Lord Tony, no hard feelings, but how asinine of a mindset is it to believe that Africans should, in any way, be GRATEFUL for the colonization of their continent by Europeans and other nations? You're failing to realize that if it never happened, the ENTIRE course of history would be altered; you cannot look at the state many impoverished countries in Africa are, now, and somehow equate that to how it would be if everything preceding its current state did not occur. That should be common knowledge.
To Tezuni, it is completely understandable how your perception of blacks could have been swayed by your little experienced with them firsthand as well as simply looking at statistics and what the media portrays. I place no blame on you for that. However, you must be a bit more compassionate, and intelligent, in how you get your points across to other people; for example, do not claim scientific knowledge on a subject in which you are not educated on, such as violent crime somehow being immersed in black DNA.
This is a basic fact of any debate. Again, I don't blame you for how you've thought of things in the past, but it's time to step up a bit, you know? Thank you for your apology however, that was very kind of you to do.
Overall, I love how there were so many EXTREMELY elegant points made by posters such as SeventhSandwich, WaterOre, F-22 Raptor, and several others here and there, but instead of actually reading the thread and taking their wise words into account, 5-6 people simply hopped on the "Poke holes in Jitank's argument!" train and completely nullified any hope for their actual understanding of the issue at hand. Seriously, grow up.
There is irrefutable evidence that there are long-lasting effects of not only slavery, but racial segregation and oppression in America. I honestly cannot see how someone could think that things are in any way "equal" regarding racial equality in America if the topic were given any real thought. Yes, on the surface, and to someone who does not experience what others experience, it is easy to say "Oh, well by law, blacks have the same rights as whites, so we're equal!" By law, that is true, but you must open your mind and think with a slight bit of compassion and understanding regarding the fact that racial equality is not as black and white as we'd all like to see it (Black/White in a metaphorical sense; not referring to race).
As SeventhSandwich brilliantly brought up, for example, the War on Drugs has caused the unnecessary and disproportionate mass incarceration of poor blacks when compared to their rich white counterparts who, also involved in drugs, were not nearly as severely punished for their actions. This is something that still affects America today, for one.
Instead of simply dismissing any sensible voice in the thread and focusing on an easy target (Not saying Jitank is an easy target in what he was trying to get across, but in that it is too easy for a group of 5-6 people to tear at his words.), try to actually LISTEN to the voices of not only those who experience the long-lasting effects of these issues on a daily basis, but of those who are obviously well-educated enough to speak on the matter.
I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read through my thoughts on the subject.
