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Submit your comments on Forgotten Fires. Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly and join the discussion. This TalkBack section is a free forum for independent thoughts and ideas. The views reflected are those of the individuals who submit their comments. They are not the opinions of ITVS or PBS, respectively. 5/29/03 Doreane France Hi! I want to answer Michelle from Kansas. You think a world with only 'mixed' people is best? But look at Brazil! It is the case there. The result? Still much racism, and a third of the population uses bleaching cream to be "more white", as they have become racist against themselves. The same goes for the USA...when peoples are separated, racism is "my group is the best". When they are mixed, it is even worse: " the white group is better(and more beautiful) than mine". racism shall not dissappear that way, since it is becoming even more perverse. 5/29/03 Quick comment on what Taina said about slavery. Her people did suffer from slavery, but not her. Why should she be given compensation? I do not see the point of paying someone for somebody who did not suffer anything. In my country, it would appear stupid. We cannot give her back the freedom that was taken from her ancestors. Money, then? If we do, we mean that there is a price for slaves...That's silly! Can't you see that slavery belongs to the past? Blacks should complain for racism, not for slavery. Today's Whites are not slavers! 5/29/03 Gahez Germany Racism is no longer "white against black". Today, it is a matter for anyone and any race. But the worse is "self racism". Somebody talked about it here, but it seems to be a taboo: no black people answered! Blacks (women especially!) do anything to look whiter:they dye their hair(urk!ugly!), they wear color lenses( sooo fake on them) and they use bleaching creams(!!!). Alright, racism is bad. But then why say that is it best to look white?? 5/29/03 I think that racism is a growing issue and not only one person can stop it. It is a free country and people are allowed to think what they like, but my opionin is that not liking somebody because of thier race/ skin tone difference is just wrong and judgemental. And for the people in KKK... i could care less about them. If thats the way they think, who am I to try and stop them. Theres only so many of the non rasict people. If thats the way they think then let them be. You can say you hate them all you want, but thats probably going to encourage them into beliving that blacks are stupid even more... am I wrong? You could sit here till the end of time... and even then I don't think racism will be over. Like I said before, its a growing issue and its getting worse, so don't try and think it will get better because i bet you anything it wont. 5/19/03 Michelle Kansas When will it end?? When will "blacks" stop throwing slavery and discrimination in the faces of anyone and everyone who will listen??? When will "whites" stop claiming that they are so much better than "blacks" while looking so rediculous as they brown their skin to have more color?? The list goes on and on for all races!! Enough is enough!! I am white, my son is half white and half hispanic. I can not say that I'm proud of my race. I don't see it that way at all. We all live here on earth together. This is our planet. Every individual person is just that, an individual. I look to the future to end all of this mess. Why? Because at some point in the future, there will not be a white race or a black race, or a mexican race and so on. At some point, the majority will be a mixed race. My son is incredible!! I've never taught him discrimination but he sees it every day from all races. He laughs it off and says it's stupid. One day, when the majority of the people are like him, and it will happen, all of this mess will end. I live for that day. This is when the world will truly become a happy, colorful place. Wake up people!! 5/19/03 Stacy Harris - Tabor The question that I want to pose to the ones that are committing these hate crimes of burning church is "Are you hating Christians because they worship, or are you hating whom we worship?" The church is a Holy place and should always be respected as such. 5/19/03 i thnk that there is no need for rasium because its just hurting other people and there are so many haters out there and they know who they are so they should not be hatin on us BLACK PEOPLE...!!!!!!!! 5/19/03 josh texas a long time ago, vlacks and whites were not given equal right. they still aren't today. i am white, and i have many less opportunities than modern day blacks. i have to lie on my college applications and say that i'm a minority just so that i have a better chance to get in. i am opressed an insulted daily and i cant even express my pride in heritage without being labeled a hate monger racist. i am sick of it. affirmative action was needed a long time ago, but not anymore. whites have been put on an uneven playing feild. you can argue all you want, but the facts are the facts. look at them. look at simple statistics. look at current law. you cant even own a business unless you hire a certain amoputr of "minorities", which aren;t even the minority anymore! 4/13/03 I'm answering Jesse Selden's 3 questions about the Klan. 1.)Q.Why does the KKK hate blacks? A. The KKK hates blacks because 1.they aren't white 2.they aren't especially American and 3. because they beleive whites are the supreme race. 2.)Q.How did the KKK steal black rights? A. They did so by making a reign of terror so great that most blacks decided to not vote rather than be lynched. 3.)Q.Why did the KKK burn croses on black's lawns? A. They still do. And the "burnings" are actually callled cross LIGHTINGS. The objectives in doing this are to connect the Klan to the medival Scots (who light crosses) and to instill terror into blacks and catholics (catholic superstition often got the best of them and they left). 4/7/03 Doreane France Hi! I'm answering Taina from jville about compensation for slavery. The Black slaves are now dead, and whatever we can do (or give) will not make slavery disappear from History. And, if the Blacks in the U.S.A. suffer today, it is because of racism, and no longer because of slavery itself. Quick question: how much would you ask for? Can there be a "price" for human beings??? I do not say we should forget (we cannot and should not!!!) But what about reconcilliation? My country, France, was invaded by Romans 2000 years ago: can you imagine me asking the Italians for compensation? Silly, isn't it? There should be a limit someday. 