seriously?

[jlh]

(I'm posting this here because I don't want to rant in the journal of a friend who is really only reporting what someone else said to them.)

Are we seriously telling each other that if Barack Obama loses on Tuesday that all the black neighborhoods in major cities in the US will go up in flames? Seriously? You're going to tell my (white, jewish) roommate to pack an overnight bag and head to her parents' house in the 'burbs because we live in a predominantly black area of Brooklyn?

Of course, you're assuming that I'll be safe as houses since I'm a colored girl, which might be why no one's said anything about this to me before now ...

You do know that the last time that really happened in multiple cities was when Dr. King was shot, right? And that there were predictions of it at various points later but it didn't really happen? I just ... I am apoplectic right now with rage. You're all like, yay Obama! and voting for him and shit, and you might be a friend of mine, because hey, Barack and I are only half black, and we're educated, and all that noise. But you know, them folks in the ghetto, when they don't get what they want, they goin' burn that city to da ground, I tell ya!

ETA: Okay, I just talked to my coworker D, a white guy, whose response to this was, "That's ridiculous, but if he loses, I'll go to Detroit and riot with them." This mysteriously made me feel a little better, and I am no longer shaking with rage. However, I continue to think that this is the most racist bullshit I've heard all month. Seriously.

Comments

[flourish.livejournal.com]

i haven't heard this, but I agree that it's super racist bullshit.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Totally. It's absurd. I'm definitely more worried about the white supremacists, although apparently they hate McCain too because of his stance on immigration. SPLC said in an article in the IHT that they're mostly just confused and feel overwhelmed by demographics (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/21/america/hate.php). About time, I say!

[mahoni.livejournal.com]

What?

Just. What?

Edit: I'm sorry, that's no kind of reply. I just. I'm a little. See, I would expect that sort of comment from my white, racist, John McCain-supporting neighbors, but, I mean, what is that? Is that supposed to be some sort of twisted incentive to vote for Obama, or just complete fuckwittery with no other motive but fuckwittery?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

No, really, that was pretty much the only reply possible!

I'm more worried about the white supremacists too, as they're the ones that have actually threatened violence, but they hate McCain because of immigration and Israel. SPLC said in an article in the IHT that they're mostly just confused and feel overwhelmed by demographics (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/21/america/hate.php).

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

WTF? First, clearly my name has fallen off the Paranoid White People Blackwatch List because I have not received my warning to run for the hills in the event of Obama losing.

But seriously...even leaving aside the blatant racism (sure lots of people support Obama but you're not going to worry about white people rioting, right? That's just what black people do!), do people not even understand the emotions that have led to rioting (not just black rioting but all rioting) in the past?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Or worry about white people in the countryside rioting because McCain lost, when there has been much more violence threatened by McCain people at his own riots against Obama than threatened if Obama loses. No, it's only poor black urban types who respond with violence.

Right.

[mahoni.livejournal.com]

worry about white people in the countryside rioting because McCain lost

Which to me seems a hell of a lot more likely to happen, given that the only people who've been not only shouting racist and violent threats but also plotting to kill the candidate they don't like are WHITE PEOPLE.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. And just the other day I think it was Bill O'Reilly had somebody check out hate sites against Obama to prove that they were just like the Daily Koz and the person was like...um, no, this is scary Nazi shit and calls for his assassination and plans to abort black babies to wipe out the race.

What have black people as a group been said to have been doing during the campaign anyway?

It's just typical really. Sure those crazy white people are talking about violence but they don't really mean it down in their hearts. And sure that black woman might seem like she's just registering voters or going door to door, but she doesn't mean that in her heart either. In her heart she's always on the verge of looting.

[ali-wildgoose.livejournal.com]

There aren't any words to express my WTFery at this.

I mean, are people leaving Texas in case McCain loses and all the ranchers form an impromptu militia? Are people streaming out of Alaska in case all those Palin supporters decide a loss is the perfect excuse for succession?

What the fuck ever, world, seriously.

[moony]

You know, I wouldn't mind if Alaska seceded. I don't really have much interest in a state that elected that woman to a position of power.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you're talking about. I think she's the one who will lead us to our glorious future!

