Slavery & the Civil War

midnight rain · 02-29-2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Is it really surprising that the month dedicated to 12.6% of the population would receive more attention in this country than the month dedicated to 1.7% of the population?

Is that all you got out of my post? That I'm outraged that Jews don't get as much appreciation as blacks? There's still 6.5 million of them in our country. I don't think it has anything to do with population figures, it's just the lingering bitterness/cloud of guilt that exists between blacks and whites.

If anything, I'd think the smaller the minority, the more attention that would need be brought to their plight (that is, if I thought these [insert race] History Months were necessary in the first place) since they'd be lacking as much of a voice.

**Janszoon** · 02-29-2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

Is that all you got out of my post? That I'm outraged that Jews don't get as much appreciation as blacks? There's still 6.5 million of them in our country. I don't think it has anything to do with population figures, it's just the lingering bitterness/cloud of guilt that exists between blacks and whites.

So it has nothing to do with the fact that African-Americans' struggles for civil rights are a major aspect of this country's history? It's just about "lingering bitterness".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

If anything, I'd think the smaller the minority, the more attention that would need be brought to their plight (that is, if I thought these [insert race] History Months were necessary in the first place) since they'd be lacking as much of a voice.

That could be true in many cases, but that is certainly not true with regards to the comparison you are discussing here.

midnight rain · 02-29-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

So it has nothing to do with the fact that African-Americans' struggles for civil rights are a major aspect of this country's history? It's just about "lingering bitterness".

And what about Native Americans loss of civil rights at the hands of European settlers? Why does the history of a certain race in America have to be singled out when it still makes up the history of America as a whole (and considering we spent a ton of time on slavery and the Civil War already). White history was a major aspect of our country, and yet the only reason we don't have a white history month is because there's nothing to feel sorry about for whites. White history is American history. Black history is American history. Why are we trying to separate the history of blacks in this country from every other part of this country's history?

To me, black history month is about politicians throwing the likes of Al Sharpton a bone.

blastingas10 · 02-29-2012, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuna

I don't agree with that.

What I will say though is that African Americans seem more prone to constantly bringing up their past suffering while Jews don't feel the need to remind people of it every 10 minutes. Just an observation I've made, and it kind of lessens my sympathy when they're always acting the victim, as if they've gone through anything near what their ancestors had to.

That is also something I was trying to say.

While there may be movies about the holocaust, and maybe there is a Jewish month, but I've never heard of it and I doubt I'm the only one. The media definitely publicizes the whole black history month a lot more.

The holocaust also ties in with Hitler, and the war, so there are definitely going to be a lot of movies about it. It's just better movie material.

My main point is that the media doesn't spread the message of the Jews history near as much as African-Americans history. I don't think I've ever seen a TV commercial about jewish history month, I've seen plenty about black history month. And Public schools, at least in my experience, don't educate about Jewish history near as much as they educate about African-Americans.

Good point about Native Americans. They were probably ****ed over more than any race, but not much is said about it. Maybe because there aren't many left, because our ancestors killed so many; and it just had to be done, so **** em, lets throw a holiday for the blacks and just try to forget about the Indians.

Abstract · 02-29-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

That is also something I was trying to say.

While there may be movies about the holocaust, and maybe there is a Jewish month, but I've never heard of it and I doubt I'm the only one. The media definitely publicizes the whole black history month a lot more.

The holocaust also ties in with Hitler, and the war, so there are definitely going to be a lot of movies about it. It's just better movie material.

My main point is that the media doesn't spread the message of the Jews history near as much as African-Americans history. I don't think I've ever seen a TV commercial about jewish history month, I've seen plenty about black history month. And Public schools, at least in my experience, don't educate about Jewish history near as much as they educate about African-Americans.

Good point about Native Americans. They were probably ****ed over more than any race, but not much is said about it. Maybe because there aren't many left, because our ancestors killed so many; and it just had to be done, so **** em, lets throw a holiday for the blacks and just try to forget about the Indians.

I agree. As a matter of fact I do have a good percentage of Native American blood in me, but trying to find out what exact tribe is a whole other story. One thing that annoys me about us Americans is that we feel we have the right to morally judge other countries in the genocides they have committed. Yes, each country does deserve to be brought to justice for their crimes, but us Americans always take the high ground and act as if our history is 100% free from murder, and or genocide. What you said about the Indians is absolutely correct, The Trail of Tears is a perfect example. About 2500-6000 Native Americans died on the Trail of Tears alone. That's not counting the total number of deaths throughout American History(which is very hard to calculate). Anyways.. I guess the point is that us Americans need to think twice before taking the moral high ground in all instances ourselves, seeing as we have committed genocide ourselves.