3/20/03 Onion Royal Oak Hell NO! Minority groups are already making the Majorty groups look smaller. this is happing on a daily basis. if you ask me personally I think we need a mass genocide of all races. 3/18/03 Doreane France hi! I want to answer Angela from Florida.She is right to make fun of those who claim "black is ugly" but try to look like a black person.But she says that one should not hate a race but try to take its features: then why do so many Blacks(especially women) want to change the colors of their skin, eyes or hair?It doesn't suit them either.I even think a Black person who hasn't his/her hair and eyes black is far more ugly and artificial than a white with a tan.Even brown on Blacks looks weird,as it is definitely not natural for them .Isn't that too,what she calls 'jealousy'?Racism seems not to be the prerogative of either side. 3/15/03 taina jville I noticed that a person made a comment about blacks should not receive compensation because slavery happened to our ancestors and not us....well I cant stand to hear such a thing...let me inform you....yes it was our ancestors and not us but whether you know it or not that affects us to even know that our ancestors had to be treated like animals by such ignorant lazy people..that will always affect us this was our family and they had to endure such cruelty..hurts to think about it...why should we not be able to receive compensation for the cruelty of what our peoples suffered they never even received the four acres and a mule they were promised so what makes you think we should not be able to receive compensation stop kidding your selves some Jews received compensation aboriginals in australia receive some sort of compensation so whats different here your peoples never gave mine what they promised and yes i feel i should be able to claim it 3/15/03 angela florida Racism is here to stay for the simple fact misery loves company there will always be ignorant people (unfortunately) I am black I remember this white girl who so called "hated blacks" but she always used to get tans and she got a boob job and she got implants in her butt hmm....things like this make me laugh to hate a race yet to try and look like them for years whites have picked on us because of our shapely bodies and full lips but at the same time they are making plastic surgeons rich by pumping their lips with silicon getting fake boobies and implants in their butts not to mention tanning i just dont understand if u hate a race so bad why u trying to get features that u make fun of kinda like when u were kids and a child always picked on you and then u find out they did it out of jealousy 3/10/03 Cathy Miller West Columbia South Carolina I personally have never owned slaves, but because i live in the south that automatically means that my ancestors owned and mistreated slaves. my grandmother is from england and my grandfathers father came from ireland. we are a group of immigrants that live in the south and have all of the traits of people in the south (not the sterotypical traits) and still i am blames for tha fact that white people had slaves in the 1800's. why is this why do blacks think that they need some form of restitution for work that they never even took part in. i am in no way saying that discrimination is correct because i hate it when people discriminate against me. it os a pathetic excuse that some african americans use to excuse the fact that they are blind to their hate and cant help but blame all of their problems on the "white man" who has brung them down. i think that this is childish and i think that it needs tot stop before it goes to far. soon their will be riots because the minority will b ecome the majority and then all of their benefits will be gone and they will be forced to fend for themselves. they have it made in the sun with affirmative action and when it comes back to bite them on the butts they will regret it. this is a comment posted on BEt.com about discrimination against whites. some affrican americans fell that it is not possible for their hate to bereflected onto white people. not only this but they feel that their hate is right and should be accepted because their ancestors were slaves. 3/10/03 George Rockville Centre I hate the KKK! It is a mean group and should be stopped! 2/18/03 Michelle Wallace Ok if there is so much hate and everyone is eigther for it or against it why isnt anyone doing anything. As i ask you this im asking myself. Speek out people do what it takes!! I myself am against it it's all bad. We all need to do something to stop it. It's fine to hate someone but keep it to yourself stop spreading the desise it's killing way to many people. 2/15/03 Doreane France Hi! I wrote on this website in November about aesthetic racism, but I got no answers on this site. Does it mean that no one cares? Racism is moving to another area, in which there is no law, beauty. We are free to do whatever we want with our appearance. But what do you think of these Afro-American women, who struggle hard against racism, but at the same time, are convinced that they look better with blue lenses and platinum-blond hair??? Many people do the same, and they don't even admit that for them, ³beauty is white². I am not sure we can eradicate racism by saying" we're all equal, whatever the color of the skin...but the white are more beautiful." An African friend of mine, told me about a particular type of 'make-up' that is sold in her home country, Senegal: a skin bleaching cream. She told me that in Africa, many women use it. Then, I discovered that it is also very common in the U.S.A. What is wrong with us? I will not try to look like a Scandinavian girl, because it is useless, but, above all, because I am not ashamed of my race. No one should! 2/6/03 Okay, this message is to respond to Ross Smith who stated that there is no channel that only caters to whites. This is the craziest statement I have ever heard because it is clear that almost EVERY channel is catered toward whites. If one actually pay attention to media and marketing, especially on T.V., they would see that when a black person is every portrayed, they are often stereotyped or forced or play a certain role in every situation. I am white, although not originally American, and I believe that after all this country has put blacks through, and is still putting them through, they should get NO criticizm for wanting to have a channel that is devoted exclusively to their culture. This is not to say that white people cannot watch their channel, but that this channel is devoted to their own culture, instead of to the mainstream white citizen. Another thing to think about, when stating that this channel is somehow racist by playing mainly black artists. If you have actually watched the channel for more then five minutes, you will realize that they do NOT limit their performer to African Americans. Eminem is on several times a day, as is any other performer who does hip hop or R & B, which is what the channel is really about. This channel is focusing on a culture and lifestyle more than a race, as some might think. As far as I'm concerned, every channel may as well be called WPT, for White People Television, because that is all that is portrayed in a positive light on most channels. 