TBD

RatBastard wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
ratbastard, do you object to being called Caucasian?

I have no concern what-so-even what others call me.  It has zero impact on me.  Although by the technical definition of eh term I am not a member of that group.  On a side issue, I would find it rather silly to refer to me as European-American.

Yes I agree "African American" is a stupid term for people who never lived in Africa.  I am sure it will change again.  I don't understand the desire to change the name of your ethnic group.  Anyway a lot of people from Africa who have moved here are not considered "African Americans". It might be the worst name for an ethnic group ever created. 

Julian, wrote:

RatBastard wrote:
It would however be far more of a quality discussion if more or the replies to my views had some basis in reality rather than some far fetched never never land naivete.

Your entire argument hung on the premise that eight times as many blacks smoke marijuana as whites and several of us referenced studies that make clear that's not the case and you refuse them out of hand and then accuse others of living in some far fetched never never land naivete?

What's most funny is NO ONE I've seen in this thread even disagrees with you on your main point (that inequity in prosecutions isn't a good reason to get rid of a law). Several of us have said "yep, that's right." People are, at worst, correcting one detail of your argument. And you're still bent out of shape over it. Totally unnecessary, man.

No the point being made was the guy was making a decision on changing a law because more blacks were arrested for breaking said law than non-blacks.  That is the very text book definition of racism.

Rather funny your definition of 'bent'.  I am merely replying to some remarks being made with valid points.  In some of those cases I agreed with the point the other person was making (such as money making a difference).

RatBastard wrote:
Rather funny your definition of 'bent'.  I am merely replying to some remarks being made with valid points.  In some of those cases I agreed with the point the other person was making (such as money making a difference).

I'm just saying, I perceive you as being very angry in this discussion, which is curious since – unlike many discussion on here – we all are in general agreement on the main principles and merely disagree of a few supporting facts and figures. I think other people perceive it that way as well. I know you're a cool dude in real life, we've met, but I think your tone comes across as unintentionally antagonistic on the Internet, man.

atomic wrote:

RatBastard wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
ratbastard, do you object to being called Caucasian?

I have no concern what-so-even what others call me.  It has zero impact on me.  Although by the technical definition of eh term I am not a member of that group.  On a side issue, I would find it rather silly to refer to me as European-American.

Yes I agree "African American" is a stupid term for people who never lived in Africa.  I am sure it will change again.  I don't understand the desire to change the name of your ethnic group.  Anyway a lot of people from Africa who have moved here are not considered "African Americans". It might be the worst name for an ethnic group ever created. 

I find the whole hyphenated americanism things to be the most absurd and childish notion ever concocted.  On the very face of it, it fails.  Regardless of where someone may or may not have lived (or even where they may or may not have come from), we are all Americans.  On a side note it always humored me that in a country where we are supposedly striving to make race a non-issue, the government itself continues to promote racism by asking for your race on damn near every official document.  As long as our government makes race an issue, the people will as well.  But I am getting side tracked.

Don't even get me started on the racist institutions in our society such as the Congressional Black Caucus, NAACP (kind surprised they have not changed their name to the NAAAA), BET, Miss Black America, et al. 

Julian, wrote:

RatBastard wrote:
Rather funny your definition of 'bent'.  I am merely replying to some remarks being made with valid points.  In some of those cases I agreed with the point the other person was making (such as money making a difference).

I'm just saying, I perceive you as being very angry in this discussion, which is curious since – unlike many discussion on here – we all are in general agreement on the main principles and merely disagree of a few supporting facts and figures. I think other people perceive it that way as well. I know you're a cool dude in real life, we've met, but I think your tone comes across as unintentionally antagonistic on the Internet, man.

On the interwebs it is often very difficult to convey and to interpret the underlying emotions in a conversation.  This is one of the things about said webs that I don't particularly care for.  I tend to speak in a manner that can easily be construed as (shall we say) off putting, but that intention is not there.  At the same time I am absolutely not afraid to speak my mind and make my point! :)

You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

"Islamic" is a race?

ggw wrote:
"Islamic" is a race?

yawn

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

chaz wrote:

ggw wrote:
"Islamic" is a race?

yawn

Well he is right.  My sister is Islamic and she is as white as she can be with her pale skin and blonde hair. 

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

"If i have kids"?

is baby atomic coming?

hutch wrote:

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

"If i have kids"?

is baby atomic coming?

;D

islamicfront would make a great screen name

atomic wrote:

chaz wrote:

ggw wrote:
"Islamic" is a race?

yawn

Well he is right.  My sister is Islamic and she is as white as she can be with her pale skin and blonde hair. 

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

It's pretty easy to find out online the demographic breakdown of any school.

Park School

Ethnicity   
White 80%
Two or more races  9%
Black 8%
Asian 3%
Hispanic 1% 10%

Fairfax County, VA

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

James wrote:
Fairfax County, VA

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

Oh that is where my sister lives.  No wonder you have islamics at your kids schools.

atomic wrote:

chaz wrote:

ggw wrote:
"Islamic" is a race?

yawn

Well he is right.  My sister is Islamic and she is as white as she can be with her pale skin and blonde hair. 

Fair enough.  It was easier to say that than Islamic countries in the Middle East and Africa.

chaz wrote:

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

It's pretty easy to find out online the demographic breakdown of any school.

Park School

Ethnicity   
White 80%
Two or more races  9%
Black 8%
Asian 3%
Hispanic 1% 10%

What?  No islamics?

The stats for my daughters school are deceptive.

They have a "gifted" program that starts in third grade. This is where they "import" kids from other schools. And the kids being imported are mostly white. Hence, the 41% white rate that is listed reflects that. Whites are much less in K-2.

Not sure why I'm posting that, but anyhooo….

chaz wrote:

atomic wrote:

James wrote:
It sounds like your kids go to the same school as mine.

Last year she was the only white girl in her kindergarten class, this year she is one of three. And at this point, it doesn't seem to be an issue.

chaz wrote:
You know what is a beautiful thing?  Children and race.  My kids go to a really diverse school, it's about 20 percent white, probably 40 percent hispanic, and the rest a mish-mash of islamic, asian, indian, black.  Seriously, it's a freaking melting pot.  These kids give not a single shit about race.  Since no single group is particularly predominant, the kids don't group together by race at all.  Last year my daughter had kids in her class with origins in 14 different countries!

When my kids are describing a new friend or classmate I've never heard about they never use the terms in the paragraph above as descriptors.  It is by far my favorite thing about the school and the community we live in.  I'm envious of this experience they are having as little kids. 

It gives me hope for the future, man.

Edit:  It also makes me sad knowing that eventually the adults in a lot of these kids lives will fuck this all up for them.

Where do you live?  If I have kids I plan to send them to the Park School in Baltimore.  I don't know if it is diverse or not.  Though they talk about diversity the photos of children on their website does not seem diverse at all.  Hmm..

It's pretty easy to find out online the demographic breakdown of any school.

Park School

Ethnicity   
White 80%
Two or more races  9%
Black 8%
Asian 3%
Hispanic 1% 10%