I get periodic news alerts from some journalist down in Tennessee about the political/cultural state of my home state. They're not always pride-inducing. For instance, the highlight of today's update:
MTSU poll: One in Six Tennesseans Admit to Telling Racist Jokes About the President.
Nearly one in six Tennesseans has told a joke about Barack Obama's race, and three-fourths say they've heard or read at least one, even though only 15 percent of Tennesseans say they would find such a joke funny.
I'm puzzled as to why this mini-summary includes the phrase "even though," suggesting that the numbers don't come close to adding up. By my reading, the percentage of Tennesseans who admit to running around cracking racist jokes is roughly the same as the percentage who admit to finding said jokes amusing (16.7% vs. 15%). The remainder of the 75% are (hopefully) just passive by-standers who need to find a better class of friends and/or reading material.
That said, I'm not entirely sure whether to regard these figures with disappointment or relief. On the one hand, you have to assume that the actual number of people who have told--or cackled at--a racist joke about POTUS is higher than the number who will admit to doing so. On the other hand, I'm kind of surprised the numbers aren't higher, considering the grim mood of the country.
Not to delve too deeply into the psychology of Jim Webb's much beloved Scots-Irish good ol' boys (and gals) who dominate the Volunteer State, but the rednecks I grew up with most often resorted to racial nastiness when they were feeling bad about their own standing in the world. You know, the revolting "logic" of: I may be working a crap job and have a wife who's cheating on me, but at least I'm not...
These days, with so many people falling on hard times, those stubborn blame-and-degrade-the-Other biases are likely floating closer to the surface than they have been in some time. And with Obama the obvious guy to blame for not immediately halting our suffering, I would have guessed that the number of folks ripping on everything from his race to his ears would be higher. Indeed, as the economic slump drags on, my bet is that those numbers will keep rising--and not just in Tennessee.
The more interesting question, of course, is what happens to those numbers if (please God) Obama succeeds in dragging us back from the economic abyss in short order.
--Michelle Cottle
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COMMENTS (14)
Surely you mean, "the remainder of the 85%."
Surely you mean, "the remainder of the 85%."
Why did Rush Dimbulb lose his place, once upon a time, on Monday Night Football?
Why did Rush Dimbulb lose his place, once upon a time, on Monday Night Football?
"You know, the revolting 'logic' of: I may be working a crap job and have a wife who's cheating on me, but at least I'm not..."
So your theory is that expressions of bigotry function in exactly the same way as country music? As a non-bigoted country music fan who is, yes, descended in part from Scots-Irish stock, this is depressing. It's like, if I hadn't found those Chris Isaak and Rank & File albums back in the day, I'd eventually have turned to making jokes about watermelons and big-grinned "sheeee-it" punchlines like the old racists down at the lunch diner when I was a kid?
Anyway, I'd like to declare a moratorium on being offended at anything said about the presid ... view full comment
"You know, the revolting 'logic' of: I may be working a crap job and have a wife who's cheating on me, but at least I'm not..."
So your theory is that expressions of bigotry function in exactly the same way as country music? As a non-bigoted country music fan who is, yes, descended in part from Scots-Irish stock, this is depressing. It's like, if I hadn't found those Chris Isaak and Rank & File albums back in the day, I'd eventually have turned to making jokes about watermelons and big-grinned "sheeee-it" punchlines like the old racists down at the lunch diner when I was a kid?
Anyway, I'd like to declare a moratorium on being offended at anything said about the president. He's the president of the United States. That much power should mean that anything goes. When one hears a racist joke about Obama, I submit that the correct response is not to condemn it as racist as such, but rather to feign ignorance as to what the joke is. "What does watermelon have to do with anything?" Make the teller explain the racist basis of the joke, then condemn that as stupid rather than racist.
ben: I think "the remainder of the 75%" refers to the 75% who had heard or read a joke. The 15% slice of people who had told jokes is obviously a subset of the 75%, and the other 60% slice is the passive bystanders
ben: I think "the remainder of the 75%" refers to the 75% who had heard or read a joke. The 15% slice of people who had told jokes is obviously a subset of the 75%, and the other 60% slice is the passive bystanders
Obama's hard Left push to socialism and redistributionism plays to stereotypes about radical black political agendas.
As the full impact of Obama's policies come clear, especially to the many whites of good will who voted for him, you will see a backlash of bitter disappointment. And some of that backlash will have racial overtones.
Obama's hard Left push to socialism and redistributionism plays to stereotypes about radical black political agendas.
As the full impact of Obama's policies come clear, especially to the many whites of good will who voted for him, you will see a backlash of bitter disappointment. And some of that backlash will have racial overtones.
I think the actual answer is "Three. One to hold the lighbulb, and two to turn the ladder around."
I think the actual answer is "Three. One to hold the lighbulb, and two to turn the ladder around."
Racism does not occur only on the right. I heard a horribly racist attack on Jindal yesterday from some left wing talk radio host. It is also interesting to hear Juan Williams talk about the intolerance dealt him from the left because he has the temerity to appear on Fox News.
ChanRobt I thought you were gone for good. This is no time for centrists to take Obama lyinig down. Brooks had a great column today.
Racism does not occur only on the right. I heard a horribly racist attack on Jindal yesterday from some left wing talk radio host. It is also interesting to hear Juan Williams talk about the intolerance dealt him from the left because he has the temerity to appear on Fox News.
ChanRobt I thought you were gone for good. This is no time for centrists to take Obama lyinig down. Brooks had a great column today.
