Mr. Scalabrine

Mr. Scalabrine..let me tell you what just happened to me. I am running an ad to hire a salesperson here in Baltimore. I like for people to call me so I can hear what they're like on the phone since that's how we conduct our business. About 20 minutes ago, I received a call from a guy that told me he was a school teacher and he wanted summer employment. I told him I wasn't interested, this is a career move not a summer job, but thanks for calling. Literally 20 seconds later he called back and asked if we have a policy of hiring African Americans (which he happened to be).  I explained to this man that I have no written policy nor do I give a care what someone's skin color, sex, or sexual orientation is and I've hired all walks of life in my 20+ years. This man proceeded to call me a racist and told me it was because he was an African American was the reason he was being discriminated against and not under consideration. I asked him to hold on a quick second and I'll put one of the two black guys working for me on the phone and they can explain what it's like to work here. He refused and told me I was a liar and "I'll see you in court." click hang up. Thankfully we record our calls.

Look hard at this story. A totally innocuous call becomes a race issue because I wasn't interested. That is an absolutely horrid mask to hide behind, yet people like you, who aren't on the front line of life, think that blacks are in such horrid shape/places and we should always be doing something about it.

It's more than obvious that this man, who couldn't handle rejection, would not make a good salesperson, but to pull the race card? That is some shitty mentality that people like you keep putting into people like this guys head.

Every month I take my employees tax money and deposit it to the Fed. When I see the Fed paying $3TT for such a losing cause, and then to be called a racist, for the first time in my life, I cannot fathom myself giving any more defense to this social class.

You're probably inclined to say there is more to this than meets the eye. You would be dead ass wrong if you believe that.

How can you defend people that are blamers and excuse makers? It's highly apparent that you've never been in a leadership role, much less being self-employed with employees.

Your right on one piece.  America is made up of immigrants and we should embrace all takers. My wife is from the Philippines, by the way. Now take a look around and take a macro perspective. How many immigrant Asians and Indians (which I know are Asian as well) do you see sucking at the government tit? And then compare that number, if there are any, to the number of African Americans on the dole. I know you won't do that because you know the same thing as me - Asians and Indians are people that come here and take advantage of free speech, free markets and unlimited opportunities. They get great educations and bust their asses to make something of themselves. And then they inculcate those same values into their children. I saw that M. Night Shalaman in an interview with Howard Stern years ago. This guys parents are both MD's. When Mr. Shalaman went to his parents house, he whipped out a Time magazine with his picture on the cover to boast. Want to know what his parents said to him? I'm paraphrasing here, but it's on the order of "that's nice, but why aren't you a Doctor?"

Consider this alternative - Africa has the same, if not more, natural resources as the United States. How long has Africa been inhabited? How long has the US been inhabited? Which place is more progressed? Hell, there are parts of Africa where people are still running around with spears and wearing fig leafs. And you espouse the ideal that the white man should pull them up by their bootstraps? That it's not our privilege, it's our duty to have to do that? Bullshit. This country was formed under the auspices of competition. What did Lee Iacoca say on those ads... lead, follow or get out of the way?

In closing, I'll inform you that I am 51 years old and raised in the 60's and 70's in, at that time, redneck, racist Kentucky. My parents pounded it into our heads that all races are equal and the people who call Blacks ni___s and spit on them are all ignorant fools that will never get any further than their current station in life. Now, over the years, I have had many black people working for me. This is the first time I've ever been accused of something like that.

It's pretty easy to see why and how someone can become a racist after these sort of experiences.

I don't think he would defend this one guy.

You are trying to make an analogy between the actions of this man, and what people were discussing in the other thread.

As someone who works for the biggest public school board in all of North America, I can tell you that alot of what he said is accurate.

I don't necessarily agree with the argument as it pertained to the firefighting situation, but the schoolboards are predominantly catered to white/rich people.  As the years go by, slowly more efforts are being made to curb the situation.

It's not just all about funding either....alot of it is the environment in which people learn.  Alot of minorities don't feel comfortable in their own learning environments and thus become disinterested, etc.

People are far too reactionary.  To allow one guy to represent the masses is sad.

