Uncle Thomas

[Bowfinger]

That doesnt make sense. If his claim is he didnt know that phrase would be taken as racist then how can he know what it means? Of course he knows what it meant and that makes him a lying scumbag.

It's not complicated, at least for anyone not looking to feed one's gratuitous partisan outrage. He admits he knew it was racial. He claims he didn't know that some consider it a racist slur. They are not the same thing, contrary to your dishonest OP.

 

[Atreus21]

You are the one being dishonest. He did NOT claim he didn't know what Uncle Tom meant. He said he didn't realize some consider the phrase racist. That's not even close to the same thing.

It is when you're not feverishly splitting hairs.

 

[Genx87]

It's not complicated, at least for anyone not looking to feed one's gratuitous partisan outrage. He admits he knew it was racial. He claims he didn't know that some consider it a racist slur. They are not the same thing, contrary to your dishonest OP.

That would make him one of the dumbest human beings within this country if you believe that. I however have a hard time believing somebody with a BA in history from harvard wouldnt have a clue referring to a black person as an uncle tom is considered a racial epithet.

 

[zsdersw]

Is it common to refer to SC judges as Uncle FirstName?

Probably not, but that couldn't be less relevant to my comment.

 

[HomerJS]

BTW - Uncle Tom isn't racist it means sellout.

 

[Atreus21]

BTW - Uncle Tom isn't racist it means sellout.

Oh my God.

 

[fskimospy]

BTW - Uncle Tom isn't racist it means sellout.

It is used only to describe black people who are acting overly deferential to authority. At a minimum it is strongly racially tinged.

 

[Bowfinger]

It is when you're not feverishly splitting hairs.

Whatever. I have a chicken and egg question. Is one required to lose one's critical thinking abilities to become a Republican sock puppet, or is it a lack of critical thinking abilities that leads one to become a Republican sock puppet? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Atreus21]

Whatever. I have a chicken and egg question. Is one required to lose one's critical thinking abilities to become a Republican sock puppet, or is it a lack of critical thinking abilities that leads one to become a Republican sock puppet? Inquiring minds want to know.

Spare me.

You sound like less reputable left-leaning posters on this board when you stoop to defend this guy. If it had been a republican doing something similar, you'd excoriate him and you know it.

 

[Bowfinger]

That would make him one of the dumbest human beings within this country if you believe that. I however have a hard time believing somebody with a BA in history from harvard wouldnt have a clue referring to a black person as an uncle tom is considered a racial epithet.

You keep sputtering about his BA in History as if that's relevant. Understanding the historical context of something, e.g., a word or phrase, tells one nothing about its connotations in contemporary society. I suspect that obvious and inarguable fact is a bit too nuanced for you to accept, however. Nonetheless, the fact remains your OP was dishonest. He did not say what you claimed he said.

 

[Bowfinger]

Spare me.

You sound like less reputable left-leaning posters on this board when you stoop to defend this guy. If it had been a republican doing something similar, you'd excoriate him and you know it.

I corrected a lie. I'm sorry that this offends you.

 

[thraashman]

If this guy's name was Ben would he have said Uncle Ben?

Only if he first teaches Spiderman that with great power comes great responsibility. Whereas in Justice Thomas' case it seems that with great power comes great douchebaggery.

Is it common to refer to SC judges as Uncle FirstName?

I think we're losing sight of the important thing here... Thomas isn't even his first name!

 

[HomerJS]

Oh my God.

So what's your problem?? From wiki...

Racism is usually defined as views, practices and actions reflecting the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups called races and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group as a whole less desirable, more desirable, inferior, or superior

 

[zsdersw]

Only if he first teaches Spiderman that with great power comes great responsibility. Whereas in Justice Thomas' case it seems that with great power comes great douchebaggery.

You and nehalem are taking my comment way too seriously. It was just a pithy remark.. nothing more.

 

[shadow9d9]

Don't you love the double standard the left goes by.

Paula Deen uses a racial slur years ago, admits to it, and then apologizes for it. She is eviscerated by the left.

This clown uses a racial slur just the other day, denies it, and then claims he didn't realized it was a racial slur. The left is silent.

The left is silent because it doesn't exist here, outside of your fantasies.

 

[Atreus21]

I corrected a lie. I'm sorry that this offends you.

You rationalized an ugly fact.

 

[Atreus21]

So what's your problem?? From wiki...

Right. And by that definition the n-word isn't a racist term since it's just a mispronunciation of the word negro. At no point does it necessarily imply "the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group as a whole less desirable, more desirable, inferior, or superior".

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I know Ryan Winkler personally and professionally, and like and respect him a lot. I am not offended by his original tweet, nor do I see it as racist. I can see how it is controversial, and why he deleted it, but that speaks more to the ignorance of people reacting to it than to what Ryan actually said.

For better or worse, Ryan's district is so firmly Democratic that it would never elect a Republican representative under any circumstances, and he is very well-liked by his constituents, so I very much doubt this will go anywhere beyond the next day or two.

 

[kage69]

BTW - Uncle Tom isn't racist it means sellout.

..and yet, I've never heard the term applied to anyone save black people.


Winkler's excuse doesn't really float with me.

 

[dank69]

I know Ryan Winkler personally and professionally, and like and respect him a lot. I am not offended by his original tweet, nor do I see it as racist. I can see how it is controversial, and why he deleted it, but that speaks more to the ignorance of people reacting to it than to what Ryan actually said.

For better or worse, Ryan's district is so firmly Democratic that it would never elect a Republican representative under any circumstances, and he is very well-liked by his constituents, so I very much doubt this will go anywhere beyond the next day or two.

I don't know how anyone could consider the term to not be racist when the 1st definition is:

1
: a black who is overeager to win the approval of whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals)

Race is at the core of the definition. I'm not saying Ryan is a racist, but the term is extremely racially charged and a public figure should know better than to use it.

 

[HomerJS]

Right. And by that definition the n-word isn't a racist term since it's just a mispronunciation of the word negro. At no point does it necessarily imply "the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group as a whole less desirable, more desirable, inferior, or superior".

When coined it was used to infer black people were inferior. Methinks you are way to anxious to prove the level of racism is equal between blacks and whites.

 

[justoh]

Thomas is an uncle tom.

 

[Incorruptible]

I still believe Anita Hill 100%.
Thomas should not be allowed to sit in judgment of anyone, or anything, ever.
He needs to be brought up on sexual harassment charges.
And long overdue.

Because he is black?

Love the hypocrisy of some people. Racism is alright against blacks if they are Conservative and dare to stray from liberalism. The hypocrisy is stunning.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I don't know how anyone could consider the term to not be racist when the 1st definition is:

Race is at the core of the definition. I'm not saying Ryan is a racist, but the term is extremely racially charged and a public figure should know better than to use it.

It is certainly a racial term, but that doesn't instrinsically make it "racist." In this context I think it was a legitimate term to use, albeit an impolitic one. In fact I tend to think Clarence Thomas is about the best example of an Uncle Tom, in the most accurate sense of that term, I can think of in present-day society.

 

[dank69]

It is certainly a racial term, but that doesn't instrinsically make it "racist." In this context I think it was a legitimate term to use, albeit an impolitic one. In fact I tend to think Clarence Thomas is about the best example of an Uncle Tom, in the most accurate sense of that term, I can think of in present-day society.

It doesn't matter if the term is applicable or not, and even if the term isn't technically racist, it is highly offensive. It is just as offensive as calling Clarence the "n-word."