Unknown Soldier · 02-29-2012, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

And Public schools, at least in my experience, don't educate about Jewish history near as much as they educate about African-Americans.

Your descriptions say it all, African-Americans are unique to the USA and have been heavily discriminated against as a race, they are uniquely American and deserve to be educated about considering the way they've been treated in the past.

The Jewish issue is actually very different and shouldn't really be compared, they are truly an international race and have usually been at the business hub of any society that they have lived in and for that reason especially in Europe, they have been heavily discriminated against! In the USA they've never been treated as slaves and basically suffered the same as any other ethnic group that emigrated there, if you're going to suggest some kind of education for the hardships of American Jews, I suggest you also blow the horn for the Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants of the 20th century as well.

The negro was used as a slave, the native indian robbed of his land, whereas the Jews ended controlling Hollywood.

midnight rain · 02-29-2012, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstract

I agree. As a matter of fact I do have a good percentage of Native American blood in me, but trying to find out what exact tribe is a whole other story. One thing that annoys me about us Americans is that we feel we have the right to morally judge other countries in the genocides they have committed. Yes, each country does deserve to be brought to justice for their crimes, but us Americans always take the high ground and act as if our history is 100% free from murder, and or genocide. What you said about the Indians is absolutely correct, The Trail of Tears is a perfect example. About 2500-6000 Native Americans died on the Trail of Tears alone. That's not counting the total number of deaths throughout American History(which is very hard to calculate). Anyways.. I guess the point is that us Americans need to think twice before taking the moral high ground in all instances ourselves, seeing as we have committed genocide ourselves.

I don't get your point. You say "we" as if some of us alive now (who take the moral high ground) are at fault for the Trail of Tears or enslavement of blacks.

Why are we responsible for this? I think I have the right to take the moral high ground on genocide in other countries because I have never been involved in the Trail of Tears or slavery. I find both genocide and slavery regardless of what country was involved equally despicable.

blastingas10 · 02-29-2012, 05:57 PM

That's true, unknown soldier. That's why I said in my first post, "maybe its because I live in America".

"we" weren't responsible or the trail of tears, and "we" weren't responsible for slavery or any of that. So why should we be taught to sympathize with blacks? It's just the polite thing to do I suppose.

Blarobbarg · 02-29-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abstract

I agree. As a matter of fact I do have a good percentage of Native American blood in me, but trying to find out what exact tribe is a whole other story. One thing that annoys me about us Americans is that we feel we have the right to morally judge other countries in the genocides they have committed. Yes, each country does deserve to be brought to justice for their crimes, but us Americans always take the high ground and act as if our history is 100% free from murder, and or genocide. What you said about the Indians is absolutely correct, The Trail of Tears is a perfect example. About 2500-6000 Native Americans died on the Trail of Tears alone. That's not counting the total number of deaths throughout American History(which is very hard to calculate). Anyways.. I guess the point is that us Americans need to think twice before taking the moral high ground in all instances ourselves, seeing as we have committed genocide ourselves.

First of all, I have never committed genocide.

Second of all, I am as disgusted with the horrors in America's past as I am about modern tragedies in other nations. They are abominations. I am not "forgetting that we committed genocide."

Thirdly. It is not wrong to get on a moral high ground when it is about GENOCIDE. Hell, are we supposed to say, "Well, that's bad and all, but our ancestors screwed up back then so we can't really judge you for killing a huge portion of your own population."

Does that sound correct in any way, shape, or form? No, because it is insane.

Americans are just as capable of committing atrocities as other nations, but that does not mean we need to cut people slack when they are killing/enslaving/starving another people.

I really hope that all makes sense.

**Janszoon** · 02-29-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

That's true, unknown soldier. That's why I said in my first post, "maybe its because I live in America".

"we" weren't responsible or the trail of tears, and "we" weren't responsible for slavery or any of that. So why should we be taught to sympathize with blacks? It's just the polite thing to do I suppose.

"We" many not have personally caused those things but "we" certainly have benefitted from them. The United Sates wouldn't be what it is today if it hadn't had access to free (read: stolen) land and free (read: slave) labor.

02-29-2012, 05:57 PM	#88 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	That's true, unknown soldier. That's why I said in my first post, "maybe its because I live in America". "we" weren't responsible or the trail of tears, and "we" weren't responsible for slavery or any of that. So why should we be taught to sympathize with blacks? It's just the polite thing to do I suppose.