Outbursts and consequences

When it comes to these outbursts, and Obama, if you connect the dots on the often silly issues these people are protesting racism looks like the link just below the surface of it all.

thanks

Eric Sievering
West LA

I agree with Eric that racism is part of it. No one wants to admit it, but as a red state boy, I'm quite sure it's lurking underneath.

Also, during the Cold War we built a political culture that demanded an enemy -- everything was "us vs them." I strongly believe that our civility troubles relate to losing that external enemy, just when news went 24/7.

Everyone wants someone to blame. Scapegoating is our real national pastime.

Casual accusations of racism are part of the very lack of "decorum" that this segment seems to be addressing.

The sad truth is, the actual effect is not nearly as big as we'd like to think. If you look at our history as a nation, even the Founding Fathers were quite nasty to each other. Just like Clinton wasn't the first President to have an affair in office, we weren't all friendly and sweet all the time just a few decades ago, especially in the political realm.

The reason it seems to be happening more is the expansion of our media, most importantly the 24-hour news cycle. Now, anytime something happens of any interest, dozens of shows will report on it, follow up on it, discuss it endlessly, etc. It makes it seem to be such a significant event when, most of the time, it really isn't that much of a change from the status quo.

Yes, decorum is in the toilet, but the root of Joe Wilson's rude outburst needs to be examined. When a congressman, talk show host, former VP contender or anyone else makes incendiary statements such as, "The President's health care plan will insure illegal immigrants," "The President's plan calls for death panels who will decide who will live or die," I want chapter and verse. WHERE in the plan does it say this? I want the exact quote from the plan. Of course, none of the proposed plans say this. Who is lying?

I agree that Joe Wilson's outburst was bad form, tacky and, above all, ineffectual. No one will be persuaded by it. But no one should be under the delusion that it and outbursts like it are unprecedented. Our founding fathers fought and died in duels and, during the slave debates, one southern member of the House caned another, putting him in the hospital. The incivility towards Clinton, Bush and Obama are only recent examples. We have had this from the beginning and, for better or worse, we will have it to the end.

Just one more thing on Ms. Williams' outburst - if anyone thinks that rude outbursts among sports celebrities (or even among tennis stars - ala John MacEnroe) is new, they really should quit doing drugs now.

One would think that we would've overcome the primitiveness of our founding fathers' behavior of dueling, etc., long time ago!!!

ON JOE WILSON AND CARTER'S REMARK

It was racist.... Had President Obama been white would Mr. Wilson interrupted him so rudely?

i realize it's not the same thing, but i was shocked that assemblyman mike duvall chose to make his "comments" during a committee meeting in the capitol! Isn't his sort of sex talk the kind of thing confined to bars or golf courses or am i just a prude?

Well said, Larry! The narcissism and imperiousness in our society is pandemic. I believe it's down to oversimplification as well. It is far easier to dislike--and indeed attack--a person than an idea or philosophy.

Your broadcasting of a private comment -- not part "public discourse" by President Obama that was leaked by ABC shows KPCC's underlying bias -- dare I say racism?

I agree that Larry hit the nail on the head. With the increase of facebook updates and twitter, no one keeps anything to themselves any more.

Most of these issues are about the 2-men one on each side of a sign, yelling at each other the saying "the sign is white" and the other, "the sign is black". The argument got to a rage; each stabbed the other to terminate "the wrong ". As each fell forward and looked up towards the sky, the damning truth glared, the sign was white on one side and black on the other.

Wilson owed Obama an apology, one was given, one was accepted. Obama asked his peers to quit ragging and start getting things done. The immediate response from the House was a total diversion. The greater fault is now the whole house.

Joe Wilson was swiftly rebuked by his Republican colleagues. Kanye West was berated by his fellow celebrities and the public. . The standards of decorum are alive and well when you consider the behaviour paired with the backlash.

In Kanye West's case I don't think it's so much about racism as arrogance. He's been convinced that he's a "genius" by critics and all the sycophants that surround him and he believes it so he thinks he can do whatever he wants.

What makes things worse now is that there are no "adults" in the room. There was always an element on the fringe, hyperbolic in its rhetoric, but our elected leaders and our news anchors and commentators would have been too embarrassed to repeat the kind of nonsense that passes for news or leadership now. The fringe wasn't pandered to like it is now. There were real statesmen and politicians who had a sense of decency and decorum (with some notable exceptions - e.g. Joe McCarthy). It's worse now because our leaders have given up their principles because of fear of losing an election.

