Comments on: Pat Buchanan on Barack Obama and the Reverend Wright’s Lack of “Gratitude” http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/ dissecting the craft of online politics and online advocacy Fri, 16 May 2008 02:35:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Jonathan Richardson http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-287095 Sat, 03 May 2008 05:37:48 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-287095 Over the years, I have witnessed numerous individuals and groups wield statistical data as a weapon to convince people that their (usually biased) stance is one supported by factual numbers. What I find amazing is how two differing groups (like Democrats and Republicans) speaking on one common topic can shape questions and extract data to support their polar opposite views. Depending on How, Who and When we Present, Ask and Collect data, it seems to fit neatly into to biased box containing the desired content of information which supports the view we wish the world to see. So I will not spend this whole article refuting Mr. Buchanan’s statistics with those of my own. Although I have little doubt that I could find a mountain of statistics which contradict his. First Mr. Buchanan, how can you decide or judge if America has been the best country on earth for Black folks? Have you ever been Black to know what we feel? It is ridiculous for you to make a statement like this when you are not able to know and feel the experience of being Black in America. Many Blacks have traveled to many other countries and found that the level of respect and acceptance of us as a people far exceeds that which we find within our American homeland borders. You speak as if growing from the 600,000 brought over on slave ships to 40 million was some kind of utopian milestone. We grew in numbers while here; What and How does that represent anything tangible towards your hypothesis that “America has been the best place on earth for Blacks”? While you talk about us multiplying to 40 million here, why don’t you include how White Americans (slave owners) helped grow our population by breeding us like cattle during slavery time? Do you really believe that you introduced Africans to Christianity? Acts 8:27-38 tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian (which by the way is an African my friend). Not only did Phillip expose him to Christ 1800 plus years before you generous White folks did to the slaves you brought over, but the Ethiopian was reading the scriptures of Esaias while in Jerusalem to worship. So while you think that Reverend Wright should get down on his knees and thank God that he is an American, maybe you should learn more about Biblical Scriptures. You ask, “Is White America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of White America”? You asked this question as if it is answered strictly by a simple yes or no reply. There are some people (no matter their race) who will commit crimes regardless of their Socioeconomic status, their access to quality education, or their family structure. But to think that racial prejudices, poverty, not having access to exceptional legal representation, attending under funded schools ect., does not contribute to this large disparity between Blacks and Whites is preposterous. It’s interesting how Mr. Buchanan has chosen to use his statistics. He talks about how the African-American community’s illegitimacy rate has reached 70 percent, But he does not touch on the fact that Black women are less likely to have an abortion than White women. How many White children who are counted as legitimate, are living with one parental figure which is not their biological parent? What is the illegitimacy rate of White Americans living in impoverished settings, such as trailer parks? If we just take these three factors into consideration, How much higher would White America’s illegitimacy rate be? If you factor in, The separating of African-American families during slavery, The historical reluctance to allow African-American men access to Family Supporting wage earning jobs and The financial aide system set up to encourage women to be alone with their children, you can see how illegitimacy rates might soar. Mr. Buchanan goes on about how Blacks commit more crimes against Whites than Whites commit against Blacks. Plainly stated, interracial crimes are a small percentage of overall crimes committed. Most crimes are committed by someone of one’s own race (White on White, Black on Black, Asian on Asian ect.). Now in touching the subject of interracial crimes such as rape (in which Mr. Buchanan states is 100 times more likely to happen Black on White, than White on Black), are we talking strictly convictions? Who doesn’t know that you are more likely to be convicted if you are a Black man accused of raping a White woman? Well, I guess it could be worse, we could still be getting hung just for looking at one (That’s another story though). Are you counting in that number, Public defenders who did not give adequate representation to their Black clients? Are you considering how many Black women do not come forward, believing that this judicial system will not diligently pursue justice in a case of a White man accused of raping a Black woman? You say that the Tawana Brawley and Duke rape cases were hoaxes. But you do not state that the reason there was so much energy behind these cases was the despicable past sexual criminal acts perpetrated towards African-American women by White men. Of course none of those cases would be on your statistical data sheet since those men were not convicted. So in your mind, no conviction, no stat huh? Life is more than manipulated stats and your nonsensical view of how glad someone should be living in