1/23/03 Ross Smith Miami, Florida I think that racism is not at all 50/50 between what race is more racist as it used to be. Now, the days of "I hate black people", "I hate white people" are over and now it is "I love black people", "But I still dont like white people" My point is that now days white people are nicer to black people by accepting them and even being more lenient than black people are to white people. I admit i do hear some racism at my high-school but most of the racism if from the black people. (About 8 of them...and one of them is my best friend) I believe that the reason there is still racism in the US is that all of a sudden black people want to be treated like black peopleÖinstead of the same (in which that is what Martin Luther King wanted...to be treated the same) An example of this is BET, the channel with nothing but black entertainment. Is there a WET? I dont think so. I guess black people think that they need a channel made just for them...even though there is no channel made just for "Whites." Another good example is the one quote that my best friend uses a lot (but uses other instances" is from the movie Rush Hour. The quote is "Don't ever touch a black mans radio." Hmmmmmm...where have a heard something like that? Lets try to think of another quote like that. Maybe "What do you think you are doing sitting in a white mans seat?" Even though totally different sentences...both are connected in one way. Both think one species is dominant. Only at age 15, I think that I have had enough of racism, but two race's pitting one against each other is hopeless and unless all of us dont try and make our race the dominant race...we will all get a head start on eliminating racism. 1/3/03 Jesse Selden ive got three questions for you to answer. 1 why does the kkk hate blacks. 2 How did the kkk steal blacks rights 3 Why did the kkk burn crosses in blacks yards. 1/3/03 Leroy Solomon Vancouver Washington When I hear this kind of stuff, it does not surprise me at all. Racism has always been a part of American culture, but it went underground in the late 60's until the 1980's when Reagan got elected. As soon as he was elected, he helped create a climate for it, and it went on the upswing again. Let's face reality: racism is alive and well, and it's here to stay. You just have to know how to fight it when the time is right. 12/30/02 Alisha I just wanna say im tired of all the hate against people of diff. races. All the races in the world are equal. Why can't people except this?? Im tired of all the people who think there better than other people becuase of there skin color or religion! Im a white, cristian but I think people who are of diff. race or religion are no worse or no better than me. It hurts me to know that people would insult or worse kill other people just becuase there diff. than them. I just want to speak out against this!!! 12/10/02 Thomas C. Rideout Los Angeles, California America is afraid to discuss race, openly and honestly because we are still a racist society in our hearts. Racism is still so evident in every fabric of American life, we must be honest and open real dialogue to cure this cancer, it wont go away by itself. 12/10/02 stephy I can't believe that rasisum still exists! Why does it matter what somones skin couler is or what religion they are in? A think it is what is deep down that really counts! 12/6/02 u know its interesting that there r nearly no white people who seem to tormented by racism. the myth says that whites r all evil and invented racism. that myth is a complete lie. im in high school and go to school in california. i attend school 30 mins away from my home in the city of salinas. although i am friends with whites, blacks, mexicans, etc. etc. i still feel racism aimed at whites. often times i am called a "rich white boy" whick is kinda true, but my parents came from little. after being called this too many times i responded, "hey, is it my fault my parents worked hard while urs prolly sat on their ass!?" i do regret saying this now. but i do feel racism towards whites is increasing as the diminish. 12/4/02 hi, iam African american and iam going to a all white school iget called many many racism names. I have a white boyfriend in my school it's a very scary thought to think that he will get teased for going out with me. I've gone to all white schools for three yrs. and had to deal with this situations I hate racism I think it's a very! stupied thought.ithink racism should STOP! forreal. 11/18/02 Hi!I'm writing about racism.I'm not to tell what is said so many times on this site(racism is bad).I wanted to get opinions about the worst type of racism:aesthetic racism.Today, in many countries(USA, Japan,China,Brazil or Iran)it is becoming fashionable to change one's look to look more"white". Apart from the fact that it is ugly(look at a fashionable Japanese girl and make your opinion!),I find it particularly dangerous:what will we tell our children?That white is more beautiful?Why do so many people use color lenses,hair-dying products and aesthetics surgery to get rid of their own personnality?I know it is not really the theme here, but how can we say that we're all equal if, at the same time, we say "these people are more beautiful than the others"?To me, it is all the more dangerous as it is accepted by the very people it tends to exclude.I could give many examples, but just look at those who are considered as beautiful or fashionable in the countries I've just told you about. The true problem is not to wonder if there is aesthetic racism(of course there is!) but to ask why it isn't even recognized.A simple yet meaningful example:In Afroamerican women's magazines,most of the models have straightened and dyed their hair, and some wear color lenses to get non-black hair and eyes(so do most of the readers).When one of these magazines once featured a naturally blue-eyed black model,many Afroamericans complained that they disagreed with this behaviour,which promotes "white beauty".So, they were comdamning their own attitude.but hair dyers and color lenses are stil best sellers in the USA among Afroamericans!Why?I would like to know:a Black woman who changes her appearance looks like an E.T.