Frank Church's news corner, the sequel.

[FrankChurch]

Ah, dear woman, but who are their colonial teachers? Every fire must start with a spark. This is not a riddle, but a song.

[FrankChurch]

"If you step down the evolutionary ladder, all you see is an unfinished basement, with bugs."

ME.

[Ezra Lb.]

rich asked and commented

What, exactly, are you trying to say? Please, I'm begging you. You're starting to sound like Frank and it's killing me.

Now that hurts.

What I'm saying is that race is a purely cultural construct, unfortunately a creation of the West attempting to rationalize the presence of slavery. The Human Genome project struck the last nail in the coffin of the concept of the biological basis of race. What you have is not race but genetic variation in isolation over time. In other words being dark complected is like having red hair, nothing more.

Does this mean that prejudice and bigotry will suddenly vanish? No but they once killed girl children with red hair because they thought they were conceived of the devil. And many people still harbor the feeling that "black" people are inherently inferior to "white" people. The reality of hatred says nothing about the nature of the one being hated. Our science has provided us with an excellent opportunity here to leave behind our foolishness if only we have the wherewithal to take it.

[rich]

Oh, ok. Whew. Now you're not sounding like Frank.

I agree with you, Ezra, but...(you knew that was coming didn't you?)

I don't know that it's possible to separate the "cultural" aspects of white or black (or 'yellow' for that matter) from the reality of the skin pigmentation. Maybe in another 100 years as the white male majority realizes that they are the minority. And, even then, the white male may still be in power, and we all know that people in power don't readily give up that power.

But the real point I'm trying to say is that when you have BOTH groups of people define 99% of their differences, cultural or not, as being 'black' or 'white', any notion of original origin is lost.

I guess what I'm sayins is that I agree with your initial premise ("unfortunately a creation of the West attempting to rationalize the presence of slavery"), I think it's certainly more than having the wherewithal to go beyond it when you have groups that make it a point to celebrate the differences.

[FrankChurch]

Did you know that corporations have been trying to patent the human genome? They already have patents on certain germs, even though their used to be laws against patents for living things. As the slog becomes cataclysmic, we will live in this dark age, where corporations can barter with God for the soul of man.

[Ezra Lb.]

rich writes

I don't know that it's possible to separate the "cultural" aspects of white or black (or 'yellow' for that matter) from the reality of the skin pigmentation. Maybe in another 100 years as the white male majority realizes that they are the minority. And, even then, the white male may still be in power, and we all know that people in power don't readily give up that power.

But the real point I'm trying to say is that when you have BOTH groups of people define 99% of their differences, cultural or not, as being 'black' or 'white', any notion of original origin is lost.

I guess what I'm sayins is that I agree with your initial premise ("unfortunately a creation of the West attempting to rationalize the presence of slavery"), I think it's certainly more than having the wherewithal to go beyond it when you have groups that make it a point to celebrate the differences.

You raise a most excellent point. Easy as it is to decry someone classifying others by their race, what do you do when someone classifies themselves by race?

The former is contemptable, the latter is at least understandable being a classic victim's strategy for time immemorial. The conversation goes something like "When you look at me all you see is Green, well motherfucker, I am Green and Green is beautiful, etc etc."

Our science is unforgiving of both attitudes. The one will be as hard to overcome as the other. I am no utopian. But the concept of race must go, every root and branch.

And I don't overlook Kristin's point. The situation in these United States is actually rather unique. In most lands you have either homogeneity (for example, Iceland or Japan) or ethnic variablility like India where one can find every shade of complection known to the human race. The true divisions are culturist, as they have been historically.


ps Calm down Frank, you're going to bust a gasket before you even have a chance to get the implants and suffer mind control.

[FrankChurch]

I saw it in a documentary, Ezra. Now, you guys, I am being nice, I think it best that people quit using my room for disses at the master of mirth.

Either post valid alternative news or go forth and eat shit.

