Rampant Racism in America

[beancounter]

All lives matter doesn't mean you ignore one group over another (as the cartoon suggests). It means that you regard everyone equally, and be willing to help any group in need.

One group may need more and/or immediate help relative to another, but that doesn't take away from the view that all groups are equally deserving of consideration.

Which encompasses the whole "smug insistence on ignoring context" that comes with "all lives matter" arguments and such.

 

[MadamSarcastra]

Philly Police Union President Calls Black Lives Matter Activists 'A Pack Of Rabid Animals' | HuffPost

 

[Andy_T]

That person deserves the description "P.O.S." in my humble opinion.
http://www.theroot.com/philadelphia-police-union-head-defends-nazi-cop-calls-1798746986

 

[PTree15]

All lives matter doesn't mean you ignore one group over another (as the cartoon suggests). It means that you regard everyone equally, and be willing to help any group in need.

One group may need more and/or immediate help relative to another, but that doesn't take away from the view that all groups are equally deserving of consideration.

"All lives matter" was never uttered, as far as I can tell, until after "black lives matter" gained steam. To me, all lives matter is a white-privilege response; it's another example of white people's feathers being ruffled because they don't want to believe racism, overt and subtle, still exists.

 

[beancounter]

Roughly 4:30 into the video

 

[beancounter]

Sorry, but that's a straw man argument. All lives matter, because skin color, gender, profession, etc is irrelevant to a persons worth as a human being. Everyone is of equal worth. It's that simple.

Some people may need more help than others, but that has nothing to do with their intrinsic worth as a human being.

"All lives matter" was never uttered, as far as I can tell, until after "black lives matter" gained steam. To me, all lives matter is a white-privilege response; it's another example of white people's feathers being ruffled because they don't want to believe racism, overt and subtle, still exists.

 

[FortyTwo]

It might be a strawman argument if this wasn't historical truth.

It's not like there was an All Lives Matter movement before BLM existed. Once BLM popped up to make the simple statement that black lives matter (too - there is an implicit too on the end of this, which is something no one seems to want to get), people - overwhelmingly white people - started doing the All Lives Matter thing.

 

[FortyTwo]

I think in the end the question has to be posed: what is the point of stressing this over and over again?

Some people may need more help than others, but that has nothing to do with their intrinsic worth as a human being.

Isn't it incredibly obvious what this is about? Has anyone (short of those with an Alex Jones type temperament and intellect) ever truly been under the illusion that BLM is saying only black peoples' lives matter?

That is the straw man. One person says "black lives matter," someone else ignores everything that statement is about and says, "what about the other lives?"

It's blatantly facetious, not helpful, and serves no purpose other than to shut down an important discussion that needs to be happening.

 

[Andy_T]

Some people may need more help than others, but that has nothing to do with their intrinsic worth as a human being.

Sigh. Please rest assured that the people bringing up "all lives matter" are not doing it mainly out of concern for black people's intrinsic worth as human beings...

 

[beancounter]

Sigh. Please rest assured that the people bringing up "all lives matter" are not doing it mainly out of concern for black people's intrinsic worth as human beings...

Sigh. Right, they are doing it out of concern for everyone's intrinsic worth...Thus the word "All"

 

[beancounter]

Isn't it incredibly obvious what this is about? Has anyone (short of those with an Alex Jones type temperament and intellect) ever truly been under the illusion that BLM is saying only black peoples' lives matter?

No, but that is how the extreme Left interprets it. Did you watch the video I posted above? #165 starting at approx. 4:30

And it is concerning that no one here will acknowledge that all lives matter. The statement is so politically charged, that people are afraid to admit a fundamental truth.

Can you say it? Ignoring the political baggage, and taking the statement at face value, do you believe that all lives matter? Yes or No? No wall of text please. No caveats. No qualified statements. Just yes or no.

"It's blatantly facetious, not helpful, and serves no purpose other than to shut down an important discussion that needs to be happening.

