Posted under Political Correctness
Regarding HB’s recent post, the topic arose about the media refusing to report that the violent flash mobs sweeping the country are black. Unsurprisingly, the journalists don’t seem to mind obsessing over Anders Behring Breivik’s race, including the gratuitous commentary about his “blond hair,” “fair skin,” and “blue eyes.” Yet, news organizations simply refuse to report the truth about black flash mobs. Are the media putting people’s lives at risk by not reporting this vital piece of information?
Here’s libertarian journalist Steve Chapman not only admitting that the journalists suppress information about black flash mobs but approving of it as well:
My question to readers accusing us of political correctness is: Why do you care so much about the attackers’ race? If you fear or dislike blacks, I suppose it would confirm your prejudice. But otherwise, it tells you nothing useful.
That black flash mobs are taking place across the country is not a useful and potentially life-saving correlation?
Sean Scallon on 28 Jul 2011 at 9:25 pm #
For the same reason focusing on Breivik’s race is just as useless and the media (and or ourselves) are hypocrites for doing so if they use one example and not the other.
Killers are killers.
Thugs are thugs.
Criminals are criminals.
Matt Weber on 28 Jul 2011 at 9:55 pm #
If there was only one flash mob, as there was only one Breivik, then that would be true. But the flash mobs are something of an epidemic, while what Breivik did was pretty much unprecedented. In any case, Chapman’s defense of the censorship is laughable.
Sean Scallon on 28 Jul 2011 at 10:32 pm #
So if any of the hoodlums are caught are they going to have time added to their sentence because they’re black?
Bede on 29 Jul 2011 at 12:17 am #
SS, this is political correctness (AKA, Cultural Marxism) plain and simple.
Using Chapman’s example, if the flash mobs were all Baptists, then it WOULD be a vital piece of information. I’d want to know this…it is a vital piece of the overall story, of connecting the dots between events X,Y and Z. Likewise, that these mobs are all black is a vital piece of the overall story of what’s occurring across the US. It’s not a statistical accident and because of this correlation being suppressed the media are potentially putting the unknowing in harm’s way.
liz on 29 Jul 2011 at 2:05 am #
knowing race is important so that if mary or tom see this coming
http://unamusementpark.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/march_20_mob.jpg
they’ll know to run like hell
Ernest on 29 Jul 2011 at 10:33 am #
This is so typical. The utopians don’t like to look at that which destroys their world of make believe and they wish to force us all to pretend the Emperor really does have new clothes.
Of course hypocritically they have no problem insisting that race does matter in many areas just not in those areas that negatively reflect specifically on blacks. When they can blame whites then race does matter. Why do they care about any of it? Why do they care about race and poverty? Why do they care about race and the ‘education gap’? Why do they care about race and single mothers? Why do they care about race and culture?
“There is nothing more painful to me … than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved.” — Jesse Jackson
Sean Scallon on 29 Jul 2011 at 1:55 pm #
We’ve just post several articles on this site making sure everyone knows (in case they didn’t) that Breivik’s actions and words are his own, not because he is white, not because he considers himself a “Christian” (even though he hardly practices the faith), and not because he is anti-letting his nation be inundated with Islamic immigrants. We have done this, I presume, because we all know many within in the media (as Ernest points out) plays the guilt by association game when comes to conservatives and or white people.
So given all this, are we now saying no problem associating all black people with so-called “flash mobs”? Because we insist upon knowing the race of the people involved? And why do we wish to know this? To flee if we see a group of black people coming down the street? Perhaps, that’s not illogical, although I would hope one would not do so if was say a group of old black women walking towards you from down the street.
Milwaukee had a similar “flash mob” incident on the 4th of July involving black youth attacking fireworks show goers in a local neighborhood. The thing was, some of the people assaulted were black. Are they any less victims because it was their own who did this? Who suffers more from crime or shootings in the “inner city”? Certainly not I living where I do
If race doesn’t matter in the Breivik case, or any methheads robbing a small town pharmacy, or any biker gang bar fight on a Saturday night or any Iraq war veteran barricading himself in his house in a stand-off with the cops out on rural road No. 3, why do we then insist it matters with who would would be considered hoodlums and vandals and by any decent member of society regardless of race?
