Herman Cain to blacks: Stop wasting time on statues and solve today's problems

[carpro]

My fellow blacks, please: Stop wasting time on statues and solve today's problems


My fellow blacks, please: Stop wasting time on statues and solve today's problems


This is insane.

Atlanta’s Bishop Jerome Dukes was quoted widely in the media last week explaining why he thinks we should be spending time protesting statues of people from the Confederacy, and ultimately having them taken down.

He explains that some of our nation’s founders may have seemed like visionaries and trailblazers to some, but to African-Americans all that matters is that they owned hundreds of slaves.

Let’s talk about that.

I am an African-American. I hate the institution of slavery as much as Bishop Dukes does. But I have noticed something he seems to have missed. I am not a slave! And neither is he.

Slavery was an awful historical injustice, and it helped set in motion many of the problems the black community faces today. But it is not the problem we need to solve today. Those problems are poverty, illiteracy, drugs, crime and violence.

Tearing down statues doesn’t solve any of those problems, and solving those problems is what we need to be focused on.

It might create a problem, though. Tearing down statues that represent history is like pretending history didn’t happen. It did. And not everything that results from history is something you will like. We need to remember all of it, even (and perhaps especially) the parts that bother us because this is what we learn from.

 

[Reynolds]

My fellow blacks, please: Stop wasting time on statues and solve today's problems


My fellow blacks, please: Stop wasting time on statues and solve today's problems


This is insane.

Atlanta’s Bishop Jerome Dukes was quoted widely in the media last week explaining why he thinks we should be spending time protesting statues of people from the Confederacy, and ultimately having them taken down.

He explains that some of our nation’s founders may have seemed like visionaries and trailblazers to some, but to African-Americans all that matters is that they owned hundreds of slaves.

Let’s talk about that.

I am an African-American. I hate the institution of slavery as much as Bishop Dukes does. But I have noticed something he seems to have missed. I am not a slave! And neither is he.

Slavery was an awful historical injustice, and it helped set in motion many of the problems the black community faces today. But it is not the problem we need to solve today. Those problems are poverty, illiteracy, drugs, crime and violence.

Tearing down statues doesn’t solve any of those problems, and solving those problems is what we need to be focused on.

It might create a problem, though. Tearing down statues that represent history is like pretending history didn’t happen. It did. And not everything that results from history is something you will like. We need to remember all of it, even (and perhaps especially) the parts that bother us because this is what we learn from.

Herman must be a racist.

 

[AwesomeMachine]

I've mused over what would happen if every trace of slavery was wiped from history. What would be the excuse then? I think it's time people stop making excuses. I know plenty of black folks and plenty of white folks. If people are going to blame their problems on something besides themselves, it really doesn't matter what the excuse is.

If people stop sinning, and live righteously, they won't care about the past. I'm part German. The Romans kept German slaves. I could demand reparations from the Italian government. But it doesn't bother me, because I don't need an excuse why I'm a failure. I make myself accountable for my actions, and I live righteously.

In every case I've examined--and I didn't need to delve very deep--poverty is caused by personal failings. Unchaste females are the number-one cause of poverty. Fornication is a sin. If there was no government subsidy on it, it would occur less often. If girls could learn that fornication is a sin that carries with it the punishment of poverty for herself and her children, it might help the problem.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I've mused over what would happen if every trace of slavery was wiped from history. What would be the excuse then? I think it's time people stop making excuses. I know plenty of black folks and plenty of white folks. If people are going to blame their problems on something besides themselves, it really doesn't matter what the excuse is.

Our country would be so different that your post is meaningless as there is no way to imagine how much better relations between people would be. Perhaps we would not have treated the American Indians so badly, nor the Chinese immigrants.

Did you know the first separate but equal laws were passed in California to discriminate against Chinese immigrants. Chinese could not go to a hospital when sick in California. They were barred from testifying in court, even in their own defense.

On another of your points. A woman cannot be unchaste without being with an unchaste man. Too many men are happy to have relations with women and then to run from their responsibilities for an unwanted child coming into the world.

