Posted by theda: 
Interesting how often telling people they don't know everything is confused with saying that I do know everything.

Let's clarify then... "It is I who know everything..." All hail and pay homage to me... 

Posted by Alex Alexander: 
Staying in the negative..keeps the negative going. Is that how we all want to live our lives...I can make a big speech about growing up in Mississippi in the 50's...so I will not! Ebrance that which defines us all..stop playing into the game 

Staying grounded in one's reality and not allowing it to be defined by others is not the same as staying in the negative. 

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Alex Alexander: 
Staying in the negative..keeps the negative going. Is that how we all want to live our lives...I can make a big speech about growing up in Mississippi in the 50's...so I will not! Ebrance that which defines us all..stop playing into the game 

Staying grounded in one's reality and not allowing it to be defined by others is not the same as staying in the negative. 

BUt staying grounded when we all fear going into anothers culture still is focused within America...we just shhhhh keep so quiet about these issues

Posted by Reese: 
I don't know if it's a twisted sickness or what... But I do love to read Theda's posts...  heh he heh...

"Twisted sickness" would be a good description. 

I sometimes listen to right wing talk radio just to keep informed of what the other side is thinking.

Posted by Reese: 
I don't know if it's a twisted sickness or what... But I do love to read Theda's posts...  heh he heh...

I agree... I like her stuff too.

Actually... this morning I was clicking on her profile and looked at her work... and to my pleasant surprise... she is also pretty... LOL

Posted by Alex Alexander: 

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Alex Alexander: 
Staying in the negative..keeps the negative going. Is that how we all want to live our lives...I can make a big speech about growing up in Mississippi in the 50's...so I will not! Ebrance that which defines us all..stop playing into the game 

Staying grounded in one's reality and not allowing it to be defined by others is not the same as staying in the negative. 

BUt staying grounded when we all fear going into anothers culture still is focused within America...we just shhhhh keep so quiet about these issues

The way to overcome the issues is to bring them out into the open and confront them head on.  Far too many of us commit the crime of silence. 

"...and then they came for me, and there was no one left to protest."

Posted by EMG STUDIOS:
...I never really thought much of it, but something clicked in my head not too long ago that made me think, hmmmm that statement could be misunderstood to be a hidden prejudice.

...Ever been amazed by.... your hidden or what you thought were non-existant prejudices? I am amazed by it every day.

Holla

The Original thread referreed to prejudices, fact is we all are guilty of that is some form or fashion.

prej·u·dice   
An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts.
A preconceived preference or idea.

We expect the convenience store owner to be Middle Eastern or Indian (not Native American)

We expect the super Model to be 5'11", 130lbs.

We expect the taxi driver to be of foreign descent with little mastery of the english language.

We expect the ones who do our lawn to be of Mexican descent

We expect to see the picture of an African American Male on the news after the headline of a major drug bust.

We expect a picture of the seriel killer apprehended to be a white male.

Life is full of prejudices and EMG was expressing his personal prejudices that he is subject to.

Posted by Herb Way: 
Being white isn't better, as in superior, but it's almost always an advantage.

Wake up, my brother, to the reality that Theda thinks she knows eveything and it's a total waste of time trying to get her to understand.  People like you and I and some others on this thread can better invest our time and energy.     

Ok.
Let's put things into perspective shall we?
(About to be stoned again)
Prejudism is prevelant everywhere.
Even today.
Even blacks show prejudism (us white folk do not have a lock on it.)
Prejudism means to Pre Judge something.
That is, you have an opinion or belief about something prior to encountering it / him / her.

If your name is Carlos Rodriguez, I am going to instantly prejudge you to be hispanic.
Is that bad?
NO.
It is a basic of intelligence.
NOW, when you take that and expand to to the thought based on Race, then it is racism (that is bad)
A black guy cannot shoot pictures, A white guy can't jump, a hispanic guy hates work, an italian guy is in the mob.

We have ALL heard it in one form or another.

As far as White guys having an advantage, No.
Until just recently, the most discriminated against group was White Middle Class Males!
Why is that?
Government service gives preferential treatment to females and minorities.
Any company that has a government contract must also give that treatment.

We will never be equal until we are all equal.
I am Not trying to belittle anyone, nor say that racism does not exist, because I have seen racism, especially against blacks, first hand and very often.

But again, there is no lock on it.
Examples of inverse racism:
NAACP where is the NAAWP?
BET where is WET?
You can not have an all White club, but you can have an all Black club.

This kind of reverse racism makes it so that people like your southern belles here hate even more.

