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Post by bfgrad on Jun 13, 2020 15:27:14 GMT -5
Regarding the paint on the Lemieux statue, I don't think it's any deeper than that someone had paint, a desire to use it and Lemieux's statue was the nearest target. The "doughboy statue" was defaced, too, and what have WWI GIs done to deserve that? Sometimes it's just vandalism.
As for reparations, if each decendant of a slave was given a certain amount of $s, is that it? Here's your money, now go away? There are policies that underlay almost all of this discrimination/racism. Like her or not, Elizabeth Warren's campaign identified and targeted these underlaying laws for change. But that doesn't even really matter if the races continue to self-segregate. My uncle's last employment stop was in Orlando and he and my aunt retired in place. When they moved in it was a white middle class neighborhood. When my aunt moved to assisted living in 2014, she was the only white person still living there. While the neighborhood was still middle class, it was black and hispanic middle class. Her neighbors were still nice and they looked out for her, but the demographics had changed around her. When I worked and we had command picnics, I'd see the whites together and the AfAms together. There seemed to be little mingling even among people of different races who worked in the same section. Sometimes I would go over to chat, but I didn't always feel completely welcomed. Right here in 15010, there's been talk around for awhile about trying to get Chippewa its own zip code. Why? Because some, maybe a big majority, of the residents don't want to be lumped in a zip code with minorities. It's why we have two school districts instead of one.
But, all is not lost. When I go to games in BF and watch the kids, I see them looking at and treating each other as classmates, not as different races. There are more bi-racial marriages and bi-racial kids than ever it seems. I think in another generation or so, everyone will wonder what all the fuss was about in 2020.
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Post by hs on Jun 13, 2020 16:54:35 GMT -5
Hopewell and Center have been talking for years and years about getting away from being 15001 as their zip code
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Post by yig on Jun 14, 2020 9:26:56 GMT -5
My observations are the same also. There are definitely harmonious areas/schools. I felt like West Mifflin has been one of them. Granted, I'm more familiar with those schools pre-Duquesne merger, but as a whole the kids get along. They get along in the hall ways and on the athletic fields and courts.
Honestly it is the parents that are the issue (they were the ones against the Duquesne merger, they are the ones who still have problems with the use of Duquesne kids on the football team, etc).
Your last line I hope is right! Given my high school experience I was under the impression that I was part of the post racism generation, but from the looks of it there are many my age who are still racist. With that said keep in mind regarding biracial marriages and relationships and kids etc it was only 1967 that biracial marriage became LEGAL in our country!!!! So my parents for instance both would have been under 10 years old (they were born late 1950s and I was born early 80s) but even half a generation older than me (the Xers) were raised by parents who were courting during an era when biracial marriage was ILLEGAL! BT says it all the time when referring to Trump that it is no longer "cool" to be a racist, and while individuals will unfortunately probably always be, I am thinking/hoping that we will see less and less and less and less.
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Post by yig on Jun 14, 2020 9:36:51 GMT -5
Hopewell and Center have been talking for years and years about getting away from being 15001 as their zip code Jefferson Hills has been going through that seemingly forever with Clairton. They still both share the same ZIP code (15025) but there is a Jefferson Hills branch and it is now accecptable to address someone as "Jefferson Hills, PA 15025" but as recently as 1998 was "Jefferson Borough" and was addressed as "Clairton, PA 15025." Clairton is still of course 15025. Compared to th McKees Rocks 15136 zip which still includes not only McKees Rocks and Stowe Twp but also Kennedy, Robinson, Avalon, and Pittsbugh. All of the 15136 is still addressed as "McKees Rocks, PA."
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Post by baldwintrack on Jun 14, 2020 11:50:14 GMT -5
BFF rad I don’t think it ends with reparations. That is the necessary beginning. To admit and compensate for wrongdoings over the years. I think you’ll find leaders in the black community much more willing to work with governments if that is taken care of. I really think it’s gotta start with something like that before any real progress can be made on education, health care or any of the other issues.
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Post by bfgrad on Jun 14, 2020 12:31:01 GMT -5
BT, I don't really disagree, but I just don't what the next steps are or would be.
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Post by baldwintrack on Jun 14, 2020 13:06:13 GMT -5
I’d like to see government run supermarkets in urban areas. The only food to eat in many cities are fast food or overpriced stuff in big box pharmacies or convenience stores.
