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Starve the hate machine.
Author: Raine    Date: 07/22/2010 12:25:53

I am not going to post a very long blog today. I am fairly sure that there is nothing more I could add to this Shirley Sherrod story. I have posted many times on how I feel about race relations in this country, but today I read and interview Media Matters did with Ms. Sherrod and one paragraph in particular took my breath away:
"I think they should but they won't. They intended exactly what they did. They were looking for the result they got yesterday," she said of Fox. "I am just a pawn. I was just here. They are after a bigger thing, they would love to take us back to where we were many years ago. Back to where black people were looking down, not looking white folks in the face, not being able to compete for a job out there and not be a whole person."
This woman, knows of what she speaks. Her father was murdered in a racially motivated crime in 1965 and the all white jury refused to prosecute. Instead of crumbling, she chose a life of civil activism. She helped people do better in their lives.

Now she is unemployed, and the monsters at Fox (and all those that represent by association) are asking her for an interview to 'better understand' her side of the story. She has refused, and they don't understand why.

It's insulting. It's disgusting. It's hateful and it is exactly what Fox News wants. They did it with Acorn, Van Jones, the Reverend Wright and they tried to do it with Michelle Obama and the 'Whitey Tape'. They are still trying to do it with the black panther nontroversy. Glenn Beck fans the hate on a regular basis, as does Rush Limbaugh. It's divisive and dangerous.

It makes us a less tolerant society. It divides us. I don't know what the teachable moment is here. A woman's life is forever altered because of hateful smear merchants. It's not like this is a new story. It's just been repackaged and resold.

The Right Wing wants division. It wants to hurt people. It thrives on this stuff. It keeps the hate machine alive. Stop feeding the machine. They profit off of hate, bigotry, misogyny and racism.

There is a lot of blame to go around regarding this incident, there is no question about that, but it is time for everyone on the right and the left to stop allowing hate merchants to control the message. People -- real people with families and loved ones get seriously hurt.

When you hurt my sister, you hurt me.

and
Raine




 

33 comments (Latest Comment: 07/23/2010 00:38:03 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 12:40:27
Morning



Any chance this is that one step too far for Fox? Personally I doubt it, they are gonna pull back and maybe look contrite but they are gonna be back at it in no time. Outside of not watching it myself and trying to convince others of the harmful message they send (a tough case to make with people who aren't as media savvy as they think) how do we quash them and hold up the freedom of speech? I don't say freedom of the press cause press as I learned it is something they 90% are not.

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 13:14:53
Morning, comrades!



I don't understand how this is not illegal; there should be talk of suing the pants off Fux and Breitbart right now.





Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 13:15:19
I would like to believe it is one step too far.



I think it might be time to protest in front of Fox news again.

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 13:17:53
Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades!



I don't understand how this is not illegal; there should be talk of suing the pants off Fux and Breitbart right now.





There is talk. Ms. Sherrod has said she is mulling over a number of lawsuits, including the federal government.



Vilsack apologized, but the damage is done. I know if I were in that position, I would be suing, no question about it.



PErhaps this might actually get people thinking about the fairness doctrine again. I do not fault the White house for this, I fault the media and the USDA for not even bothering to talk to Sherrod about this before they made the choice to fire her.







Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 13:23:43
Quote by Raine:

Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades!



I don't understand how this is not illegal; there should be talk of suing the pants off Fux and Breitbart right now.





There is talk. Ms. Sherrod has said she is mulling over a number of lawsuits, including the federal government.



Vilsack apologized, but the damage is done. I know if I were in that position, I would be suing, no question about it.



PErhaps this might actually get people thinking about the fairness doctrine again. I do not fault the White house for this, I fault the media and the USDA for not even bothering to talk to Sherrod about this before they made the choice to fire her.







She could sure the Fed for unlawful job seperation; she should sue FOX and Breitbart for slander/defamation of character, etc...