(it is soooo fake).And look at the cinema.Have you seen the poster for the last Austin Power?BeyoncÈ's picture is weird(so much light on her that she looks almost white-skinned.An accident?I don't think so.And I'm not to talk about her hair(fake,fake,fake!) So my question i s the following:What's the use of fighting against racism in jobs,housing,politics,etc. if we allow it in an area in which most people agree with it? a french student. 11/13/02 I read everyones thoughts and opinions and everyone seems to have some really good points, and I do think that is pathetic to dislike people for their race.I'm an 11 year old and sometimes I'm teased by my race [which is white] and I hate it.To me it is kind of imbarrising to know that other kids are so immature. So I hope everyone realizes that we are all the same, and we need to be treated the same. 11/13/02 Kristina New Albany IN Personally I really thing racism sucks I like Mexicans and I date mexicans before I moved i had a lot of racist people at my school and they didnt like me because I likes mexicans and because ihung out with my black friends i dont know but people these days are pathetic. But i Guess that is what drive me to hate my own race WHITES SUCH AS CRACKERS 11/4/02 Mitchell Greene Poverty plays a great deal in the fomenting of fear and hatred. Scapegoating becomes a means of alleviating responsibility for one's circumstances. 11/4/02 Yes, slavery is over. Funny thing is, the KKK still exists. Most people don't give a damn about slavery, of course it's over. But racism is NOT. Blacks, Whites, every race you can think of; everyone of them has racists. And THAT'S THE PROBLEM! It will never be over. So everybody will always be ubset and ranting and raving. Wow, what a meaningless way to live life huh? Being racist and complaining about other people everyday.....pathetic. 10/29/02 wake up and realize. Slavery is over. Quit holding grudges and move on with life. The blacks need to realize that slavery is over and to also quit holding it aginst us. 9/23/02 Taini Toronto Ok I know that their has been slavery and other offensive stuff, but that was a long time ago. Its over now so lets start treating eachother with respect.Racisum is not good it counts on what is in the inside not the outside. I am only 11 years old and I know this is not good. Who cares if we are black,white,chinese,indian and so on. God created us equal so lets stay equal. Trust me we could live in PEACE! 9/23/02 Priscilla I am proud of the people that organised for this site to be made, I am proud of the people that believe what I believe: That there is no such thing as race, we are all just people and we all make mistakes, but we should realise that what we have done is a mistake. 9/19/02 Nikki Or I think those people who are black and that had to go throw the horror of the kk klan.... I want to say for all the black people i am white and you are the same as us!! 8/26/02 If I, as a white person, said this during a public speech, not only would I be boo'd off the stage, I'd probably be jumped on my way to the parking lot. So why is it ok for a black person to say it in reference to white people? Why is it wrong for me to prejudiced against someone who is black, or any other race or religion or any of the other myriad stupid excuses we use to hate each other, but at the same time it's perfectly fine for someone to be prejudiced against a white person? Isn't racism wrong, no matter which end it comes from? Oh, but wait, the reparations for slavery...if we look at the past, at all the horrific things that people have done to each other, then everyone has a hell of a lot of payback owed to everyone else. Every race and every religion has committed atrocities against others at one point or another. When do we let go? When do we say, "OK, this was wrong, but it happened 300 years ago and we need to move on"? 8/19/02 kris dankef16@hotmail.com Madison, Wisc. A hate filled week in Washington D.C. Are you guys planning any stories on the hate filled supporters of so-called "slavery reparations" especially Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan? Another hater to interview: "I want to go up to the closest white person and say, 'You can't understand this, it's a black thing,' and then slap him, just for my mental health," Charles Barron, a member of the New York City Council, told the crowd." Unbelievable!!! 8/12/02 For those people that think the world just began when white people enslaved blacks, get a clue read up on some history and you'll find out that blacks were not the only enslaved peoples they were just the most recent. 8/12/02 I think everyone should come to grips with the fact that not everybody is going to get along with eachother. While hating someone becuase of his/her color or religion is stupid. The fact is most people ,with a few exceptions (such as the kkk),do not hate someone becuase of their color. But becuase of something they did that was hurtful ;and happened to be of a different race so it is branded as racism. 8/5/02 i believe that theres more hate today . than there was 140 years ago . our government has lied and cheated all of us. just take a look into our us history. black,white,chinnesse, mexican all have been pushed and tried. but we can not give up. TOGETHER WE STAND /DIVIDED WE FALL . lets just drop all the additudes white and black. an show the country and the world that were not a bunch of haters and killers.JOHN C. CALHOUN said that if the government can divid the black and white in the south.that the union could win not just by power but also from the inside. people their still triing and it looks like they might WIN. unless people like me and you speek out against hate. 7/22/02 eddie green columbia Sc I think that whites don't understand what it is like to be a black person.They are affraid of us becouse they do not understand us.I am a young black man that has been hurt by a lot of white people but that dose not keep me from becomeing friends whith them.that is were most of them fail,they get hurt by a few black people and they condim a whle race.becouse they have more than likely been told by there how "black people are".so when they see one sine that we are in the slightest way agressiv they beleave every word that there parents or grandparents have sail all there lives.So when I aproche ignorince I just think to myself it is not there falts.But that is just my apinion. 