST by dbz77
Gay Pride. Jewish Pride. Black pride. Hispanic Pride.
Multiculturalism.
Ethnic pride. Minority rights vs. tyranny of the majority.
For a generation, America has been awash in the celebration of minorities and minorities celebration of themselves. Just recall Black is Beautiful or I am a woman, I am invincible.
At the same time, the majority group in America -- white Christians -- has been allowed to celebrate very little. Rather, they have constantly been reminded of what they should be ashamed of -- their racism, sexism, homophobia, patriarchy, and xenophobia -- real and alleged.
But what about minority shame?
Why does one almost never hear expressions of group shame from members of any American group other than white Christians (specifically, white Christian male heterosexuals)? Are the only evildoers in America white male heterosexual Christians? Is there something inherently wrong about members of minorities expressing anything but group pride? Are there no minority sins worthy of shame? The latter is in fact the argument advanced by many intellectuals concerning black racism, for example. For a generation, college students have been taught that it is impossible for blacks to be racist because only the racial group in power, i.e. whites, can express racism.
Of course, that is nonsense. A black can be a racist just as a white can be one. A minority race might not have the power to implement racist national policies but that hardly means that no minority group, or any individual, can be a racist.
All this came to mind recently when, by coincidence, I read two things about the minority group of which I am a member -- Jews. I just completed reading Anthony Beevors The Fall of Berlin 1945, in which the author writes that in the midst of the massive rape of German women (millions of girls and women of all ages) by Red Army troops, Jewish officers in the Red Army were known to be the one group that protected German girls and women. In Beevors words, Red Army officers who were Jewish went out of their way to protect German women and girls.
I fully admit to a sense of Jewish pride when I read that.
The next day I read a news report that because of the objections of one kindergartners mother, a public school in North Carolina had banned the singing of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer because the song contained the word Christmas. I blame the school officials first and foremost for this craven and foolish decision. But when the news report noted that the woman was Jewish, my heart sank. Just as I had read the Beevor report and felt a surge of Jewish pride, I read the North Carolina story and felt a surge of Jewish shame.
It was a surge of Jewish shame that years ago led to one of the largest demonstrations of Israeli Jews in Israels history. They were demonstrating against the massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Chatilla refugee camps in Lebanon. The killings were committed by Lebanese Christian militias, but they took place while Israel occupied that area of Lebanon.
It would seem, then, that group shame is a good thing.
There are at least three reasons:
1. It is maturing. Only children think only well of themselves. A group that only expresses pride is essentially a group of children.
2. If one expresses group pride, one is morally obligated to express group shame. Obviously, this does not apply to any person who does not identify with, let alone take pride in being a member of, a group.
3. If only the majority group is expected to express shame, then only the majority group is expected to be governed by rules of morality. It is, ironically, the highest moral compliment to Americas white Christians that they are the only American group of whom expressions of shame are expected. It means more is morally expected of them than of anyone else.
The relative absence of expressions of shame in the Muslim world over the atrocities committed in Islams name is an example of the above. The labeling of blacks who express shame over disproportionate rates of violent crime and out-of-wedlock births in the black community as Uncle Toms is another. The absence of any expression of shame in the gay community over the current blacklisting -- and attempts to economically destroy -- anyone who donated to the California proposition defining marriage as between a man and a woman is another example. When Sen. Joseph McCarthy blacklisted people in Hollywood for real or alleged support for the Communist Party, he was finally shut up with the words, Have you no shame, sir?
Expressing group shame when morally necessary is not airing dirty linen or giving solace to ones ideological enemies. It is, rather, one of the highest expressions of moral development. And it is therefore universally applicable. Being a minority doesnt exempt its members from moral responsibility. It will be a great day for America and the world when minorities begin to express shame as well as pride. In fact, there is real pride in expressing shame. Minorities should give it a try.
If African Americans are going to express group pride over Martin Luther King, Jr., or Obama, then group shame for 70% illegitimacy is in order.
which brings us to the point Prager stops short of making...not only has majority America put up with this nonsense, but they have been compelled to fund it out of their own pockets. The middle class in America has passively funded its own demise, which makes them very like another group Prager is familiar with...one that walked into the ovens without a fight. Tragic.
Minorities CAN implement racist policies on a local level. And in certain neighborhoods. And let’s not forget ethnic gangs that can exercise their racism on you if your paths happen to cross.
PC doctrine teaches that only white people have ever committed wrongs on this earth. And far too many are too ignorant of real history to knew any better.
But Prager does present realities now and then that most are too afraid to address.
They are no longer interested in fairness only.
And 92% rate for black on black crime (read: black victims of violence, 92% of the time, are attacked/killed by another black).
The great motivators, shame and embarrassment, have been removed by the moral relativist liberal-media and “intellectuals.” The only shame minorities are allowed to display is when they are accepting of, or in agreement with, conservative principle.
Watch what happens when a black guy says he doesn’t agree with government enforced affirmative action mandates. That poor guy will be shamed into loving Castro & Chavez—or else!
Why not shame over the fact that so many of them live on this country like spoiled trust fund brats, bitterly complaining about oppression while taking one check after another from the person paying for it.
We now have some black racist in Illinois insisting that Obama’s senate seat BELONGS to a black person.
Slam dunk!
Pride is traditionally one of the seven deadly sins. When are these groups going to start bragging about committing the other ones?
You are so right. I speak as a black woman of the 1960’s generation. Regretably the civil rights advances of that era were socially & philosophically married to the 1960’s sexual revolution. Some in my generation feel deep shame for we know that we were complicit in this ongoing debasement of a people’s soul.