I know an incident in Ohio where a Postmaster job was up for bid.
One person applying for it was a poster child for Postmasters. He worked as a postmaster in a little Post office and did nothing all day but read the manuals and regulations. (nothing else to do most of the time)
When he tested, he got a perfect score.
There was another person that worked as a city postmaster (different than rural, which is what this job was for) and scored 82 on the test.
That person got the job because she got 10 points for being female and 10 points for being black above and beyond the regular score.

Where I work at right now, we had to outsource part of a government contract we got to a Woman / Minority owned business, in order to get that contract.
We are paying that company 5 times what it would cost us to normally outsource that piece.

Are those two examples not discrimination in reverse?

We need to stop this White this or Black that or Hispanic the other and start treating everyone on Merit alone.

EMG, You have awesome work.
Herb Way, Same thing.
That is all that should matter.
There will be a percent of people always that thinks that their race /sex / religion / ethnicity / creed / whatever is superior.

We as Humans will always prejudge things, because it is part of intelligence.
HOWEVER, when they take it to the point of Racism, then it is an issue.

I will admit, Looking at your work, I pictured you more like a UDO or an Alex.
That is just the stereotype of "Photographer".
Does that mean I think any less of your work now because I suddenly know you are black?
Nope.

I will say this in closing,
Herb Way, Urban, Melvin, and a few others here, have done more to perpetuate racism than combat it.
If you make an issue of race, you automatically perpetuate racism.

You can not expect an end to racism if you make race based comments.

EMG, I applaud you.
I think the original post you made was good, I think the fact you stayed above the racial fray is even better, and has only made my rspect for you as a photographer and person increase dramatically.

You keep shooting quality photos.
You stick to what you do best bud!

Posted by Herb Way: 
"I will say this in closing,
Herb Way, Urban, Melvin, and a few others here, have done more to perpetuate racism than combat it.
If you make an issue of race, you automatically perpetuate racism.

You can not expect an end to racism if you make race based comments."

Ty, you make some valid points and I genuinely appreciate your sincere attempt at empathy, but the fact that you can make a statement like the one above is a clear indication that, like Theda, you just don't get it. 

What's your read, Urban, Melvin, and the others?

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Herb way, I get it.
Want examples?
In my psychology class (1983) I modified a sonic Ear (great toy) put it into a small bag, and walked around Lynnhaven mall in VA with a black Girl named Kerri Harper (that I ended up dating for a while) We recorded all the comments people made. It was disheartening.
When I was about to graduate ECPI, I was offered a job at EDI (Ross Perot's old company) in VA.
The guy in the class before me had the highest GPA ever attained at the school (.2 above my GPA) he was never offered, solely because he was black. He was also a friend of mine. I turned the Job down, solely based on the fact they did not offer him.
I have had police at my fathers house writing down license plate numbers on his 65 birthday simply because we were Italian, and the cars were from New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida, and all were new.
I was passed over for Sargeant in the Army because My score was equal to that of a black specialist, and there was only one slot available, and we only had one other Black Sargeant in our unit.
Top told me specifically that was why I was passed over and that I would get it 6 months later.
I did not get my posting to a Computer Job in the Postal Service, Despite the fact I was the top candidate on the test, simply because my Veterean points did not beat the points obtained by a black applicant.
I have been on both sides of the issue.
I have seen it first hand.
I hated the Quota system because it discriminated against Whites.
I hated the Hiring system in Computers because it discriminates against black.
I have more black friends than I do white friends.
I have dated several Blaack girls, as well as white girls, a turkish girl, a spanish girl, and a hispanic girl.
I have a friend that I have known since he was 5 years old, Dwayne Bell, He is what my family refers to as "The Black Sheep" of the family.
I have helped him fight against prejudism in the Computer Field in VA. (and His sister is one of those black girls I dated)
When I lived in Norfolk Va. I was called spot. (only White Kid in the Neighborhood) Most of the kids there are still my friends.

I have seen it so much it sickens me.
I have seen it both ways.
But, none of my friends have ever made a comment even remotely racist that I heard.
They call me Cracker, I call them Nigger, and it is all understood that it is not meant to be insulting or racial, it is meant either affectionately or jokingly.
We all understand what it is like on both sides of the coin. We all respect each other.
We could care less where we were born, what color our skin is (except when I try to get darker than Dwayne during the summer, we compare tans.)

