Will Smith

[Tim Elston]

Plain and simple, it could have been asked "Why does it surprise you?" The color part could have been left off.

Yes, but if he was wondering whether it had to do with color, then asking whether it had to do with color was an appropriate way to get an answer. Was it wrong to wonder? If not, was it wrong to ask?

Not that any of this really matters to us that much, I suspect. It's nice to talk about it together, though.

[Dr. Ron]

Tim,
Actually I must not be communicating very well.

To mention ethnicity at all, is racism......we are all God's children. I don't give a rip about color. I think personlly it is a conspiracy to keep people divided.

My church has a good number of black, hispanic, and a couple that I dont' have a clue. I don't care. People are people.

A man is a man....a woman is a woman.....it's really that simple to me. I don't get this "racism" talk we are being acused of. FQ attends my church and I KNOW he is not racist......

As for Will Smith. He is a mediocre actor. I have seen several of his movies and it's just the same old guy in a different scenario.....but hey, it worked for Elvis and Tom Cruise.....so why not....kinda like Eddie Murphy. But if Will has that kind of parenting skills, then I might just go see another of his Will Smith does.....??????

Anyway, I hope the simmering pot of racism cools down.....I am tired of it all.

[Paully_44]

But if Will has that kind of parenting skills, then I might just go see another of his Will Smith does.....??????

.

Seven Pounds is his latest that comes out next month. Looks interesting to me.

[Brian]

here's a guy who is a member of an opressed minority group who "gets it,"

I suppose the evil "opressor" in none other than mean ol' whitey huh?

I'm sorry I just don't get it. I will be the first one to argue that it most certainly has been a long and hard road for many minorities but we have just placed a black man in the highest office in the land and possible the entire world and here we are again with a constant insinuation that the black man is opressed and held under. It isn't gonna fly anymore with me. Sorry, it can't work like that. You can't gain THAT KIND of stature and still cry fowl about the illusion of being an opressed people.

[Pastor Gary]

To mention ethnicity at all, is racism......we are all God's children. I don't give a rip about color. I think personlly it is a conspiracy to keep people divided.

I understand. And I disagree.
Racial awareness does not equate to racism. Knowing that a person is more likely to be susceptible to sickle cell anemia because of their racial heritage is not racism -- it is god medical practice.

Omitting racial characteristics in a news report describing a crime suspect is politically correct stupidity, IMHO, and makes no sense. If a suspect is, for instance, a 5'10" light complected, heavyset female with long blonde hair, all of those elements of her description are pertinent -- including those that reveal that she is not black, asian or hispanic.

Noticing differences in skin color, hair texture or body characteristics is normal awareness and is not racism. Period.

We had a young Air Force guy call my cell Sunday morning. He was looking for the church meeting location and was lost. I gave him a major landmark, told him to wait there, and asked for a description so I could send some marines to come get him. Should I have told them "He is 6'4" and thin" without mentioning "He is a 6'4", thin black guy."?

[N.T. Wright Fan]

Racial awareness does not equate to racism...Noticing differences in skin color, hair texture or body characteristics is normal awareness and is not racism. Period.

I agree with you, brother.

A great example of this would be Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan. In fact, I wonder whether, in contexualizing this story here in the deep South, we ought to use a black person in place of the Samaritan. I suspect this might be greeted by some in my Sunday school class with wailing and gnashing of teeth -- a good thing, in my opinion.

[Dr. Ron]

Man, I just don't seem to be able to communicate properly on this subject.

Of course I understand that there are times when describing something you use every resourse available to you.

All I am saying is that to make an issue of the race in making statements like "he is our first black president" is a racist statement....by either of the sides of the issue.

We don't say "he is our 43rd white president". We just give him a chronological number and let it go.

I just don't get into the description thing....outside of PG's illustration. There just is no point in it.

Re-watch "Guess who's coming to dinner"

[MrDanger]

that "there is a tendency for conservatives to associate black liberals with a welfare mentality"

That is a racist mentality. NT Fan was accusingly questioning whether or not FQ was viewing it that way.

This was a cheap shot on FQ to even presume that he might have these views. If not a cheap shot, then a poorly worded question from someone that has heretofore (sounds highly intelligent to type something like heretofore) come across as congenial (I'm on a roll with big words) and purty smart (dang it....I blew it at the end).

[N.T. Wright Fan]

that "there is a tendency for conservatives to associate black liberals with a welfare mentality"

That is a racist mentality. NT Fan was accusingly questioning whether or not FQ was viewing it that way.

This was a cheap shot on FQ to even presume that he might have these views. If not a cheap shot, then a poorly worded question from someone that has heretofore (sounds highly intelligent to type something like heretofore) come across as congenial (I'm on a roll with big words) and purty smart (dang it....I blew it at the end).

MrDanger:

Those are not my words, but those of Tim Elston.

I basically agree with them, although I think it would probably be more accurate to say "there is a tendency for conservatives to associate black people [not black liberals] with a welfare mentality."

The operative word is tendency. Not all conservatives believe that way, but many do. I have seen similar sentiments expressed elsewhere on this forum.

Uneducated blacks living on welfare in the inner city...couldn't care less who's in charge as long as they keep getting their bi-weekly check...[Obama] can't favor blacks over any other ethnic group in this country, and that's gonna tick them off.

I did not presume that FullQuiver was "racist," but wondered aloud whether he found it surpising that Will Smith expressed such conservative-sounding opinions because of his race. Parenthetically, I would also add that if FullQuiver had felt that way, it would not necessarily be indicative of racism.

[MrDanger]

I accept your paranthetical statement (and raise you one)

[N.T. Wright Fan]

I accept your paranthetical statement (and raise you one)

I fold

[MrDanger]

[Full Quiver]