Originally Posted by pan, my version

I was recently labeled a "racist" <strike>by a few people here</strike> because of a recent post and "past posts".

Those "few people here" will read your post, and they will not agree with you. They might have a chance to agree with you, or even apologize, if you don't call them out explicitly. This statement alone is enough to make a sympathetic poster feel singled-out.

<strike>While everyone is entitled to their own opinion and none who labeled me knows anything about me other than what I post here, it made me wonder, when does a political view in your eyes become racist?</strike>

You'd be better served to omit this entire sentence. I get the feeling that you're extremely defensive about the issue. Any cognizant person doesn't want to offend someone who has (quite obviously) already been offended. You start out by saying that everyone is entitled to their opinion, which is great, but then you follow it up with "none who labeled me knows anything other than what I post here." This says "I'm unique, god damnit! And you just don't know me!" It doesn't say anything mature, and it serves to erode your position that you believe everyone is entitled to an opinion. It says "You're entitled to an opinion, unless it's about me, in which case you're wrong because you don't know a damn thing about me!

Such as ILLEGAL ALIENS.... how is pointing out that I see ILLEGALS as that and that IMHO they have no rights because they are illegal and we legals are watching our own rights erode. But that is racist. Stating that terrorists could be some of those ILLEGALS, <strike>that they have bankrupted many of our Western states medical facilities, taken jobs, committed heavier crimes and so on... means nothing. Proof be damned you are a racist and Xenophobe to demand people be actually LEGALLY here in order to get jobs and medical attention and enjoy what rights we have here.</strike>

Everything before the strikethrough is fine, save a few gramattical issues. Everything beyond that, however, is why people are calling you a racist. It's fine to state that you don't believe illegal aliens should have the same rights as US citizens, and it's likewise okay to say that terrorists might be among those here illegally. When you generalize about a group of individuals, illegal or not, you are discriminating. Whether that's racist discrimination is in the eye of the beholder, but to say "they have backgruped many of our Western states medical facilities, taken jobs, committed heavier crimes.." without backing it up with research or citation will get you labeled a racist. You wouldn't appreciate someone declaring that white men had done these things without providing some sort of evidence, and you'd probably consider THEM a racist. This is what I mean by tact - if you're going to make a sweeping generalization about something a group has or hasn't done, provide resources for the skeptical person.

<strike>I have even stated, you change the laws and I can no longer say anything... but again, that just leads to a racist label. The saddest part is they hound the label and pound it and pound it until you are no longer fighting the issue of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION but whether or not you are a racist/xenophobic person who does strange things to cats with your fork. And you best keep your cool, don't get emotional .... even though the labeler will because you'll make a mistake, say the wrong thing because they keep twisting everything you say and then they'll have their "proof".</strike>

This doesn't really do anything for your point but make you appear defensive. If you want to gripe and get sympathy, Journals are excellent. In "discussion topics", people will see this as angst or defensiveness, and they will not generally react in support.

<strike>This is just an example, I'm sure the thread is out there but I am not going to dig for it.</strike>
This says "I'm pulling something out of my ass." If you aren't willing to look for something, why is someone going to take the time to read and believe what you have to say? Reading and agreeing with someone takes a lot longer than looking for a thread would've.


The political discussion, the opportunity to work on solutions never stood a chance.

This is a great sentence.

I realized recently.... as long as those who can keep that "racist/Xenophobic" argument alive and only have to answer any of the questions with..... "well you're racist/xenophobic" they don't have to truly think about the problem or it's solution.

This too is a good point, and I agree.

Recently, I became quite pissed because people demanded Bill Cunningham's radio job, called him racist and tried to "Imus" him... why? Not because he said "nappy headed ho" or went on some racist diatribe. No, all Bill did was at a fund raiser in Ohio for McCain, in introducing John McCain, Bill said "Barak Hussein Obama". That's it. McCain even distanced himself from the comment.

Who cares? If people want to use his middle name like that? Are you scared, someone in this country may hear the name Hussein (which is Obama's legal middle name) and not vote for the man because of that 1 reason? <strike>If so you are about as small minded as a person who would not vote for a man or woman solely because of the middle name.</strike>

The entire paragraph is a bit antagonistic, but it can stand alone without the last sentence. It does nothing but piss off someone who agrees with the people demanding his job. If you want to stand a chance in hell of understanding this person and perhaps even changing their mind about it, you <b>cannot</b> insult them. Insult someone and then ask them to believe you, and it'll never work.

To be demanding Bill Cunningham's job because of that? To me that is hateful and censorship.

That's fine and although I disagree, there's nothing wrong with this sentence.

<strike>All of a sudden I'm racist again. It's only an issue to those that are racist looking for reasons not to like Obama.... blah blah blah.... Then I really pay attention and the past week or 2 Obama supporters answer everything by bringing up race when you push political issues with them.</strike>

How is anyone supposed to discuss this with you if you mock their words with "blah blah blah"? If you want to discuss what they said, you can do it in context (that thread), or you can DIRECTLY quote them. If what they said is truly uncharacteristic or unkind, their words alone should say it. The entire thing is defensive and passive-aggressive.

Anyway, I want to know your opinion, when does political views becomes racist..... or <strike>is it just possible a certain faction of our population has been almost brainwashed to believe that any view differing from theirs must be driven by racism/xenophobia/prejudice of whatever kind they wish to utilize and try to silence that opposing view?</strike>

It's fine to present your position strongly, but again this does nothing but alienate your supportors and your detractors.

And no, the question, I admit is quite biased..... because m opinion is just that, my opinion. I am a firm believer that a certain faction has been brainwashed to believe or just so wanting to "win" yet lack anything to defend their views that all they can do is label and attack the person and not the view.

This is a much better way to say the same thing that you said in the previous paragraph. I can read it and agree with you, without feeling attacked.

Those people are scary, because they are proving they care more about what the media, what others around them think than facts and either investigating the issue so they can argue without bringing those labels in.... or just stating that they have their view and that's that.

I also realize that as long as the powers that be, the politicians and media, can keep these arguments alive no one can expect anything to get done. You can silence people into submission because they are scared they too will be labeled and no one wants labeled... not to mention have their job threatened, their lives microscoped, and so on.