You seem to be (purposefully) construing “the US is a racist country” as “the US is the most racist country”. Racism does exist in other countries, and gets very bad in other countries as well, but the US is still fundamentally a racist country that pours a lot of resources into working against ethnic and racial minorities.
“White people would never let a black felon be president” is the point here because it constrasts with the current situation, which is “white people are letting a white felon be president” (at least it’s a very real possibility). It’s pointing out the discriminatory behaviours/thoughts persistent in American society, a felon being black is given significantly less leniency than a felon being white, and in general a black person is treated far worse and given far more obstacles than a white person for the same reasons. Especially by the majority racial demographic (white people). Any black candidate in Trump’s position would be completely ruined and practically out of the race already, not celebrated by half the country.
I understand your point about the distinction between “the US is a racist country” and “the US is the most racist country.” Racism undeniably exists globally, and it’s severe in various places. However, the USA also actively confronts these issues, even though it’s far from perfect.
What I am saying is that we need to focus more on the standards for leadership- regardless of race. Obama was elected twice and his biggest crime was a tan suit.
Dude it’s a fucking screenshot of a political statement on another social media platform.
Look I know kilroy was here but that isn’t the same fucking thing as sharing an opinion, someone liking it, and sharing it. That’s not all that makes a meme.
The US is systematically racist, whereas we Finns for instance — at least in comparison — aren’t as much, but I’d bet there’s a lot more casual racism where I live than in any decently sized city in the US.
Sort of why my point is my point. The US has more black people (and other minorities) than Finland, and has done for a lot longer.
Nowadays, in the the not-so-prime neighbourhoods, it’s easily 1/4 and one borough is factually 1/3 of people of non-Finnish origin, I’d say.
In the country? A vanishingly small populace. I grew up in a village without a single non-Finnish person. Well one guy’s father was Iranian or something, but that’s not too distinct in looks.
My point is that while the history of slavery and so forth has actually ingrained things into American systems that are racist, which is seen in first and foremost difference in police treatment, but also sentences, housing discrimination, hell, medicine, you name it there’s probably a significant racial disparity in it. But people are smart and not to use the n-word of they’re not some yockel from a small town in Alabama or something. (I’m generalising and exaggerating here to demonstrate my point.) At least from the things I’ve seen, a white person using the n-word should be quite a red flag. But here in Finland, even politely noting how constantly using it even without need could be construed as impolite to say the least almost guarantees you a fight of some sort in a lot of places at 2am.
Like so many people just casually so racist, and then don’t even see anything wrong in it. People I had otherwise previously considered rather smart even. I mean the dumber, the more likely they’re racist, but I know actual professors and other highly educated people with still very much a strong but somewhat casual xenophobia or straight up racism going on.
So that’s why my comment. I believe the US had more, and it’s still feeling those effects in the systems and whatnot, but the US has also done vastly more to get rid of racism.
We’ve done jack shit. Even trying to bring it up in conversation is met with disgust. “Don’t judge me when I’m judging entire groups of people”
So my point is that it’s different types of racism, so trying to directly compare either is silly imo, without further discussion about the differences
Well said. I completely agree with you. I lived in Toronto for a few years and racism was very casual and present there, although directed towards Asian people. Not a systemic problem but a lot more accepted in the casual sense much like you described.
Not to mention that many black people are also more than willing to overlook crimes as long as it’s someone famous; see the OJ trials, R. Kelly, Drake, the list goes on.
So maybe it’s not a race thing, but just a shitty humanity thing?
I mean, humans are terrible. But you’re completely neglecting how bitter centuries of open oppression can make a group. Some people thinking “Goddam, white people been doing this shit forever but the one time a caught it’s national news? 'Bout time we got away with something.” Getting away with major crimes becomes a metric for success when you’ve got little else to look forward to.
You say “It’s different”, and I’m saying it’s really not. When you boil it down, it’s groups making excuses for why other members of their group shouldn’t be held to the law. It doesn’t matter the reason if the outcome is the same; powerful people not being held accountable. Every group can come up with some excuse for why their version is justified and why they’re in the right; but just like religion, those are all just excuses and attempts to hide that they’re really just peddling the same BS as everyone else.
The LAPD had been abusing black people forever. The OJ trial brought international attention to the situation of systemic racism in policing and the legal system. It wasn’t that black people were glad he got away with murder. Read up on the trial. The lead detective talked with a reporter on tape years earlier, and talked about beating, killing, planting evidence, and other abuses against black men specifically.
Ok? And why do people still worship R. Kelly? Why do people still support Drake? Chris Brown beat the shit out of Rhianna and people are still fine with him. I don’t think the LAPD have anything to do with that.
You see? You made an excuse for the OJ trial, but it’s just that; an excuse. It doesn’t extend to other examples of people wanting “their person” to get a pass, which others will make different excuses for. It’s all the same when you get down to it: humanity as a whole is shitty and often want exceptions to rules for people they like and identify with. No race is more or less prone to this. To claim otherwise is ignorance at best; disingenuous and purposely inciteful at worst.
Funny you say that because the USA is one of the least racist countries I’ve ever lived in or visited.
Find me a country that isn’t racist at all in one way or another.
Also, why the fuck does this meme have to be about black people instead of why a felon is in the discussion to be President in the first place.
You seem to be (purposefully) construing “the US is a racist country” as “the US is the most racist country”. Racism does exist in other countries, and gets very bad in other countries as well, but the US is still fundamentally a racist country that pours a lot of resources into working against ethnic and racial minorities.