Well boo hoo and tough shit. They need to suck it up and work for it rather than hold their hands out or wait for us to lower our standards. A friend of mine, who happens to be a West Point grad, just sent me this story...

I had one of my sergeants try to pull that crap on me when I was in the Army.  I gave him a task he wasn’t happy about, so he instantly pulled the race card on me and told me that I didn’t like him because he was African American.  As a result, I called the entire group together, then dressed him up one side and down the other.  I told him I didn’t give a damn what color he was, that every solder working for me was “Army Green” in my eyes and that they would all bleed red.  I then proceeded to tell them that I hated them all the same and they all sucked equally in my eyes.  Then I sent him back to work. 

you must not be reading what this douche has been typing. He defends all blacks with no exceptions. There is a white reason for every black persons actions. Read the lengthy threads to see what I am talking about.

It's not about dumbing down things.  It's about creating an environment in which everyone wants to and enjoys learning (as much as possible).

TDSB - Toronto District School Board has gone so far as opening an Afri-centric school in the heart of the city.  It's open for debate how this will pan out but it's not that they are teaching half of what you would learn in another school, but rather providing an environment (black instructors/ more focus on black history/ etc) which will encourage them to learn.

As a society, we should want all of our citizens to be performing at maximum capacity.

Again, your army story is probably something alot of people have had to deal with.  It doesn't make it right and that person should be ashamed, but don't generalize on these stories.

Black people tend to racial issues, white people tend to have entitlement issues. 

Same shit different pile.

So, what do you suppose wound happen if TDSB would open a White-centric school?

We'll agree to disagree and leave it at that.

Calling people names really makes you appear stupid. Truly.

Scalabrine blames it on a white god for making african americans black.

I could call you using my (natural) cracker nasal voice and apply for a job.  I may talk cracker nasal but I can communicate.

No can do. I'm only hiring black people!!

I'm not arguing if its right or wrong, good or bad.....but we owe it to the children to atleast try and explore initiatives that will help them succeed without having to dumb down curriculums.

And for how long have people been saying that?

This should be interesting

I'm sorry, I didn't quite understand what you're asking here or insinuating.

The problem is extremes.  The race card is overplayed....there is no denying that. ON the other hand, racism is often underplayed in some circumstances.  Each event/topic/instance should be treated individually.

Now everyone who has gone through a story like yours, has a sour taste in their mouth and is more likely to not accept a racism card in the future no matter what the instance is and vice versa. 

People who have experienced racism on some level, are now more likely to swear by it for every event that doesn't pan out for them.

There is certainly plenty of racism that exists in our society but there is also alot of BS complaining and excuses being made where there should be none.

I think you have to handle each case differently.  But it seems like people are always crying foul or crying bs no matter the story.  Much like how people are with politics.  They will defend every action their party makes, while condemn anything the other party has to say.

Nice post tim.  Agree with everything you say.  Glad to see that someone who grew up in Redneck Kentucky could turn out into a decent guy. 

My black father in law says that the most racist people on this planet are blacks. Then again, I've heard a few Koreans say the same things about themselves... and I had a Chinese buddy in college who said the same thing.

Strange.

Everybody is racist in that sense.

Birds of a feather flock together. That's just human nature.

You're right.

I have experienced racism first hand. When we first moved here, my wife came down to find temporary housing. She signed up for a place. The woman who owned the building called her back and said she wasn't crazy about having "her kind" living there. I had to grab a more expensive place thus spinning this into litigation. Stay tuned.

try reading the thread, he's constantly insulting me calling me an idiot, ignorant, racist, a white boy that had everything given to me (nothing to do with me, he just assumes all white people have everything given to them). So realize what he says to me. He defends blacks no matter the offense. And anyone who differs from his opinion is an idiot. So yes I will call him a douche.

Filipinos say the same thing as well.

Vaughn - thank you for the compliment.

My bad. I thought you were talking about someone else..

We're all still waiting for Covers' no. 1 scumbag (aka scalabrine) to come out with his novella-length exposition defending the indefensible.

The race card is a crutch.

callmetom....your 1st post hit the nail on the head.