:( :::::: Damn...

[WillyT]

Vigil for Sikh temple shooting victims in Wisconsin/Flickr photo by ljlandre





Peace...

[malaise]

1. Too sad

I've had it with vigils. Time to stop the killing or stop the killers.

[calimary]

12. Amen.

[NYC_SKP]

2. .

[vaberella]

3. As my Anthropology professor said, "America would not be America without racism." End of story. n/t

[flamingdem]

4. Oh sigh

That sounds about right

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I am not sure if I hope that your professor is wrong

or that America without racism would be a better place than what we now consider America. Hell, they can change the name for all I care if we would just purge this racism.

[vaberella]

14. That's the idea. Would the America you know today really be America unless there is racism.

It's inherently part of our society, unfortunately. And by this I mean the fact that race is intimately intertwined in politics. And then seems to manifest itself outwards defining the culture.

[jerseyjack]

9. Right. No other country experiences racism.

We do a better job of it than many other countries but it is not our monopoly.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. No other country would buy the crap that it's a "freedom" issue.

Or WORSE that it should be preserved for the reasons of "heritage" or as "part of a religion" to use the 1st Amendment as a loophole.

[malaise]

32. And yet they do preserve it

there is way more inclusion in America than in most of Europe. There may not be overt racism from the base in Europe, but there is an institutional glass ceiling that keeps other races out of senior positions in legislatures, in the civil service and in the professions.

I have a gazillion friends who attended Oxford and Cambridge and they all left England for America and were given opportunities unheard of in England. Some received big positions in universities in some of the most racist states in America.

There is a lot wrong with America but there are way more merit based opportunities in America than in most of Europe. Sure there is a lot of work to do, but America at least struggles with racism and yes I am not naive enough to not recognize that institutional racism does exist in America, but America is way ahead of Europe on matters race.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. Maybe it's because those places have more prestige here than there.

Over there, they might consider Harvard to be a big deal.

[RZM]

15. That really doesn't say anything at all

Racism (or some very similar type of prejudice) exists in just about every country in the world. In some places, it's far, far worse than it is here.

Of course America wouldn't be the same without it. But neither would any other place either.

[demwing]

16. Bachmann said it all : "It's a relief and a blessing that not a single American died in this event"

Be honest, if you didn't already know that this was an Onion story, you could totally have believed she said it...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/michele-bachmann-thankful-no-americans-died-in-sik,29071/

[BlueinOhio]

18. You have to be taught

Racism in this country was encouraged because when the country was formed they were afraid that the poor and disenfranchised would force real change. Reagan used it also to divide and conquer.

[malaise]

33. No racism was institutionalized in the US constitution so that men could get rich

while enslaving and exploiting captured Africans. Now that was amended but old habits die hard.

[BlueinOhio]

39. Began before the constitution

They wanted to make sure that there would be no way that the native americans, poor whites and blacks would not get together. The same 1% wanted to make sure that their position would be safe. People's History of the United States has alot of early revolts.

[malaise]

40. True but it was institutionalized in the Constitution

and I do have my Zinn

[classof56]

19. I once had a political science professor who said democracy would work fine if it weren't for people

I now understand how right he was...

[Odin2005]

23. Pleny of Western European countries are more racist than the US.

They just didn't show it because they didn't have a lot of non-white immigrants until recently.

[vaberella]

28. Sure...but when he's taking about racism---he goes far back to early history.

We're talking the near extinction of Native American people in the US...and this something systematic and actually conducted by the government that proclaims all men are created equal. Slavery and then segregation. The treatment of Irish Americans when they first came to the US...they were looked to be worse than African Americans in many states. I include Irish Americans because America did have a sort of process of becoming white. The Irish were almost like a race unto themselves early on. The overall treatment of immigrants. This is systematic and promoted through the government. This still goes on and racism is institutionalized.

You say something racist in England and you face felony charges. Freedom of speech protects individuals....even if they claim to want to kill a person do their race. As long as there is no action, talk is allowed.

I have lived in France and England...they snuff any instance of racism. If it's even a slight prejudice they will shut a person down. America is slightly different. Most people are told to just ignore it and move on. America is definitely one country do we find apologists or supporters of racist actions and who rarely face any sort of backlash or strong public outcry. Only in America do I see people thinking that apologizing is enough and then they still keep their jobs or at times are even rewarded.

If something is deemed racist in France and there is even a minuscule outcry....your career is over, apology not accepted unless you have your own level of wealth to sustain you. Hence the reason the Le Pen's will never get ahead. They are only propped up by their small community and wealth. Not by the nation. Even if they were to ever get in power anything they do HAS to be neutral or there would be revolt. The French love shit like that.

[jillan]

5. My heart just landed in my stomach looking at that.

Damn racists assholes - I cannot comprehend why some people really believe they are better than other people - just because of the color of their skin!

[onehandle]

7. Cue our Rightists to hijack the thread. nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. No person should have to experience the effects of racist hate firsthand.

Yet it always hurts more to see a child do so for some reason.

[xchrom]

10. Du rec.

[Chemisse]

11. Poor little thing.

Well now she knows about hatred and racism, in a way that will change her forever.

[WillyT]

20. I Won't Pretend To Know What's In Her Mind, But... It Looks Like She's Making Some Calculations...

about her future.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

13. K&R They are so wonderful and peace loving...

This is truly breaking my heart...all are in my thoughts and prayers!!!

[baldguy]

21. America is damned. And will continue to be damned.

For as long as we collectively stand aside and do nothing while we allow atrocities like this to occur.

[Odin2005]

22. ***CRY***

[WillyT]

24. Me Too...

[WillyT]

25. Kick !!!

[limpyhobbler]

26. sad. thanks for the posting this.

To be honest I feel more anger than sadness.

[WillyT]

27. I'm Afraid... I Want To Know What She's Thinking...

And I hope we can make the world a better place for her and her peers...

[DianaForRussFeingold]

31. Exactly, how I feel!

I want her to to have hope and I want her to grow knowing, "Love can conquer hate, anytime!" WillyT, Posts like yours give me hope!!!
I loved this song as a kid,still do! I hope you like it:

[progressivebydesign]

35. I love that song. I cry whenever it comes on the oldies station.

I do miss when music was about love and tolerance...

[WillyT]

37. Man, That Brings Back A Lot Of Happy Memories...

Thank you for that.

[bvar22]

29. Thank You for finding the right word(s).

Damn.

[myrna minx]

30. .

[ismnotwasm]

34. So sad

Peace back at you and everybody

[ailsagirl]

38. Kick