The word is that she's encouraging Ted Stevens to resign so she can take that senate seat for herself, and put herself in a better position for 2012.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

The word is that she's encouraging Ted Stevens to resign so she can take that senate seat for herself, and put herself in a better position for 2012.

Seriously? OK, this is what I've been thinking for weeks but thought it would never work out. Huh.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those Alaska seperatists are real peaches, aren't they?

[moony]

I echo the sentiments of sistermagpie: I didn't get my Uptight White People newsletter this month, so I wasn't aware of the threat of rioting. Gee gosh golly whillikers! I'd better pack up the cats and flee to the Hill Country!

Last time I checked, Obama rallies were not only not predominantly black, but also peaceful gatherings of people opposed to violence. Meanwhile, you've got McCain supporters shrieking "Kill him!" during Palin speeches and calling up ACORN with threats of lynchings. Right.

Honestly, I'm more worried about the McCain supporters. If he loses, they might stage a protest, too. Maybe in their SUVs, in the drive-thru at Starbucks. :P

[jlh.livejournal.com]

McCain supporters don't go to Starbucks! Only pampered liberals need fancy coffee!

I'm more worried about the white supremacists, too, but SPLC said in an article in the IHT that they're mostly just confused and feel overwhelmed by demographics (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/21/america/hate.php). Also they hate McCain because of Israel and immigration.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Oh if he loses I will be FURIOUS but if we're going to riot why not drive to the red states that caused the problem instead of shitting in our own living rooms?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Well, rioting is always about shitting in your own living room, actually; that's the weird paradox of rioting.

Also, everyone knows that black people don't own cars.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Well, that's why I said "if." I'm more of a civil disobedience kind of person in practice. But if crazy bigots are defining black people as angry people who want things to change for the better and base governing on LOGIC--and who will be angry if we end up with McPain? Then I would like to be considered a POC from now on please.

I don't have a car either. Can't afford it and don't need one in the city. But I live with other non-real Americans here.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

The thing that made me angry is that where I saw it, it wasn't crazy bigots, but just paranoid nice white middle class people who were saying things like "better safe than sorry." So it freaked me right out.

Let's hear it for the non-real Americans!

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

People who say things like that must be crazy bigots pretending to be nice white middle class people? I just can't deal with it otherwise. This is bring out my inner cynic who tends to think most people suck. I'm really trying NOT to think that.

On the other end of the spectrum from the paranoid people--my white sister in law and her black husband are going to Chicago on Nov. 4 to celebrate Obama's win--they are taking their two kids. They want to be there to share in the joy. I love them so hard.

[longtimegone]

I'm terrified of the Klan rising again if Obama WINS to be honest.

The Klan used to pass out newsletters in full-sheeted regalia on the corners of the area of town I lived in until I was 5, and that shit is fucking scary and disgusting and it's just bubbling under the surface here in good old Alabama. *shudders*

[jlh.livejournal.com]

SPLC said in an article in the IHT that the white supremacists are mostly just confused and feel overwhelmed by demographics (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/21/america/hate.php). Also, they hate McCain because he's pro immigration and pro Israel, so he can't be a real american either.

[longtimegone]

"Right now," said White, head of the American National Socialist Workers Party, "we're facing the potential of a half-black candidate financed by Jewish money going up against a white candidate financed by Jewish money, who are both advocating the same policy. So you've got two terrible choices."

OMG. You know, I know I have my own privilege and prejudices to overcome, as do most people, but god I can't even wrap my brain around thinking like that. Ever.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Their "us" is much narrower than most people think. And as the article said, demographics in the US are working against them. Have been since 1880, actually.

[dana-kujan.livejournal.com]

I'm with D. That's beyond ridiculous-- pure bullshit racism.

I'm also with him on joining in the riots. If Obama loses-- at this point, with the early voting results trickling out and poll upon poll upon poll indicating he has the popular and electoral advantage-- we will only have our lazy selves or voter tampering to blame. And I, for one, will be MAD AS HELL!!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

You know your political stance is problematic if one of your key tactics is voter supression. It's just not sustainable or practical. I really hope the GOP, or whatever replaces it, gets their shit together because we need an actual, viable, healthy opposition in this country. But they ain't it.

I'll be furious, but I just, I can't even picture it. Eyes on the prize! Positive visualization! If we can levitate the Pentagon, we can do this!