In terms of televised news, I think it started with the McLaughlin Group. It was a novelty to see journalists and commentators "being rude" to each other. Now it is the norm because it brings ratings (news has become Jerry Springer). This is new and has made things worse.

I don't believe the motivation of the right is based to any significant degree on racism. Remember the hatred of Bill Clinton? They impeached him! What about that documentary about Hillary Clinton that is being ruled on by the Supreme court? It was made when she was the front runner. If a blue dog democrat was running for president he would be attacked as a nazi, fascist, communist, terrorist also. A poverty of ideas leads to extreme, irrational attacks.

While both sides have their fringe. The Republicans have, at least in recent history, cultivated an immoral, take no prisoners, say anything strategy. Any one with any knowledge of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove knows this is true. The Democrats are too principled to rely on "prayer in schools" "flag burning" "gay marriage" kinds of issues that are ignored as soon as an election is over. It is why Dems often lose. But it's not racist. It's Republican.

The democratization of public discourse has changed its tone dramatically, making it cruder and more common, but I think this is part of a long-term and largely beneficial trend toward including the man on the street in policy-making in a meaningful way. If this is a government of, by, and for the people, we need to learn how to include the people, warts and all, in public discussion.

The earlier caller's comparison to the British Parliament is actually not comparable. The Prime Minister of GB is a member of the House of Commons - he's the leader of the majority ruling party, but still a member of the House of Commons.

The US President is not a member of Congress - he is a member of another branch of government, and as such, was speaking as a visiting guest of the Congress. Also, he is the only nationally elected figure in the country, whereas the members of Congress were elected only by their respective states or congressional districts. The point being, the President, by definition is not among equals in the Congress, the way the Prime Minister is in his House of Commons.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister is the head of government in GB. The President is the head of state here in the US. No member of Parliament would ever dare yell "You LIE!" to their head of state, the British Queen.

Regarding the British Parliament : the callling of a Member of Parliament a liar is NOT tolerated. Yes there is heckling and booing and cheering etc. but no calling another a liar.

Isn't bemoaning rampant narcissism in the public forum itself a narcissistic observation?

Racism is definitely a component of recent conservative demnonstrations, but I don't believe that Joe Wilson's outburst is anything other than the narcissism that Larry postulates.

Just look at the inability of many to use a turn indicator as symptomatic of our society's complete self-absorbtion...

I said it three days before Mr Carter. When Clinton was president, my neoconservative friends constantly griped about him, but the level of vitriol since Mr Obama's inauguration cannot be explained merely as conservative backlash. I can't prove it, but my gut tells me that a lot of white people are just apoplectic about a black man running the country. They can't be openly racist, so they use code words like "socialist".

Why are we so quick to accuse Joe Wilson of racism when he cries out against a black man, but not to make the same accusation of Kanye and Serena?

Wilson's outburst could be the opening salvo in a GOP attempt to turn public forums from debate into an arena where volume drowns out discourse. It's a policy that has worked for them in both political and media campaigns.

JW

Was Jimmy Carter's statement an ad hominem attack? Or, is it logical that any unprescedented outburst against a black president would be racist?

Yes, Parliament is raucus and rude at times. But Amanda perhaps does not understand that the job of U.S. President represents what in the UK are two jobs, Prime Minister AND the monarchy i.e. both the executive AND the figurehead. Would the British people tolerate "You lie!" being shouted at the Queen during one of her speeches? I don't think so. We have our own rules of decorum here in Congress, and Joe Wilson's behavior in this specific episode is absolutely outside of it.
On another note, I completely concur with Jimmy Carter. We have eyes and ears, and have seen the blatant racism going on. We also receive the emails going around that incorporate the same blatant racism. It is abhorrent and I am glad Jimmy Carter has called it like it is.

The Serena Williams outburst is being blown out of proportion and should not be considered as a coarsening of America. Tennis has a history of outburst toward linesmen.
Lets not forget Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe are partly famous for their outburst.

Of course President Carter is right that Joe Wilson is a racist.