Many papers and news outlets don’t publish the race of suspects but then they don’t have to when one’s name (in most cases) or photo makes it obvious. At that point, you can go from there.
Bede on 29 Jul 2011 at 4:14 pm #
“or any biker gang bar fight”
If biker gangs were starting riots all across the country and they were all white, it would be a relevant piece of information. I’d want to know they’re all white.
It wasn’t wrong to note the race of Breivik. I just made the point that obsessing over Breivik’s race while covering up the race of the flash mobs is a double-standard by the media.
It is a good idea always to report race in violent crimes, esp. inter-racial crimes. It provides valuable demographic data on crime, which is precisely why they’re suppressing it. Back when journalists had some inkling of standards they would report race — prior to Cultural Marxism — but now there’s the PC not-reporting-race protocol. This is really about traditional journalistic standards vs. cultural marxism.
Sean Scallon on 29 Jul 2011 at 6:03 pm #
“I just made the point that obsessing over Breivik’s race while covering up the race of the flash mobs is a double-standard by the media.
You’re right but we shouldn’t stoop to their level.
Most bikers are white. Rarely would you find non-white faces at place like Sturgis for example.
Bede on 29 Jul 2011 at 9:37 pm #
“but we shouldn’t stoop to their level” = put your head in the sand and shut up
There are very obvious reasons why race needs to be reported in regard to violent crime, esp. inter-racial violent crime. Reporting such has always been the norm, until the past decade or so and the rise of hyper-PC in journalism.
Here’s a great essay on it:
“Distorting the Truth About Crime and Race”
Mac Donald, Heather, City Journal, May 14, 2010
http://www.city-journal.org/2010/eon0514hm.html
Sean Scallon on 29 Jul 2011 at 11:05 pm #
“There are very obvious reasons why race needs to be reported in regard to violent crime, esp. inter-racial violent crime. “
As opposed to say intra-race violent crime, which I suppose we can safely ignore, right?
I don’t know, if I was robbed or mugged or shot on the street am I supposed to feel better about it if a white person did it? Am I supposed to feel differently if the same thing happened but that person wasn’t white? All I know is someone violated or hurt and want to pay the bastard back regardless of what color that person was.
How is this any than different than making certain crimes “hate crimes” as supposed to say “non-hate” crimes? Mugging or murdering someone is hateful act no matter what the motivation and yet for years the racial and homosexual lobbies have demanded such crimes specifically be made into “special” crimes with “special” penalties if a jury determines that hate was a motivation for such criminal acts. Are you saying we need to keep racial stats so whites can have the same benefit?
Kirt Higdon on 29 Jul 2011 at 11:41 pm #
I was talking earlier with one of my brothers (the academic one) and was amazed to hear that he had never even heard of flash mobs. He assumed the term must refer to flashing in the sense of indecent exposure. With respect to Sean Scallon and perhaps others, let me point out that not all, probably not even most flash mobs are destructive. Here in Corpus Christi, we have had several dance and performance flash mobs and tomorrow (weather permitting) I’ll be participating in two swing dance flash mobs.
Bede on 30 Jul 2011 at 12:03 am #
SS:
Hate crime laws are superfluous. I don’t support them. But that’s beside the point.
This is not about hate crimes but basic empirical knowledge and honest journalism. Since when are knowledge and honesty bad?
Up until hyper-PC, the facts would have just been reported. If random black mobs are attacking people around the country, they would have reported it. Facts are facts, truth is truth.
I’m confused whether you think (1) the Cultural Marxists are right and race should never be reported in violent crimes, esp. if the perpetrator of the crime is of a “historically disadvantaged race” or (2) we should just stick our heads in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening.
Let me put it this way, do you support the media’s decision to suppress information on the black flash mobs or do you support the free exchange of information? And mind you, the black flash mob is not an isolated event, but a general trend occurring across the country.
Sempronius on 30 Jul 2011 at 12:36 am #
“If race doesn’t matter in the Breivik case, or any methheads robbing a small town pharmacy, or any biker gang bar fight on a Saturday night or any Iraq war veteran barricading himself in his house in a stand-off with the cops out on rural road No. 3, why do we then insist it matters with who would would be considered hoodlums and vandals and by any decent member of society regardless of race?”
