Call me insensitive, but...

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I hate February.  For the next 28 days, we're forced to endure a steady bombardment of over-the-top praise for every marginally relevant black man or woman who ever graced us with his/her existence.  It's time for Black History Month (where's the barf smiley when you need him?)

I don't have a problem recognizing people for great achievements.  I don't care if they're black, white, or purple.  But this Black History Month exists solely for the purpose of dredging up every two-bit, almost noteworthy historical Black man/woman who ever lived, and heaping scads of praise and adulation on his or her "great achievement." 

That it's a scam should be self-evident.  If these so-called "great Americans" and their so-called "great achievements" really were great, then we wouldn't need a special month to highlight them.  They'd be celebrated without imposing a special scam-month upon the population, because they really are that noteworthy.

As evidence, I cite this "Black History Quiz", prominently highlighted as the marquee story on Yahoo's main page:
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/60468/the-buzz-black-history-quiz

In it, the reader is probed about his knowledge of such notable African Americans as (drum roll...) Bessie Coleman, Athena Gibson, Romare Beardon, Jacob Lawrence...  Raise your hand if you know anything about any of these people.  I'm sure they were all nice people and I don't mean to disparage any of them.  But let's be honest, do any of them deserve major public celebration?

There are black people worth celebrating.  No Black History Month is necessary to tell everyone how great an American Martin Luther King Jr was.  The relevance of his achievements and contributions are self evident.  Thurgood Marshall and George Washington Carver are familiar names to anyone who's been educated, not because of some phony Black History Month, but because these men and their achievements really are worth remembering.

Sorry for being a grump, but I really hate this sort of social propaganda.  I ditched my TV especially so I could avoid this tripe, yet I'm still not able to escape it.  This is only day one, and already its managed to penetrate into my life.   

[Perd Hapley]

Don't call me, Headless One.  I'm already right there with you.  Pass the air sickness bags, please. 

[Twycross]

I'll respect black history month when we have white history month. No, wait. Then I'll just have two months to dislike. 

Ever find it ironic that the modern-day champions of 'tolerance and diversity' still can't get past judging people by their skin color?

[Perd Hapley]

I'll respect black history month when we have white history month. No, wait. Then I'll just have two months to dislike. 

Ever find it ironic that the modern-day champions of 'tolerance and diversity' still can't get past judging people by their skin color?

Yes.  Yes I have.  Every time I hear that Condoleeza Rice isn't Black and "doesn't represent us." 

[SpookyPistolero]

Ditto the barf icon. This crap has made me sick since I was a wee lad. Where's white history month? Or 'asian-american' history month? Do you want an award because of your skin color? Super duper, here's an "I try my best!" ribbon. Wear it with pride. 

Make an objective change or contribution and I'll be first in line to give it a word of praise, be they a white guy or a purple woman with a conjoined fetus attached to her head.

[CAnnoneer]

Just one example of overcompensation: liberal "white guilt" on the one side, and a horrible deeply-rooted black inferiority complex on the other. It would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

Have you also noticed how they sneak in the occasional black person in medieval movies, especially directed to kids? Let's sacrifice common sense at the altar of raised "inclusiveness coefficient".

[Sindawe]

Geezzz.... Whats with all you guys wearing bed sheets as dresses and pillow cases on your heads? : neener :

It's time for Black History Month...

It is?  Wow, I had not noticed.  February for me is when I start checking out the buds on the trees for signs of activity, and making plans for the years garden.  Two years ago it was wildflowers.  Last year was psychoatives.  I think I may try heirloom veggies this year.

[Strings]

ok, you're insensitive. Do I win a cupie doll?

 You're also correct: some in society seem REALLY eager to plant people in pidgeon holes, neatly categorizing them. I asked a liberal once if maybe we should all get a code tattooed on our arms, that lets people know what "hole" we fit in. I could be a 5-2-4-6-00 (white-male-pagan-gun owning-libertarian). The we could just congregate with our own "types"...

 Needless to say, the aforementioned lib was NOT happy with the suggestion...

[The Rabbi]

You're obviously a racist.