It doesn't shut down discussion about important issues concerning black people. It is an all inclusive statement meaning that we should be concerned for all...including black people.

Go ahead and quote the post where you think I was being facetious.

fa·ce·tious
fəˈsēSHəs/
adjective

1. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

 

[PTree15]

No, but that is how the extreme Left interprets it. Did you watch the video I posted above? #165 starting at approx. 4:30

And it is concerning that no one here will acknowledge that all lives matter. The statement is so politically charged, that people are afraid to admit a fundamental truth.

Can you say it? Ignoring the political baggage, and taking the statement at face value, do you believe that all lives matter? Yes or No? No wall of text please. No caveats. No qualified statements. Just yes or no.

"It's blatantly facetious, not helpful, and serves no purpose other than to shut down an important discussion that needs to be happening.

It doesn't shut down discussion about important issues concerning black people. It is an all inclusive statement meaning that we should be concerned for all...including black people.

Go ahead and quote the post where you think I was being facetious.

fa·ce·tious
fəˈsēSHəs/
adjective

1. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

It absolutely shuts down the conversation because ignoring the context of the origin of All Lives Matter takes any discussion of race and violence against people of color by police right out of the picture. ALM effectively glosses over the issue of police violence against people of color and excuses racial profiling and racial inequity. It does nothing to solve the problem. It's turning a blind eye to people whose lives are in danger every day in ways white people don't have to even think about. It's another example of white people refusing to really listen to people of color and whining "what about me?" It would be great if we lived in a world where people were considered equal, but we don't. The amount of denial in this country regarding racism is astounding to me.

 

[Spang]

Sigh. Right, they are doing it out of concern for everyone's intrinsic worth...Thus the word "All"

********.

When a person says 'all lives matter' in response to Black Lives Matter, they are taking the focus away from the systemic and deadly oppression faced by Black people.

 

[FortyTwo]

Did you watch the video I posted above?

No, for the same reason I don't eat cigarettes.

And it is concerning that no one here will acknowledge that all lives matter. The statement is so politically charged, that people are afraid to admit a fundamental truth.

Isn't it incredibly obvious what this is about? Has anyone (short of those with an Alex Jones type temperament and intellect) ever truly been under the illusion that BLM is saying only black peoples' lives matter?

Obviously all lives matter. No one in this thread is arguing otherwise. It is implicit, the same way that the "too" is implicit in BLM. It's about including black lives in the list of other lives that matter. Which is all of them, if you have a spark of empathy. Obviously.

(Except nazis and their ilk. Tolerance paradox. Coming from me that should also go without saying.)

Go ahead and quote the post where you think I was being facetious.

fa·ce·tious
fəˈsēSHəs/
adjective

1. treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.

Not you specifically; your argument as a whole. You obviously seriously believe in what you're saying. The argument itself detracts from what BLM is trying to accomplish, which is not to shut down the value of other lives that aren't black.

And a tip: I know what facetious means. Throwing dictionary definitions at people just makes you look arrogant, and it's annoying.

 

[Jamie in Chile]

Very interesting thread. Thanks for all your comments. I am slowly learning from following these kind of threads.

 

[Second Summer]

Very interesting thread. Thanks for all your comments. I am slowly learning from following these kind of threads.

Glad to hear someone is still getting something out of it. I enjoyed the thread until this last page or so when the discussion drifted into the "SJW" and BLM vs ALM territory, which I'm sad to report has not improved my understanding of the issues.

 

[KLS52]

I had to read this twice and I'm still not 100% sure I understand it fully but I think I'm getting there.

 

[Spang]

 

[MadamSarcastra]

'Ghost Skins' And Masculinity: Alt-Right Terms, Defined

 

[FortyTwo]

All Lives Matter people seem to be mysteriously silent when someone black is killed by police. They only show up to say all lives matter once other black folks show resistance and insist their lives matter. It's almost like All Lives Matter is a transparent attempt to shut down what black folks are saying by appealing to a vague sense of goodwill, or something.