{"id":1700,"date":"2014-12-05T00:59:01","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T05:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/?p=1700"},"modified":"2014-12-08T09:21:19","modified_gmt":"2014-12-08T14:21:19","slug":"is-race-really-the-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1700","title":{"rendered":"Is race REALLY the issue?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"http:\/\/www.blackdiamondkidscenter.com\/character-traits-program\/\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The “Race card” is played to often, by to many. \u00a0 I think people scream “race” out of convenience,\u00a0 I don’t believe “race” differences are as problematic as some would have us believe. I have a good many friends that are of other races, there is strength in diversity. \u00a0I think there is something deeper. \u00a0I believe it is an issue of character<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The question is begged: What is character? \u00a0Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.<\/p>\n

In today’s instant news environment, more often than not there is no time given for events to be played out. \u00a0I think the rioting in Ferguson is a good example. \u00a0It was tragic that a young man lost his life and I have no problems with the peaceful protests. \u00a0I do however, have issues with the rioting. \u00a0People rioted, burned buildings and looted businesses – for what? \u00a0I don’t think it has anything to do with the actual case of Michael Brown. \u00a0It showed poor character, to say the least. \u00a0An article in the Economist<\/a>\u00a0examines the cause of the looting. \u00a0In addition the article tackles the police aspect, not unlike an earlier article I wrote about the militarization of our police forces<\/a>. \u00a0Rioting solves nothing, and only hurts local business owners.<\/p>\n

I live by the notion that 10% of {insert any demographic here}<\/em><\/span> are assholes. \u00a0I’m proven right more often than not. \u00a0Ferguson was no exception.<\/p>\n

There is an very interesting video on CBS that brings together a diverse group of people. \u00a0It is a very telling and eye opening discussion. \u00a0A former law enforcement officer stated: “You teach your children not to to assault the Police. \u00a0They have no business putting their hands on a cop. \u00a0If you\u00a0do, you get what you get.” \u00a0 Another woman stated that what needs to be taught is tolerance. \u00a0Tolerance of one another and to celebrate our differences. \u00a0The facilitator of the discussion wraps up the interview stating that it is very hard to have a conversation about race, but it can be done<\/a>. \u00a0Our leaders are not trying to solve the problem. \u00a0The way the race conversation is currently happening is not productive, and is destructive to\u00a0people’s understanding, of both the problems and for appreciating each other.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the discussion, the facilitator used the term “African-American.” \u00a0A woman took offense. \u00a0She stated, very firmly, that she is not from Africa, she prefers black (which another man took an offense to). \u00a0She is\u00a0an\u00a0American to be precise. \u00a0 A couple of the gentlemen seemed uncomfortable with her statement, but I applaud it. \u00a0Our country is to hyphenated. \u00a0If you were born here; you are an American, period. \u00a0There is no need to put qualifiers on it.<\/p>\n

I am not meaning to rehash the events that took place in Ferguson, MO (Timeline: what happened<\/a> and the\u00a0evidence is released<\/a> \/ both by the NYT). \u00a0But it is a good case study in what is really ailing this country. \u00a0I do not think it is “race relations.” \u00a0I don’t think most people give a hoot about a persons race. \u00a0What they care about is a person’s character and their actions. \u00a0There is an interesting article in TIME magazine that discusses the two different conversations<\/a> that are, or will be, taking place. \u00a0The public conversation with all of its\u00a0ranting, oversimplification and placing of guilt on (fill in the blank). \u00a0A second conversation will be taking place privately; how to deal with the embarrassment and difficulties of kids like Michael Brown.<\/p>\n

FC, my feline companion, took me to task the other day. \u00a0Its not about race – it’s about Character<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0He pointed to an article by Mark Alexander<\/a>. \u00a0While there is much in his article I do not necessarily agree with; he brings up a couple of valid points which seem to be common among kids like Michael Brown. \u00a0And his article is a good read; if just to get the conversation started. \u00a0So, how do we develop good character<\/a>? \u00a0Let’s start with parents actually parenting<\/a>, and accepting the responsibilities that go with it. The Niagara Falls City School District has a pretty cool “100 Ways to teach Character<\/a>” which can be easily implemented by parents.<\/p>\n

People like the Reverend Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan are part of the problem, not the solution. Booker T. Washington wrote of people like them: “There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.” \u00a0Kinda sounds like them, doesn’t it? \u00a0Read more at EDSITEment<\/a>, a site dedicated to the humanities.<\/p>\n

The late Dr. Martin Luther King concluded his “I have a Dream” speech by asserting the need to distinguish character over color<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

“If America is to be a great nation, this must be true.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

-Dr. M.L.King<\/p>\n

Did I stir your emotions? \u00a0Good, let’s chat about it<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The “Race card” is played to often, by to many. \u00a0 I think people scream “race” out of convenience,\u00a0 I don’t believe “race” differences are as problematic as some would have us believe. I have a good many friends that … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,8,4,16],"tags":[50,85,91,82],"class_list":["post-1700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-life","category-politics","category-rants-raves","tag-america","tag-fairness","tag-responsibilities","tag-rights"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1159,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/1159","url_meta":{"origin":1700,"position":0},"title":"Voting day 2013","author":"DR D","date":"November 5, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Voting took place nationwide today.\u00a0 My race was pretty small, only our Governor, LT. Governor, Attorney General, and local races.\u00a0 After I voted, I was chit-chatting with one of the persons pounding the pavement in front of the poll places, and they stated that there were no major lines to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/politics"},"img":{"alt_text":"I_Voted.__Did_You.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/2013-11-05_08-28-25_109-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15061,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/15061","url_meta":{"origin":1700,"position":1},"title":"In-Decision 2024 \u2013 Presidential Election 2024","author":"DR D","date":"October 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, my cat was telling me to start writing again.\u00a0 So, to shut him up; I\u2019m stealing the name of a segment from the \u201cDaily Show,\u201d as I\u2019m sure you\u2019re aware, it sums up this year\u2019s election cycle quite nicely. 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There has been a lot of discussion on the news boards\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/category\/life"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":905,"url":"https:\/\/dansdigitaldive.com\/web\/archives\/905","url_meta":{"origin":1700,"position":3},"title":"My take on gun control..","author":"DR D","date":"April 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Good morning everyone!\u00a0 My cat and I were in a deep discussion yesterday regarding all the ranting going on over gun control. 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