Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 10 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 25 years, 7 months ago by
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Every time I’ve seen “racists” like the KKK on a television talk show, they are shouted down and denied the right to speak before they get a word out, simply because of their identity. The KKK came to our hometown last year, and the same thing happened. People might think they know what they are going to say, so they shout them down, but how can we expect to solve ethnic diversity problems if one side is always denied permission to speak? If there is something that someone else is doing that you abhor, there are two ways to handle it: 1) Address the problem to them and hope they take steps to solve it, or 2) Keep it to yourself and perhaps dislike them because of it. Instead of just shouting down hate groups like the KKK, why don’t people listen to them and force them to address specific problems?
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Name : M. Barkley, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, City : Harrisville, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : truck driver, Education level : High School Diploma,I do believe that in an effort to protect my civil liberties, it’s important to protect the civil liberties of all, even if I find it personally and morally repugnant. That said, while I protect the rights of the KKK to speak, I see no civil, moral, or personal reason to listen. It is not a right that we all be listened to, only that we are allowed to speak. Historically the KKK has been savage; as a contemporary group they are a racist, obsolete institution. To understand the roots of racism is one thing; to listen to the platform of the KKK is another. To understand WHY someone is a member of the klan is one thing; to listen to what they spout is another. And frankly, unlike most points of view, I see no logical, rational reasoning or any sense of rightness in the KKK platform. I don’t think I’ll learn anything from the politics of hate.
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Name : Lisa, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,You’ve got to be kidding. A calm, sit-down, brain-storming session with members of the KKK? A group that has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people throughout the years, simply because they are of a different color or belief? A group that, for the most part, wants the removal of every minority group from U.S. soil, through one means or another? A group that distributes literature that promotes the most hate-filled, vicious and false stereotypes available? Sorry, but I don’t think reasoning with them is going to get any positive results. They have had ample time and opportunity to read and discuss their ‘problem’ with those of other groups and perhaps come to understand that we all must live in this country together if it is to survive. Yet they still choose to vilify and attack anyone who doesn’t look like them. Because they haven’t changed their tune in the hundreds of years since their existance, people know what they are going to say, and they haven’t disappointed yet. In fact, the ‘reformed’ David Duke was on television the other night, and he sounded just like the ‘old’ David Duke. I have yet to hear a member of the KKK plead for peace and understanding between the races. You’re right, the shouting does seem kind of pointless. I’m in favor of simply ignoring them, and that goes for the media, too, whose presence gives them what they crave: Attention and the chance to promote their ’cause.’ Sorry, but the KKK’s stance is pretty predictable by now and shows no sign of changing.
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Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Catholic, Age : 32, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : marketing, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Your putting ‘racist’ in quotes as though it weren’t really true says volumes about your own beliefs. But let’s set that aside and discuss the flaws in your argument: 1) I think I can safely say the KKK does NOT speak for the overwhelming majority of whites. They represent themselves, a tiny number (less than 10,00) of isolated fanatics despised as pariahs by nearly all whites, all nonwhites and just plain anyone who has a conscience and a sense of morality. The ‘other side’ you refer to is people of European background, not white supremacists. Last time I checked, whites did not have a hard time getting themselves heard in this country.
2) Show me when the KKK has EVER shown the same respect to those who oppose them that you demand they now get. The KKK has the blood of tens of thousands of people on their hands from lynchings, bombings and assassinations. Their victims were almost always unarmed and blameless, and often included women and children. The KKK are nothing more than a terrorist organization. Should we also give a platform to Timothy McVeigh and declare him the ‘true’ representative of those who don’t like big government?
3) The KKK and nearly all racists don’t respond to logic, well thought-out arguments or appeals to compassion. The very nature of racists and racism is illogical and blinding hatred with no thought behind it. 4) There are plenty of other ways of dealing with groups like these than what you suggest. One that hasn’t really been tried enough is to use the law against them consistently. An estimated one-third of Klansmen are in law enforcement. The Klan have infiltrated many state militias (not the ones that run around the woods in camouflage, these are state auxiliaries to the National Guard). Yet the law does little about them. Th real danger in seeing these groups shouted down is that some people will fool themselves, saying, ‘Oh, that’s what a racist is. But I’m not a racist because I don’t practice violence against group X.’ Yet at the same time that person might forbid their daughter to date someone black. Or they might enjoy going to see the Atlanta Braves and doing the tomahawk chop. Sometime talk shows that feature racist fanatics do a real disservice by setting them up as straw men while ignoring the much more deeply rooted and more difficult-to-handle aspects of trying to end racism and hatred.
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Name : ACC24024, Race : Mexican and American Indian, City : W Lafayette, State : IN, Country : United States, Occupation : Grad student,I think you’re absolutely right. The simple fact is, the KKK is its own worst enemy when people let its members speak in public. As a newspaper reporter, I’ve seen several of their demonstrations and listened to their arguments. Almost without exception, their statements are filled with vulgarity and illogical sensationalism. Their response to specific questions ranges from ‘you’re a member of the left-wing faction trying to destroy America’ to ‘you’re a @!?/*&-lover.’ John Stuart Mill once wrote that illogical and evil arguments should not be silenced, but rather should be let out into the open. Its own ignorance will show itself. Unfortunately, the KKK has tied itself to issues like affirmative action and immigration that require serious discussion, but whenever people take a conservative stance on those issues they’re associated with people like the Klan.
