Race issues in the media: U.S. and elsewhere

[CanadianMike]

I just recently got the idea for this topic just to get some thoughts. im not trying to bash americans or anything, just bringing up the question as id like to see your views/thoughts on this.

more recently (last few months) ive gotten into watching american news channels (foxnews, cnn) more often, to see that viewpoint. one thing i consistantly seem to notice especially on foxnews is that it seems someones skin colour or race is brought into EVERYTHING, and there are pretty dumb debates over stuff. entertaining in a sense which must gain viewers but pretty dumb. the race card seems to be pulled out always, and commonly guests and show hosts often refer to a persons race as the reason something the way it is without looking at other things. even it seems things like religion differences are brought up a lot more, i.e seperation of church and state.

really my only comparison is to the media ive seen in canada and really this isnt done. i mean if there is a debate between people of different races, or over an issue involving difference races, it is rarely brought up and the concentration seems to be on the real issue at hand. it seems like they judge the situation/person, not their skin colour or the country they come from. theres definately a lot less issues brought up involving religion and the state and what not.

basically what im coming down too is, from your point of view, what causes this? what differences? different acceptance of differences whether they are race or religion? style of coverage? general american vs. canadian mindset? you know, anything, just looking for some good old TLR style input not meant to be some sort of country vs. country thread, just looking for some input.

[Dutchcedar]

It sells the news, Mike. People love to see things in black and white...

Sad, but true.

[KenG]

As an American who has travelled and lived internationally, I would suggest that, due to great importance placed on the civil rights movement, the US has become hyper sensitive to race. We instinctively examine everything to see if racial discrimination played a factor. It's become the way we double check everything to see if we are backsliding on the civil rights issues. Often it's an overreaction and it gets a little silly sometimes, but all in all I think it's working.

I contrast that to most of the rest of the world where racial and ethnic discrimination is generally accepted as a way of life and, in spite of what the official position may be, is not addressed. My observation is that Asian countries, in general, practice both official and unofficial racism. (There are a few notable multicultural exceptions.) Europe seems to be somewhat in denial, both on their attitudes toward Arabs, Asians and Blacks and to an apparent recent rise in anti-Semitism.

Canada has always struck me as handling racial differences pretty easily, but how are you doing on that French/English thing? :-)

[CanadianMike]

Originally posted by Dutchcedar on 11-28-2003 at 07:38 PM
It sells the news, Mike. People love to see things in black and white...

Sad, but true.

yeah i definately agree, you can definately notice most media will use any tactic to get viewers/sell papers.

Originally posted by KenG on 11-28-2003 at 08:11 PM
As an American who has travelled and lived internationally, I would suggest that, due to great importance placed on the civil rights movement, the US has become hyper sensitive to race. We instinctively examine everything to see if racial discrimination played a factor. It's become the way we double check everything to see if we are backsliding on the civil rights issues. Often it's an overreaction and it gets a little silly sometimes, but all in all I think it's working.

I contrast that to most of the rest of the world where racial and ethnic discrimination is generally accepted as a way of life and, in spite of what the official position may be, is not addressed. My observation is that Asian countries, in general, practice both official and unofficial racism. (There are a few notable multicultural exceptions.) Europe seems to be somewhat in denial, both on their attitudes toward Arabs, Asians and Blacks and to an apparent recent rise in anti-Semitism.

Canada has always struck me as handling racial differences pretty easily, but how are you doing on that French/English thing? :-)

yeah no doubt you need to ensure you look over everything for racial discrimination, but really i feel as of late especially, race is brought up too often. at times you have to ignore race and judge what actually happened, and the person, regardless of their skin colour. this is the biggest worldwide obstacle to ending racism i think.

true, the majority of the world actually has a lot of racial discrimination. that or there are no other races in their country really so its not much of an issue. also just wondering, as a whole i hear compared to canada there is still more in the way of segrigation (unofficially) in the states. true do you think? just curious.

the french/english thing here isnt as big of a deal as some make it IMHO. not really a big deal, in some areas of quebec certain people would like to seperate but it has gone down as of late as for example a political party against seperation has been elected at the provincial level, signalling that people are backing off the seperation issue.

as you say canada seems to handle racial differences pretty easily and that seems to be the case. part of it is that we have a pretty multicultural society as a whole (mainly evident in main cities) and it seems people have no problem with it as a whole. the divide seems to be small between people and as a whole racism has been declining as people learn to be more accepting and non-racism is definately encouraged more so. and as i mentioned earlier, the whole issue isnt brought up very much in the news. also it seems to me it works better when you dont automatically look for differences, but look at how we are all people and if you are going to point something out (say in the media), point out what the person has done, not the colour of their skin, or where they come from, etc. this isnt to say people shouldnt celebrate their uniqueness but theres no need to automatically play the race card whenever anything happens.

of course racism still exists here i just think it is on a smaller scale vs many countries. for that matter racism in the U.S. isnt as bad as many countries, although id have to say it appears it is a lesser issue in canada. one thing i think of is different laws for hispanics or any other race, like in california and grey davis making it so immigrants, mainly hispanics can get licences even if they arent citizens (i believe that was what it was). really you need to treat all races the same, cant have it both ways like that. also referring to laws for entering schools where black or other races entrance exams get marked easier, etc. stuff like that cant go on. so what im thinking here is that a large reason such things exist is due to the government and the medias attitude, which definately influences many people. sound about right?

all i can legitimately compare is canada vs. US (media wise anyways) but it would be great if some members who are from or have lived in other countries throw in their 2 cents as well.

