Friday, March 31, 2006

A double standard in accepting intolerance...

A friend sent me a link to an article about year old Autum Ashante. Once I read that article I started searching for more information and other sources before I blogged about it. One blog in particular Leavworld made the direct comparison to the Gaede twins.

Some of the statements made by commentors are similar, the demands for the parent to no be able to parent, the title of racism, and the teaching of intolerance. Some of those who took issue with Lynx and Lamb had no problem defending what Autum has been taught.

Really though is it any different? Both parents are using their children to promote their own beliefs, claiming that is what the children believe when the honest conclusion is that is what the children are taught to believe. Each parent has a "message". One is pro-white nationalism one is against.

Roy Innis asks a question that I wonder as well...

Just imagine that Batin Ashante, her father, was a white man, home schooling and guiding his daughter with such palpably erroneous thoughts about black nationalism. Would there be a question of free speech? Or would the question be white racism—as it should be?

I think we have an idea as to what that response would be:

"It breaks my heart to see those girls spewing out that kind of garbage," said Ted Shaw, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People's Legal Defence Fund.

Incase you missed the poem in full since most of the media sources don't list it, her father clearly states in the San Francisco Bay article that he helped her write it after reading “The Disasters Darwinism Brought to Humanity.”

White Nationalism Put U In Bondage

White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirate and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
Drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel, tricks and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look in our streets
The mis-education of she and Hegro — leaves you on your knee2grow
Black lands taken from your hands, by vampires with no remorse
They took the gold, the wisdom and all of the storytellers
They took the black women, with the black man weak
Made to watch as they changed the paradigm
Of our village
They killed the blind, they killed the lazy, they went
So far as to kill the unborn baby
Yeah White nationalism is what put you in bondage
Pirates and vampires like Columbus, Morgan, and Darwin
They drank the blood of the sheep, trampled all over them with
Steel laden feet, throw in the tricks alcohol and deceit.
Nothing has changed take a look at our streets.

43 comments:

Mark said...

Hate is hate. A black child being taught to hate is no different from a white child, and neither does anything to better the lives of the children or those around them.

Scott G said...

That is my biggest problem with hate groups and others with prejudices. I don't care what they think and probably can't change it, but let the kids learn for themselves. I have nothing against guiding your children, but you hinder their development if you don't let them learn how to reason and make informed decisions.

That is what makes me most angry about Israel and Palestine also. Go ahead and hate each other, but give your kids a chance to have something better

Cyberseaer said...

Can we argee that the poem sucks in the first place. Forget about the message for a second here. I feel that the beat is off; and why do we have to incorperate numbers into words? That isn't style, that just shows ignorance and the unwillingness to use proper grammer.

Anyway, I saw a piece on CNN about this girl and the father interupted the interviewer, who was black, a number of times. When the father was asked if he taught his child tolerance, the father pause for a second, looked blankly for another second anf then sidesteped the question, like a seasoned politician (I cannot remenber the exact answer). With that reaction, I would have to conclude that the father doesn't teach tolerance to his seven yaer old girl in his home school schedule. It also showed that the girl act like a seven year old; luaghing, playing, and just having a good time.

Just like the white twin girls who sing about white supremcacy, this girl will have a life full of confusion and disarray unless she can learn that people are people and that racism must stay in the past. Damn. There goes the optimist in me.

Unknown said...

Yes we can agree it's not a very good poem nor is it historically accurate. That friend that sent it to me...he was right.

:-)

Scott G said...

It was indeed a criminal usage of the English language.

I encourage tolerance of everyone but white people. I hate white people. And stupid people too. Oh, and bigots.

Unknown said...

There really are very few "white" people anyway.

:-)

Cyberseaer said...

I, personally, am on the pinkish side with a bit of redness here and there with a bit of browning on the limbs; sort of like a half cooked chiken in the mircowave with seven miutes to go to be fully cooked before the electricity in the house was turned off due to a power failure.

That was, by far, a way too complicated sentence. Brain hurts now.

Unknown said...

I'll make it simple, I'm the one who looks more hispanic than Miguel as far as skin color.

(totally grossed out by c's chicken description lmao)

:-)

Scott G said...

I am pretty much the same pink. I have an Irish skin tone with a Dutch demeanor

Mark said...

cyber,

"Can we argee that the poem sucks in the first place."

YES! :-)

Here and I wondered if I was the only one who wouldn't call it poetry...