Here is what Wilson said when it was revealed that Strom Thurmond, the anti-civil rights Senator, had secretly fathered an illegitimate black daughter.

"He [Wilson] deemed the revelation "unseemly." And he added that even if she was telling the truth, she should have kept the inconvenient facts to herself:"

"It's a smear on the image that [Thurmond] has as a person of high integrity who has been so loyal to the people of South Carolina," Wilson said."

"The same goes for discussion of an affair Thomas Jefferson is said to have had with a slave."

"Sometimes these things just go on," Wilson said. "These are heroes of mine. I really hope these would be heroes to future generations of Americans. (The stories) are ... a way to diminish their contributions to our country's existence."

Let's hear that again: acknowledging having a black child = diminish contribution to our country's existence.

Joe Wilson is a racist.

Source: http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/you-lie-not-the-first-time-rep-wilsons-emotions-got-the-best-of-him.php

I've been waiting for someone of stature from my side of the isle to speak out concerning what I see as racism from the right. Jimmy Carter isn't the only one who's noticed that there have be racists overtones.

Commenting on you last caller, don't forget that Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck have both called Obama a racist, and they're the ones fueling the flames on the right. They are not concerned with the facts, their just whipping up their listeners.

Jimmy Carter made his comments both at a recent dinner he was attending and in an NBC interview with Brian Williams. Mr. Carter voiced what I believe to be an accurate statement. When one looks at the bitterness the Repbulicans had for Bill Clinton, never did one hear such an outburst like Joe Wilson's during Mr. Obama's speech. Nor did anyone shout down Mr. Bush for the lies he told about Iraq, torture, or other issues. It does lead one down the road to question the motivation behind Mr. Wilson's rudeness.

Re comparisons with British system...
The president is the head of state.
Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state.
Obama addressing a joint session is comparable to the Queen's annual address.

No one interrupts the Queen in her annual address.
The queen is not the PM on Question Day.

Racism isn't what it's about. They would have been all over Al Gore or Hillary Clinton or John Edwards. How many Americans would be willing to sit through a real, one-hour debate on health care financing in which debaters present detailed evidence? Not many. We've become too lazy to do the work and research required to really understand issues like this so we delude ourselves into thinking we're having a debate by yelling idiotic statements.

Larry..you are a rare, sane voice in the media! Pres. Carter's remarks were very unhelpful. Unless a racist clearly expresses our acts-out his racism, how can you attribute an unrelated (to race matters) view to racism!? Of course there is still racism. and it doubtless drives the views of many. But I know peope who attribute every reversal they have ever had to racism. It doen'st help anybody.....especially the true victims of racism; it's actually a kind of reverse prejudice. I am alarmed at the incivility that prevails on most media...not just the frenzied few. RE: the UK vs. the US style, it should be remembered that Obama is "head of government" and "head of state". Few Brits would appprove of an outburst directed against their head of state, the Queen.

I recently attended a family reunion. We all come from different parts of the country and you could pretty much cut the room in half with Democrats and Republicans. I was amazed how fanactical my Republican family members were. The rehtoric and racists remarks that were thrown into the frey of the conversation made many of us leave the room in disgust and shame.

The Republicans are very upset that the Nixon Southern Strategy no longer works, and now a mixed race man is President. They are Calhoun Conservatives, who have always believed that rich, white men should run the country. They do not believe in democracy.

By the way, Wilson has ties to a White Supremacist group.

And illegals are already getting free health care, and very expensive health care at that, in the emergency rooms.

I think these outbursts are due to the lack of respect for one another in our society and the lack of self control.

I think accusations of racism are just a red herring. Racism is so ugly and it's a raw subject in our history that it's an easy accusation to make and hard to defend against.

I think the bigger issue is theatrics. Politics, especially, has become so divisive and polarized that there doesn't seem to be a middle ground anymore. Maybe I'm just jaded when it comes to politicians but I have a hard time believing many of them are truly sincere, and I think it's more a case of trying to cause a distraction and attract attention to oneself or one's issues.

If this isn't about racism, how do you explain the "Witch doctor" and "watermelon" depictions of the President? Or do you endorse it as a station?

One of the hallmarks of our government is the civility and respect shown.. Joe Wilson's outburst has definitely changed this. He, in one fell swoop has changed the face of civility.