[rich]

You mean this isn't the bathroom? I swear the waitress said the second door on the right, down the hallway, just past the window where the dishwasher can squirt you as you walk past.

I mean, I'm looking at a urinal right now, so it's gotta be the bathroom. And, Frank, you must be the attendant. Thanks for the towel. Here's a quarter. Keep the change.

[FrankChurch]

Rich, put down the National Review and find some new perspective. Conservatism is a dying thing; like a follower of RA with a sunburn--with his pecker in his hands.

Some shadows are foreboding, some just keep you cool. When you see the mighty wings coming over, I'd suggest running--screaming might help as well.

[Burgundy Ficus]

Frank Church sez "Conservatism is a dying thing."

Oh yeah, it's just dying all over the country. Look at all the socialist and liberal candidates sweeping into office. God you're dumb.

[Moderator]

Okay, typically I don't get into the political foo-fer-all, but this was too easy.

Ficus. Pone atencion: Yer about two years behind the current headlines. Catch up. Bush (about as anti-Republican as you can get): 32% approval. Cheney: 17%. So much for your stats.

It isn't about political parties any more, it's about the person in the Oval Office. He's not Republican (witness the antipathy of staunchly conservative Orange County). Bigger government, huge deficits, meddle in our personal lives and screw the middle class??? No, not Republican according to any agenda I've ever seen -- and he sure as Hell isn't a Democrat.

He simply needs to go.

California Legislature may be introducing a plan to get this in motion. And if not us, Vermont and Illinois not far behind.

Again, Ficus: Pay attention, my friend. Some very staunch Conservatives are very, very unhappy. And you, sir, are far more overwhelmed than you think. Dis guy Bush; he ain't whatchoo think he is, even though you're now in the one out of every three range of approval.

The people are stirring.

SB

[Moderator]

Oh yeah, it's just dying all over the country. Look at all the socialist and liberal candidates sweeping into office. God you're dumb.

(Sorry for continuing this, but Kids, it's like fish in a barrel.)

One other item, Fike: you have to wait for the elections for the sweeping of candidates in a democracy y'see, and, well, it's April mes ami. Non-partisan and final elections are in November. Guess the stupidity is on the other foot, no? Y'See, again you show yur point of view to be a few years behind the times.

Try this:
www.cnn.com
www.nytimes.com
www.washingtonpost.com
www.foxnews.com
www.bbc.co.uk
www.iht.com
www.latimes.com

You'll find all of them at least into 2006 with the reportage...

[FrankChurch]

What do you expect from a guy with the head like a potted plant.

Conservatism, real conservatism is dying and everyone knows it. In fact, the smell sets off the freak alarm at Church. Not my church, but some church. I avoid those places like roach motels.

[Eric Martin]

>real conservatism is dying and everyone knows it.<

I wish that was true, but despite Steve Barber's boundless faith in the op-ed pages, it seems that the front pages have a different story.

I see names like Kerry and Clinton for 2008, and I cringe. I see the huge tide of religious conservatism and end-of-days idiocy continuing to slap against our schools, our village halls, and our marketplace. The environment continues to be the whipping boy whenever dollars (or now gas) gets tight. The US continues to wage war in Iraq, and is now saber-rattling with Iran. The castle doctrine and concealed carry rumble through the land.

Don't let Bush's current scum-sucker popularity numbers fool you. Bush could vanish tomorrow, kidnapped by sodomite aliens, and our problems would remain unchanged. Despite the insistence of a few on this board, one man is not the problem, and his demise is not the solution. And as for those aforementioned numbers, a few grenades lobbed concurrently into a few shopping malls with the cry of Allah Akbar will jump those in a hurry. Polls are for proles.

We have a LONG way to go before Camelot or another Great Society. I don't think we'll see it in our lifetimes.

[rich]

I had no idea I was a conservative. Frank took my bathroom remark and made the ohso logical leap. Have you considered becoming a police officer, Frank? With that Sherlock-like ability, you're wasting it here on the boards.