America. Maybe you should take the time to really listen, maybe you would learn something to help you make a true and accurate assessment. This Article Is Part Of The Perspectives Series By Jonathan Richardson Author Of The Thought Provoking Book: The Complicated Life Of The African-American Man(What’s on his mind) Over the years, I have witnessed numerous individuals and groups wield statistical data as a weapon to convince people that their (usually biased) stance is one supported by factual numbers. What I find amazing is how two differing groups (like Democrats and Republicans) speaking on one common topic can shape questions and extract data to support their polar opposite views. Depending on How, Who and When we Present, Ask and Collect data, it seems to fit neatly into to biased box containing the desired content of information which supports the view we wish the world to see. So I will not spend this whole article refuting Mr. Buchanan’s statistics with those of my own. Although I have little doubt that I could find a mountain of statistics which contradict his.
First Mr. Buchanan, how can you decide or judge if America has been the best country on earth for Black folks? Have you ever been Black to know what we feel? It is ridiculous for you to make a statement like this when you are not able to know and feel the experience of being Black in America. Many Blacks have traveled to many other countries and found that the level of respect and acceptance of us as a people far exceeds that which we find within our American homeland borders.
You speak as if growing from the 600,000 brought over on slave ships to 40 million was some kind of utopian milestone. We grew in numbers while here; What and How does that represent anything tangible towards your hypothesis that “America has been the best place on earth for Blacks”? While you talk about us multiplying to 40 million here, why don’t you include how White Americans (slave owners) helped grow our population by breeding us like cattle during slavery time?
Do you really believe that you introduced Africans to Christianity? Acts 8:27-38 tells the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian (which by the way is an African my friend). Not only did Phillip expose him to Christ 1800 plus years before you generous White folks did to the slaves you brought over, but the Ethiopian was reading the scriptures of Esaias while in Jerusalem to worship. So while you think that Reverend Wright should get down on his knees and thank God that he is an American, maybe you should learn more about Biblical Scriptures.
You ask, “Is White America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of White America”? You asked this question as if it is answered strictly by a simple yes or no reply. There are some people (no matter their race) who will commit crimes regardless of their Socioeconomic status, their access to quality education, or their family structure. But to think that racial prejudices, poverty, not having access to exceptional legal representation, attending under funded schools ect., does not contribute to this large disparity between Blacks and Whites is preposterous.
It’s interesting how Mr. Buchanan has chosen to use his statistics. He talks about how the African-American community’s illegitimacy rate has reached 70 percent, But he does not touch on the fact that Black women are less likely to have an abortion than White women. How many White children who are counted as legitimate, are living with one parental figure which is not their biological parent? What is the illegitimacy rate of White Americans living in impoverished settings, such as trailer parks? If we just take these three factors into consideration, How much higher would White America’s illegitimacy rate be? If you factor in, The separating of African-American families during slavery, The historical reluctance to allow African-American men access to Family Supporting wage earning jobs and The financial aide system set up to encourage women to be alone with their children, you can see how illegitimacy rates might soar.
Mr. Buchanan goes on about how Blacks commit more crimes against Whites than Whites commit against Blacks. Plainly stated, interracial crimes are a small percentage of overall crimes committed. Most crimes are committed by someone of one’s own race (White on White, Black on Black, Asian on Asian ect.). Now in touching the subject of interracial crimes such as rape (in which Mr. Buchanan states is 100 times more likely to happen Black on White, than White on Black), are we talking strictly convictions? Who doesn’t know that you are more likely to be convicted if you are a Black man accused of raping a White woman? Well, I guess it could be worse, we could still be getting hung just for looking at one (That’s another story though). Are you counting in that number, Public defenders who did not give adequate representation to their Black clients? Are you considering how many Black women do not come forward, believing that this judicial system will not diligently pursue justice in a case of a White man accused of raping a Black woman? You say that the Tawana Brawley and Duke rape cases were hoaxes. But you do not state that the reason there was so much energy behind these cases was the despicable past sexual criminal acts perpetrated towards African-American women by White men. Of course none of those cases would be on your statistical data sheet since those men were not convicted. So in your mind, no conviction, no stat huh?
Life is more than manipulated stats and your nonsensical view of how glad someone should be living in America. Maybe you should take the time to really listen, maybe you would learn something to help you make a true and accurate assessment.