See the blog, The Chaos Chronicles by Lian Dolan. She has a suggestion for this behavior in "Public Outbursts--Red Cards for All"

http://chaoschroniclesbyliandolan.blogspot.com/

Why is racism a non-starter? It is impossible to have a rational discourse when one-side's starting point is irrational hatred. Have you ever been in an emotional argument you make no sense because you are protection you feelings despite the facts.

Respect for the Head of State is universal, especially in countries where there is a separation between the Head of Government and the Head of State. Since they are merged in this country, we forget and become disrespectful. Since Obama is our Head of State, our representative around the world, and an embodiment of our nation, he should be respected under any circumstances. This is true of whether the president is a Democrat or a Republican, or anything else.

Civility in Congress has progressed over the last 150 years. In 1856, Representative Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane on the floor of the Senate with a heavy, gold-headed cane. Sumner was unable to return to his Senate duties for more than three years while he recovered.

So far, there has been no physical violence in Congress. At least we can say that.

The current state of discourse is maddening. The main problem is there seems to be no separation between "opinion" and "facts". Kanye West's outburst was dumb, but at least it was based on his personal opinion. Joe Wilson's outburst was idiotic, and it was based on a lie, and anyone who had read the leading health care bills' language about not including illegal residents in coverage would know that. The problem with Joe Wilson's outburst wasn't based on emotion or opinion: it was his simple ignorance of the facts.

It's the same as the people who discount Evolution as a theory -- they don't bother to look up the scientific definition of theory, because they really don't "believe in" science. Unfortunately for them, science isn't subject to any opinion or belief. It is a tool for finding facts. Religion is just the opposite -- it's a tool for believing in falsehoods beyond their useful or disprovable time. It's the religious and moral relativists that need to be excluded from the debate. Start bringing the *facts* to the table, and stop badgering everyone with your "beliefs", which are often simply not based in factual reality.

Before twitter, internet & even email...

People wrote letters. They had to think about what they wrote so that they didn't make mistakes that were troublesome to correct. This allowed calm thinking and usually prevented writing & mailing in anger.

People spoke face to face. You watched what you said because an insult or name calling could elicit an unpleasant, immediate and direct response (e.g. a punch in the nose).

Email brought the worst of both worlds. You could write and instantly mail in the heat of anger, and you couldn't be punched in the nose. This eliminated the chance to cool down. The "flame wars" of the 80's were famous and ubiquitous.. I speak from personal experience on this.

Bring in talk radio, bratty kids proliferating on TV, internet, and anything else that makes money by arousing anger and voila, you have today's obnoxious communication environment.

Racism is an important issue to discuss and we should have that national "conversation" Obama wanted. But it IS a non-starter about any single policy issue being debated. If I say Obama is not telling the truth re: illegal aliens and health care proposals, it's ludicrous just to call me a racist . I may or may not be....you can't tell by my position on that issue. And it amounts to a dodge re: the issue.

Joe Wilson's outburst smacks of opportunism; he beleives he is voicing the frustration and fear of the right. The fear and worry of a deepening deficit and uncertainity regarding our economic future. His outburst has gained him noteriety and campaign contributions, but has done nothing to solve these problems.

RE: Jared "Unfortunately for them, science isn't subject to any opinion or belief."

Not true. There is every bit as much divisiveness within scientific communities. Scientists, or people of science, are as dogmatic and ideological as some fanatical religious persons.

I would just like to try and separate the williams and west outbursts apart from the political realm.

Although lacking class and both instances being deplorable, both Williams and West's comments belong to the world of pop culture whereas Wilson's comments are directly reflective and embedded into the political and governmental world, having a much greater impact on the lives of all americans.

I am much more concerned about politicians abusing their public power to push forward or repeal legislation and at times deliberately lying or fueling flames to achieve those ends....than a celebrity or sports figure having a momentary lapse of intelligence and class.

"Unless a racist clearly expresses our acts-out his racism, how can you attribute an unrelated (to race matters) view to racism!?"

Uh, if a pedophile is wandering around a playground - you'd be OK with that?

Google Joe Wilson and Sons of Confederacy. Google him and Strom Thurmond daughter.

Joe Wilson is a racist and President Carter is right. Same on you DG and Mantle for justifying the lies of Wilson and the Right.