 

[carpro]

"Now we’re hearing that it’s not enough to tear down statues of Confederate soldiers, because having fought for the slave-owning Confederacy is not the only sin that needs to be erased from history. Now some want to tear down memorials to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson too, because they also owned slaves.

Tell you what: Why don’t you erase from history every reference to a person who had a serious character flaw? Do that and you’ll have very short history books. You’ll be able to get through a semester in a day or two. There’d be almost nothing you would be able to teach.

Or we could just tell the whole story. Yes, these men had an amazing vision and used it to create the greatest nation the world has ever seen. Yes, they gave us a political system that has protected freedom and prosperity like nothing we’ve ever seen."

Herman Cain

 

[Reynolds]

"Now we’re hearing that it’s not enough to tear down statues of Confederate soldiers, because having fought for the slave-owning Confederacy is not the only sin that needs to be erased from history. Now some want to tear down memorials to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson too, because they also owned slaves.

Tell you what: Why don’t you erase from history every reference to a person who had a serious character flaw? Do that and you’ll have very short history books. You’ll be able to get through a semester in a day or two. There’d be almost nothing you would be able to teach.

Or we could just tell the whole story. Yes, these men had an amazing vision and used it to create the greatest nation the world has ever seen. Yes, they gave us a political system that has protected freedom and prosperity like nothing we’ve ever seen."

Herman Cain

Of course MLK will have to be purged from the books due to his communist ties and his womanizing. Wonder why that FBI file on him never gets unsealed????

 

[Yeshua1]

Our country would be so different that your post is meaningless as there is no way to imagine how much better relations between people would be. Perhaps we would not have treated the American Indians so badly, nor the Chinese immigrants.

Did you know the first separate but equal laws were passed in California to discriminate against Chinese immigrants. Chinese could not go to a hospital when sick in California. They were barred from testifying in court, even in their own defense.

On another of your points. A woman cannot be unchaste without being with an unchaste man. Too many men are happy to have relations with women and then to run from their responsibilities for an unwanted child coming into the world.

You do know that Islam is FAR more into the slave trade than we ever were, and are still into it today? So why this bigdeal about america past history?

 

[Crabtownboy]

You do know that Islam is FAR more into the slave trade than we ever were, and are still into it today? So why this bigdeal about america past history?

The past is what makes the present. If the past was different the present would be different. Elementary my dear Watson.

 

[Alcott]

The past is what makes the present. If the past was different the present would be different.

Then, since the past cannot be changed, the present cannot be changed. No need to try.

 

[just-want-peace]

The past is what makes the present. If the past was different the present would be different. Elementary my dear Watson.

Ergo, since the past IS past & makes the present as it is, then there's absolutely no reason to try to change or correct anything now, RIGHT????
(Logical conclusion from your statement!!) Also elementary!!!

Edited to add: Alcott, I read Crabby's post & immediately responded - did not even see your post until I had downloaded my reply. You & I are saying the same thing, 'cept you used fewer words. My wife would vote for your version!!

 

[Yeshua1]

The past is what makes the present. If the past was different the present would be different. Elementary my dear Watson.

So America was wring to have slavery, but we cannot never get over it/past it then?

 

[Crabtownboy]

So America was wring to have slavery, but we cannot never get over it/past it then?

I do not understand what you mean by the word "wring". Elaborate for me. Thanks.

 

[Yeshua1]

I do not understand what you mean by the word "wring". Elaborate for me. Thanks.

Meant wrong!

 

[Crabtownboy]

Meant wrong!

I believe slavery is and was always wrong. I also know it was widely accepted as good in many societies in the past.

What I am saying is just like you and I were molded by our past so are countries. Slavery is and will always be a part of our past. It marked and molded both whites and blacks. It is rather like the Cherokee Indians remember, as do others, the Trail of Tears and for better or worse that influences their society today.

 

[AwesomeMachine]

Our country would be so different that your post is meaningless as there is no way to imagine how much better relations between people would be. Perhaps we would not have treated the American Indians so badly, nor the Chinese immigrants..