6/27/02 Scott Frank scotty705@hotmail.com Wisconsin come on people. cry me a river. i am for white pride, not for white power. there is a difference. i am proud of who i am. i also don't care what my grandparents did to yours. just get over it and move on. 7/8/02 i thank thare is nothing wrong with black people. Thay are just people like me and u 7/8/02 People need to wake up and try to be objective. everyone's pointing fingers at certain groups and nothing is going to end. Low income neighborhoods are there for a reason - because of the segregation in the past. We, as a community, need to MEND that since we supposedly know better. With your ignorant attitudes, that is why there's a high crime rate between races. Thank yourselves for that one. It wont end until people start waking up. Also, with minorities in the media - like Black or hispanic TV, before that - they were all WHITE! The media wouldn't let non-whites be the main character except for uncle tom's, maids - little roles. WAKE UP AND PUT YOURSELVES IN THEIR SHOES. AND REALIZE THAT IT'S A MORE BENEFICIAL TO BE WHITE BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER OPPRESSED. Whites have always been the oppressors. 6/27/02 mark markusmaximus23@hotmail.com louisville ky I am so sick and tired of these cries.... I am tired of hearing your Bull.. No one cares ... It was in the past .. let it be.. Its fucking over... I hate that My generation has to suffer for bulls**t that has happened in the past.... WHY.... I wasn't there and neither were my ancestors... 6/18/02 argus yandell cjynjy2000@yahoo.com Stillwater,Oklahoma I am a candidate for U.S. Congress every 2 years. I am a member of the Southern Party. According to the Federal Census Bureau, Whites will be a minority by 2050. The anti-Christian Socialist Police States of America can have its Dykes and Fairies, the murder of the unborn,and a out of control federal government but that's all. It is my mission to stop my people from becoming the victim's of liberal cultural genocide. We can do it through the ballot box now or the bullet later, either way, it does not matter. 6/10/02 kelley kdeans1@aol.com Commerce, CA I think racisium is being used as a propt in this dramatic display from "victoms" of racist acts. Things have never been more fair then they are today and now this cry for an equal life is being abused with overcompensating people for being other then white. Govm.grants and businesses on every corner or accommedating the hispanic or blacks so much so that while in the Bank of America not one loan program or likeness was even addressed to anyone speaking english. I asked "what does this say and more inportantly why don't you have it in english. I ran out he said. But when I get up to his table I couldnt find him and the mexican girl did not know why they where out of every flyer .phamlet in english. They obviosly where only trying to reach the hispanic people. hispanic heritage month and the miss black america are just two examples of how we have bent way to far to make up for the fact that theyre color is different. does that mean we should then allow ourselves to be discriminated against. oh boo hoo I'm white and that means you should give me money and houseing or I'll tell everyone how racist you are to me and then Ill get paid to tell my story and thats how it works. 6/10/02 I just don't understand why we have to hate so much. People only look at the color of everyone's skin. We are all people. We need to start acting like it. God created us all equal. We are all people, but all have different ideas. I am a 12 year old girl and even I can say that this is non-sense. People for once in history can we come together as a nation, as a world. Please. We are humans. Let's start acting like humans and not animals. Thanks for your time. 5/21/02 i think that people are stuck in the past weather its black,white whatevers. just move on with ur damn lives in peace and as one not as a bunch of dumbasses that are immature and don't want to be mature and realize that this is life if ur gonna live to hate all the damn time then u might as well just kill urselves because ur making it hell for everyone else. 5/21/02 I have been an indirect victim of hate against black people, eventhough, I am not black. I am worried that I am on a list somewhere and would like to find out how I can be removed from this list the KKK may have..... I know that most of the country is united but I am still scared of these people. I have met a few of them. They are people like us but they do horrible things to others. Please help me. Keep me in your prayers and get me off the list if possible. I'd like to have my health back. I think asking for help is the only way. 4/25/02 Alan Touring dogshapedhole@hotmail.com Mountain View,ca I just want to know if any of you liberals mind if your future generations have black features? That's all. Let's assume there is no genetic engineering. And no one is racist. and the races eventualy mix. How do feel about that? What if I created a race with the features of a pig? Now you gotta have sex with it or YOU ARE A racist. You willing to be pig like? That's all it comes down to. That's it. 4/23/02 melissa freakgirl486@aol.com torrington,ct i think that a race war will indeed happen if people of all races dont start tolerating eachother i think its all about respect..im in ninth grade right now and i the predjudice i see in my school is abosolutly rediculious and its all because on person doesnt like another person for one stupid reason or another...i think everyone should just grow up and learn how to respect people. 4/12/02 what the hell has this world come to? it really disturbs me that people think that they are better than anybody else because of their color, and i think that peole need to relize that there is only one race and that is the human race. You should not judge someone by their skin color or their ethnical background!! if you think that you are better thatn anybody because of your color than you have just proven to anybody who reads this that you have no self respect for YOURSELF. and that is the botton line. 4/4/02 Shannon leopardprincess86@hotmail.com I think that it is terrible that anyone could do such aweful things! I came on this sight to look up information for a school report. I Have never really thought that it could get this bad, but this has showed me that we really need to watch our attitudes because i have little brothers and sisters that look up to me and i do not want them to become racest. 