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Name : Brian23011, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 24, City : Kokomo, State : IN, Country : United States, Occupation : reporter, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,What the KKK believes is no secret. They have absolutely nothing constructive or positive to add to this country. If you want to find out what they believe, you can surf any of their various several hundred websites, or go to one of their rallies. You’ll learn infinitely more about them that way than from watching Jerry Springer. Any organization that advocates racial violence and domination/supremacy is entirely useless, and only serves to make things worse. Inviting the klan to participate in meaningful racial dialogue is like inviting satan to a church dedication; it just ain’t gonna work.
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Name : Dan31632, Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Pentecostal Christian, Age : 21, City : Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : student/dishwasher, Social class : Lower middle class,The reason to shout down the KKK before they say anything is that indentifying oneself as KKK pretty much is the message (that whites are superior). Their logic is not acceptable by most people. They already have said what they have to say by being part of the KKK.
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Name : Organic, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Asian, Religion : Christian, Age : 21, City : Los Angles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,on a differnt level than just 1st ammendment rights or white supremecy, letting the Klan do their business can elicit positive reactions for our society. i too think that the KKK should get to speak. it’s not that i agree with what they say. it’s because their rhetoric and mere presence sparks dialogue and action. first, i think race/ethncity concerns are of utmost importance in our society and should be openly discussed. yet, talking openly about racial issues in the US is taboo (if you disagree, then think about the existence and need for this website). so if the Klan fosters discussion about race, then i say let them talk. second, groups who oppose the KKK’s message come together for a common goal (usually to remove or fight the Klan), but without the KKK’s presence those coalitions would be slow to form. so not only does the Klan’s presence spark dialogue but it spurs action. as more dialogue and action are initiated, we can move on from Klan-specific issues to more important issues of our day.
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Name : powell, Gender : M, Race : Asian, Age : 24, City : Madison, State : WI, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College,There are two problems with trying to listen to the KKK and come to an agreement. Number one, you are assuming that they will suddenly say something different from what they have been saying for years- that whites are the supreme race, that anyone different should be erradicated. Secondly, you cannot reason with people who have no logic or reason behind their beliefs and who are unwilling to compromise. For the same reason that we do not converse with serial killers and mass murderers, listening to the KKK is ultimately futile and destructive.
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Name : Desiree, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Presbyterian, Age : 18, City : Denver, State : CO, Country : United States, Occupation : student, musician,I am a white woman of German descent. I am embarrassed for all when a group of people who think they can speak for all white people gets this kind of attention. I am very afraid of the actions of the KKK and what they believe in; it is especially scary to see that they instill those beliefs in their children. I would think that today’s society would be so much more developed that something like this would no longer be around.
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Name : Melanie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 28, City : Winnipeg, State : AR, Country : Canada, Education level : Technical School,How can you expect to solve this diversity problem with hate groups such as the KKK, when ethnic diversity is EXACTLY what they are against? To be honest, I would have absolutely no problems with the KKK having their say if they would only express their views as civil ADULTS, and speak like civil ADULTS, burning churches, name-calling, using vulgar language, making threats against minorities, and slaughtering unarmed, blameless victims are NOT what civil adults would do. I have absolutely NO PROBLEMS with their views, their views are their views and that’s fine with me, however, I do have a major problem with HOW they express their views. The day these people grow up and start behaving like grownups should, that’s the day more people would take them seriously, heck even I would (but of course, we all know that day will never come). You said… ‘1) Address the problem to them and hope they take steps to solve it’ You said earlier that in order to solve our ethnic diversity problems, we must listen to them more. Well, in answer to your statement, people like them ARE THE CAUSE of ethnic diversity problems! If ethnic diversity is exactly what they are against, how do you even think it is possible that they would even try to take steps to solve it?? ‘2) Keep it to yourself and perhaps dislike them because of it. Instead of just shouting down hate groups like the KKK, why don’t people listen to them and force them to address specific problems?’ KEEP IT TO YOURSELF??? Do you understand what the concept of free speech is??? By having free speech, the KKK are ALLOWED to have their say (and not keeping things to themselves like you suggested the anti-KKK people should do), and also by having free speech, the anti-KKK people are allowed to shout out against groups such as the KKK. Besides, the KKK are quite loud these days, always see them through the media, I’ve frankly heard enough of their garbage, practically every second word is either a swear word or a derogatory word. Also, the more I listened to them, the more I dislike (I don’t like to use the word hate) them, and I’m sure this applies to many other non-Caucasians such as myself. And besides, the more we hate them, the less likely you’ll solve any problems, especially since there would be so much hate on both sides.
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Name : anonymous23715, Gender : F, Race : Asian, Religion : Christian, City : Vancouver, State : NA, Country : Canada,
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