Holder: U.S. 'Nation of Cowards' on Race Issues

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 1:08 PM

Quote:WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder described the United States Wednesday as a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues.


In a speech to Justice Department employees marking Black History Month, Holder said the workplace is largely integrated but Americans still self-segregate on the weekends and in their private lives.


"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," said Holder, nation's first black attorney general.


Race issues continue to be a topic of political discussion, Holder said, but "we, as average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."


He urged people of all races to use Black History Month as a chance for frank talk about racial matters.


"It is an issue we have never been at ease with and, given our nation's history, this is in some ways understandable," Holder said. "If we are to make progress in this area, we must feel comfortable enough with one another and tolerant enough of each other to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."


He told Justice Department employees they have a special responsibility to advance racial understanding.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/holde...83059.html

Good article. It is still a relevant issue because even though the races can work together, we still don't know too much about them.

Ok, here's my talk:

I'm 35, about to be 36. I wasn't around in the 1700's. Wasn't around in the 1800's. Wasn't around in the 1960's. Have never been to Watts. ....and could really care less about any issues some self-proclaimed "victim group" has. Not my f'n problem. Everyone in this country has the same opportunities. If one person or group doesn't take advantage of them, not my feckin' problem.

11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

"Nation of whiners"=OUTRAGE!!!

"Nation of cowards"=that's cool.

Would you like to make that standard a double?

America is made out of double standards if you haven't noticed that already. And yes, for us to be of the same religion (mostly) we sure don't tend to worship the same thing together. And Reb, that's a part of the reason we are the way we are. There is not enough understanding on either side of the equation.

(02-18-2009 02:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  There is not enough understanding on either side of the equation.

Sorry, there's only so much, "I'm being held down by the white man", or "it's the white man's fault" I can take before I finally say "**** it, I could care less".

White people aren't holding black people down. BLACK people are holding black people down and when one escapes he/she is a sellout, and uncle tom, or a house negro. I attended Jackson Public Schools after leaving Memphis. To be educated and actually try was "acting white". Hardy Jr. High. Before I graduated and had to attend Provine, my parents got me the hell out of Dodge and moved to Byram.

(02-18-2009 02:02 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

They used to call that "freedom of religion"

I purposely look for churches that have integration, because it's my belief that those churches have real Spiritual life that allows them to get past typical barriers to fellowship.

However, it's not Dept of Justice's job to get involved, certainly not to rob people of their freedom. It's not any part of the Government's job. People are free to make their own choices.

People of different races have come together in the US over the past 50 years more than ever before. And if you protect those freedoms, I believe people will come together even more.

I understand what you have gone through. The younger people have no excuse for talking like that because we were born in a time when the playing field was level and we are the only thing that can hold us back. Maybe I just feel that way because I wasn't inner-city raised and my family did "escape".

(02-18-2009 02:02 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

That and the cafeteria at a college dormatory.

I don't know much about the college dormitory thing.

(02-18-2009 02:52 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 02:02 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

That and the cafeteria at a college dormatory.

I'm sorry...I respectfully disagree with both sentiments. The things you site as segregation are voluntary. There is nothing wrong with people voluntarily choosing to associate with who ever they wish. Do we now support the government goons deciding our relationships for us?

(02-18-2009 01:57 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  Good article. It is still a relevant issue because even though the races can work together, we still don't know too much about them.

Too bad Holder was not a fly on the wall today while I helped my parents paint their old kitchen cabinets. Over an hour was spent on this very topic. They are both in their late 70s and have fully shed their past feelings about race and fully oppose racism. I bet Mr. Holder would have passed out to have heard the conversation.

(02-18-2009 07:39 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 02:52 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 02:02 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

That and the cafeteria at a college dormatory.

I'm sorry...I respectfully disagree with both sentiments. The things you site as segregation are voluntary. There is nothing wrong with people voluntarily choosing to associate with who ever they wish. Do we now support the government goons deciding our relationships for us?

I don't think that is the case. It is your freedom to worship with whomever you want and the government can never make churches integrate. Even if they did people will still tend to hang around their own. But if there were to ever be news of a church actively refusing to let someone worship because of race, it will be the religious community and not the government that gets involved.