3/27/02 I live in Canada I am againts racisum. it is one of the many ways of acting like your better than some one else, but really if you are racist than you are not one of the better people of the world you can't put up with very much difference in your society, basicly you are shallow. sometimes it is not the persons falt that they are racist it is their parents fault so you can't always blam it on the person you sometimes have to blame their family, learning invironment or their town. 3/27/02 I would like to believe that Timothy Welch is transformed ,but unfortunately I do not believe,hell would have to freeze over first . I do not believe that there will ever be a race war in America. Poverty creates many ills therefore we should help to eradicate this evil thing. 3/27/02 Steve spooky@teleramma.com I'm a white male from pa. I work in a factory and have black co-workers. I'm friends with most of them. The ones that I'm friends with I rarely if ever hear any complaints about the troubles of being black. The blacks I do hear complain about being discriminated are the ones who don't want to work and are always on workers comp. My question is, Why do alot of black people think we owe them something...and why does the media back them up??? 3/21/02 Mark Williams wil27@eumsc.vic.edu.au Melbourne, VIC, Australia I am a young Australian who is totally against the form of racism. I've just seen the winter Olympics in UTAH, I saw the hospitality shown to our athletes & it makes see how wonderful the American people are to international visitors. But that has been changed by what I and my students have read in the past 20 mins, from the comments made by Michael Ruckman on the 10/8/01, I find it quite disapointing to see what I thought was a honest American but a rasist,jelouse and no hearted monster that doesn't know the meaning of kindness. I feel so sorry for the kind citizens of the U.S.To put up with the utter most sadest people on this Earth and I can't believe you (the scared hiding under sheets KKK) I hope that the KKK will hopefully think one day that you can live in piece with respectable people ( GOOD LUCK). Look to your fellow Americans and learn the kindness that they show people because they're the real Americans i would like to see when I visit The Untied States of America. 3/17/02 David Bohn debohn@aol.com Orem Utah I am surprised as I read through the comments listed below. I would think that although race and racism is the topic of the film, the more powerful subtext is how hate corrodes and destroys our ability as human beings--as children of God--to see what is good, beautiful and true in others. Hate turns brothers against brothers, friends against friends, citizens against citizens. It reduces others to a caricature that in no way resembles the truth. It isn't actually a question of white on black, black on black, black on white violence as such. The story simply shows how hate was in this case countered by courage, determination, forgiveness, love, caring, and out reach. The letter from the black minister and his congregation to Timothy Welch touches us because we intuitively sense its truth. The minister sees beyond the evil that was done and without spite recognizes and caringly encourages the transformation that is possible. The congregation see in Timothy more than a racist, they see a soul that can reach beyond evil to the good. Their forgiveness takes a stumbling block out of Timothy's way and their belief in him opens up hope. As viewers we instinctively know that they are right, there is something more to Timothy than the violence of his acts, and we join with the congregation in extending the same hope to him. However, taken at a broader level, is that not the same hope we all have for our own country and the world--the hope that we can move beyond hatred and violence toward a world of peace, justice and love? And, do we not instinctively agree that hate for hate only fuels the fire that has inflicted so much misery on humankind throughout the ages? 2/25/02 I FEEL THAT THERE WILL BE A RACE WAR IN THE US, BUT I DON'T BELIVE IT WILL BE THE BLACK/WHITE WAR THAT PEOPLE BELIVE SO STRONGLY IN. I PERSONALY THINK IT WILL B A WAR WHERE THE WHITES WILL BE FORCED TO FIGHT EVER RACE THAT IS NOT OF THERE COLOR. THE WHITES ARE HATED BY EVERY ONE, THEY ARE TRUELY THE DOWNFALL OF THE HUMAN RACE. THEY CAN ONLY SERVIVE AT THE COAST OF OTHERS. 2/25/02 Ken-Ken Holland Dallas, Tx racism is wroung Lets come togeather like the world. The world has so many different places in it. and it holds all of them 2/14/02 David O'Neill Directors1@mindspring.com I think what people forget is that nothing on this earth that has ever lasted, has ever been born from hate. History, through movements and politics have tried relentlessly to forge onward in that vein, but they just simply never last. The Romans hated the Christians, the Nazis hated the Jews, the Protestants hate the Catholics, theb Catholics hate the Prorestants, the whites hate the blacks, the blacks hate the Mexicans, the French hate the English, the Irish hate the English, the English hate the Irish... it goes on and on. It doesn't take much imagination to hate somebody. It's one of the basest reactions we can allow ourselves to feel. For myself, it is a chore to think beyond my own environment and experience. It seems to me that fear is bread in many ways and it has a way of cultivating the worst in us. When fear is relpaced with opportunity and justice, then as a people we are doing our best to rid it out of our communities and out of ourselves. It's just not a white question but a question for every race to take inventory to how we feel towards the other. My feeling is, if we can just remember that hate only brings ashes, we might remember to avoid those things that would lead us to our own fires. 2/12/02 shawntayvia atlantaga that is a bunch of bull excuse me the klan is still out there. Even it is 2002 they are just scared casuse us black people are ready whenever they are. I dare them to think they will ever succeed. 