Mr. Scallon sir, methheads and bikers are not federally protected and funded groups. Neither are they grievance-mongers. Surely you must have noticed this in one of your perambulations out and about.
“You’re right but we shouldn’t stoop to their level.”
It’s not “stooping”. It’s self-defending.
“Killers are killers.Thugs are thugs.Criminals are criminals.”
Racists are racists then. Practice what you preach.
“Are you saying we need to keep racial stats so whites can have the same benefit?”
We keep racial stats on just about everything else. Should we refrain only because whites won’t benefit?
DW on 30 Jul 2011 at 1:24 am #
Bede I like the way you worded the question to Sean so I have one for you.
[Edit]
DW on 30 Jul 2011 at 8:17 am #
What’s wrong Bede? You don’t have the moral courage to apply the standards you impose upon others on yourself.
This is why [pro-Western people] are a joke. They are all cowards.
Aaron on 30 Jul 2011 at 11:50 am #
Good points by SS, though I don’t think I agree with them. Still, it’s nice to here that argument made from the right. Here’s a question: how is reporting the race of alleged criminals and victims different from reporting the race of, say, automobile accident victims?
A compromise (not that it would ever happen): DON’T report the race of individuals involved in particular crimes, unless it’s relevant to that crime. DO report the strong racial disparity in crime, especially when reporting related stories like alleged police profiling. I think that if the racial disparity were reported openly, right-wingers would have less of a problem with the non-reporting of race in particular crimes.
Weaver on 30 Jul 2011 at 12:06 pm #
Aaron,
It isn’t difficult to develop a fair policy in principle, but the media chooses not to apply such a standard because of the impact it has on a population.
Weaver on 30 Jul 2011 at 12:20 pm #
In defence of Sean, I’ve always seen him oppose stirring up racial tensions. He’s not stupid; he knows what comes of it. For those wanting homogeneity, he’s suggested moving to North Dakota or so.
We all know how blacks are and their crime rate, but in a diverse society racial tensions can have consequences.
Regardless, I’m inclined to say the black crime rate should be highlighted because it’s significant for truth.
It’s also significant that Breivik is white and conservative. The trend over the past decades has been for political violence to be something of the left (e.g. anarchists, so-called “environmentalists”, Muslims). One man doesn’t change this trend, but it is significant. His motivation was clearly political and the crime quite noteworthy.
Sempronius on 30 Jul 2011 at 3:06 pm #
“Here’s a question: how is reporting the race of alleged criminals and victims different from reporting the race of, say, automobile accident victims?”
Here’s an answer: a crime is a deliberate act motivated by malicious intent, an accident is…accidental.
Bede on 30 Jul 2011 at 6:35 pm #
I know SS means well, but this is really question about truth. Should the truth be reported or suppressed?
I’m not saying race should be reported on every speeding ticket across the country, but when you have large black mobs that are looting and attacking people across the country the fact that they are black is a part of the story.
The reason it’s not being reported is because of the academic backstory. Journalism schools have been overrun with political correctness and journalists are taught not to report the race of “historically disadvantaged races” (i.e. all non-whites) unless absolutely necessary because doing so “reinforces a stereotype which keeps them oppressed.”
Sean Scallon on 30 Jul 2011 at 7:24 pm #
Where you are mistaken Bede is the fact the Cultural Marxists do want to know about race. In the case to Breivik, they want to know he’s white in order to show him as “tool of the white racist power structure to use violence to keep people under oppression.” Or in the case of the “flash mobs” they want to know they are black so they can excuse their behavior because to them such persons in such mobs are “provoked by the racist power structure which opresses them daily.” See how this works? The Cultural Marxists obsess about race all the time, because they see race as a way to make society more eglatarian.
How is this story being suppressed Bede? We all know about it. We know it has happened because we’re linking back to news sites which publicized them. People need to be made aware and authorities need to be made aware such incidents are happening as incidents of crime. To point out race suggests one wants to make a larger point, that blacks are deliberately targeting whites and we’re on the verge of a race war (as I’m sure some are hoping) Well are they? Is this part of a master plan of violence? What evidence do you have of this? As I said about what happened in Milwaukee, blacks and white firework show goers attacked. And as crimes statistics show, blacks have no problem robbing and killing other blacks. “Flash mobs” by inherent nature are not something one puts a lot of thought into. They are loosely organized acts, or in this case acts of violence and anarchy that need to be dealt with sternly.