“White people would never let a black felon be president” is the point here because it constrasts with the current situation, which is “white people are letting a white felon be president” (at least it’s a very real possibility). It’s pointing out the discriminatory behaviours/thoughts persistent in American society, a felon being black is given significantly less leniency than a felon being white, and in general a black person is treated far worse and given far more obstacles than a white person for the same reasons. Especially by the majority racial demographic (white people). Any black candidate in Trump’s position would be completely ruined and practically out of the race already, not celebrated by half the country.
I understand your point about the distinction between “the US is a racist country” and “the US is the most racist country.” Racism undeniably exists globally, and it’s severe in various places. However, the USA also actively confronts these issues, even though it’s far from perfect.
What I am saying is that we need to focus more on the standards for leadership- regardless of race. Obama was elected twice and his biggest crime was a tan suit.
Because its not a meme, but an opinion from a person who shared his personal thoughts on the internet.
Not everything becomes a meme by screenshoting.
No, but it does when it’s shared and discussed.
Memes are more than just image macros and are much older of a concept than the internet
Dude it’s a fucking screenshot of a political statement on another social media platform.
Look I know kilroy was here but that isn’t the same fucking thing as sharing an opinion, someone liking it, and sharing it. That’s not all that makes a meme.
Wrong. Memes are informational genes, ie ideas that spread and share. A political opinion being shared is a meme.
You seem like one of those weirdos who demands we only call image macros memes, which is stupid and wrong
I mean we are on /policalmemes are we not
The US is systematically racist, whereas we Finns for instance — at least in comparison — aren’t as much, but I’d bet there’s a lot more casual racism where I live than in any decently sized city in the US.
Your total minority population is 8.2% and the USA minority population is 42.4%
Sort of why my point is my point. The US has more black people (and other minorities) than Finland, and has done for a lot longer.
Nowadays, in the the not-so-prime neighbourhoods, it’s easily 1/4 and one borough is factually 1/3 of people of non-Finnish origin, I’d say.
In the country? A vanishingly small populace. I grew up in a village without a single non-Finnish person. Well one guy’s father was Iranian or something, but that’s not too distinct in looks.
My point is that while the history of slavery and so forth has actually ingrained things into American systems that are racist, which is seen in first and foremost difference in police treatment, but also sentences, housing discrimination, hell, medicine, you name it there’s probably a significant racial disparity in it. But people are smart and not to use the n-word of they’re not some yockel from a small town in Alabama or something. (I’m generalising and exaggerating here to demonstrate my point.) At least from the things I’ve seen, a white person using the n-word should be quite a red flag. But here in Finland, even politely noting how constantly using it even without need could be construed as impolite to say the least almost guarantees you a fight of some sort in a lot of places at 2am.
Like so many people just casually so racist, and then don’t even see anything wrong in it. People I had otherwise previously considered rather smart even. I mean the dumber, the more likely they’re racist, but I know actual professors and other highly educated people with still very much a strong but somewhat casual xenophobia or straight up racism going on.
So that’s why my comment. I believe the US had more, and it’s still feeling those effects in the systems and whatnot, but the US has also done vastly more to get rid of racism.
We’ve done jack shit. Even trying to bring it up in conversation is met with disgust. “Don’t judge me when I’m judging entire groups of people”
So my point is that it’s different types of racism, so trying to directly compare either is silly imo, without further discussion about the differences
Well said. I completely agree with you. I lived in Toronto for a few years and racism was very casual and present there, although directed towards Asian people. Not a systemic problem but a lot more accepted in the casual sense much like you described.
Not to mention that many black people are also more than willing to overlook crimes as long as it’s someone famous; see the OJ trials, R. Kelly, Drake, the list goes on.
So maybe it’s not a race thing, but just a shitty humanity thing?
I mean, humans are terrible. But you’re completely neglecting how bitter centuries of open oppression can make a group. Some people thinking “Goddam, white people been doing this shit forever but the one time a caught it’s national news? 'Bout time we got away with something.” Getting away with major crimes becomes a metric for success when you’ve got little else to look forward to.
You say “It’s different”, and I’m saying it’s really not. When you boil it down, it’s groups making excuses for why other members of their group shouldn’t be held to the law. It doesn’t matter the reason if the outcome is the same; powerful people not being held accountable. Every group can come up with some excuse for why their version is justified and why they’re in the right; but just like religion, those are all just excuses and attempts to hide that they’re really just peddling the same BS as everyone else.
The LAPD had been abusing black people forever. The OJ trial brought international attention to the situation of systemic racism in policing and the legal system. It wasn’t that black people were glad he got away with murder. Read up on the trial. The lead detective talked with a reporter on tape years earlier, and talked about beating, killing, planting evidence, and other abuses against black men specifically.
Ok? And why do people still worship R. Kelly? Why do people still support Drake? Chris Brown beat the shit out of Rhianna and people are still fine with him. I don’t think the LAPD have anything to do with that.
You see? You made an excuse for the OJ trial, but it’s just that; an excuse. It doesn’t extend to other examples of people wanting “their person” to get a pass, which others will make different excuses for. It’s all the same when you get down to it: humanity as a whole is shitty and often want exceptions to rules for people they like and identify with. No race is more or less prone to this. To claim otherwise is ignorance at best; disingenuous and purposely inciteful at worst.