I think we need to look at the Joe Wilson incident separately from outbursts we see on all other levels of our society or in the media. Regarding our society's trend towards increased rudeness: I am from Germany, came to Los Angeles in 1989 and was shocked when I first came across the Jerry Springer show. Maybe there have been other, similar shows prior to Springer, that equally put on public display people's family issues and behavior problems in such a sensational way, but it certainly struck me as "weird" that a big portion of society would be interested in such a cheap, terrible and degrading type of entertainment and display of uncivil behavior. Well, since that time many other shows - both on English and Spanish chanels - have come to life, including to no small degree the Reality TV shows we are being showered with these days. All this open display of unqualified, uncivilized and inappropriate expression of opinions must simply desensatize our society and make people feel that 'shouting' their views out like this is the only way to be heard in all this white noise we have going on. Having 24 hour news services digesting and re-digesting stories over and over, mass emails, blogs, text messages written in incomplete sentences and abbreviated words beyond recognition, commenting online in complete anonymity etc. ... all that does not help the problem. And yes, our kids will even more so abuse this abundant offer of technology and be on a guaranteed downhill slope unless we parents step in, monitor what they do, and set clear limits on what is acceptable, desired or even appropriate when using these media outlets. But after all, this type of parent involvement and responsibility falls into the same category as getting your kids to school on time, as you discussed in your previous segment. :)

And as far as the rudeness goes: Seeing these outbursts is in stark contrast to the "reputation of being extremely friendly" the American people have enjoyed in many places of the world. I come from Berlin, a city not necessarily famous for its friendliness, but rather for its roughness when it comes to making "a great first impression" on visitors etc. However, I would take the authentic rudeness of someone on the street who will simply give you a straight forward answer on how to get to the train station without a big smile on his face and without wishing you a nice day when they're done, over the almost artificial hype we see displayed in the media over here every single day. We just need to find our way back to what's really important and how to best deal with each other and the problems we are facing. Your show, Larry, is certainly an important stepping stone in the right direction. Thank you for putting your finger on these sore spots!

"Was Jimmy Carter's statement an ad hominem attack? Or, is it logical that any unprescedented outburst against a black president would be racist?"

You're missing one important point. The radical right, i.e. the current Republican Party, are not criticizing the President on any of his policies or his lack of civility. There is no discourse about the actual content of the Health Care legislation, just yelling about hysterical fantasies about what's in it.

Those preople are attacking Obama no matter what he would say. He reaches out a hand to shake and work together, and the Radical Right spits in his face. That's not caused by disagreements with hs policies. That is ad hominem.

The proof's in the pudding. Go back and look at the REpublican views in Congress when Clinton tried to get Health Care reform in. Heated yes, but the debate was about the actual policies being proposed, not attacks on Bill Clinton.

Free market, government is totally bad thinking? Yes. There's some of that, even though it got us into terrible financial shape.

Racisim? If the N word fits, wear it. That of caurse is Nazi, not Ni....er. Right?. Look at the town hall meetings in Selma Alabama or LIttle Rock when the Federal Government had to come in to enfore an end to segregtion in the former Confedracy. Look at the hate in those peoples' eyes. Those are the same looks, the same rage as now as Rush Limbaug who wants bama to fail, totally. It's not about free markets, it's about race.

Carter is right.

Love your program and almost always feel your views reflect what I consider studied and balanced conclusions. On the subject of public outburst, I believe that we have all but lost the concept of shame. So many listeners pointed out that we live in a "everyone gets a gold star" society. Thoughts must be right, opinions do not need input and there is only reward for drawing attention to yourself. I find it sad that people do not think beyond "now" and consider how such behavior will look months if not years down the road. We live in an instant gratification society where politicians, religous leaders and others are constantly having to say "I'm sorry" for behaviors they condem in others. With quick forgivness and demonstrated lack of consequences for poor actions it only stands to reason that the idea of public shame has given way to the "look at me" displays that seem more common.

Dear Ken. So my remarks = justifying lies?
I'm no conservative! But i wonder how any resonable interaction can happen if anyone could interpret my remarks as justifiing the "lies of...the right"?
I'm actaully alarmed at what seems to me to be the lunatic fringe on the right, I.e. the Rush phenomenon and the neocon take-over of the GOP. Anway...I do not mean to offer aid & comfort to liars of any political stripe.

