Obama has received more threats than any other president-elect, authorities say.

[Cry Havoc]

He said he was intrigued by the notion. You are simply saying it is true, therefore it is true, rather than explaining why it is true.

I think it is crazy. You go to Europe - Swedish people and Italians look different, speak a different language, have vastly different cultures, etc... Yet in America it is just assumed that white people=white.

But when it comes to notions of race and mixed-race, Europeans are generally flabbergasted by our focue on the notion of labelling someone based on skin color.

The problem is compartmentalization - people are individuals, and it seems that all sides continually re-inforce the notion of their allegiance to a racial, religious, or ethnic group in a way that forces them apart from their shared humanity with others.

I'm not entirely sure I agree with this. There have been numerous events in Europe that have shown Europeans to have LARGE racist contingents just like in America. The most notable reference I can think of:

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...798795,00.html

It's true that I first thought of the futbol world, where beer and the fan-based compe iveness may fuel such acts, but the fact remains that it is still there, and prevalent.

[v2freak]

lol, I'm glad I sparked some thought-provoking posts on Obama's ethnicity. I am just tired of all of this "first Black president" business; I don't think it has any place in the news. Why should it matter? Even if there were a few re s who voted or didn't vote for him because of his [perceived] skin color, it doesn't mean that his ethnicity should be counted along with his credentials.

Anyway, shame about the death threats. That's messed up.

[Spurminator]

I am just tired of all of this "first Black president" business; I don't think it has any place in the news. Why should it matter?

[v2freak]

Care to give more of an explanation than a picture please?

[samikeyp]

why did the dem go register new black voters so he would get elected
they knew the new black voters would vote for obama because he was black

the young new black voters got obama to be the president
and people who just wanted change even if it would be bad

The Dems have been working on getting black voters registered since '64.

[ducks]

The Dems have been working on getting black voters registered since '64.

much easier to actually get it done with a black candiate huh

[samikeyp]

So help me out here...I am a white guy how voted for Obama...am I racist or half-black?

[Spurminator]

Care to give more of an explanation than a picture please?

Not really.

[samikeyp]

much easier to actually get it done with a black candiate huh

No doubt but you insinuated that it was only done this time around and solely because of Obama.

I understand that you, much like Yonivore and others, are hoping to see Obama with a bullet in his head but while I do believe that people voted for (and against) Obama because of his race, there are people out there, black and white, who voted for him because they thought he was the best choice.

[Creepn]

Get real here, you all are trying to subs ute reality with knowledge.

If Barack Obama, BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA, was walking down the street as a regular joe and asked anybody, white, black, mexican, whoever, what his ethnicity was, NONE of them will say that he is a white guy. Over 90% would say he is a black man.

Black people in America is a mixed bunch for people of color, not just African Americans that gets thrown into that category so Barack Obama inlcuding myself are black folks.

Also if you wanna get legal about it, you determine your ethnicity by who your father is anyway.

[v2freak]

Maybe, but he isn't just a regular joe. Labeling yourself one race has political and social implications.

[Creepn]

Maybe, but he isn't just a regular joe. Labeling yourself one race has political and social implications.

Yeah now that hes not a regular joe, the majority of non-blacks are now like "Uh duuuuh I dont understand duuuh why black people claim him duuuuuuh".

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I am just tired of all of this "first Black president" business; I don't think it has any place in the news. Why should it matter?

The answer to this question is so extensive and complex, most people would rather just give you a clue and hope you figure out the rest (I.E. Spurminator)

First of all, I understand where you are coming from. In an ideal world, race shouldn't matter.

Reality however, is not ideal, and racial discrimination is very real. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the black minority of America feels better represented by a black man, someone that is more likely to have lived their discrimination first hand, than by a white man. It doesn't really matter if it turns out to be true, the fact of the matter is it happens. Its not about whether or not it SHOULD matter (it shouldn't), but that it does.

Plus, anyone that knows anything understood that if there ever was a black president, the issue of race is something that would be unavoidable, as indeed it was in this campaign.

Now, just knowing about the history of the US should be enough to make you understand how momentous an occasion we're living here. To have a black president elected just 50 some odd years removed from Brown v. Board of education?? That is light speed social evolution man! Its something to be extremely proud of. , I'm not American and I'm proud of your achievement as a fellow human being.

