The Secret Haters

Newsweek Web Exclusive

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: perfectimpressions @ 02/12/2008 7:23:34 PM

    I wanted to expand upon my earlier comments regarding prejudice and socialization:

    The one thing candidate Obama has tried to do (with some level of moderate success) is to redefine the "us" so that it ios more inclusive. This includes the masterful use of word and imagery to create the illusion of a more coherent group that transcends the other "us" grouping people may associate themselves with.

    As the campaign goes on, however, it may become clear that one constituency or another (take your pick - african americans, youth, biracial, etc.) will attempt to lay claim as the single power base of candidate Obama - "we gave him a base from which to work from, so he is one of US - you can't share him." It is not a question of if this will occur, but when. At that point, we will hold our breath and wonder if the coalition of "us" that this candidate is building will withstand the attempt to pull it down by such admittedly selfish behavior.

    My guess is it will last through the election, but if he wins, it will be gone by the following summer.

    And would I love to be worng on this - because such a division is rife with the promise of bringing a generational change in our society that we may not wish to see - the return of completely open and continuous hostility along racial, gender, financial class and age lines.

    • Posted By: dewcooper @ 02/13/2008 10:08:28 AM

      Here is how Obama's church defines 'us':

      "We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.'

      Sounds 'inclusive' to me...

      • Posted By: ms_svelte @ 02/15/2008 2:10:07 AM

        You mean 'inclusive' like in the Constitution where blacks are considered three-fifths of a man? That inclusive?

        I'm not getting it. Are you saying that church should NOT be unashamedly black? or that they should be "shamedly" black? or unashamedly black as long as they dont mention it out loud? Or they can mention it as long as they directly state that YOU are included?

        Are you saying that they should not express their culture through Black worship services? or that they should express it through non-black/white worship services? Or that they can express any way they want as long as that PURPOSELY include you? Because if they dont they're wrong?

        Now inversely apply that logic to the rest of your life and America, and tell me what you get.

        Suggestion: Figure out what your point is. Reread the article. Post logical commentary.

  • Posted By: wangfuzhou @ 02/15/2008 2:09:55 AM

    Any societies at any time has the so-called unconscious attitudes or behavior to different sorts of people. If we put too much attention to such things, it would be like a little fussy. Treating everything in an equal manner is so hard. Taking a little bit of time to consider yourself upon the biases you ever had, you would find that it is an ubiquitous phenomenon.

  • Posted By: hootowlhoot @ 02/15/2008 2:08:40 AM

    Here's a better link. Sorry for the double post.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=x9CSnlb-ymA

  • Posted By: AnarchyA @ 02/15/2008 2:07:28 AM

    Oh BTW I will not become "neutral" until there is justice for such underdogs ;-)

  • Posted By: fourbyfourblazer @ 02/15/2008 2:07:23 AM

    The test has sparked a heated controversy among both psychologists and legal scholars, some of whom are arguing for a radical rethinking of antidiscrimination law to accommodate such hidden prejudice.

    This is insane. Accommodate hidden prejudice?! The reality is that we are sinful human beings. A result of fallen creation in the beginning when Adam & Eve disobyed God being deceived. God has said that our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately sick. The article is biased because it presents a secular athiestic view of human beings.

  • Posted By: hootowlhoot @ 02/15/2008 2:06:45 AM

    Hey, you've just about caught up to musical theater. :)

    http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/avenueq/everyonesalittlebitracist.htm

  • Posted By: bgee1938 @ 02/15/2008 2:05:47 AM

    Most ethnic groups do not like if white people stare at them inside a public eating place..It make them feel very uncomfortable that they are not welcome there. So, if you have a habit of doing that.. Just think ..How would you feel if it was the other way around.. Pretty bad, I would say..Peace..B.G..

  • Posted By: christy21 @ 02/15/2008 2:05:21 AM

    Gokarte says it all. It's definitely not okay to be racist, but no one mentions the constant derogation of women. THAT is okay. Like the creep Howard Stern is ok, he's an incredibly popular misogynist.

  • Posted By: hootowlhoot @ 02/15/2008 2:04:19 AM

    Hey, you've just about caught up to musical theater. :)

    http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/avenueq/everyonesalittlebitracist.htm

  • Posted By: chris @ 02/15/2008 2:03:38 AM

    this article never mentioned anything about being bais against men. hmm? white men are the only true minoirity in todays society.

  • Posted By: munxpudding @ 02/15/2008 2:02:49 AM

    Well...duh. Does it really take experts to tell us most people still harbor biases and that most "nice", politically correct people only SEEM that way either to fit in or not get killed (depending on where you live.) You don't need to study this to know it, you just have to spend enough time with humans to know how phony most people are. If forced to choose, I prefer open haters to phonies. At least I know what I'm dealing with.

  • Posted By: chris @ 02/15/2008 2:02:03 AM

    this article never mentioned anything about being bais against men. hmm? white men are the only true minoirity in todays society.

  • Posted By: dannyboy858 @ 02/15/2008 2:01:40 AM

    Nowadays I dont think that people are racist against blacks becasue of their skin color, its becasue of alot of black people's horrible behavior. Also I think that the double standards we use to excuse their actions only creats more resentment, racism and hatred.

  • Posted By: agordon101 @ 02/15/2008 2:00:18 AM

    We all have prejudices. Here is a short comedy satire exemplifying Just that...

    http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/db376450c6

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUwTKGgcw8

  • Posted By: dannyboy858 @ 02/15/2008 1:59:18 AM

    Nowadays I dont think that people are as racist against blacks becasue of their skin color, its becasue of some blacks people's horrible behavior.

  • Posted By: AnarchyA @ 02/15/2008 1:57:47 AM

    I agree with the article, and I guess that's why I get so much static from people. I took those tests online for fun ... with the exception of my ADD I found that I identify with all the so called "underdogs" except the young old group I was slightly more inclined to the youth (I have always been a strong advocate of youth, I'm now getting older lol). Anyways, this just proves my point, and thus my Metal Dog will continue to rain down appearing like a Water Dog (Chinese Astrology) fighting all such injustices. Stay REAL ppl I bite fake bones.

  • Posted By: AnarchyA @ 02/15/2008 1:55:51 AM

    I agree with the article, and I guess that's why I get so much static from people. I took those tests online for fun ... with the exception of my ADD I found that I identify with all the so called "underdogs" except the young old group I was slightly more inclined to the youth (I have always been a strong advocate of youth, I'm now getting older lol). Anyways, this just proves my point, and thus my Metal Dog will continue to rain down appearing like a Water Dog (Chinese Astrology) fighting all such injustices. Stay REAL ppl I bite fake bones.

  • Posted By: charlesrfd @ 02/15/2008 1:55:32 AM

    Funny but the member comments seem to focus on race and politics. Bias can be for many reasons. I had a problem with a secretary who hated me when she met me because I reminded her of her ex-husband. Fortunately, we worked in offices a hundred miles apart. Her dark impulses did affect our working relationship. I was glad when she left. I always wanted to meet her ex-husband. to see how he was.

  • Posted By: whoever39 @ 02/15/2008 1:55:19 AM

    This is complete BS I mean unconscious prejudices are real but they don't shape how people are going to handel thing's these nurse's are leaving because this job isn' t for them not because they hate the people they are working on.It's like saying because someone threw a potatoe at me when I was little I refuse to eat french fries you dont let crap like that influnce you.

  • Posted By: munxpudding @ 02/15/2008 1:54:11 AM

    welll....duh. does it really take experts to tell us that most "nice," politically correct people are usually full of it? COME OOOOON!

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse