Is this Racism?
By rosegardens
@rosegardens (3034)
United States
May 30, 2012 11:50am CST
Last evening we congratulated some of our police officers who have graduated the first leg of fire training. They are now public safety officers and can do both jobs. Congrats guys!
During the public comments a woman approached the city council and seemed very upset, demanding to know why there were no blacks who went to the fire academy. Our mayor, who happens to be black, said not a word and the public safety chief spoke up and explained these men volunteered, they were given short notice (the first group was given a mere 3 days before they had to begin classes because the grant came through just 3 days before classes began). We do have a good number of black police officers as well as Mexican. Two Mexican police officers took the fire training.
I was offended. Why is there a problem here? When they put that uniform on they are blue, plain and simple. By the way, there was a black man who attended the training but was out of uniform so he did not go up to the front to be congratulated with the rest.
As a marginalized person due to my views, religious conviction and heritage, I find it disturbing that someone could be so outright racist. At least it made me feel she was being a racist regarding this situation.
What do you think? I would like blunt and honest answers from everyone please. The more varied the races and heritage, the better.
4 people like this
7 responses
@shivanisd (387)
• India
30 May 12
dont take it too much at heart. That woman was an idiot but not necessarily a racist. she just blurted out what came in her mind she should have been more tactful. im a minority in india myself, ive been in such situations a million times, so i tell you this- dont have a victim mentality, bcuz if you do then you will see it everywhere, even if it isnt there- it will be like a slow poison. if its something seriously offending, then stand up for your rights to dignity and respect. but trivial matters like this- keep your cool and ignore such people. tell yourself- im the better person and move on. dont keep grudges against people or society. not every one is like this- its only some idiotic ignorant people. they need your pity, not anger.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
26 Jun 12
You are correct--they do need mercy because there is a portion of folks who believe they are wronged at every turn because of race. Eh, try being a single woman though. I'm telling you, it's much worse--I am marginalized and treated differently by many. Also add being Catholic and poor into the mix--I am not equal in many peoples' eyes.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
6 Aug 12
There's a bit of Irish in me yes, but that is on my mom's side. My dads side is the Catholic.
wow, that is a bit tougher than being single in the United States. Though here, if you try to be chaste they do look at you funny and/or don't believe you.
The fate of the single woman will never change I imagine. Always we will need a man in order to be equal in society. The poor women who have been married forever then find themselves widowed also have a tough time.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
30 May 12
Is it "racist"? I really don't know but it is odd for someone to think that a person should hold a certain title or position simply because of the color of his/her skin. If no black people applied for the classes then none would be there. It seems like a fairly simple and obvious explanation that someone felt the need to complicate by asking such a ridiculous question. Now if they had been deliberatly scouting out black people just to say that they had a black person on the squad...that would be very racist and wrong.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
26 Jun 12
It was mentioned that evening by the chief there were a few black men who wanted to attend, but they are part-timers and were going to be pink-slipped for lack of funds in the police department, not because they were black. I guess they did lay off most if not all the part-time employees of the police department. Even so, we do have a lot of black officers. I'm wondering if she is not a friend or relative of one of the men who was laid off this month and trying to start trouble.
Most of our police officers do start out as part-timers from what I understand.
@celticeagle (166911)
• Boise, Idaho
30 May 12
I don't think the word would be 'racist'. I think the black man out of uniform should have spoke up. This woman should be ignored. What she did was idiotic and out of place. People are doing to much of this sort of thing. Starting hard feelings where none should be. This woman should be ignored.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
2 Jun 12
I totally agree. If the mayor did not respond, then no one should have given any acknowledgement to this statement. What a shame this continues to happen in our society.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
30 May 12
It is plain silly, if it is racism, then there will be no black officer in the force and no black mayor in that city. It sound and look more like anything ande everything except racism. That woman must have craving for public attention due to personal agenda. I am ready to buzz off. .......
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
26 Jun 12
I did hear later on the guys were picked for it, but also there were some volunteers. Even so, I do not believe it is because of race. There will be another class in the fall, and probably another in the winter term so everyone will have a stab at it if they want to.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
30 May 12
I wonder why she had to bring it up. It is supposed to be a formal occasion in my own opinion and she should not be making such a sensitive comment like that. People go to trainings no matter what their color is and you can't force them to attend such trainings.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
2 Jun 12
True. I do not understand it and in this day and age we do need to rid ourselves as much as possible of any sort of prejudice.
@syramoon (654)
• United States
30 May 12
Some people are just like that, no matter how inappropriate their actions are. Some people are looking for any reason to feel 'discriminated' against. Now I have to ask, was this woman black? If she was, that may be the answer. She may be one of those people always looking to find that 'her race has been discriminated against'.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
3 Jun 12
She is black, and made it very uncomfortable at the city hall council meeting.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
31 May 12
She sounds like she is a member of the news media to me. They always seem to be making race or religion an issue even when it is not. I think we as a people should go and look for the good things out there then we would not be as interested in reading about the bad things happening. If good news sold papers and bad news did not then maybe the media would look harder for the good in all things.
@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
3 Jun 12
lol--that would have been a great question to ask her k15682.
There was no news media in attendance at the meeting. Someone neglected to put forth a press release. Darn shame. They deserve a picture and honorable mention in the media.