(02-18-2009 07:50 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 01:57 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  Good article. It is still a relevant issue because even though the races can work together, we still don't know too much about them.

Too bad Holder was not a fly on the wall today while I helped my parents paint their old kitchen cabinets. Over an hour was spent on this very topic. They are both in their late 70s and have fully shed their past feelings about race and fully oppose racism. I bet Mr. Holder would have passed out to have heard the conversation.

My grandfather is in the same boat with getting over his feelings. He says he came back from Korea and his whole platoon was white with the exception of him and he and the rest of his platoon (or the ones left) are the best of friends. I guess once you live with and get to understand somebody you can put anything behind and that applies to everyone.

[quote='SumOfAllFears' pid='4001973' dateline='1234980955']
[quote]WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder described the United States Wednesday as a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues.
[/quote]

Holder wants discussions, well I'm all for it.

1. For calling me a coward Holder can go **** himself.

2. Any time a white guy talks about race and a person of color disagrees with him why does that automatically label the white dude a racist.

3. Black history month? Which month is White history month? Or Indian? Or whatever?

4. How come we don't have a White Entertainment Channel?

5. Why does the NFL FORCE teams to interview minorities when hiring coaches?

6. What does Affirmative Action do for me?

7. What would happen if someone decided to open a white version of Grambling State University?

8. Will we ever see a white heavy weight boxing champion? How come no one is screaming about a color barrier there?

9. Why is Negro a bad word for whites to use but still used by the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund?

(02-18-2009 09:31 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  [quote='SumOfAllFears' pid='4001973' dateline='1234980955']

Quote:WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder described the United States Wednesday as a nation of cowards on matters of race, saying most Americans avoid discussing unresolved racial issues.

Holder wants discussions, well I'm all for it.

1. For calling me a coward Holder can go **** himself.

2. Any time a white guy talks about race and a person of color disagrees with him why does that automatically label the white dude a racist? That's is wrong to do and I know that happens. I've said before that I've spent a significant amount of my life in Canada and there are really good race relations there (except for in the deep prairie) because nobody there thinks that any issue with each other is untouchable. So I guess that's what could happen here.

3. Black history month? Which month is White history month? Or Indian? Or whatever? I don't know about white history month but Asian Pacific American month is May, Dominican heritage month is January, Irish American history month is March, Haitian, Jewish, and Indian are May, and Caribbean American is June. Oh yeah, Italian, German, and Filipino are in October, American Indian and Alaskan Native are in November with Latino.

4. How come we don't have a White Entertainment Channel? CMT 'nuff said

5. Why does the NFL FORCE teams to interview minorities when hiring coaches? Because ten years ago, teams would refuse to do it.

6. What does Affirmative Action do for me? I believe now it's more about EEO now. Affirmative action served it's purpose and not necessarily needed now.

7. What would happen if someone decided to open a white version of Grambling State University? Grambling doesn't have exclusive black admissions. It's just like any other university with a majority that is one race. The percentages are pretty much the same but inverted.

8. Will we ever see a white heavy weight boxing champion? How come no one is screaming about a color barrier there? I actually think all of the heavy weight champions are white.

9. Why is Negro a bad word for whites to use but still used by the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund? Where is negro in NAACP

(02-18-2009 10:12 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  9. Why is Negro a bad word for whites to use but still used by the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund? Where is negro in NAACP

Crap. That was supposed to say "why is negro and colored bad words.....

I understand, I was just gettin at you. But yeah I hate the use of both terms to tell you the truth. Of color should only apply to hair products...lol

(02-18-2009 07:39 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 02:52 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-18-2009 02:02 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  11AM Sunday is the most segragated hour in America.

That and the cafeteria at a college dormatory.

I'm sorry...I respectfully disagree with both sentiments. The things you site as segregation are voluntary. There is nothing wrong with people voluntarily choosing to associate with who ever they wish. Do we now support the government goons deciding our relationships for us?

There's a big difference between something being wrong and believing that the government should do something about it. While I fully support people's right to self segregate I still believe that it is the wrong thing to do.