In my particular journalistic position, generally we really don’t mention race because quite frankly, since our county is 97 percent white, there’s really no need to and would become quite repetitive. So it’s generally a consistent policy across the board. Do you really think I need write “white” if someone named Belinski was arrested or write “black” if that person’s first name was “LaQuita”? or Hispanic if that person is named “Hernandez”?
Obviously if you are looking for a suspect you’re going to point out his or her race. That’s just common sense. For most other crimes, the persons name, where they are from or even a mug shot is really all that’s needed to let persons know what’s going on without getting into “Black person killed white person today” as a headline or vise versa. I certainly wouldn’t want one person or person’s evil decision to speak for me as white person (as in the case Brevik) so I really don’t see why the same courtesy can’t be extended to black persons as well.
I know some are going to come up with different situations (riots, someone gets lynched, and yes a mob attack with a clear racial motivation or perhaps a gang fight at the school for example) and if I applied a strict formula for each one I would be, as Bede said, sticking my p.c. head in the sand. All you can do as a journalist is tell it like it is and what your gut tells you and in my opinion, because such “flash mobs” are random and chaotic enough to affect anyone who happens to get in their way, then to me, race is not going to be that important a factor to report on. Now these really are organized attacks or someone was found texting “lets get the white people tonight on the square.” Then I will admit I’m wrong.
Bede on 30 Jul 2011 at 7:42 pm #
“we’re on the verge of a race war (as I’m sure some are hoping)”
Wanting the truth to be known commits one to wanting a race war?
“Obviously if you are looking for a suspect you’re going to point out his or her race. That’s just common sense.”
Actually, it’s not common sense. The media deliberately suppress this as well. See the Heather Mac Donald article above or look at the VDare not reporting race category.
“What evidence do you have of this?”
The black flash mobs differ in their execution, although most seem to be started via social media. Some mobs only involve looting and ransaking. Some involve fighting with other blacks. Some involve targeting and beating white people. In a few of the recent black flash mobs, they have deliberately attacked whites and hurled racial epithets at them. One of the earliest black flash mobs (before they were even called black flash mobs) was the “Beat Whitey Night” at the Iowa State Fair (which by the way was suppressed).
See this: http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2010/09/05/iowa-fair-wilding-new-obama-campaign-theme/
The media-relations officer who actually told the truth about the event lost her job and then the national media refused to carry the story. Do you agree that she should have lost her job for telling the truth?
The fact here is that the black flash mobs are a national event and the fact that they are black is part of the story. It’s a basic fact that any inquisitive person would want to know.
It’s true that Cultural Marxists want to obsess on things whites have done wrong while excusing non-whites, but to stick your head in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening only gives them more power. As people committed to truth, the last thing we want to do is stick our heads in the sand and ignore the world around us.
C Bowen on 30 Jul 2011 at 10:35 pm #
Just to mix it up, if it were, say Somalian gangs were doing the flash mobs, decent people would ask for the qualifier, and would still be troubled if they were called simply ‘black flash mobs.’
But to take it a step further, if in fact native American blacks are committing the crimes, then Somalians don’t deserve the blame.
Each problem requires a different solution. American blacks in the ghettos do deserve efficient, even ruthless, police action–but by sugar coating the race issue, the press contributes to the tactic of alienating the police force from the people–I can tell you this relationship is different where I live, re: the police. It’s not adversarial, is my point.
Each of our places, has it’s own set of problems that need to be addressed.
And I am sure, Mr. Scallon, the “Asian” community appreciated that Hmong, the former CIA killer-tribe that was imported, are identified as such when they commit a crime, rather than just called “Asian.”
Kirt Higdon on 30 Jul 2011 at 11:35 pm #
As far as the violent flash mobs are concerned, I think reporting race is appropriate since it can contribute to situational awareness. For example, if a non-black shopper notices an unusually large number of black “yutes” congregating, he may conclude that violence is about to erupt and prudently head for the exits before the signal is given. On the other hand, I doubt that these attacks portend any race war and they, like the “wilding” attacks of a decade or two ago, will probably fade in a few months. The long term crime rate in the US has been trending down for some time.
