Do we give them the satisfaction of stealing it?

[MannyGoldstein]

A lot of discussion over the past couple of days on the wisdom or idiocy of serving food like fried chicken, watermelon, corn bread and collard greens to celebrate black heritage. Celebrating soul food? Or feeding a stereotype?

I took a slightly-risky swipe at the situation with a post last night celebrating Ashkenazi Jewish foods. Please know that was having fun with the situation, the back-and-forth between opposing points of view, rather than attacking either point of view. The fact is, I'm not sure where I stand on this.

While I'm not sure who's correct, I will say that my inclination is to not allow the bad guys to steal from us. A number of years ago, Republicans demonized the word "Liberal" so many Liberals started calling themselves "Progressives". I think that's a bad idea. We win by fighting, not by letting others claim whats ours.

In the case of my joking about Jewish foods, it struck me today that I was inadvertently being a little stupid (first time ever, right?), since my post could have been construed as "See black folks? I can have fun with foods that *my* people eat: why can't you?" But there's a reason that it's easier for me than for black folks: the Jewish experience in America has been unbelievably different than the Black experience. Jews have had some issues (e.g., the Italian Catholic kids used to beat on the Jewish kids when I grew up in Queens), but basically we've been as accepted into our nation about as smoothly as any other minority - perhaps even more smoothly than any other. Blacks, on the other hand, started off here with SLAVERY. @#$%ing SLAVERY. And for a century-and-a-half since that was over, they've suffered so many other depradations and degradations, terrible, terrible stuff. In their case, perhaps the pain is so great that it's best avoided rather than launching it back at the savages.

So, I apologize for my post. I should have been a bit more thoughtful.

That being said... can I ask that we generally try to NOT GIVE THE BAD GUYS AN INCH? When they claim our words, our ideas, or our other "intellectual property", we become small every time the words are used; we give them power over us. I suggest that we claim what is ours with pride, gusto, and the number "one" displayed on our digitus medius.

This is probably not always appropriate. But I suspect that it usually is. Your thoughts welcome.

Mostly, let's be friends with each other, and let's win. We need to pull together the largest group that we can, as soon as we can, to grab a rope and pull the 99% from the quicksand the 1%'s poured on us while we weren't paying attention.

Best regards,

First-Way Manny

[Scuba]

1. OK, but being a Cheesehead, I'm sticking with Progressive, capital-P Progressive.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. That's my reason for using the term.

LaFollette, the old Milw. socialists, Gaylord Nelson…the list is a proud and long one. Progressives all. From Unemployment Comp in about 1911 through the precursor of Social Security to Earth Day, Wisconsin Progressives led the way.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. OK, you guys are grandfathered in. nt

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. sounds good to me. exept the middle finger. that's too course for my

sensitive nature.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. And too difficult to spell.

(Fix it and I'll delete this post)

[Pretzel_Warrior]

5. no. I refuse to fix it! I do not except your challenge!!

in truth, I didn't even give my post the once over to catch such a silly typo. Such is life.

I saw a funny sign today:

Autocorrect has become
my worst enema

No, not blaming my foe pa (faux pas) on autocorrect.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Well, to tell the truth, it's a little too refined for my sensibilities.

Motherfucking asshole warthog-genital fetishists.

[bettyellen]

7. I am glad you apologized, because that was clueless. If you had somehow related it to stereotypes

Jews have faced in America, you would have gotten empathy points- but your post was typical- I don't know, not my problem, so I don't care. In fact, I will poke fun at it. Disappointing.

Not sure what words or ideas we have given away- except maybe "PC", which you just mocked with that last post.

[JI7]

8. we ?

[JI7]

9. and the term liberal being used negatively still is not in the same category at fried chicken

and watermelon being used to attack blacks.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Was the fried chicken at lunch being used negatively?

By the black chief?

Or was it used out of love, and the anger came from fear?

[JI7]

13. what has that got to do with anything ? is anyone saying people should not eat these foods?

[MannyGoldstein]

15. You wrote "fried chicken and watermelon being used to attack blacks"

I assumed that you meant the fried chicken and watermelon lunch that caused all the upset.

[JI7]

16. so you don't know about how fried chicken and watermelon have been used as a racist

attack against blacks ?

[MannyGoldstein]

17. Yes, that's exactly what I said.

[dionysus]

20. .

[JI7]

21. it was implied when you bring up some black chef

instead of the obvious reason it is offensive.

[Squinch]

28. I'm starting to think they are just never going to get that "reverse

discrimination" or "being called liberal" is simply not the same.

[panader0]

10. Okay...

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Whenever my kid starts yelling at me in the car

I flip that on... doesn't calm *him* down, but it keeps *me* in good spirits.

Thanks!

[rhett o rick]

23. LOL. I love War.

"I seen you 'round for a long, long time, yeah
I remembered you when you drink my wine"

[Sissyk]

18. Good on you for apologizing, Manny!

The only thing I would add if it had been my apology would be something along the lines of - Even though I don't completely understand, I hear you my fellow Progressives and DU Members.

When it comes to something like this, I general take the word of the group of people it effects the most.

[reusrename]

19. But fried chicken is delicious.

The fish thing, not so much.

Doesn't that enter into it at all?

[rhett o rick]

22. I agree with you but........you are Jewish? I never had a clue. Not that there is anything wrong

with that. I mean I have a Jewish friend. Well actually a brother in law. And he really isnt my friend. But not because he is Jewish. I mean. Ah hell I better shut up.

[bettyellen]

24. Wait- WHUT? I thought this never happened?

[MannyGoldstein]

25. Where did I say that?

Link or slink.

[bettyellen]

27. Ohhh - you rhyme as well as dog whistle!

No wonder you're so popular here.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. Happy to be of service

[TDale313]

29. Did you have the same realization...

About the "nipped that in the bud" thread, which for some of us came off as a swipe at those darned humorless feminists for not just lightening up already about misogyny? I notice ya got a lot of attaboys for that one.

I know you're one of the good ones, Manny. This isn't meant as an attack, but that thread and response to it were... disturbing to me. Maybe I am just one of them humorless feminists

[bettyellen]

30. Next we'll get a scathing satire of LBGT's and their quest

For ponies! Because, not his problem.
Boys will be boys, wink wink!

[bettyellen]

31. I thought there was nothing to apologize for Manny?

At least that's what you claimed in today's "slightly risky swipe" at feminists.

[MannyGoldstein]

32. Again, that's not what I said.

Are you semi-literate, or desperate?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

33. LOL... Juror #1:

On Tue Feb 18, 2014, 06:38 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Again, that's not what I said.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4523837

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Personal attack. Hopefully Manny can defend himself against charges of racial and gender insensitivity better than this

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Feb 18, 2014, 06:43 PM, and the Jury voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Don't make me stop this car!
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I'm not sure he *can* do better... but I am sick of his smirky smug faux-innocent act.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Number23]

35. I like Juror #5 a lot more

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. That's nice. (n/t)

[bettyellen]

37. Not loving the smirks either?

[bettyellen]

34. You make light of DUers who take issue with racism or sexism-

You actually create OPs (like the one referred to in this one) where you admittedly mock the "situation" (that would be DUers discussing racism) and then flat out deny it?
And you call me a liar for pointing it out? Take it to Skinner- perhaps he'll give you the benefit of the doubt that this isn't the hostile trashing of fellow progressives many others here have judged it to be.
Enough of this BS.