Comments on: Obama Heckled by Blacks at Rally… in Florida. Why am I Not Suprised? http://www.larrybellinger.com/2008/09/obama-heckled-by-blacks-at-rally-in-florida-why-am-i-not-suprised/ "You Don't Know Me... But You Will." Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:36:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darkson http://www.larrybellinger.com/2008/09/obama-heckled-by-blacks-at-rally-in-florida-why-am-i-not-suprised/#comment-35 Darkson Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:53:39 +0000 http://www.larrybellinger.com/?p=95#comment-35 To write all of these people off as stupid immediately is irresponsible of all of us. We've all leant our voices to statements and causes which, when we look back on it, were not necessarily our most informed moments. The whole of America hated Soviets not because each soviet was in reality a terrible person, but because it had been ingrained in our minds that their way of life was contradictory to ours and therefore they were our enemies. It isn't until we look our enemies in the eyes that we remember that they are human too. I really do believe that the biggest problem with the American public nowadays is that we don't take the time to sit and discuss with each other opposite viewpoints. A lot of this comes from the fact that many of us were never taught how to engage in a rational discussion of passionate subjects. Unfortunately, and increasingly now in the internet age as we all hide behind our pseudonyms, people are so quick to curse another person's point of view instead of discussing it and hopefully coming to an understanding of each other (and convincing these crazy people that Obama is not endorsed by the KKK, yeah I'm with you that's just some crazy ish). When we're raised in an environment we inevitably take on some of the traits of these around us...some people are fortunate enough to break the bonds that hold them to bigotry and hatred but for others they must be confronted more with the human being to understand. Why do you think there's such a thing as Stockholm Syndrome? To write all of these people off as stupid immediately is irresponsible of all of us. We’ve all leant our voices to statements and causes which, when we look back on it, were not necessarily our most informed moments. The whole of America hated Soviets not because each soviet was in reality a terrible person, but because it had been ingrained in our minds that their way of life was contradictory to ours and therefore they were our enemies. It isn’t until we look our enemies in the eyes that we remember that they are human too.

I really do believe that the biggest problem with the American public nowadays is that we don’t take the time to sit and discuss with each other opposite viewpoints. A lot of this comes from the fact that many of us were never taught how to engage in a rational discussion of passionate subjects. Unfortunately, and increasingly now in the internet age as we all hide behind our pseudonyms, people are so quick to curse another person’s point of view instead of discussing it and hopefully coming to an understanding of each other (and convincing these crazy people that Obama is not endorsed by the KKK, yeah I’m with you that’s just some crazy ish).

When we’re raised in an environment we inevitably take on some of the traits of these around us…some people are fortunate enough to break the bonds that hold them to bigotry and hatred but for others they must be confronted more with the human being to understand. Why do you think there’s such a thing as Stockholm Syndrome?

]]> By: XRated Einstein http://www.larrybellinger.com/2008/09/obama-heckled-by-blacks-at-rally-in-florida-why-am-i-not-suprised/#comment-34 XRated Einstein Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:17:05 +0000 http://www.larrybellinger.com/?p=95#comment-34 I am not surprised because these are the times we live in, or have always lived in. There is a reason why The Jerry Springer show exists, and why most of network TV has succumbed to the same format of mindless, almost gladiator vs lion spectacles. People, in general, are stupid. A small group of us try to be civil and think things out, debate intellectually, but the lion's share of us are four year olds in adult bodies. I do not want to believe for a minute that this person is for real. The opportunity to get one's fifteen minutes of fame rarely presents itself, and this guy thinks this is it for him. Then again, perhaps he is who he says he is. It's no secret that we have no shortage of lunatics. Then, this sort of thing becomes a study of how programmed society is to think it's such an amazing phenomenon that any number of Black people can be against another Black person or group, or especially against the one that is supposed to be the second coming of MLK Jr. Perhaps John Q. Public would be stunned to find out not all Black people worship Oprah, or, oh no, even Flava Flav? But I want to believe more desperately that those actually holding the signs are motivated to be doing so because they are getting paid. In my opinion, they would still be misguided, but at least they will just be selfishly ignorant and not insane. I am not surprised because these are the times we live in, or have always lived in. There is a reason why The Jerry Springer show exists, and why most of network TV has succumbed to the same format of mindless, almost gladiator vs lion spectacles. People, in general, are stupid. A small group of us try to be civil and think things out, debate intellectually, but the lion’s share of us are four year olds in adult bodies.

I do not want to believe for a minute that this person is for real. The opportunity to get one’s fifteen minutes of fame rarely presents itself, and this guy thinks this is it for him. Then again, perhaps he is who he says he is. It’s no secret that we have no shortage of lunatics. Then, this sort of thing becomes a study of how programmed society is to think it’s such an amazing phenomenon that any number of Black people can be against another Black person or group, or especially against the one that is supposed to be the second coming of MLK Jr. Perhaps John Q. Public would be stunned to find out not all Black people worship Oprah, or, oh no, even Flava Flav?

But I want to believe more desperately that those actually holding the signs are motivated to be doing so because they are getting paid. In my opinion, they would still be misguided, but at least they will just be selfishly ignorant and not insane.

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