I should have said, what if every last trace of slavery was wiped from our memories. Then what would be the excuse.

Did you know the first separate but equal laws were passed in California to discriminate against Chinese immigrants. Chinese could not go to a hospital when sick in California. They were barred from testifying in court, even in their own defense..

Yes, I did know that. But they weren't citizens either. They were eager to come to America even under the harsh circumstances.

On another of your points. A woman cannot be unchaste without being with an unchaste man. Too many men are happy to have relations with women and then to run from their responsibilities for an unwanted child coming into the world.

I'm realistic. Every man wants a chaste bride. If a girl can withstand all the pleading, lies, and "I love yous", she'll be a chaste wife. If not, the guy has to look elsewhere. Every guy gives a girl the chastity test. The guy has no blood sacrifice of innocence. So, no one can tell. Virginity applies only to females. Guys can have any number of girls and there's no way to know. Consequently, it really doesn't matter.

It's not the guy who gets stuck in poverty with his kids. He just continues his search for a chaste bride. That's why unchaste females are the problem. And, I might add, there is no such thing as an unwanted child. God wants every child.

 

[AwesomeMachine]

It strikes me that perhaps no one on this board knows exactly why slavery is wrong. It's a form of imprisonment of the innocent that the government is complicit with. That's it! The Bible says, if your slave wants his freedom, give it to him. In India there is generational slavery. Children are employed as slave labor to pay off parents' debt.

The children incur debt for living expenses from their owners. By the time the children grow up this can be a large debt. If the children run away, their parents are put into prison. When the children grow up, their owners lend each man his freedom and enough money for a small house and a wedding ceremony, on the condition that his children will work for the owner to pay back the debt, and on it goes.

So, slavery is alive and well in the world.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I should have said, what if every last trace of slavery was wiped from our memories. Then what would be the excuse.




Yes, I did know that. But they weren't citizens either. They were eager to come to America even under the harsh circumstances.



I'm realistic. Every man wants a chaste bride. If a girl can withstand all the pleading, lies, and "I love yous", she'll be a chaste wife. If not, the guy has to look elsewhere. Every guy gives a girl the chastity test. The guy has no blood sacrifice of innocence. So, no one can tell. Virginity applies only to females. Guys can have any number of girls and there's no way to know. Consequently, it really doesn't matter.

It's not the guy who gets stuck in poverty with his kids. He just continues his search for a chaste bride. That's why unchaste females are the problem. And, I might add, there is no such thing as an unwanted child. God wants every child.

Those are about the lamest excuses to justify or rationalize male immorality I have ever seen. Should laws be passed and enforced that would hold men responsible for children fathered out of wedlock?

 

[AwesomeMachine]

Those are about the lamest excuses to justify or rationalize male immorality I have ever seen. Should laws be passed and enforced that would hold men responsible for children fathered out of wedlock?

You may not like human nature, but it is what it is. Your opinion won't change it. And I did say I'm realistic. That's how guys are. And there already are laws that hold fathers financially responsible for their children. The mother just has to go in front of a judge, say who the father is--and it doesn't matter whether it's the actual father or not, she can name any man--and the child-support enforcement will go into the guy's bank account withdraw the payments.

If the guy isn't the real father, he has to have a paternity test, and if it turns out the girl was lying, then the guy doesn't have to make any more child-support payments. But the amount he already paid is not recoverable.

But I think it would be better if child support was left voluntary. With compulsory child support the men will only pay the legal minimum. If it was voluntary, they'd probably be willing to pay more. Whenever the government forces people to do things, they always do the bare minimum.

 

[carpro]

"The right question is how to ensure that people know the full story. Maybe one of the things we can learn from this is that history has offered us very few people who had no character flaws at all. I can think of only one, probably the same one you’re thinking of.

But flawed men and women have given us quite a world, and we should know as much about it as we can. Maybe the lessons they teach can even help us solve the problems we face today.

Or we can waste our time tearing down statues, which solves nothing, nor does it make history go away. It just makes us ignorant of it."

Herman Cain