Patch's Poll: Does Cultural And Racial Prejudice Still Exist in Connecticut?

Brigid June 24, 2012 at 03:42 am

Good for you, wtfdrez. My nephew is severely autistic and the comments made in public sometimes are unbelievable. I have made mincemeat of a few people who ended up hanging their heads in shame.

Sandy D'Esopo June 24, 2012 at 11:37 am

NUNYA: I know what you mean. Being white, except for what I learned in the news I never gave a thought to what it is like to be dark-skinned. Then I married an African-American woman and learned fast. At a supermarket just after we were married, a woman spotted my wife and told her friend, "Watch your purse!" Another time a woman turned in her chair and stared at us in a restaurant, then she and her husband left. When we visit New York City, I have to hail a taxi because they seldom stop for a black person. For all of this, however, I must say that much progress has been made in the past half-century. Almost always my wife and I are welcomed graciously, and no one raises an eyebrow. Racism and bigotry are real, still exist and probably always will, but such haters are a pathetic remnant of a shameful part of our country's past.

Rick McDonald June 24, 2012 at 02:25 pm

Carol, are you male or female? It does make a difference. Many companies no longer higher based mainly on qualifications but on sex and race.
As for health benefits I have my own and tell employers this upfront so I am actually cheaper than the young candidates.

wtfdrez June 25, 2012 at 04:27 am

PDY~ I didn't mean to make light of your step daughter's situation, I was trying to make a joke and I'm sorry if I offended you.

Brigid June 25, 2012 at 06:33 pm

Hey wtfdrez. The comments are all out of order now so I'm not sure which one you're referring to. Anyway, that's the danger of on-line posting - We're not hearing people's tone of voice. We need ar sarcasm/kidding around font. No worries.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 25, 2012 at 07:18 pm

So Jay what I expect you believe is only white males can be prejudiced. Prejudice exists in all of society. Part of the problem is that only the white male part is considered bad.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 25, 2012 at 07:23 pm

I don't think it's an isolated incident as much as I think it's a figment of Nunya's imagination. It's easy to make up anectotal examples that no one can check out. This goes for PDY also.

Brigid June 25, 2012 at 07:49 pm

So, Mr. Yannacci - You come on these boards and if someone's personal experience does not fit in with your vision of how things are, you accuse them of being liars. Nice.

Alan Green, Jr. June 25, 2012 at 08:23 pm

We are vein and we are blind.
I hate people when they're not polite. - David Byrne, Talking Heads, Psycho Killer 1977

Alan Green, Jr. June 25, 2012 at 08:25 pm

I'm so sick of people having pre-conceived notions of bearded people as being nice. We're not all Santa Claus, you know. (put this in the PDY's 'kidding around' font).

John Martin June 25, 2012 at 09:26 pm

Prejudice is universal. I am conservative and Catholic. I am a first generation American. I have taken a fair amount of verbal abuse from people who don't like me. Oh well.
We have become a culture of victims, where it seems to be trendy to wear aggrieved status on our sleeves. African Americans cry that they are discriminated against but then they throw oreo cookies at Micheal Steele because he is 'black on the outside and white on the inside'. Clarence Thomas also takes a fair amount of heat for not being 'black enough'. Actually, Mr. Obama gets this criticism in certain circles. I've heard people say 'I don't trust white people' ' I don't trust police' 'Why do you worship Mary?'...the list is endless. In Grand Torino, Eastwood attacked - among other things - political correctness. The best way to keep a wound festering is to refuse to let the puss out. When you air it out, the words lose significance in time. Many people have made statements and it is disheartening to see the attacks. So it's ok for you to claim aggrieved status but deny that other people have a different perspective? It is that pigheaded, sanctimonious self-righteousness that will continue to let resentment brew. There are a lot of things I don't like - and I don't have to. I have to tolerate and accept it. But I don't have to like it. I don't have to embrace it. And I don't have to keep my mouth shut. It's not illegal to say 'I don't approve'. At least not yet.

John Martin June 26, 2012 at 12:43 am

sorry, pus not puss - i must have been distracted by our new kitten....