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 13:32:32
HOLY FRUCK. Andrew Brietbart was the victim here?





Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 13:42:22
I'd love to see Fox in a courtroom.



And yes, maybe there will be some stirrings about the fairness doctrine again. But the sainted Reagan overturned that, yes?



Somedays I still think secession is the only real hope to get things back to right.





Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 13:50:47
Fox gets away with it because we didn't cut off the head of the beast 20 years ago.

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 14:06:47
Hey DC folks...is there a "route 19" and a "route 4" locally?



Listening to an old Superman podcast (circa 1941) and they have referenced these roads.





Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 14:15:09
Quote by TriSec:

Hey DC folks...is there a "route 19" and a "route 4" locally?



Listening to an old Superman podcast (circa 1941) and they have referenced these roads.





still trying to learn the major roads

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 14:15:37




I post without comment. I refuse from here on in to debate with someone who get their news from Fox and tries to use fox as truth.





Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 14:21:37
Quote by TriSec:

Hey DC folks...is there a "route 19" and a "route 4" locally?



Listening to an old Superman podcast (circa 1941) and they have referenced these roads.









I know of a Rte 15 but no 19 or 4



*** googles Rte19 it looks like (according to the Wiki) that its in the southern part of the state

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 14:23:09
Quote by BobR:



still trying to learn the major roads






*snort* I said that to a local at Colonial Williamsburg once...



"I'm from Boston - your straight streets and orderly place names confuse me."



(For example...each borough of Boston has a "Washington Street" and they are all different roads.)



Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 14:33:57
Quote by TriSec:

Quote by BobR:



still trying to learn the major roads






*snort* I said that to a local at Colonial Williamsburg once...



"I'm from Boston - your straight streets and orderly place names confuse me."



(For example...each borough of Boston has a "Washington Street" and they are all different roads.)



Plenty of "Washington"s here too. In Atlanta, it was "Peachtree"

Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 14:37:07
It's Craig --hnhnhnhnh-- Crawford

Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 14:41:44
Quote by BobR:

Quote by TriSec:

Quote by BobR:



still trying to learn the major roads






*snort* I said that to a local at Colonial Williamsburg once...



"I'm from Boston - your straight streets and orderly place names confuse me."



(For example...each borough of Boston has a "Washington Street" and they are all different roads.)



Plenty of "Washington"s here too. In Atlanta, it was "Peachtree"






I've never noticed any "washington"s except for Washington Blvd. I get confused when people switch between the names and the rte numbers.

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 14:48:47
Amen to Kevin in DC!

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 15:04:44
Don't get me started on the great "Route 128 / 95 Debate".



I don't recall how long ago it was...the state de-certified state route 128 in favor of the name I-95. (That's Boston's "beltway".)



The locals never took to the name....even the traffic reporters still call it 128. Eventually, the state put some of the signs back up.



It's also well-known for the reverse concurrency where a portion of the road is Route 128 North, Route 3 North, Route 93 South, and Route 1 South, all at the same time. The road itself is roughly aligned East/West in this stretch.





Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 15:06:42
Oh, and if you're traveling on "Four Freedoms Boulevard", and it's a North-South road, would the far northern reaches be called "North Four Freedoms Boulevard"?



Or if it was East-West, would the parallel road to the north bear that name.



(See Beacon / North Beacon street through Brighton, and Main St. / North Main St. through Melrose / Wakefield for an example of each.)





Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 15:33:51
All this discussion of "racism" makes me wonder if we're using the correct term:



Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.



Bigotry: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 15:39:06
Hmm....



I'd have to concede that the term should be "bigotry".



Of course, I'm an anti-republican bigot in most regards. But Race? Aren't we all the same species here?



(And what makes us so superior to say, whales, or dolphins? Now there's racism for ya.)



Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 15:52:21
that always sounds like the Swedish Chef to me

Comment by livingonli on 07/22/2010 16:06:41
Good day everyone.