[Tully365]

As a news story or a sociological study, the election of Obama is interesting for many reasons. I'll give you one: the USA was behind the curve in terms of making slavery illegal-- countries like England and France made slavery illegal before the US did, and there are many examples of Europeans actually making fun of the American revolution and the jeffersonian concept of "freedom," calling it absurd and clueless for a country with legal slavery to be shouting loudly for freedom and the pursuit of happiness for all people, but then not counting people of color as actual people. So for this same country to elect a racially mixed leader at an earlier point in time than any of those European countries (especially those that were so influential to Jefferson's philosophies) is a very unique and surprising development in world history.

[Tully365]

, I'm not American and I'm proud of your achievement as a fellow human being.

This sums up another aspect of it. It has been a while since the entire earth has looked to the US as an undeniable leader and innovator... for a racially divided world, the election of a racially mixed person to the position of President of the United States is the most original thing that has happened since the original moon landing. Even avowed enemies have to shake their heads in wonder and admit that this election has dismissed many long-held criticisms of this country.

[Creepn]

The answer to this question is so extensive and complex, most people would rather just give you a clue and hope you figure out the rest (I.E. Spurminator)

First of all, I understand where you are coming from. In an ideal world, race shouldn't matter.

Reality however, is not ideal, and racial discrimination is very real. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the black minority of America feels better represented by a black man, someone that is more likely to have lived their discrimination first hand, than by a white man. It doesn't really matter if it turns out to be true, the fact of the matter is it happens. Its not about whether or not it SHOULD matter (it shouldn't), but that it does.

Plus, anyone that knows anything understood that if there ever was a black president, the issue of race is something that would be unavoidable, as indeed it was in this campaign.

Now, just knowing about the history of the US should be enough to make you understand how momentous an occasion we're living here. To have a black president elected just 50 some odd years removed from Brown v. Board of education?? That is light speed social evolution man! Its something to be extremely proud of. , I'm not American and I'm proud of your achievement as a fellow human being.

Wow your not even American and yet you have a better understanding about this more than most Americans I know. Good Post.

[florige]

I don't know. I'm obviously some kind of masochist, because some of these threads get me so pissed off I have to back away from my computer.
..... and I'm not a dude. Not that it matters.

I actually thought about that after I sent it.... Sorry.

[jman3000]

nm

[smeagol]

I've been saying ducks is an idiot for the longest time.

Nice to see others catching up with the program . . .

[smeagol]

much easier to actually get it done with a black candiate huh

So ducks, what's your ethnic background? You are clearly not black. Are you white? Latino?

[Jelly]

I actually thought about that after I sent it.... Sorry.

no worries

[Jelly]

The answer to this question is so extensive and complex, most people would rather just give you a clue and hope you figure out the rest (I.E. Spurminator)

First of all, I understand where you are coming from. In an ideal world, race shouldn't matter.

Reality however, is not ideal, and racial discrimination is very real. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the black minority of America feels better represented by a black man, someone that is more likely to have lived their discrimination first hand, than by a white man. It doesn't really matter if it turns out to be true, the fact of the matter is it happens. Its not about whether or not it SHOULD matter (it shouldn't), but that it does.

.

Manumaniac, you get more and more logical as the years go by. You are becoming the voice of reason at Spurstalk

[v2freak]

The answer to this question is so extensive and complex, most people would rather just give you a clue and hope you figure out the rest (I.E. Spurminator)

First of all, I understand where you are coming from. In an ideal world, race shouldn't matter.

Reality however, is not ideal, and racial discrimination is very real. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the black minority of America feels better represented by a black man, someone that is more likely to have lived their discrimination first hand, than by a white man. It doesn't really matter if it turns out to be true, the fact of the matter is it happens. Its not about whether or not it SHOULD matter (it shouldn't), but that it does.

Plus, anyone that knows anything understood that if there ever was a black president, the issue of race is something that would be unavoidable, as indeed it was in this campaign.

Now, just knowing about the history of the US should be enough to make you understand how momentous an occasion we're living here. To have a black president elected just 50 some odd years removed from Brown v. Board of education?? That is light speed social evolution man! Its something to be extremely proud of. , I'm not American and I'm proud of your achievement as a fellow human being.

Thank you. I understand the situation a bit better now.


However, I am not quite as impressed as you are. The fact remains that many either voted or did not vote for him simply because of his race. This is nothing short of re ed.

[ClingingMars]

he did play the race card, but politicians don't deserve death threats. especially our President Elect. that's simply going to get you in jail. it's stupid and pointless. if you disagree with him like me, fine, but he's our President, so we gotta deal with what we got. There will be no "He's not my President" bull from me, ala GWB.

-Mars

[Creepn]

When exactly did Obama play the race card?