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Post by bfgrad on Jun 14, 2020 19:19:44 GMT -5
I think I would start with re-learning the lession of Prohibition - that banning something only forces it underground with the attendant crime and criminal activity. With that said, for me the perfect starting point is to make all drugs (yes that means cocaine and heroin) legal, safe, regulated and taxed just like alcohol and tobacco.
This would take away the illegal market and the crime that goes with it. It would mean fewer people arrested for drug offenses (a big problem for AfAm men) and therefore fewer people going through the court system. Fewer people with criminal records means more jobs and career paths open to more people. It recognizes that people with drug addiction issues can still hold a job and be productive - the same as people who addicted to tobacco or alcohol do every day. Society can now provide support for those who want to quit, but also ensure that those who can't quit or choose not to, can get what they need without fear.
Just like with alcohol and tobacco, we can have a public awareness campaign of the dangers of substance abuse.
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Post by stones on Jun 14, 2020 19:48:45 GMT -5
Oh my Legalized heroin with defunded police(or no police lol) in the US
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Post by baldwintrack on Jun 14, 2020 19:53:50 GMT -5
It’s not like illegal heroine with fully funded police works either lol
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Post by bfgrad on Jun 15, 2020 17:57:19 GMT -5
It's pretty interesting that only about 5% of arrests are for violent crime.
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Post by stones on Jun 16, 2020 7:50:30 GMT -5
HS I read in Newsmax that the CBO director Phillip L. Swagel had high praise for the Trump team regarding the stimulus and how quickly things were done The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) lauded the Trump administration Tuesday for organizing its agencies to deliver coronavirus aid "incredibly quickly," which helped the country withstand the most devastating economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. I agree 100%
Big day in the markets coming This run from March till now has to be the best ever I'm watching CNN You have to be half dead to watch this channel
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Post by hs on Jun 16, 2020 9:14:24 GMT -5
HS I read in Newsmax that the CBO director Phillip L. Swagel had high praise for the Trump team regarding the stimulus and how quickly things were done The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) lauded the Trump administration Tuesday for organizing its agencies to deliver coronavirus aid "incredibly quickly," which helped the country withstand the most devastating economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. I agree 100% Big day in the markets coming This run from March till now has to be the best ever I'm watching CNN You have to be half dead to watch this channel I know many will disagree with what I am about to say but I believe what is going on right now - the burning of businesses, the looting, taking over a Seattle suburb and Cuomo already out threatening to shut down New York again is a sick way to hope the economy is down before the November election. The reason I say that is I believe the BLM movement is just a hypocritical way to push their socialist agendas. If it is not, why weren’t there any protests over the 7,000 blacks that were killed by other blacks last year? I guess only a black life matters when they are killed by a white cop? But a retired black cop that was killed by another black man in St Louis during a looting, I guess his life doesn’t matter? Don’t get me wrong, I believe firmly there needs to be police reform but this cancel culture that is going on right now that you can’t even question the BLM agenda is just wrong.
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Post by bfgrad on Jun 16, 2020 10:55:24 GMT -5
I don't think there is any plan to shut down the economy to hurt Trump's re-election chances. He himself is doing a very good job digging a hole from which he won't be able to climb out. Maybe Trump supporters haven't, but a growing majority of Americans have seen and had enough over the past 3+ years.
As for the BLM protests, there is no doubt they have cause to be angry and frustrated with policies that are and have been slanted and biased against them for scores of years. It's a shame that at some times, the mob mentality has taken over peaceful protests and some - and it only takes a couple - people interested chiefly in destruction and vandalism are among the protesters. The kid from Shaler who was arrested had his backpack packed with rocks and stones and a few other things that had only one purpose, not to be part of a peaceful demonstration. It's also undoubtedly true that seeing video and pictures of looting and burning and vandalism doesn't help the protest cause.
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Post by hs on Jun 17, 2020 5:34:58 GMT -5
Biggest hypocrisy going on now that the media is complaining about Trump starting up rallies again. Coronavirus! he is going to infect everybody! All he is worried about is his re election and cares nothing about the people! Even though at the same time they say nothing about the masses of people protesting in the streets. Apparently, if you protest, the virus won't spread but if you rally it will? Contact tracers in New York (who are getting paid 60,000 a year) were told not to trace anyone in a protest and if someone is found to have the virus are not even allowed to ask if they were at a protest. What good does that do anyone?? From what I hear the Trump campaign will temperature check everyone that comes in. Haven't heard about masks though. Instead of calling it a rally, Trump needs to call them protests against socialism and the media will be okay with them! LOL
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