Mega dittos from this colored girl in Illinois! I’ve been lol every since Obama’s list of “acceptable” choices for the seat were revealed with the sole “african american” being Ms. Jarrett, while the others were all well-connected white females: Lisa Madigan, Tammy Duckworth & Jan Schkowsky(sp).
“Regretably the civil rights advances of that era were socially & philosophically married to the 1960’s sexual revolution”
One of the most brilliant things I read in a long time. I intend to steal your quote, with your permission, of course.
That is exactly what has gone wrong in the minority community. You have gone right to the heart of the matter, except you’ve not mentioned that other revolution of the 1960’s - hedonistic drug use.
I admit, I’m having trouble getting my arms around the ever growing list of exactly “the right way to think”. What the MSM, our education system and our government (Fuhrer-types) insists is right. I’m probably getting very close to needing time in a re-education camp. Sarcasms involved and intended.
Global warming - has absolutely nothing to do with the sun
“Big” business - just as evil as that other baddy, “profit”
Big government - the bigger, the better, how else can they give us everything
Government money - not to be confused with the people’s money
Living wage - has nothing to do with decisions, responsibility, initiative or merit
For the children - excuses all manner of unconstitutional power grabs, don’t cha know
Military - naturally correlates with rape, torture, mayhem, murder and brutality
Katrina victim - a christened ward of the government for life
White men chasing black women - oppressive in the vein of slave masters
Pelosi’s $33m earmark for America Samoa - husband’s $17m in stock in same irrelevant
Businesses pay taxes - the customer gets off scott free
Minimum wage - needs to be raised to $500/hr so we can all be happy
CEO - all the world’s ills can be blamed here (they have very few votes)
Congress/Senators $5000 wage hike Jan09 - not to be confused with corporate greed
Cultural pride - commendable unless it is southern
Pro Life - bad
Pro (death) Abortion - good
Water-boarding and head panties - torture
Beheading - not an issue, just a religious culture
Jena 6 - poor misunderstood youths oppressed by the racist white man
Guns kill - not criminals (cars, broom handles, rakes, knives, ski slopes, are innocent)
Working man - only those making less than ?? are working men, all others don’t work
Nuclear power - bad for US, good for others, acceptable guise for weapons development
Smoking - cigarettes bad, marijuana good
Fairness Doctrine - must be fair, just look at its name
Religion of peace - ain’t that special, must be true, just look at the record
Profiling - absolute evil, also need to outlaw any form of judgment or reasoning as well
Even playing field - responsibility, accountability, good decisions have no bearing
Disenfranchised vote - term not applicable to uncounted military vote
Every vote must be counted - ignore vote fraud especially if it cancels an honest vote
Minority rule for Africa - bad
Minority rule for America - good
Constitutional - a nuisance term if used against government growth, liberalism, socialism
Right to a job - an inalienable right from birth, just read between the lines of Bill of Rights
Right to health care - see same Bill of Rights mentioned above
Right to not be offended - again, see Bill of Rights (between the lines portion)
Capitalistic - reward based on skill and achievement is just plain evil
Black Congressional Caucus - good and non-racist
White Congressional Caucus - don’t dare go there, you are a bigot to mention it
H.Clinton - the smartest woman in the world, so pretty in pink baking those cookies
S.Palin - an idiot, anyone knows a mere fool could govern the largest state in the union
From each according to his capacity to each according to his need - what am I missing?
Written by a bunch of old white men - must be wrong and evil simply by origin
Black pride- welcomed term, an enlightened view, warms the heart, so soothing
White pride - divisive, hurtful, racist, bla-bla-bla, get your head right or expect to be banned
Embryonic stem cell research - to cite “tax supported” objection muddies the issue
Too Big to Fail - escapes me completely
Illegal alien - offensive term used only by extreme right-wing bigots, get your head right
Entitled to: - a job, a house, an education, food, job security, another man’s money
Political correctness - must learn to think according to the rules of the prolitariat
Diversity training - a meritorious extension of our public education system
Dung filled jar with crucifix - art
Ten Commandments on school room wall - a real no-no taboo
Redneck, cracker, honky, casper, whitea** - terms of endearment with a touch of humor
White men can’t jump - not offensive in the least
Social Security Lock-box - it exists and is safely secure, trust is all that is needed
MSM is unbiased - ye shall believe says Lenin, Marx, Stalin, Hitler and Obama
School vouchers are wrong - Barry and Michelle’s endorsement of public school system
Correlation between black crime & black incarceration - racist thoughts
Obama’s $1,320,000 Freddie/Mac mortgage - a diversion, nothing to see, move along
Islamic foot baths in colleges - tolerance and cultural understanding
Spreading the wealth - not fair that the rich have earned so much and may want to keep it
Christian - a religion of hate and oppression
Unfortunately, I think I am just skimming the surface here but I guess one must first be able to recognize their shortcomings before they can remedy them. /sarc
“Global warming - has absolutely nothing to do with the sun”
Quite a list there. That first one has been one of my favorites for some time. When will these morons realize that the sun, and variations in sun activity, just might have something to do with temperature and climate on earth? And it just might have more to do with it than anything else.
They probably won’t because extreme environmentalism and global warming are a religion. Some people just can’t live their lives without some grand, earth saving cause to give their life meaning. And we’re all affected by their emotional indulgences.
amen to that brother, amen to that
yeah, the list is that little old incremental thingeee that we endure as we mention to the frog beside us that “it sure seems to be getting warm in here”.
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