BTW, our local swing dance flash mob erupted three times today, once at a health fair and twice at a mall, to the applause and delight of onlookers. Our group is mixed white and latino and was put together, rehearsed, and choreographed by a mestizo tejano dance instructor. We only had one black lady and no black guys out of about 50 participants, but then there are not that many blacks who live in Corpus Christi. We’ve had no violent flash mobs here. Videos of our events are being edited and should be up on youtube in a week or less.
Weaver on 30 Jul 2011 at 11:38 pm #
The 97% white was obviously a typo.
Nevertheless, nonwhites will soon be a majority of young adults in the US (15-20 years if not sooner). Reference how “officially” nonwhites are a majority already of 3 and under, official statistics of course overestimate white numbers just as they underestimate illegal immigrant numbers.
Brimelow’s Alien Nation comment comes to mind: He fears his son will be discriminated against because he’s white (blond / blue-eyed to boot). I don’t want violence, but I would like whites to wake up a bit and realise their situation – prepare a bit for the future. Perhaps I should cite James Edwards who’s warned against whites being the last ethnic minority to organise politically – he could add socially too.
I obviously also wish for more ethnic-orientation for more than simply to prevent violence. I tend to prefer Plato to Aristotle, so to speak (don’t view society as merely for the good life alone which has me uneasy with some of the older Southrons who are more interested in leisure for its own sake, whom I agree with in part but perhaps not in full). But I certainly don’t want violence. Morality aside, Burke’s warning on revolution applies: You can’t control how such will turn out. Suffering persecution might be a good thing but not violent conflict – I suspect such anyway.
DW on 31 Jul 2011 at 1:55 am #
Sean was referring to his county, not the country. This is because like a true conservative he is concerned with his place and not national greatness racism.
Bede on 31 Jul 2011 at 3:24 am #
DW: None of the writers at this site espouses “national greatness”; to the contrary, those wanting to whitewash over unpleasant realities are the promoters of delusional myths. And if the truth is “racist” and should be suppressed, then your line of reasoning is not much different from the PC propagandists, with whom you seem to be walking in lockstep.
DW on 31 Jul 2011 at 6:22 am #
Just because someone doesn’t share your [pro-telling the truth] views doesn’t mean they are a slave to PC. This is a common error of [truth-telling Westerners].
Sean Scallon on 31 Jul 2011 at 12:55 pm #
Generally there is a difference between “county” and “country” but let others use their good sense to figure out which one I was talking about. If don’t already know I work at a local “county” newspaper.
Let me all tell you a story which encapsulates what I am trying to say. Once upon a time, not terribly long ago, there were incidents of rural churches in the South being burned to the ground. But these weren’t just any old churches mind you, they were “black” churches. And they because they had burning down relatively short space of time, there many in the media who thought some conspiracy was going to burn down churches and a hysteria broke out.
And indeed, some of these churches were torches by racists. But others were torched by arsonists working for someone to get insurance money. And other were set a blaze because they were old, buildings and electrical or heat problems which caused them to catch fire.
So despite all the media attention and hype and fears the KKK was back in action and men in white sheets were riding around at night burning churches, reality didn’t quite match up. Yes churches were burned but not due to any conspiracy of white people to do so.
So as you can see, this works both ways. The church burnings, instead rallying people together against such evil, divided them because it became a racial issue and here, instead of good and decent people rallying against hooliganism, some want to do the same by seeing it in just black-white prism so they can create the same hype and hysteria, only in the opposite direction. But no matter which way you go, it’s not right way.
Bede on 31 Jul 2011 at 1:27 pm #
Oh, county.. I was reading and replying on my blackberry so the text is quite small. If white people are burning down black churches, it should be reported (and believe me, the media would not pass up this opportunity). If wrong, then the story should be retracted. The truth, not politics, should be the criterion.
I find the Orwellian leaps of logic interesting. It’s like reading 1984, where peace is war, bad is good, and the truth is dangerous and therefore must be suppressed. I hope you see that the road to suppressing the truth in the name of social egalitarianism is the road toward totalitarianism.
No thanks. Color me old-fashioned in that I think telling the truth is a good thing.