[mostholycerebus]

Mike, you ain't just whistlin dixie. Race is still a huge problem in the USA. Or, I should say, it ISN'T a problem but some very vocal idiots just won't shut up about it. For the most part my generation of friends is pretty color blind and in fact get pissed off when we see racism in any form. The form we see every day though is 'reverse racism', or racism that targets whites.

I had a great time in college though, many of my black friends would just blow up at stupid liberal morons who feel they have some kind of 'ancestral guilt' or whatever. Well, many black people really WANT equal rights now, and that means NO more extra help then anyone else gets. They got very offended when these morons implied they weren't competent enough to survive without aid in the same world as whites. Seeing a racist flower-girl cry makes my day.

[CanadianMike]

Originally posted by mostholycerebus on 11-28-2003 at 08:56 PM
Mike, you ain't just whistlin dixie. Race is still a huge problem in the USA. Or, I should say, it ISN'T a problem but some very vocal idiots just won't shut up about it. For the most part my generation of friends is pretty color blind and in fact get pissed off when we see racism in any form. The form we see every day though is 'reverse racism', or racism that targets whites.

I had a great time in college though, many of my black friends would just blow up at stupid liberal morons who feel they have some kind of 'ancestral guilt' or whatever. Well, many black people really WANT equal rights now, and that means NO more extra help then anyone else gets. They got very offended when these morons implied they weren't competent enough to survive without aid in the same world as whites. Seeing a racist flower-girl cry makes my day.

yup i have also noticed the reverse racism. definately a whole issue of its own. ive seen it personally and it is somewhat of a problem here, from what i hear from guys like you or just in general in the U.S. media is that it is a large issue there.

i find on foxnews (you know like o'reilly factor) he will purposly get on the most extreme left black guy on there and then he will get the absolute most right white guy and let them duke it out for awhile. although i guess it does gain viewers. i admit it can be entertaining because it ends up being a couple of guys just screaming at each other and then o'reilly just cuts them off.. pretty funny at times

and as you say, this view isnt really shared by the majority, it is the few wackos who cause the main problem. same deal on either side, it is generally a few morons who cant shutup that cause the real problems haha

[DHutson]

I am not that familier with Canadian history.
Did Canada suffer through anything like the Jim Crow era?

[CanadianMike]

Originally posted by DHutson on 11-28-2003 at 09:27 PM
I am not that familier with Canadian history.
Did Canada suffer through anything like the Jim Crow era?

i actually had to look up jim crow myself just to ensure i knew what you were talking about, so no worries.

from what i can see, i dont think we ever had anything like that. im sure some form of unofficial segregation occured of course, because some people were racist although there werent any laws in favour of this.

this is just what i am pretty sure about, if anyone finds a source contrary to what ive said, please post it.

[DHutson]

Well down here we still have citizens that remember being treated like animals because of skin tone, so their painful memories live with us today.
If my parents were treated as cruel just for being born I can only wonder what my attitude would be...

[AMDScooter]

Bout time to bring the thread back from the dead in light of current events. You know the usual suspects up to their usual race baiting trope.

The mob want's "justice". Some of the mind numbing bullsh*t being delivered by a paid MSDNC host...

Trayvon Martin: Thousands rally in Sanford

the killer should be arrested. We have not said what to charge him with, we're not trying him before a trial.

Ya.. just arrest him. No need for charges to be filed. He should just be locked up. Why is it that so many minorities are represented by the very f*cking worst among them?

[jimzinsocal]

Marl Levin asks: Who died and left Al Sharpton as Atty General?

http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-le...orney-general/

[AMDScooter]

Marl Levin asks: Who died and left Al Sharpton as Atty General?

http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-le...orney-general/

these guys:



Though with our AG's Holders track record:

Christopher Coates Testifies To Department of Justice Racial Bias



there is a good chance the race hustlers will get their wish.

[jimzinsocal]

Nah..no bias at all at msnbc

Exhibit A CNN
Civil rights leaders join hundreds of protesters carrying "Justice for Trayvon" signs, as they march in Sanford, Florida, to demand the arrest of the teen's killer. FULL STORY

Exhibit B MSNBC
Thousands of Trayvon supporters march

[AMDScooter]

Not to be outdone by other MSDNC hosts.. Schultz plays host for this idiot congresscritter on his radio show.

SCHAKOWSKY: TRAYVON KILLING 'MODERN-DAY LYNCHING'

On Thursday's Ed Schultz Radio Show, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, heated up the rhetoric surrounding the Trayvon Martin case by calling it "A Modern-Day Lynching"

[Dutchcedar]

Since lynchings are executions carried out by a mob and the New Black Panther Party has a bounty on the white hispanic's head... he may be onto something, but jumping to judgement, no?

Oh wait, they're talking about the other guy.