After I came home last night, I spent some time playing with the cat so I still went to bed late. I still want to see Breitbart and Fox News ruined by a libel suit. I want no one outside the stupid knuckle draggers (since they don't have sense) to finally declare that Fox is not a credible news source.

Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 16:07:19
Quote by BobR:

All this discussion of "racism" makes me wonder if we're using the correct term:



Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.



Bigotry: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.


As I said n the blog:
They profit off of hate, bigotry, misogyny and racism.




I see what you are saying, but I think that people are profiting off of the intolerance.



I have tried, and perhaps failed, to make it clear the difference between a bigot and a racist.



There is good reason to use BOTH terms. I would suggest using the word Misogyny as well. These are separate things, they have separate meanings. This is all tied together.



Comment by Raine on 07/22/2010 16:10:40
Quote by Raine:

Quote by BobR:

All this discussion of "racism" makes me wonder if we're using the correct term:



Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.



Bigotry: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.


As I said n the blog:
They profit off of hate, bigotry, misogyny and racism.




I see what you are saying, but I think that people are profiting off of the intolerance.



I have tried, and perhaps failed, to make it clear the difference between a bigot and a racist.



There is good reason to use BOTH terms. I would suggest using the word Misogyny as well. These are separate things, they have separate meanings. This is all tied together.





HATE

Bigotry

Racism Misogyny





This is the pyramid that I see. Shit rolls downhill.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 16:19:23
it all boils down to just ugliness

Comment by livingonli on 07/22/2010 16:21:52
I liked how Rachel pointed that all the Obama "scandals" and other crappage that they have done have all focused on black people. It would certainly show that Fox is racist.

Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 16:36:48
Quote by Raine:

Quote by BobR:

All this discussion of "racism" makes me wonder if we're using the correct term:



Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.



Bigotry: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.


As I said n the blog:
They profit off of hate, bigotry, misogyny and racism.




I see what you are saying, but I think that people are profiting off of the intolerance.



I have tried, and perhaps failed, to make it clear the difference between a bigot and a racist.



There is good reason to use BOTH terms. I would suggest using the word Misogyny as well. These are separate things, they have separate meanings. This is all tied together.



I was referring to the ongoing discussions in the media, not the blog, but point taken.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 07/22/2010 16:56:18
Good afternoon, bloggers!!



Raine, I enjoyed the blog but I hate for the need to write it. There is so much bigotry in our political discourse that I am ashamed of it.



Yet, I think that moments like this give us a chance to condemn the vile rhetoric around us. I doubt that anything can be done to make Fox News and Breitbart to mend their ways. However, we may see more people turn away from them as their real faces are exposed at last.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/22/2010 16:58:46
well, more chores and paintings to work on - I'll talk to everyone later

Comment by TriSec on 07/22/2010 17:26:53
Av-dorkiness for the day...



Wiley Post completed the first solo round-the-world flight on this date in 1933. I trust the Washington contingent is taking care of his plane? (Winnie Mae, at the Udvar-Hazy center....the NASM has Amelia's plane instead.)



And we've got jets screaming low over the building right now, the wind has shifted. I still need to get some videos of the GE-engined jets for the union boys up in Lynn. (My brother builds 'em.)





Comment by BobR on 07/22/2010 17:35:29
Quote by TriSec:

Av-dorkiness for the day...



Wiley Post completed the first solo round-the-world flight on this date in 1933. I trust the Washington contingent is taking care of his plane? (Winnie Mae, at the Udvar-Hazy center....the NASM has Amelia's plane instead.)



And we've got jets screaming low over the building right now, the wind has shifted. I still need to get some videos of the GE-engined jets for the union boys up in Lynn. (My brother builds 'em.)





I still need to get to the Udvar-Hazy center... I work just down the street from it!

Comment by TriSec on 07/23/2010 00:38:03
You guys that don't live in Boston...you don't know how lucky you are to not have our Ass Transit System. (typo intentional.)