i understand that you might think i am portraying whiteness in a negative light. but really i am not trying to be "anti-white" or "racist". its difficult to discuss certain issues (such as gentrification) without involving race because really the issues regarding race are deeply rooted in most aspects of america's history. so i apologize if i have come across that way, but i do not apologize for acknowledging the issue of race. as far as being color blind is concerned, i do believe that everyone is equal, i just know for a fact that everyone is not treated equally based on their race. as an african-american who has a darker complexion i am affected by my skin color daily. my goal is not to lash out at 'white people' or to label anyone as racist, but only to point out that there are inequalities in our system of government and that many of them have to do, or are deeply rooted in racial issues. i think that colorblindness implies that we ignore the inequalities that occur because of our racial differences and instead see people in our own eyes as equal. at least thats what i think the word implies . and maybe that's not what you meant. so that could be a misinterpretation on my behalf and your behalf. i totally agree that color does not make anyone better or worse and that all people ARE equal. but i also know that they are not always treated as such in our society and i think that treating people equally AND seeing every one's color as equal rather than not seeing their color at all has a more positive affect and is going a step further than what "color blindness" to me infers. brown tan white... the colors are all just as beautiful.. i think recognizing that is important. not being blind to our differences but instead celebrating them and taking action to make sure that we see AND treat people equally.

i never said that 'you can only be a racist if you are in the majority'. what i did differentiate however, was that if you are in a position of privilege, and i believe the example was the white jury in the oj simpson post, that if your exercise your power based on stereotypes, that would be classified as racist. these are more 'technical terms'. if a person of color were to act a certain way or say something to a white person, because in this society the term 'white' carries a certain privilege with it, it would be called prejudice instead of racist. there are many cases where white people are attacked because of stereotypes or prejudices.. but overall, there isn't as much impact on the majority because of those prejudices as there is on the minorities. that is not to say that it is any worse to treat someone differently on either side, but there are different overall affects and therefore different terms. that's all i was trying to say. i dont think the terms are that important though, as i stated before i was meaning to point out the privilege and power issue that came along with the issue of race in the oj simpson case

lastly, about the gentrification post, what i wrote about is what i saw in my own neighborhood. clearly gentrification is not a black and white issue hence, i said (mostly) upper-middle class whites were moving into my neighborhood. i didn't say anything about white people being bad.. i was only saying that i saw gentrification as unequal and unfair and that i saw race and economics as being very intertwined. i appreciate you taking time to address this.. race is a hard topic to discuss because there are many perspectives and many opinions regarding race and race relations. i am only writing to what i see, and what i have experienced. in no way do i mean to demean any race, any person. so this is why i am taking the time to explain what i meant if it came across in that way to you. but i won't deny the problems that exist. and my hope is that we (being youth/bloggers/people in general) can find a way to work towards better race relations as well as the many other issues that we may be passionate about.

I would be interested to see some more blogs from you, it would be easier to see your side of the argument that way I think.

Mr. S. Thank You for stoutly presenting the other side on PSO. If we only had one viewpoint there wouldn't be much to talk about.

I think that it would be cool if you did a post talking about what true conservatism is. I recently read a the book "Conservatise Me." The author slips my mind, but esentially he goes "conservative" for a month while exploring the true meaning of conservative. In a nutshell, he finds out that there are a lot of definitions and that those of us on the left side of the spectrum may not realize this.

Keep posting and please help us bring some more right thinking individuals to the table to keep the conversations going.

I thought about it but my original intentions to argument were not to leave opinions on impressionable minds, although this notion is something I cherish; it was simply to entertain myself. Yet I do realize that underneath all teenage insecurity there are those individuals that take light in unfavorable logical opinions and regard them as their own over time

Those individuals are the mature and responsible youth of century. Sure, I may preach compromising words to the general population of teens but it doesn't teach them much since they are malleable and bound to forget logic to focus on new "popular" ideas. It seems like a lost cause in my eyes.

Leigh

Hey Mr. S.,
I was just wondering what news sources you read? (Like what newspaper/blog/radio) You always keep the conversations interesting, even when I don't agree with you. Thanks!

Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the fact that you voice your opinions on a very liberal website, your alternate point of view is very valuable.

Welcome to PSO. Happy to see you've already been an active member in the first few hours of membership. Keep it up!