If they're really going to celebrate something, why not Black Achievement Month, highlighting individuals who rose above circumstance to make great achievements.  And it is true that prior to the 1960s Blacks had a difficult time because of institionalized racism.
Of course if anyone did that, it would tend to discredit the idea that "black people dont have a chance in this country", which is the bedrock of current liberalism.

[Standing Wolf]

On the proverbial "bright side," March is National Forest Products Month.

[The Rabbi]

On the proverbial "bright side," March is National Forest Products Month.

I didnt know forest products were a minority....

[Perd Hapley]

Of course they are, Rabbi.  Don't you know Haliburton's cutting down all the trees? 

[The Rabbi]

Of course they are, Rabbi.  Don't you know Haliburton's cutting down all the trees? 

Of course.  Halliburton is owned by Dick Cheney and he is trying to eliminate trees and just leave Bushes.  It's all Bush's fault.

[Strings]

ummm... April is Child Abuse Awareness month...

[MechAg94]

I disagree with all of you.  I hate purple people.  Power to the one eyed, one horned, flying purple-people eaters.  May they all be eaten.   

[Mabs2]

Wait a minute?  Purple people?  You gotta draw the line somewhere.  SCREW purple people.
Unless they're suffocating, then help them.

[crt360]

I'll be celebrating gun month.  For some reason, February seems to be the month in which I do most of my non-hunting, recreational shooting. 

[glockfan.45]

I agree with the OP 100%. I think one of the biggest sources of racism today comes from the public education system. Beating the virtues of one race over another into students heads for an entire month does no good in the end and likely causes resentment. IMO there should be no black history month,NAACP,black only colleges or any other race based organization. People are people and should be judged/treated according to their merits not skin color.

[The Rabbi]

I dont have a problem with Black-only colleges (as long as they arent getting gov't support).
But I agree that a lot of "racism" is perpetuated by people with a stake in seeing it perpetuated.  I'd like to see states and Fed gov't stop asking for racial classifications on docs.  I see that on the Form 4473 and it drives me nuts: what darn difference does it make what color the buyer is?  You can't even opt out of it.

[Brad Johnson]

I disagree with all of you.  I hate purple people.  Power to the one eyed, one horned, flying purple-people eaters.  May they all be eaten.

Maybe they only need one of Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills.

Brad

[Matthew Carberry]

I dont have a problem with Black-only colleges (as long as they arent getting gov't support).
But I agree that a lot of "racism" is perpetuated by people with a stake in seeing it perpetuated.  I'd like to see states and Fed gov't stop asking for racial classifications on docs.  I see that on the Form 4473 and it drives me nuts: what darn difference does it make what color the buyer is?  You can't even opt out of it.

We have to collect race and sex data on mortgage loan applications so that the .gov can make sure we are not being discriminate in our lending.  But giving us the information is voluntary.

The punchline?

If they won't tell me, I have to, based solely on appearance and last name... guess what they are. 

I'm so glad the government collects information so scientifically. 

[Tallpine]

I see that on the Form 4473 and it drives me nuts: what darn difference does it make what color the buyer is?

Well, if there was another "The Rabbi" who was black and a convicted felon, you might not want to be confused with him.

(I've seen your picture and I know you're not black)

[slzy]

i am not making this up: there once was a black history poster that proclaimed Beethoven was black. even the black folks got a kick outta that.

[JonnyB]

My dad once received a Bible as a door prize for a (union) meeting he attended. It had a Bright red leather cover. Being a conservative (but not politically) Baptist, he thought red a bit over the top for a Bible cover. He asked if he could instead get a black one.

A week or so later, a package arrived at home. Inside was a bright red Bible. Inside that, though, were illustrations of black (as in Negroid) characters. Who'd a' thunk? I didn't know the middle east was populated by blacks.

jb

[Perd Hapley]

Maybe they only need one of Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills.

Oh, shoot.  Ray Stevens?    

That Black Jesus stuff is really sad.  My biggest problem with it is that Christians pushing that sort of thing are really eroding the idea of a real, historical Jesus.  If He is a real person, then He looked like the real Jews from which He descended.  If he's just a concept or a legend then, sure, you can paint him any color you like.