2/7/02 racisim is a form of life. Racisim is living life as a stupid ignorant person, one who knows nothing about being a decent human being. yeah im only 17 and a white girl at that but my momma raised me to love and appreciate everything and everyone. being racist just goes to show how stupid people realy are. Oh and by the way if you racist people go and pick up a history book you will realize the inevitable. we were not here first. We came over to this land wanting nothing but freedom but all we took was freedom from others. We could not plow our own fields or pick our own cotton. So the question is who is realy responsible for our country becoming so great? Think about it. 1/23/02 Could it be that the only reason we discriminate and judge people is because of our perceptions of them? I think sometimes we take what people have done such as Hitler, or Osama and tie it in with people from that country whether they had a part in it or not. I personnally don't place any blame. I am in a communications class this term and I was just wondering if maybe the image these people portrayed brought about these prejudices and hateful perceptions. 1/14/02 Rene' Blatchley Tampa Florida I wish people would let racism go away. Things keep happening though to our people and people keep blaming racism. Not everything is racism. Some people just act out of anger and hatred towards everyone...not just specific races. I wish we could all get along. 1/8/02 Pauline Ward No. Simply because we are a better people than that. But I don't under estimate people like him. Yes. Because God is a mighty God, and no one has his power. A Very Big Role. If we don't pay attention to our youth, who will. Unfortunately, some of us don't realize it until it's to late. Then the next thing we know, the child has joined a group, only we don't know it's a Hate Group. So if we don't look out for our young people who will. They need somewhere else to channel that energy. Somewhere Positive. So many obstacles in their way,and nowhere to focus. So a hate group pays attention to the less fortunate and they have no idea what they're about. So in closing, let's try to look out for our young people. 1/5/02 I believe that Horice "king" is just tryng to hide behind the fear of others and make everyone fear him. 12/27/01 WILLIAM C. SEITER CINTI. OHIO I AM DISGUSTED THAT THE KLAN AND OTHER HATEGROUPS USE THE CONFEDERATE FLAG AS THERE SYMBOLS. IT STANDS FOR FREEDOM!!I HAVE ELEVEN DOCUMENTED ANCESTORS THAT FOUGHT FOR THE SOUTH. NONE OF THEM OWNED SLAVES. BUT THEY WOULD NOT KOWTOW TOO THE NAACP, THEN OR NOW. 12/19/01 I feel hate crimes are horrible. I also dont think we should have black discrimination. i feel as a white male that i am being discriminated against because why should black people have there own television network (bet)or why should they have a black miss america. they want to talk about discrimination well were the ones geting dicriminated against. im not racist but that is the way i feel. if white people had an all white station that would be considerd white supremisy and racist. they would complain were discriminating aginst them. the diffrence is when we dont get the same rights its ok. please email me back with your thoughts. 12/11/01 I AM BLACK AND I FEEL IF YOU ARE IGNORANT ENOUGH TO BURN GODS SAINTURARY THEN YOU ARE FULL OF THE DEVILS WORD WE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE IN A SENSE WE ALL HAVE EYES,EARS ETC SO WHAT MAKES ONE RACE BETTER THAN ANOTHER NOTHING BUT ITS MAKES CERTAIN PEOPLE IGNORANT TO DO THE TINGS THEY DO BECAUSE THEY DISLIKE A CERTAIN RACE YOU HAVE NO REASON TO DISLIKE BLACKS I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN NOT TO HATE BUT TO LOVE AND IF OTHERS DONT KNOW THAT THEN THERES NO HOPE YOU HAVE TO BELIVE IN GOD AND BELIVE HE FORGIVES AND LOVES US WASH AWAY YOUR SINS AND GIVE YOUR HEART TO GOD 12/6/01 Newport News, Virginia In response to the ignorant and obviously uneducated comments illustrated on 10/08/01 by Michael Ruckman of Pensacola, FL.: It is a shame that you have so much hatred built up in you that you try to make yourself feel superior by displaying a raw form of ethnocentricity. Your argument to prove that African Americans are the true culprits are filled with fallacies. The most obvious fallacy is the hasty generalizations that you have made in regards to the intelligence of a particular ethnic group. Sir, you should really examine what you have submitted for the world to read. Your response was not articulate at all. You could not even use correct terminology and spelling for words as simple as they're, their, and there. I would strongly encourage you to seek some form of higher education. Besides your apalling attitude, the fact of the matter is that we all need to get along because we all belong to one race:the human race. The hue of your skin does not make you better than anyone else. Hate crimes are wrong. It is time for it to end. I hope God blesses you and take that heart of stone that you have and turn it into a heart of flesh. Thank you! 12/6/01 Venessa Chandler,AZ I don't get why people judge on how they look or react with one another all the time.I'm really glad MLKJr. made all colors and religion's come 2gether. I know now what happened to Sept. 11th doesn't mean we have to be herassing people for what they didn't do. i hate when they do this always.the war better be over soon! 11/26/01 C.L.Gipson,Sr. Monroe,La. We have a race war on American soil generated by centuries of racial/ethnic and religious hatred.America has sown the winds of hatred and is reaping the whirlwind.It started on 9-11-2001.If this nation is to stand it must repent of its hatred or keep on reaping what it has sown!America has to deal with homegrown terrorists that it harbors within its borders.If we don't,America need not fear terrorists,but the Judgement of God. 11/26/01 Why do people think it is right to kill other people because of their race? Its not right, Some sports that i want to play i can't because im white. so how can this stop? 10/31/01 decatur,TN hate is a big problem where i come from. I am only 13 years old. im half black. and to alot of people aroundhere thats a big deal. i get harrased every day and called niggers and it really effects my everyday life. im not as good in school. my grades are failing. and even my friends are fading. but theres no one here to help becouse i live in the middle of the country with nothing but whites. and they all look at me like im nasty. now this kind of stuff should not be allowed. should it? 10/22/01 i think you are all sick to beleive what you believe it shows your narrow minded ness and ignorance 10/14/01 Terrell Mcmillan Sannon N.C Well we are all human. Many people say that they are christians; but are we really? You see I don't uderstand how the kkk can have so much hate for people that they held down for so many years. The kkk is mad with us but the real reason they are mad is because of the war within them selfs and not the war with color. You know it is time for us to pput the past in the past and learn about our real history. I mean what are we gaing from all this if we are really chistrians and alll of us loook fourth to the day we get to Heaven but we can't get alone hear on earth then how are we going to get into that mighty kingdom. KkK If you Know let me know because my bible tell me to love you brothers and sisters. 