Yes, It is a problem.
No, You can not solve it by being racist yourself.
How much respect should I have for you when you call her a Stupid Southern Belle?
Or Comments in your profile like

After four and a half years of full time public school teaching and being surrounded by vanilla people

That is a racist comment on your part, and just as uncalled for.

Bring the issue to the front, but do it for what it is. Do not stoop to her level and become a racist yourself.

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Dammit George, you beat me to it!
Delete your post! :-P

Your's is so much more eloquent=Longer!

Posted by George Butler: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Dammit George, you beat me to it!
Delete your post! :-P

Your's is so much more eloquent=Longer!

Which is probably why your post beat mine (c:

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Instead of prejudging me, How about you and I meet up for drinks.
Then you will know me, I will know you.
I will even buy (as long as you do not drink $100 a shot alcohol - I am not rich)
We are both in NJ.

Actually, this is the best POST I've ever read. Get to know one another for who they are.

To hell with the competive crap!

To hell with the haughty attitudes!

To hell with PREJUDICES!

Don't wait until we are invaded by aliens to realize we are all human being. HUE MAN's

Oh and drinks on Ty!

Posted by George Butler: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Instead of prejudging me, How about you and I meet up for drinks.
Then you will know me, I will know you.
I will even buy (as long as you do not drink $100 a shot alcohol - I am not rich)
We are both in NJ.

Actually, this is the best POST I've ever read. Get to know one another for who they are.

To hell with the competive crap!

To hell with the haughty attitudes!

To hell with PREJUDICES!

Don't wait until we are invaded by aliens to realize we are all human being. HUE MAN's

Oh and drinks on Ty!

WAIT, Only him right now! I am not rich, besides I am saving to buy up Reese off of Ebay! (c:

Posted by Ty Simone:   
WAIT, Only him right now! I am not rich, besides I am saving to buy up Reese off of Ebay! (c:

I'll bid if when you press her belly button she spouts tidbits of theda's sarcasm.

Posted by George Butler: 

Posted by Ty Simone:   
WAIT, Only him right now! I am not rich, besides I am saving to buy up Reese off of Ebay! (c:

I'll bid if when you press her belly button she spouts tidbits of theda's sarcasm.

That is worth an extra $20,000!
Are we hijacking this thread?

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Instead of prejudging me, How about you and I meet up for drinks.
Then you will know me, I will know you.
I will even buy (as long as you do not drink $100 a shot alcohol - I am not rich)
We are both in NJ.

"How much respect should I have for you when you call her a Stupid Southern Belle?"

I never said that, Ty.  You must have me confused with someone else (we all look alike LOL)

"or Comments in your profile like
After four and a half years of full time public school teaching and being surrounded by vanilla people
That is a racist comment on your part, and just as uncalled for."

Boy, did you ever misinterpret that one!  For your information, I teach in an all black school with 90% black teachers.  I have never used the word "vanilla" to describe white people and I, personally, don't know any black person who uses the word in that way.  I was, instead, merely referring to people who are bland and uninspiring.  See how we can make things mean what we want them to mean and then react accordingly?

I think you and I probably have a lot more in common than we have differences and I'd be happy to take you up on your drink offer.  We'll have to shoot down another stereotype, though. I'm a black man who doesn't drink alcohol.  So, we'll have to make it cranberry juice -- good for the old prostate.  LOL 

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by George Butler: 

Posted by Ty Simone:   
WAIT, Only him right now! I am not rich, besides I am saving to buy up Reese off of Ebay! (c:

I'll bid if when you press her belly button she spouts tidbits of theda's sarcasm.

That is worth an extra $20,000!
Are we hijacking this thread?

I think it was time to be hijacked.

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Instead of prejudging me, How about you and I meet up for drinks.
Then you will know me, I will know you.
I will even buy (as long as you do not drink $100 a shot alcohol - I am not rich)
We are both in NJ.

"How much respect should I have for you when you call her a Stupid Southern Belle?"

I never said that, Ty.  You must have me confused with someone else (we all look alike LOL)

"or Comments in your profile like
After four and a half years of full time public school teaching and being surrounded by vanilla people
That is a racist comment on your part, and just as uncalled for."

Boy, did you ever misinterpret that one!  For your information, I teach in an all black school with 90% black teachers.  I have never used the word "vanilla" to describe white people and I, personally, don't know any black person who uses the word in that way.  I was, instead, merely referring to people who are bland and uninspiring.  See how we can make things mean what we want them to mean and then react accordingly?

