[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

As I'm feeling a good dose of Thanksgiving spirit, I decided to give it my best shot.

"I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the UnitedCaucasianCollege Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door."

We don't need White Entertainment Television. 90% of television IS White Entertainment Television. Ever ask someone what Seinfeld is about, or Friends, or any other sitcom? They tell you it's about a group of friends that do such and such. Ask what Family Matters is about, and you get, "It's about a black family..." or "It's about an African American family..." Part of white privilege is the invisibility of race. Nobody says, "My white friend, John..." or "It's about four white people..." Or are you going to go ahead and say that all races are completely equal and are treated equally by the media? Media exists to cater to specific groups. Do you feel that TV HASN'T catered to your views? Are white people ever in danger of flipping through TV stations and NOT seeing other white people, just like them?

Furthermore, we don't need a United Caucasian College Fund because few white folks have been systematically denied access to education and employment based on race.

"Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game."

Agreed, guns don't make you a killer. But it sure makes it easier to kill people when you have a gun.

"I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?"

Perhaps, but when you figure out where the gay boys are supposed to go, please let me know.

"I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion."

The Oxford English Dictionary defines homophobia as " Fear or hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality." Fear. It's right there in the definition. If it wasn't a phobia, we wouldn't CALL it a phobia. My only problem with the word is that it doesn't carry the same stigma that the word "racism" carries.

"I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off."

And I have the right to not be tolerant of that.

"When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling, it is the Law of Probability."

Agreed.

"I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!"

Right, because it's not like this is a nation of immigrants or anything. We should switch to the languages spoken by the true residents of this land mass. Starting tomorrow, I'm going to begin learning the various American Indian languages and dialects.

"My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours."

My father, grandfathers, uncles and great-uncles went to the military to protect the Constitution. My grandpa flew a plane at D-Day because he believed in free speech and the dignity of all human beings. I find this collection of ideas abhorrent, but I would die to protect your right to say it.

"I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines."

English is NOT our national language... but I agree to the point, I know that if I visited a foreign country and a man in a uniform holding a gun shouted something at me, I would sure as hell not move a muscle.

"I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business."

Okay...

"We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations."

Then why did we?

"I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor."

Fine.

"I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them."

Agreed.

"I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building."

The opinion that nobody has responsibility to help others is a common one, and I certainly can't argue with it. I just wish people would be consistent with it. Everyone who feels like that should be pro-choice and should have protested the Iraq war.

"It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!""

Without sarcasm, I absolutely agree with this. I HATE it when I'm in a restaurant and some toddler is running around and screaming. Whatever happened to, "If you don't cut that out, I'm taking you home" and following through with it?

"I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!"

I concur.

"I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else"

There's a difference between political correctness and correctness. I also do have my own issues with the phrase "African American" but let's put things in context. I don't call myself a European American, but my best friend calls herself Irish. Her aunt married a man who calls himself Italian. A friend of mine's grandfather is very English. People are free to label themselves in a manner of their own choosing.

"And if you don't like my point of view, tough..."

And if you don't like MY point of view, tough.

"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!"

Then please be consistent about it.

"I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having "In God We Trust" on our money and having "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Shut Up and BE QUIET!!!"

Because the Constitution of the United States does NOT exist to protect the majority. It exists to protect the MINORITY. If 86% of Americans said we should bring back slavery, would you think we should tell the other 14% to shut up? Goodness, I'm glad you're not studying law.