Brooks had a great column? More drivel for the NY Times house moron. Brooks never makes an honest point, just paints himself in smarm and pretends to be thinking about something other than himself. To read Brooks, one would think that Rush Limbaugh and Barack Obama were the opposite poles of the political spectrum with Brooks and two other brave souls holding down the political center. The usual nonsense from that ninny.
Brooks had a great column? More drivel for the NY Times house moron. Brooks never makes an honest point, just paints himself in smarm and pretends to be thinking about something other than himself. To read Brooks, one would think that Rush Limbaugh and Barack Obama were the opposite poles of the political spectrum with Brooks and two other brave souls holding down the political center. The usual nonsense from that ninny.
Two easy ways to tell if a person is stupid:
1. He makes racist jokes about anybody.
2. He uses the word "socialism" in reference to the policies of either major American political party.
For obvious reasons, we should not be surprised to see a high degree of correlation between instances of 1 and 2 at this time.
As to Brooks, his column parodies itself. He complains that in Obama's first budget "all benefits [will be] redistributed downward." And then he complains that Congressional Democrats have already acted to "gut a voucher program designed for poor students." There is, of course, no purer form of "redistribution" than for the government to hand cas ... view full comment
Two easy ways to tell if a person is stupid:
1. He makes racist jokes about anybody.
2. He uses the word "socialism" in reference to the policies of either major American political party.
For obvious reasons, we should not be surprised to see a high degree of correlation between instances of 1 and 2 at this time.
As to Brooks, his column parodies itself. He complains that in Obama's first budget "all benefits [will be] redistributed downward." And then he complains that Congressional Democrats have already acted to "gut a voucher program designed for poor students." There is, of course, no purer form of "redistribution" than for the government to hand cash to poor people. Which is it: Is Brooks against redistribution, or for it? Also, Brooks writes, "This is a vision of a nation in which we’re all in it together -- in which burdens are shared broadly, rather than simply inflicted upon a small minority." Which is to say, raise taxes on the middle class, not only the wealthiest few. But in calling for more "assertive" political moderation, Brooks is too cowardly to say what he means when he knows that saying so will draw fire from his conservative peers. Brooks is neither assertive nor moderate.
I agree with y'all that Brooks IS an idiot. But for different reasons. Who in the hell did he THINK was running for President? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING in Obama's background could lead any sane person to believe that Obama was anything but what he is: a conventional liberal in all things. Nothing wrong with that, but Brooks pretended that Obama was a centrist on exactly zero evidence. Self-delusion can be a dangerous thing.
I agree with y'all that Brooks IS an idiot. But for different reasons. Who in the hell did he THINK was running for President? Nothing, and I mean NOTHING in Obama's background could lead any sane person to believe that Obama was anything but what he is: a conventional liberal in all things. Nothing wrong with that, but Brooks pretended that Obama was a centrist on exactly zero evidence. Self-delusion can be a dangerous thing.
I think the confusion arises from folks not understanding that liberal IS pretty much centrist these days, as the GOP is drifting so far over the loony ledge that a strong counterwight of somelthing liberal is the only way of restoring a modicum of balance to our psychic and political systems.
You know what? I think Brooks gets that, but is afraid to say so out loud. Frum has as much as said so.
I think the confusion arises from folks not understanding that liberal IS pretty much centrist these days, as the GOP is drifting so far over the loony ledge that a strong counterwight of somelthing liberal is the only way of restoring a modicum of balance to our psychic and political systems.
You know what? I think Brooks gets that, but is afraid to say so out loud. Frum has as much as said so.
Americans need to lighten up. The keyword used in "Racist Joke" is joke. Some are tasteless, some are really funny. Many "race" jokes are based off of stereotypes (which exist because a large portion of that nationality has the habit). Of course they are not appropriate for the workplace but they rarely cause harm. If this was not the case, American's would hate just about every race, color, sex, and creature on this planet as jokes have, and are, made about all of them.
Americans need to lighten up. The keyword used in "Racist Joke" is joke. Some are tasteless, some are really funny. Many "race" jokes are based off of stereotypes (which exist because a large portion of that nationality has the habit). Of course they are not appropriate for the workplace but they rarely cause harm. If this was not the case, American's would hate just about every race, color, sex, and creature on this planet as jokes have, and are, made about all of them.
The race card, nearly 50 years after Dylan wrote this, is still not down for the count. And if the economy sinks a lot deeper than it is now, scapegoats will be all the rage down South. Not to mention East, West And North too.
Bobby Dylan:
A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers' blood.
A finger fired the trigger to his name.
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
He's only a pawn in their game.
A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain.
And the Negro's name
Is used it is plain
For the ... view full comment
The race card, nearly 50 years after Dylan wrote this, is still not down for the count. And if the economy sinks a lot deeper than it is now, scapegoats will be all the rage down South. Not to mention East, West And North too.
Bobby Dylan:
A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers' blood.
A finger fired the trigger to his name.
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
He's only a pawn in their game.
A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain.
And the Negro's name
Is used it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.
The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid,
And the marshals and cops get the same,
But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool.
He's taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
'Bout the shape that he's in
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.
From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks,
And the hoof beats pound in his brain.
And he's taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide 'neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain't got no name
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.
Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught.
They lowered him down as a king.
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game.
Any racial overtones in a backlash over political differences would in fact reflect the racism of the backlasher. Make no excuses for racism.
Any racial overtones in a backlash over political differences would in fact reflect the racism of the backlasher. Make no excuses for racism.