As I said before, the fact here is that the black flash mobs are a national event and the fact that they are black is part of the story. It’s a basic fact that any inquisitive person would want to know.
And, Sean, please answer my question. One of the earliest black flash mobs (before they were even called black flash mobs) was the “Beat Whitey Night” at the Iowa State Fair (which by the way was suppressed).
See this: http://blog.vdare.com/archives/2010/09/05/iowa-fair-wilding-new-obama-campaign-theme/
The media-relations officer who actually told the truth about the event lost her media position and then the national media refused to carry the story. Do you agree that she should have lost her media-relations job for telling the truth?
Larry on 31 Jul 2011 at 6:37 pm #
there’s an atrocious bias in the media on race and crime
they actually invent white-on-black crime
see here
and then censor the reality of black-on-white crime
see here and here
DW on 31 Jul 2011 at 8:06 pm #
[Comment removed. An ad hominem attack is not an argument. Perhaps you should take your homoerotic fantasy about semen to another website. As an aside, it's interesting that radical libertarianism, such as expressed by DW, always leads to vulgarity and, ironically (or perhaps not so), totalitarian statism to enforce civil rights -- even if it means suppressing the truth for the sake of social engineering.]
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 2:08 am #
No I don’t feel this person should have been fired and yes such information should have been reported since, as Aaron said “DON’T report the race of individuals involved in particular crimes, unless it’s relevant to that crime. ” So in this particular case you mentioned this should be reported. But there’s no evidence of something similar in these “flash mob” cases, at least none that I know of. But as I said, if I’m wrong I’ll admit it.
And in regards to the church burnings, there were whites who burned churches Bede, but it was not an organized conspiracy as some in the media had hysterically claimed it was and should not have been treated as such. If one form of hysteria is bad, another should not be justified as a response. This may disappoint all you Drudge Report readers (where I suspect you’re getting these stories from) eagerly awaiting more “flash mob” stories but it’s a consistency.
But you know what, I’m really beginning to weary of such stories of local incidents of crime being turned into “national stories” or “national events”. Does everything have to be a “national story”? Do I have to know about this incident of murder here or this incident of violence over there or abuse in this place unless I choose to pursue the information my own instead of shoved down my throat by the nation’s media (who, of course would have a vested interest in doing so)? If all this turns out to be a lot less than meets the eye, like the church burnings, then such incidents were local crime stories and that’s all, no different than what goes on in my neighborhood. But you don’t see me trying to make petty theft of the church funds, a weekend bar brawl or 911 domestic abuse call into “national stories”, even though such events occur every day, “nationally.” Enough is a enough.
Bede on 01 Aug 2011 at 2:43 am #
This should be a national story because this is a national epidemic. It’s occurring across the country. There were a few early black flash mobs, and now others are copying them.
I’m not exactly sure what you’re even arguing.
Let me put it this way. You have already admitted that there is a bias in the media, that leftist journalists will report the race of white perpetrators of crime (esp. in white on black crime) but they refuse to report the race of black perpetrators of crime (esp. in black on white crime). Above, you admit that the Cultural Marxists in the media are obsessed with race and will display an anti-white bias whenever they can. (And anyone who has been watching the news for the past decade knows this to be true.)
So, what should be done about it? Should we
(1) Stick our heads in the sand, pretend it isn’t happening and keep our mouths shout?
or
(2) Point out the bias, as I did in this blog post?
Since you admit that the bias is there, I’m asking, what should we do about it? What is your prescription?
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:22 am #
What should we do about the bias? How about not copy it.
“National epidemic?” Well that’s what the Cultural Marxists said about the church burnings too. Now you want to say the same thing about “flash mobs” from the point of view that blacks are systematically attacking whites instead of “national epidemic of vandalism and violence against law-abiding citizens.”
In other words, copy it.
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:33 am #
Oh by the way in regards to the “truth”, yes as a general matter telling the truth is important. But if my little niece at her karate exhibition doesn’t do a very good job, you think I’m going to tell her the “truth” and say honestly she was terrible? Not if I want to break her heart.
I don’t think I would want to do that.
Bede on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:48 am #
This obviously isn’t about hurting the feelings a child. It’s about a much larger epidemic and the truth of it being suppressed. There is no question about the validity of the flash mobs occurring; there are hundreds of eye-witness videos on YouTube. It’s about the media deliberately covering up a story.