John: The people you describe aren't scientists, by definition. The standards of empirical science show them to be frauds, like you. "Intelligent Design" for example is a theological notion, not a scientific one.

RE: Jared "The people you describe aren't scientists, (they're) frauds, like you."

I'm not arguing that proponents of ID are correct or even worth serious consideration (IMO, anyway). My disagreement is in the notion that science is so cold and fact-based. If you can overlook the glib and snarky attitude _The Emporer of Scent_ by Chandler Burr is a nice example of the rivalries and dogmas that can and do exist within the halls of science. You also see it in the athiestic religion bashing that is becoming so common.

@John

I'm not arguing that proponents of ID are correct or even worth serious consideration (IMO, anyway).

Uh, why IMO? ID is a completely and intellectually dishonest opinion trying to masquerade itself as science. We would laugh at Flat Earth Society but why not ID?

@DG

I agree with you on some and not on some. The fact is Wilson is a racist - not just my opinion but it is based on his actions (again, Google for Wilson Thurmond daughter). Whether the racist's uncivil outburst over a President's speech is motivated by racism - who knows?

The fact, the conservatives today, led by Limbaugh and Gingrich, call Obama and Sotomayor racist yet recoil in faux outrage when they are called out and shown to be racist.

This is like a known pedophile calling Chris Hanson of NBC a pedophile.

Today's Conservatism I do not get.

I blame largely the deregulation of the media, the transfer of news from news departments to entertainment divisions, all for the purpose of maximizing ratings/readers/profits and nothing else. I blame the corporations behind allowing a shock jock to say anything for ratings, which never used to happen. News and information was for news and information, not for ratings and shock.

It seems the question of outbursts is not about correct vs incorrect information or racism. It is about courtesy.
The question to ask yourself is, if, when some with whom you like and agree with is speaking, would you be upset if someone had an outburst episode interrupting your speaker. If the answer is yes then you should have a problem with anyone doing so. If the answer is no, then you probably do not have a complaint about the current situations of outburst. Just remember that in the future when your “favorite speaker” is rudely interrupted, you are in favor of such behavior.

What is being overlooked is that white people are feeling the supremacy they have always enjoyed slipping away as they become a minority in this country. What we are hearing is the anger phase of the grieving process. It is dangerous, though, because it's rare for any group to give up its privileges without a real battle. And, just as we would expect, it's people who are not secure who scream the loudest about their supposed superiority.

Hmmm….

Sotomayor repeatedly makes a speech in which she states that more often than not, a wise Latina would make a better decision than a white male---this is not a racist sentiment enough to deny her a seat in the highest court in the land….
Joe Wilson reacts to THE INTELLECTUAL VIOLENCE OF ONE OF OBAMA’S LIES (shouting out “You lie”) and Wilson is labeled a racist….

Friends, Obama LIED repeatedly in that speech, and topped it all in HYPOCRISY (He said that He will call YOU out if YOU lie about Obamacare provisions)! A sample of His lies in that speech again:

1. Illegal immigrants would have had de facto access (GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SAND AND LOOK UP THE ENFORCEMENT AMENDMENTS DEFEATED FIRST BY DEMOCRATS UNDER PRESSURE FROM PRO-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT GROUPS!---now it looks like public attention to the hidden issue has prompted Obamaites to include enforcement provisions---and lo and behold, the illegal immigrant lobbies are out in force trying to have these provisions deleted again);

2. He will not sign an Obamacare bill that adds one penny to the deficit…..GET SERIOUS! LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PROJECTIONS!!! AND ASK YOURSELF WHEN HAS ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM NOT ADDED TO THE DEFICIT?!

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE AT THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY OBAMA IN THESE LIES? WHAT DOES THIS ISSUE HAVE TO DO WITH RACISM? WHAT KIND OF MISDEED WOULD OBAMA HAVE TO COMMIT BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE IT? IS IT NOT RACISM TO GIVE HIM PASSES BECAUSE OF HIS HERITAGE?

so racism has nothing to do with any of this?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-white-victimhood17-2009sep17,0,2618101.story

if we keep saying that racism is not part of the conversation, we never have a meaningful conversation about it. it is out there, it is real, and we need to start being honest about it.