Personally, I really never understood the color distinctions. My son shares that, I guess. We were talking about colors (penguins are black and chickens are white with red and yellow) and I asked what color were people (my family is all on the pale, pinkish side) he said, "Brown, of course." All people are some shade of brown, with a mixing of other colors...so it makes sense to me!

Anonymous said...

Poor little kid...and yes the poem does suck.

Scott G said...

I don't know what shade of brown I would be. Is there a creamy blush brown?

I never really worried about color. Growing up I had more problems with Italians and white racists in my area than anyone else. I learned pretty early that it is the person and not the container that counts. Then, I learned not to bring my black, Vietnamese, or Korean friends over when my dad's father was home.

Although, I did bring my gay black friend and his Vietnamese boyfriend over once just to make him mad

Unknown said...

My dad was like that too, so I admit I dated a few guys that I knew would piss him off.

When he first met Miguel he was pretty upset. Then after he got to know him he acted like he was the one who found him for me.

:-)

Scott G said...

I am not sure I like Miguel either. I die a little inside when someone drinks Corona ;-)

Unknown said...

Ouch, that made me laugh so hard I think I hurt myself.

:-)

Scott G said...

And I thought laughter was the best medicine, not pain inducer

Scottage said...

Your site is fantastic, you just earned a regular viewer.

And you're right on target, there is no difference between various types of hatred. Preaching hatred fosters more hatred, it doesn't matter where the hatred is being directed.

This issue pervades all societies, and cripples us, as we struggle to break free of the hatred that continually disintigrates the fabric of the society we have created.

I loved your post, and look forward to more.

Mark said...

Welcome to the fun!
:-)

liberal_dem said...

As a corillary to the point of your post, this morning on C-Span's Washington Journal, call-in-program, the first topic open for comments was the incident in DC of black congresswoman Cynthia McKinney's encounter with the Capitol Police and the scuffle that ensued.

As suspected, the Republican callers found a double 'blessing' in this topic: First, for 45 minutes, the monumental problems caused by the Bush Administration were cloaked by this smokescreen during that time period.

Secondly, all of the right-wing hate for blacks was 'legitimized' and they were able, in gangland fashion, to bond together in their common disdain.

It was quite a study in human behavior, to be sure.

Unknown said...

Lib_Dem, on the McKinney issue, I personally think that whole situation demonstrates a real security issue. The mere fact that a lapel pin can be used to avoid metal detectors is a stupid one and if there is truly such a concern in regard to terrorism, even congresspersons should be following proper security procedures. It's easy to impersonate someone, it's easy to copy a lapel pin.

I also think no matter her political party? She should have known better but I think the real issue should be the procedure not her behavior.

Care of Sweety Technician said...

I really don't like the word tolerance... One tolerates a hemorrhoid, not a person from another ethnic, racial, or cultural group. I like "acceptance" a lot better.

Unknown said...

Point well taken Catdaddy, acceptance would have been a better word to use.

Cyberseaer said...

Sorry Catdaddy, I have to disagree with you on word choice. People can tolerate each our without accepting each other.

I can tolerate a jerk whose beliefs go against everything I believe to be right and true, but there is no way in hell I'm going to accept that person in my personal life.

Tolerance is to put up with people who annoy us without to do harm to them. Acceptance is to embrace people no matter what their stand is. The last person to roam the Earth that could accept everyone walked on water and had holes in his hands and feet with a nasty scar on his side.

We are human and do not accpet everyone. If we could then the Jews wouldn't make such a big deal about the Holocaust and the Nazis. But everyone should make a big deal about that so that never happens again.

So people should tolerate others and only have accpetance for those they agree with. I have always said married the person you can tolerate, because you may love and accept that person with all your heart and soul, but the things that person does at times will piss you off and you must tolerate those things or the marriage will never last.

Unknown said...

It's a matter of how you want to define the words "tolerance" or "acceptance".

Tolerance: The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.

Leeway for variation from a standard.
The permissible deviation from a specified value of a structural dimension, often expressed as a percent.
The capacity to endure hardship or pain.

Acceptance: The act or process of accepting.
The state of being accepted or acceptable.
Favorable reception; approval.
Belief in something; agreement.

Which of course means you have to look up accept (lol)

Accept:

To receive (something offered), especially with gladness or approval: accepted a glass of water; accepted their contract.
To admit to a group, organization, or place: accepted me as a new member of the club.