[wednesdayschild.livejournal.com]

RAGE RAGE RAGE i cannot believe that ANYONE suggested something so RIDICULOUS AND RACIST. ARGH. I am fuming :( I am also praying hard for you all <3

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Yeah, it's disgusting. I would be more afraid of the white supremacists, but the SPLC said in an article in the IHT that they're mostly just confused and feel overwhelmed by demographics (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/21/america/hate.php). And they hate McCain anyway because of immigration and Israel.

[shewalksonroses.livejournal.com]

This is the first time I've heard anything about such ridiculousness - but my reaction was pretty much exactly the same as coworker D's. :P The icon says it all....

[misscake]

I have nothing. I mean, how do you even dignify that with a response other than pure WTF?

[scrabble.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad you're feeling less rage-filled now. I'm really disappointed that there's been as much twitter about things like this and people worrying about Obama being assassinated in office as there have been. I mean, I shouldn't be so naively surprised, but I'm disappointed.

[a-hollow-year.livejournal.com]

I've heard this "argument" before and my response is much like D's. It's ridiculous to think that DEM BLACKS GON' RIOT but, to be honest, if he lost I'd want to crack some heads. Of course, I think the only way Obama loses at this point is through massive voter fraud (KNOCK ON WOOD OH GOD), and riots are pretty much made for just such a situation, so. Sometimes it's better to light a molotov cocktail than curse the darkness.

[the-drifter.livejournal.com]

I was one of the initial commenters on our friend's post, and when I came back later and saw the conversations that had occurred there, I checked your entry over here. I just wanted to say that, on reread, my own comment looks problematic as all hell, and I'm glad you called out the racist implications of these kinds of suggestions.

What had been actively on my mind when I wrote it had been the probability for unrest in major population centers, particularly locations with a history of political unrest, should the election results be extremely close or vulnerable to accusations of tampering. I've been thinking about this for a while. But it's incredibly suspect that when I connected the warning my friend had received to generational knowledge, the example I came up with to illustrate that point was my family's involvements in the March on Washington in '63 and the D.C. riots in '68. (As opposed to, say, the anti-Vietnam student protests, which they were equally involved in.)

I'm not going to spend time here attempting to parse out what I meant from what I thought I meant from what I might have actually meant. That's something for me to do on my own, not in your journal (and I think it's going to take me a while to reach a verdict). But I wanted to step up, mea culpa, and say that I sure created a good reason for someone to call racist bullshit on my own comment in particular, and while it's not anyone else's responsibility to educate me when I stick my foot in my mouth, I'm glad that this time, you were around and pointed it out. Thanks.

[bookshop.livejournal.com]

my boss said this to me yesterday. What he said was, "If he loses, you better get ready," and I was assuming the next thought was going to be something like, "because the next four years are going to be a nightmare," and then what came out was, "because there'll be riots in the streets." And I was just completely steamrolled, because, wow, total non sequitur?! and it was the first time I'd heard anyone say anything like that, and I just sat there, too stunned to do anything but make noncommittal grunts.

[rawles.livejournal.com]

Oh.........kay.

[lillijulianne.livejournal.com]

i haven't much to add to all that's been said. one funny thing, sort of, is a nightmarish daydream i've had. see, there are half a dozen hummers i see on a daily basis. mostly brand new; i've found out just through happenstance of driving around or subbing at one school or another to whom several of them belong. I need to focus my feelings or they will overwhelm me, so lately i have focused on hating these hummers. it seems to me that to go out and buy one, well, ever, but certainly within the last year or so is to illustrate that you embody everything that is wrong with sarah palin's america. so anyway, the nightmarish part is i imagine that we lose. in the daydream part, i go out at night, with a crowbar and spray paint and stuff, and i go from the home of one hummer to the next, and i smash and dent and adorn them with lyrics from "masters of war" and such. anyway, that is what i thought about, when i thought about fear...

[conob.livejournal.com]

Whoa, what?

So, like, I do remember having my Ach exams canceled in spring 1992 because Long Beach City College wouldn't let us gather to take them there, and hearing from a good friend that he could see fires from his apartment building's rooftop, shortly after the Rodney King decision. That wasn't even downtown Los Angeles or South Central; that was a good thirty-forty miles off.

But it's not the same thing at all (for serious).