Sandy D'Esopo June 26, 2012 at 05:06 pm

(1) John Yannacci: My hope is to keep discussions on PATCH civil, and to suggest that Nunya is being untruthful does not encourage civility. We all can learn from those whose opinions differ from ours. But honest debate must proceed from the presumption of good faith in one's opponent. To attack an opponent's integrity or intelligence fosters only hardening of beliefs, and of course rancor. Often too, insulting an opponent suggests a lack of confidence in one's position. In the real world it is often those most in the wrong who resort to character assassination. Joseph McCarthy is the perfect example.
(2) Someone above claimed that bigotry and discrimination are only wrong when practiced by white people. No: They are wrong when anyone does. The difference, though, is that whites hold most of the power, and others without power have suffered. Some still do, although the progress made in the last half-century has vastly improved the lot of all minorities. As a nation and a culture, we Americans can take pride in an accomplishment that has not only changed our nation for the better, but the world's. There's still work to be done, but let's just do it and not with a bit of shame.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 26, 2012 at 08:07 pm

Sandy D'Esopo,
I place no stock in anectdotal examples, yours or anyone else's. It's altogether too easy to make up some story and expect me to accept it as proof of the point you're trying to make. I accept the fact that some people are more comfortable with one race than another. Here's what I do know. For every Trayvon Martin, there are many more white people beaten and robbed by blacks. These cases don't make the news because they don't support the liberal mentality that whites assault blacks. We read, years ago, about black churches being burned down and the news reports stopped. Why, you may ask? Because it was discovered that the churches were being burned by blacks to raise anger against whites. We read years ago about nooses being found at colleges and work sites and then the news reports stopped. Why, you may ask? Because it was discovered that blacks were hanging the nooses to foster animosity against whites and pity for blacks. So, I really don't care about reports of racism because, for the most part, the reports are slanted and don't tell the whole story.

John Martin June 26, 2012 at 11:07 pm

Racism is color-blind. http://goo.gl/qc2AX. I don't recall hearing any outrage from MSNBC, CNN, the NYT. I don't recall the Department of Justice being ordered to investigate - even before getting any facts (remember Cambridge).
In Egypt, Christians are fleeing, leaving behind homes and businesses as their churches, property, and persons have been ruthlessly and systematically attacked. Here in the United States, the most that - usually - happens are words and wounds. I do have to admit to being amused at all the 'I'm not a minority but...' stories that always seem to crawl out of the woodwork when such topics are broached. So many people rushing to show how sensitive and tolerant they are - all the while throwing bombs at anyone who dares to disagree with them. Maybe I've been lucky. I've known a lot of men and women, all races, creeds, and cultures, when I was growing up. I was raised to see the dignity in people and not their differences. Where others see division, I think about the things that unite us. You see, I don't much believe in diversity. I believe in unity. Instead of harping on what makes us different as something special, perhaps people should think about what commonalities made us great. After all, hundreds of thousands of people risk their lives to sneak into this country. We must be something.

Alan Green, Jr. June 26, 2012 at 11:18 pm

I think the movie, Gran Torino, hit it on the head. But, Mr. Yannacci, I'm wondering where you get your stats from? I think if you talk to some of the african american folks here in NL with roots in North and South Carolina, you'll find there's some serious sad truth behind the lynchings and the prejudice. In Charlottesville, VA in 1962, a black person had to sit in the balcony of the movie theater. But the kids didn't mind. They got to throw jelly beans at all the white folk.
I don't think you can dismiss 350 years of oppression as if it never happened? Or can you? Can you tell me where the empire-building nations of Europe (and the US) suffered such oppression as they've usurped resources - and lives - around the world? And what about the economic and educational gaps between white and minority in this country? I'm just not sure how one could dismiss these things and say it's really all a myth that AA folks have nothing to complain about. I'm just not buying the 'burning their own churches' and 'hanging their own nooses' stuff. But maybe you have sources/stats I don't?

Brigid June 26, 2012 at 11:36 pm

Alan, Your comparison to Gran Torino is so very apt. That was an amazing movie.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 27, 2012 at 12:07 am

http://www.fumento.com/arson/column9.html
Concerns black churches being burned. http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2007-10-17.html You may not like Ann Coulter, but just read it.

Alan Green, Jr. June 27, 2012 at 12:59 pm

John - I see where you're getting the info, thanks. But these are referring to recent incidents. It's easy to find the bad egg among those who share your views; we have our Rangle, you have your Rush. You guys find some reason to like the annoying (and according to some reports, coke-snorting) Coulter, and we have our weed smoking Stewart and Mahr. But the reality is that many have a well-deserved chip on their shoulder. For you, it manifests in feeling like you're being asked to carry the sins of our ancestors. And I guess we are. We're all victims of that was and still is.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 27, 2012 at 01:11 pm

I googled every possible combination of Ann Coulter and snorting coke and found nothing. Please explain. And, in my humble opinion, no one on the right comes close to the misogynistic, homophobic, intolerant Bill Mahr. No Republican would accept a dime from him unlike our Democratic president who doesn't care who he gets money from.