10/08/01 Michael Ruckman Pensacola, FL NOW I HOPE PBS COMES UP W/TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT SENSORED CRIME RATES IN THE U.S. FACT... BLACKS MURDERED WHITES AT A RATE OF 83%.. NATION WIDE LAST YEAR. YET BLACKS MAKE UP A LITTLE OF 13% OF THE U.S.POPULCAE. YOU HEAR ABOUT "HATE CRIME" WHEN A WHITE MURDERS A BLACK...I GUESS IT'S SO COMMON FOR BLACKS TO MURDER WHITES ON A REGULAR BASICS,IT'S NOT GIVEN A "CATCHY PHARSE".... SPEAKING OF FORGOTTEN BURNINGS .. HOW MANY CITIES HAVE BLACKS BURNED DOWN .. OPPS ...YOU SOMEHOW MISSED THAT ONE. "HOW CONVENIANT" DO A PBS SPECAIL ON "RACIST BREEDING HABITS".. THAT'S WERE ONE RACE TRIES TO "OVERCOME ANORTHER RACE BY ENCOURGING THERE 15 AND 16 YEARS WHO ARE TOO STUPID OR LAZY TO DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE WITH THERE LIVES..PRODUCE MORE STUPID, FILTHY,INDIVIDUAL IN ORDER FOR YOUR PERSONAL RACE TO "OVERCOME" ANOTHER...WHILE THAT ORTHER RACE FOOTS THE BILL. YOUR STATION DOS'NT HAVE THE GUTS TO PROCLAIM THE REALITY THAT IS REALLY GOING ON!! YOUR TOO AFFRAID ... 10/05/01 Ingwynon Morrison If you want a real measure of 'hate' crime, see the statistics on black - on - white crime . 08/30/01 Brian NY I would like to see a documentary on the Death Angels, the Nation of Islams militant faction who killed a total of 15 whites apiece for membership(as this pleases Allah). In the 1970's hundreds of whites were killed in unimiagineable ways. They were called the Zebra killings by cops of the time, this happened in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why is this information repressed? Why is the fact 90% of all interracial crime is directed AGAINST whites also repressed? The image of the evil heterosexual white male must be perpetuated at all costs, including truth. Just remember--when you read in the news "a gang of youths killed an 89 year old woman"...youths is the euphamism for non-white. Just a heads-up. Wake up white people. War was declared on you decades ago. 08/27/01 just an American any city, any town, USA How long have we been here on American soil, black and white, together, over 300 years? How long will it take us to learn to love each other, not tolerate each other? I know, I know. When they drop the bomb on this good ole USofA, then and only then will the color of ones skin not matter 'cause we won't have any. Peace and love my fellow Americans, believe it or not, we're all in this together. A Proud Negro, Colored, Black, African-American descendant of slaves. 08/13/01 jarrell pittsburgh So here it is the truth told,Those racist klan at it again.Let me make one point clear NOBODY EVER HATES WITHOUT A REASON!! Nobody hates because of skin color.I grew up in the south,and have been attacked twice by angry blacks.These young blacks were driven to violance by programs depicting white racist villians.Black people are 12% of Americas population,yet they attack whites almost 10 times as often as whites attack blacks.Face it,racism will not end until we get the media to be honest.Hey all you intelligent folks here's another puzzle if everybodys equal howcome blacks dominate basketball,did it ever occur to you that each race has its own gifts? Maybe there's mental differances too! So much for equality!!!!! Oh yea,one other thing with a population of 85% WHITE in America,what do you suppose the out come of a race war would mean to black/americans? If the media would stop encouraging anger in blacks,creating distrust,and dis-content,maybe all people could get along.Most white people's comments Ive read say things like 'I wish whites werent so evil'.I also believe that the majority of white America goes the extra mile to prove that there not racist.So enough with all this media racism.My granmother used to say the more you stir shit the worse it stinks! NUFFSAID! 08/13/01 jarrell pittsburgh So here it is the truth told,Those racist klan at it again.Let me make one point clear NOBODY EVER HATES WITHOUT A REASON!! Nobody hates because of skin color.I grew up in the south,and have been attacked twice by angry blacks.These young blacks were driven to violance by programs depicting white racist villians.Black people are 12% of Americas population,yet they attack whites almost 10 times as often as whites attack blacks.Face it,racism will not end until we get the media to be honest.Hey all you intelligent folks here's another puzzle if everybodys equal howcome blacks dominate basketball,did it ever occur to you that each race has its own gifts? Maybe there's mental differances too! So much for equality!!!!! 08/07/01 Its an utter shame that people today think that the colour of your skin makes a difference to the type of person you are. Racisim comes from mindless, scared, uneducated idiots and one day, like many others I hope that they will open their eyes. To my dissmay in my own country, England , the race war is growing and I pray for a day when people can feel comfort in themselves rather than persecute others who do not look like them. 07/05/01 Just one quick note about "hate crime" and "non-hate crime." I believe there should be no distinction made between the two categories. Both categories of crime are equally wrong. If a criminal murders another person, that criminal is wrong, period. It should not matter why a criminal murders another person: be it because the criminal hates white people or be it because the criminal has an obsession with killing little girls, the criminal is wrong. It is unfair for our society to give priority to one criminal case over another simply because the crime at question is what someone defines as "an act of hate." (This is beside the point, but how do you go about defining an "act of hate" anyway? Killing in itself is not an act of hate unless it is done to anger an entire group of people?) How can you tell a victim that his or her case is less important than another victim's case because the other victim was a victim of "an act of hate"? Assault is assault is assault, no matter what the reason for it. 07/05/01 eva ford I ask You Grand Dragon Horace King do you belive in GOD? Do you think that heaven is only for the white? GOD himself was not white!! Are YOU better then he is? What happens when you die and have to face him,rember we have to share ever lasting life with are brothers and sister for he made us all equal!! |