I think you and I probably have a lot more in common than we have differences and I'd be happy to take you up on your drink offer.  We'll have to shoot down another stereotype, though. I'm a black man who doesn't drink alcohol.  So, we'll have to make it cranberry juice -- good for the old prostate.  LOL   

You are right Herb, I was quoting the wrong person that called her a southern beele, Sorry.
As for your portfolio comment, I originally took it exactly how you meant it. However, perception is reality, and others may not see it that way. :-)
As for Black Men and Alcohol, Nah, that is German Men, and boy can they drink.
Cranberry Juice is fine, Or, we can meet somewhere else non-alcoholic. You like Italian food? (me being Italian and all....)

As for never calling us white folks vanilla, I was actually used to use the Ice Cream phrasology. He is Vanilla, He is Chocolate, and I am Caramel (I am not quite white... I am Italian)

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me? A Scotch Riceball?

A cheapskate that can't drive.

Posted by theda: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me? A Scotch Riceball?

A cheapskate that can't drive.

OMG, I can't believe she said that ...

then again.

Okay, that was funny, shameful but funny.

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 
Instead of prejudging me, How about you and I meet up for drinks.
Then you will know me, I will know you.
I will even buy (as long as you do not drink $100 a shot alcohol - I am not rich)
We are both in NJ.

"How much respect should I have for you when you call her a Stupid Southern Belle?"

I never said that, Ty.  You must have me confused with someone else (we all look alike LOL)

"or Comments in your profile like
After four and a half years of full time public school teaching and being surrounded by vanilla people
That is a racist comment on your part, and just as uncalled for."

Boy, did you ever misinterpret that one!  For your information, I teach in an all black school with 90% black teachers.  I have never used the word "vanilla" to describe white people and I, personally, don't know any black person who uses the word in that way.  I was, instead, merely referring to people who are bland and uninspiring.  See how we can make things mean what we want them to mean and then react accordingly?

I think you and I probably have a lot more in common than we have differences and I'd be happy to take you up on your drink offer.  We'll have to shoot down another stereotype, though. I'm a black man who doesn't drink alcohol.  So, we'll have to make it cranberry juice -- good for the old prostate.  LOL   

You are right Herb, I was quoting the wrong person that called her a southern beele, Sorry.
As for your portfolio comment, I originally took it exactly how you meant it. However, perception is reality, and others may not see it that way. :-)
As for Black Men and Alcohol, Nah, that is German Men, and boy can they drink.
Cranberry Juice is fine, Or, we can meet somewhere else non-alcoholic. You like Italian food? (me being Italian and all....)

As for never calling us white folks vanilla, I was actually used to use the Ice Cream phrasology. He is Vanilla, He is Chocolate, and I am Caramel (I am not quite white... I am Italian)

I pray that others reading this thread will see how talking about another person's ignorance can lead to greater understanding and harmony.

Boy, Gumba, you and I have a lot to talk about.  I was raised in Orange, NJ, went to high school with mostly Italians, and love Italian food.  I've never met a shrimp scampi that I didn't like and I make a mean pan of ziti, myself.  By the way, I also lived in Edison for 7 years.  One of my photographic mentors and closest friends is my Paisan brother, Joe Calaminici.  When we shoot weddings together, he jokingly tells white people that I'm  a Sicilian and I tell him that he's a descendent of Hannibal's elephants.

Let's get together and have a good time and then write a report for Theda. 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Can we invite Reese to join us for Italian food and haggus (sp)?

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Can we invite Reese to join us for Italian food and haggus (sp)?

Perhaps she has a recipe for dim sum haggis?

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Can we invite Reese to join us for Italian food and haggus (sp)?

Ah... se la vie... I would love to come but my boyfriend/personal trainer has me on another stupid low carb diet...

Posted by Reese: 

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Can we invite Reese to join us for Italian food and haggus (sp)?

Ah... se la vie... I would love to come but my boyfriend/personal trainer has me on another stupid low carb diet...

Yes, but how often do you have a chance to dine with 2 herbs and a thai?

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 

Posted by Herb Way: 

Posted by Ty Simone: 

Posted by XtremeArtists: 

Posted by Reese: 
I'm Chinese Scottish... What does that make me?

Hot

I agree.
Of course I think CelticChink applies!

(BEFORE PEOPLE GET UP IN ARMS, READ HER PROFILE!)

Can we invite Reese to join us for Italian food and haggus (sp)?

Ah... se la vie... I would love to come but my boyfriend/personal trainer has me on another stupid low carb diet...

Yes, but how often do you have a chance to dine with 2 herbs and a thai?

Okay, my kids are giving my that strange look again because I fell out the chair laughing.