So, as you say, you are basically supporting position #1. You admit there’s a bias but you think we should stick our heads in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening.
Sad. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Long live the therapeutic state.
Luckily, for the sake of truth, it seems that average Americans do not agree with you.
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 4:24 am #
You post a link to a video of a person ranting and raving into the camera like a madman. Is this what you call “conservative”? Thank God I kept the mute button on.
The bias is obvious and yet you wish to continue it, albeit from a different point of view. Certainly I’m not advocating suppressing the story. What I am advocating is telling the story as it is instead of seeing it through a political prism designed to validate a mindset which takes an incident and generalizes it to smear an entire population in order to try and make some smug political point.
We have seen done too many times and we know what it is when we see it and yet you damn me for trying to be consistent? Fine, I plead guilty.
Bruce on 01 Aug 2011 at 11:14 am #
When the bias is as overwhelming as it is then I don’t see why a counternarrative such as Bede offers isn’t appropriate on a small, obscure (apologies to Red. I mean this isn’t National Review Online or Huffington Post) conservative website.
Bruce on 01 Aug 2011 at 11:30 am #
While the white liberals cover up the race of the mobs, blacks boast of it.
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/020065.html
Bede on 01 Aug 2011 at 1:36 pm #
“generalizes it to smear an entire population”
Again, this isn’t about politics but reporting the truth, and sometimes the truth isn’t pretty.
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 1:56 pm #
“Again, this isn’t about politics but reporting the truth, and sometimes the truth isn’t pretty.”
Especially for people who can’t handle it.
Of course it’s about politics because you wouldn’t have spent all your time finding every article under the sun on the internet to show Brevik was a just lone nut instead of being a representative “Christian fundamentalist” or “fair skinned” or someone who used the phrase “Cultural Marxist”.
roho on 01 Aug 2011 at 2:56 pm #
FBI statistics on violent crime is evidence to the fact that blacks commit the vast majority of violent crimes in America.
As of now, there are no White Flash Mob Attacks.
During the civil rights movement, every opportunity to show white cops or firemen dispersing black protestors was the order of the day.
Today’s Flash Mobs are not the black peace activists of the sixties. They are black youths, choosing violence, theft, and intimidation, as a result of feeling empowered by the election of a black POTUS. Just as stupid as the black welfare queens that assumed they would not have to make another house payment. Most in prison have already admitted that following their emotions instead of thinking, landed them in prison. That is why the “Old Southerner”, which had the most experience with blacks, often said that they were like managing “grown children.”
Truth is truth, and I hope the children and grandchildren of the sixties “Freedom Riders” are loving their new challenges, and the death of the “Conservative Democrat”?
Bede on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:21 pm #
Sean,
You can’t handle the truth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2F4VcBmeo&feature=related
Aaron on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:34 pm #
First of all, kind of a fan comment: Sean Scallon’s comments here are great. I’m still not quite convinced, but this guy’s making the best argument possible. I definitely agree on one thing: let’s stop pretending this is just about “reporting the truth.” It’s about politics.
Anyway, here’s another question. If it’s not OK to report the attackers’ and victims’ races, why is it OK to report their ages (“youths”)? The only reason I can see is that there’s more prejudice against blacks than against young people.
If that’s the reason, then it’s not all that compelling. Yes, reporting race will probably cause an increase in anti-black racism – that is, real racism, not “racism” in scare quotes. But will it be that much of an increase, considering that people interested in the story are probably already aware of the attackers’ race? If there were a danger of whites rioting and lynching random blacks in response, then I’d definitely say, “Censor it!” The public interest can in principle justify (self)censorship, but I don’t see that the public interest is strong enough to justify it in this case.
Aaron on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:39 pm #
Also, to answer one of SS’s earlier questions: People don’t need to know the attackers’ race. You’re the journalist here, but presumably one goal of print journalism is to provide a realistic description. Identifying race is part of that. If novelists can do that, why not journalists? Or should novelists not do that?
Patroon on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:39 pm #
How many gangs of 70 year-olds do you know of loot stores and attack people? Now that’s a story.