Alan Green, Jr. June 28, 2012 at 11:32 am

John - You can find at least one reference to Ms. Coulter's fondness for white powder in the insightful book: Blinded by the Right by David Brock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blinded_by_the_Right

Michael Starling June 28, 2012 at 12:45 pm

People like Mr. Yannacci come here to do little more than to incite the discussion with off color comments and add very little to the actual discussion. Just ignore him.

Ken June 28, 2012 at 02:55 pm

Before taking this poll, it might be a good idea to examine your own tendencies towards racist attitudes. Probably the most objective way to do that is by taking an Implicit Attitude Test.
It is available online from Harvard University--- https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/takeatest.html

John Yannacci, Sr. June 28, 2012 at 03:10 pm

Michael Starling calls Mr. Weavers comment nonsense. He then calls me Limbaugh, Jr.; then, he says that my comments are off color comments and add very little to the actual discussion; finally, he tells everyone to ignore me. Out of curiosity, Mr. Starling, what exactly have you contributed to this discussion? My guess is that you're simply incapable of original thought so you simply get snarky with other people's comments. You may not agree with me but, I have the benefit of original thought, something you'll never have. Change your screen name to copy/paste.

Sandy D'Esopo June 28, 2012 at 10:17 pm

John Yannacci: RE your 6/26 entry. The whole side of the story of he woman who spotted my African-American wife and said to her friend, "Watch your purse," is not an anecdote I made up, but a fact I myself witnessed. If you don't believe me I don't care; God, my wife and I know the truth. John, I suspect that you are using the worst examples of minority actions, such as the fraudulent burning of black churches, as excuses to indict black people as a whole. Scoundrels exist in all races, cultures and creeds, but they do not typify the majority. As a group, black people work just like whites, strive to provide for their families, and live a decent life. To suggest anything less is racist.

Alan Green, Jr. June 29, 2012 at 01:04 am

I have to say, Mr. Yannacci - we've disagreed on almost everything and I was ready to write you off a while back, but you do prove yourself free of the typical cut and paste. You are true to yourself and for that I respect you. I think it's great that you open your mind enough to read the posts of those you oppose and engage. I reserve the right to attack your views, but I've seen an honest, questioning mind. It's not easy being white. Or black. Or hispanic. As humans, we're bound to face challenges. But by being candid and open - and not burying our perspectives in shame - we can shed light on each other; hold up mirrors that we might not have otherwise seen. And, I would never have said this a few months ago, but I'd have a beer with you any time, sir! Something tells me they'd barely hear our arguing over the din at Hannifins.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 29, 2012 at 01:37 am

I'm not typifying the majority. What I'm saying is that whites get painted with the racist brush when, in many cases it is not the whites who are to blame. Before and after the Trayvon Martin incident, there are dozens of examples of groups of blacks assaulting whites for no reason. How many of these have you read about or seen on television. You say that scoundrels exist in all races but it's only the white scoundrels that make the news.

John Yannacci, Sr. June 29, 2012 at 01:45 am

I am who I am. I'm a product of my times and my environment. Between careers in the navy and the Department of Correction I've worked with people of every persuasion imagineable. Some I've liked, some I haven't. In every case of either, the like or dislike had to do with the individual, not the race, gender, sexual identity, etc. I've argued numerous issues with friends. Yes, friends. You don't have to agree with me to be my friend. You don't even have to respect my position. You only have to respect my right to have an opinion. My mind has been changed on occcassions because someone was able to prove, to my satisfaction, that I was wrong. Being a conservative is not evil. Being a liberal is not evil. Not respecting my right to choose is evil.

Brigid June 29, 2012 at 04:47 pm

Sandy, He called me a liar too. People who do this in order to protect their view of the world are just not worth our time.

Michael Starling June 30, 2012 at 01:49 am

Sometimes I just like to read the comments, but after reading so many of your posts throughout patch and the day I can see your pattern. It's obvious you have an axe to grind. We get it..Racism is a figment of every ones imagination and the white man is the most persecuted person on the planet..Racism does indeed go both ways but as many have pointed out and you have conveniently ignored as most far right conservatives do, is the power structure is the difference between the two. It's also worth noting that your "original" thoughts are anything but original..Unfortunately there is a good deal of people beating the same tired drum..