I think it is possible to dislike someone for the color of their WHITE skin (once again, you have chosen to only exemplify white racism, which I find interesting), without feeling superior, perhaps because of past unpleasant experiences, or maybe for some completely illogical reason which you and I cannot fathom. So yes–I am telling you that you can hate or fear someone without feeling superior. Your definition works for you, but it is only YOUR definition. As I have pointed out, there are other definitions which are just as valid.

As far as Wright and his church (of which I have a fair amount of knowledge actually), I understand that his church has many other messages, including positive, inclusive ones. But Wright is NOT his church.

I won’t argue with you about the influence of other churches in past elections, often helmed by equally controversial pastors, some of whom have had to publicly apologize for their verbal missteps. Those churches were often vigorously criticized by the MSM, but of course, now that the shoe is on the other foot . . .

And I don’t think Wright is such a little fish in this election.

This is not the only issue that I have with Obama. Nor is it the biggest issue for me. THere are a number of issues that bother me about his candidacy, but race is not one of them. I have issues with McCain, too, although politically I feel less uncomfortable with him. I wish we had better choices, but such is the nature of our system.

I can quote you my unabridged dictionary if you like, but there is a difference. If you go back to my post I said two things: feeling superior and feeling that a person is an “other.” If someone hates someone because of the color of their skin, that’s treating that person as “other” and presumably the person thinks white skin is better (superior) to black skin. If it was just a matter of ‘I prefer the color red over blue’ there wouldn’t be hating, right? I mean, why would someone hate somebody for their racial characteristics? Are you trying to tell me that someone who does hates someone for having Asian features or an accent isn’t because they think they, their features or whatever are not better?

OK, so you question Obama’s judgment despite that you have little knowledge of Wright and you’re not willing to give him a bit of a handicap for the whole nature of the church. Also, since Obama did attend the church for so long, surely his judgment in attending has manifested itself in what ways since he’s been a State senator and US Senator?

But here’s my concern: the James Dobsons, Pat Robertson, dead Jerry Falwells, Rod Parlseys, John Hagees, Rev. M0ons, et al. have tons of money and have influenced politics, funded numerous groups around the US, including lowly YouTubers who create smear videos and influence millions of people on TV, through universites, etc. They help fund groups like the Discovery Institute which then infiltrates (their goal) school boards, wasting peoples time and turning board meetings into miniature Scopes trials. Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers are little fish in a big pond of moneyed influence in politics. There’s no comparison.

Obama and Biden are the only candidates to stress separation of church and state, whereas with the Republicans, mentioning that phrase is like a death knell to their base. For over 20 years millions of people have watched nutso Pat Robertson on CBN TV (like sitting in a church sermon) and there were about 10 channels on my past cable devoted to all sorts of wackiness of a religious nature. And they’re pandered to. They visit the White House. Ted Haggard, meth-prostitute preacher, met with Bush on a number of occasions along with others.

So tell us why we should be worried about Obama’s judgment? I’m just wondering how with all the advisers, military people, et al. he’s surrounded himself with how this Rev Wright business translates into something to be concerned about that one should prefer McCain instead. I have some serious judgment issues with McCain, so…

The last word is yours. (:

I never defined racism, as I asked M. to do so when she stated that Wright was not a racist. I found it interesting the way she gave examples of racism, that’s all. She has clarified her point to me.

I probably would have defined racism a little differently and most likely would have given different examples.

You know, I use dictionaries too. And when I Google “definition of racism,” the first two definitions mention “prejudice or descrimination” based on race; this is a little different than the distinction you drew between racism and prejudice.

You have also chosen to define racism as believing that one race is superior to another. I believe that one can be racist in simply disliking or hating someone else based on their racial characteristics, without necessarily having to feel superior. I believe that it is probably racist to make any kind of judgement about a person that is based solely on their skin color; this does not necessarily involve feeling superior.

At the very least, most people would agree that Wright is anti-white. THere are a lot of people, black and white, who consider him racist. As far as vile, well, United States of KKK and God Damn America certainly pass my vile test.

I don’t think I have said that Obama believes what Wright believes or has the same feelings about whites that Wright does; nor do I think that he agrees with the views or tactics of Ayers. The fact that he so closely associated himself with so controversial a person (wright) for so long makes me and a lot of other people (including lots of scientists ) question his judgement.

Again, if this was McCain, intimately involved for over 20 years with a controversial white pastor widely regarded as racist and that McCain had referred to as his spiritual mentor, would this conversation be the same?

First of all, I use dictionaries. I didn’t say that blacks can’t be racist, but that would be rare in the US given the population of blacks. You have no evidence that Wright is racist and thinks blacks are superior to whites – he rails against the oppression and discrimination of black people. In that overplayed sermon, he railed about US govt actions as well which weren’t particularly new to hear, especially as he was quoting someone else along with his own ranting. I do think he has an ego, and he was stupid and thoughtless to rant again after all that press, but I do know how he thinks on some matters that I could agree with. I’m not sure what you considered “vile” exactly, but the main point is that I don’t see ANY degree of those kind of moments of Wright’s rubbing off on Obama’s words and actions. I DO see that it being a 5,000 member church in Chicago has a lot to do with membership. Good gospel music too.

Yu Mi, what about Biden’s law school problems? He plagiarized, received an F, admitted it, so what is there to say except that it was wrong to do? His constituents keep electing him despite. You don’t really want to get into tit-for-tat issues with McCain or Palin, do you? Because then you’re talking about stuff that had effects on other people.

BTW, rocket scientist for Obama! Put the YouTube url before this: /user/AVoteForScience

Actually, it’s lots of scientists. (I know, David D, you’ll have to convince all these scientists to fret over Rev Wright and Bill Ayers too. Clearly they must be out of their minds and lacking character to not recognize how Obama has been brainwashed. They must all be Marxists, ya know? They’re out to socialize the universe and Mars is just the beginning.)

(:

I am not arguing with Melusine’s definition. I am simply making an observation about what I perceive to be her views on the subject of racism, based on things that she said in that comment. My opinion has nothing to do with a straw man argument.

There are people who firmly believe that only white people are capable of racism. Perhaps Melusine is one of them–I do not know, and actually, neither do you.

Perhaps you should not try and speak for Melusine.