Bede on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:42 pm #
If gangs of 70 year olds were looting stores across the country the fact that they’re 70 would be important and part of the overall story — just as the fact that the violent black flash mobs are black is part of the overall story.
Aaron on 01 Aug 2011 at 3:56 pm #
Against my better judgment, I clicked on that Lawrence Auster link. Sad and funny at the same time. “The blacks boast of it.” “The” blacks in this case are a group called the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement. “The blacks.” Pathetic.
Bruce on 01 Aug 2011 at 5:20 pm #
Yeah, I know you’re a big Auster fan, Aaron. Why don’t you write to him with your complaint. I’m sure he’ll publish it and reply.
Bruce on 01 Aug 2011 at 5:22 pm #
However, now that I think about it you have a valid point. Is if fair to say that bloggareah causes some lapses in judgement when it comes to what one chooses to post?
Bruce on 01 Aug 2011 at 6:07 pm #
I’ve seen a number of comments from them on these stories along the lines of “cry me a river! We suffer high rates of poverty, unemployment, etc. that are X many times yours. When there’s equity, this will end.”
Now I don’t know how typical this is but I suspect it’s not an unusual attitude among their population. Unhealthy percentages of them thought that the U.S. Government blew up the levees in New Orleans.
Matt Weber on 01 Aug 2011 at 6:20 pm #
Auster has an animus against blacks. In fact, the entire right doesn’t seem to know what to do with black Americans. They aren’t immigrants, so they can’t be sent back where they came from. They can’t be fixed by whites, as whites can’t even fix themselves. So what is anyone supposed to actually do? It seems our current policy of uneasy segregation is about as good as it’s going to get.
Weaver on 01 Aug 2011 at 7:05 pm #
Matt,
if we ended affirmative action and accepted a small variance in behavior among groups, there might be a way towards a stable society with them.
You can’t have a stable order built on an absurd ideology that demands equality of results due to faith in equality of nature.
Sean Scallon on 01 Aug 2011 at 7:45 pm #
Good points Matt.
Julian on 01 Aug 2011 at 8:33 pm #
“Now I don’t know how typical this is but I suspect it’s not an unusual attitude among their population.”
Blaming whites for anything and everything is quite common amongst blacks.
Emmayus on 06 Aug 2011 at 12:00 pm #
There is a long list of these “mobs” blowing up all around the country over just the last few months and in spite of the media’s best efforts to ignore this growing problem, dare I even say “Danger?”, they seem to be growing in intensity and frequency.
What I find disturbing is how universally the media will not acknowledge what all these stories have in common. It’s not really fair to the rest of the “teens” in America to be lumped in with this particular subset of society, but that’s how Political-Correctness-Gone-Mad has a negative effect on society. It is, as far as I can tell, a predominately Black teen activity.
That is not RACIST. It’s just a fact.
http://emmayus.blogspot.com/p/summer-2011-gang-violence-in-us-cities.html
Violent Black Mob Breaks out in London | Conservative Heritage Times on 07 Aug 2011 at 5:54 pm #
[...] State Fair, large groups of blacks viciously targeted whites. In most cases, the US media have suppressed information on the mobs, refusing to report that they’re black mobs (often targeting whites for violence) [...]
Where does the truth lead? | Conservative Heritage Times on 10 Aug 2011 at 7:02 pm #
[...] know people will chortle at my admission and “I told you so” but as I said I’m not against publishing matters of race when it is clearly obvious race is part of the equa…, for that would be “putting one’s head in the sand.” But even the very good [...]
Marine 9 on 11 Aug 2011 at 10:30 am #
http://cofcc.org/
DanielMD on 21 Aug 2011 at 1:42 pm #
The idea that this race of the criminal and victim is not relevant news is ludicrous. The fact that media is deciding what information is relevant for is the very definition of P.C. The politically correct news of the future:
At an undisclosed place and time, certain individual(s) of undeclared biometrics was/were involved in an unspecified action involving certain other individual(s). Someone may have committed a sublegal action, but this is of course irrelevant to the facts above…
How to Report on Islamic Terrorism | Conservative Heritage Times on 14 Sep 2011 at 2:22 am #
[...] those of you who were following blogger discussions about journalists sacrificing truth for political correctness when reporting on black [...]