This Article Is Part Of The Perspectives Series
By Jonathan Richardson
Author Of The Thought Provoking Book: The Complicated Life Of The African-American Man(What’s on his mind)

]]> by: Pat Burchanon on Said that Black Americans should be Thankful for Slavery?—What Year is this Again? 2008?!! « Riveroflifelisajoy’s Weblog http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-280129 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:25:05 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-280129 [...] Pat Buchanan on Barack Obama and the Reverend Wright’s Lack of “Gratitude” [...] […] Pat Buchanan on Barack Obama and the Reverend Wright’s Lack of “Gratitude” […]

]]> by: Mahogany http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265998 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:59:04 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265998 I happened apon your article by chance and I'm so glad I did. It's witty, relatable, and was a pleasure to read! I happened apon your article by chance and I’m so glad I did. It’s witty, relatable, and was a pleasure to read!

]]> by: dannyb http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265780 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:54:54 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265780 Colin, Excellent article. I have long been a fan of your work. AnInterestedParty would do well to read the sober and dispassionate discussion of race by Shankar Vedantam in yesterday's Washington Post. Colin,
Excellent article. I have long been a fan of your work.

AnInterestedParty would do well to read the sober and dispassionate discussion of race by Shankar Vedantam in yesterday’s Washington Post.

]]> by: DrDigiPol http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265307 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:02:22 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265307 Well said, Colin. As for "Interested Party," I think you completely misunderstand what happened to George Allen. Yes, his comments were racist, but more than that his comments were bullying and mean spirited. Not to mention, they were his own words. As for Senator Obama "supporting" his pastor, this is neither an accurate description nor is this situation analogous. As for accuracy, attending services at one's place of worship is not "supporting" the preacher. Houses of worship are communities with far more to them than simply the sermons the preacher gives. I am sure many of us have belonged to congregations where we did not always agree with a sermon. As for your analogy, in order for it to carry weight both examples must be similar in all respects and dissimilar in none. George Allen made the racists remarks himself, on camera. Barack Obama did not make the remarks in question, the Reverend Wright made those. From a simple rule of the logic of analogies, there is none here. As for your claim that his comments were treasonous and seditious, I would hope your "interest" as an "interested party" extends to the First Amendment. Clearly, your comments do not reflect an understanding of it. Well said, Colin.

As for “Interested Party,” I think you completely misunderstand what happened to George Allen. Yes, his comments were racist, but more than that his comments were bullying and mean spirited. Not to mention, they were his own words.

As for Senator Obama “supporting” his pastor, this is neither an accurate description nor is this situation analogous.

As for accuracy, attending services at one’s place of worship is not “supporting” the preacher. Houses of worship are communities with far more to them than simply the sermons the preacher gives. I am sure many of us have belonged to congregations where we did not always agree with a sermon.

As for your analogy, in order for it to carry weight both examples must be similar in all respects and dissimilar in none. George Allen made the racists remarks himself, on camera. Barack Obama did not make the remarks in question, the Reverend Wright made those. From a simple rule of the logic of analogies, there is none here.

As for your claim that his comments were treasonous and seditious, I would hope your “interest” as an “interested party” extends to the First Amendment. Clearly, your comments do not reflect an understanding of it.

]]> by: An interested party http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265146 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:17:30 +0000 http://www.epolitics.com/2008/03/22/pat-buchanan-on-barack-obama-and-the-reverend-wrights-lack-of-gratitude/#comment-265146 I don't understand how George Allen's senatorial bid was torpedoed by the word "Macaca" and O'Bama gets a free pass when he has supported someone who, but for his church-related status, would be guity of treason and sedition. I don’t understand how George Allen’s senatorial bid was torpedoed by the word “Macaca” and O’Bama gets a free pass when he has supported someone who, but for his church-related status, would be guity of treason and sedition.

]]>