To regard as proper, usual, or right: Such customs are widely accepted.
To regard as true; believe in: Scientists have accepted the new theory.
To understand as having a specific meaning.
To endure resignedly or patiently: accept one's fate.

Both words share commonality of meaning. So both of you depending on how you were using the word "Tolerance" are correct. Acceptance to me would have probably been more appropriate on this specific issue because we should be able to accept each other regardless of race rather than to tolerate each other regardless of race. Yet the first definition of tolerance could also apply to this situation.

Now I'm out of dictionary mode.

:-)

Mark said...

For me, the difference between "tolerance" and "acceptance" as per this topic is the difference between specifics and generalities.

I tolerate individual people. Like my step-son's mother. I don't accept her, I tolerate her. She exists, she's allowed that, but I'm not going to embrace her pov.

However, I accept single mothers. I accept women who are unmarried and yet have children. I don't think that's the ideal choice, but not everyone has the option of living out the ideal.

I think groups of people should be able to expect acceptance as a group, but individuals should not. Groups are made up of individuals, but the individual doesn't necessarily make the group.

Unknown said...

I wouldn't disagree with that Stephanie, separating the individual from the group is another valid point.

Cyberseaer said...

Thank you Ms. Webster. Now my brain hurts again. When is you next blog articule going to be on science so that when you go into Ms. Wizard mode I will have advil on hand. Stop making me think with education. I get enough of that in my real life. ;)

Unknown said...

ahem...that's MRS. Webster

I am currently working on a science dissertation as we speak, okay not really but I see some hamsters in your near future...

:-)

Cyberseaer said...

I will not wash hamsters feet. Nosirebob. (See above blog)

Please wait until I can dust and oil my virtual gun for them varments. ;)

Mark said...

Poor hamsters...
:-(

Unknown said...

They will win Stephanie they always do, right now as we speak they are gathering near the New Jersey border...with only one thing on their mind...invading C's house with their muddy little footprints.

:-)

Mark said...

Ha! Once they get in, you can't get them out!

Unknown said...

Yes, he will rue the day he decided to mess with the hamsters.

:-)

jakejacobsen said...

"However, I accept single mothers. I accept women who are unmarried and yet have children. I don't think that's the ideal choice, but not everyone has the option of living out the ideal."

That's genius right there! Really, honestly, that's an unbelievably concise way of putting that.

Yes, the ideal is to have two parents, but sometimes excrement occurs and there you have it.

This is probably just me being writerly and gushing over a phrase that struck me, but damn, well put girl!

Cyberseaer said...

Getting back to the virtual hamsters. They may be able to invade my Pc, but they can't get into my house. We, in NJ, have NY rats for that and field mice.

The vitrual hamsters will be blown into the little byte of data that they truly are. So say I, I say it true.

(BTW Lisa, if you want to go the cheesy route, but a little creative as I. "Rue the day"? That is such a overused cliche.) ;)

Cyberseaer said...

Nothing like getting way off topic.

Unknown said...

Somehow since Hamsters are in the rodent family cheesy just seems...appropriate...

:-)

Unknown said...

C, Yeah, we did go OT, that one poster that called me Ms.Webster...man is HE a troublemaker...

:-)

Back on topic, I agree with you Jake, Stephanie's comment was a very good one.

Mark said...

Thank you, Jake!

*big beaming smile*

Mark said...

And, thank you, Lisa!

Care of Sweety Technician said...

Points well taken, CS and Stephanie... And thanks for the differentiation, Stephanie. I think your argument worked rather well.

Upon further thought, I'd have to agree. I accept groups, but tolerate individuals. given that I live in Rhode Island, I accept drivers, but barely tolerate the person who changes lanes without looking or signaling, or the person who takes out their car half-way onto the road from a driveway before stopping or looking to see if anyone is coming... Yes, tolerance does fit here.

Anonymous said...

Autum's father didn't teach her hate he taught her true history. Can you deny that Europeans have a history of robbing, stealing and killing indigenous people wherever the go? It's not hate it's the truth. Whenever someone calls the dominant culture out on thier obvious hate and oppression, you want accuse us of racism. Look in the mirror you have a history of evil...

Unknown said...

I have no more of a history of hate than anyone. Almost all races can look to their own individual histories to find time periods when they acted in a manner that we can point to today as wrong. The black race is no different in that aspect. While that is not two wrongs making a right, selective information can make anyone look either a villan or a victor...