Twisted Musings

Today I was driving home from work, listening to the Hannity show. As he often does, he had a couple of non celebrity guests on his show, pitted against each other. One of the was Fernando Mateo, president of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. By his own statements he is mixed race with a Hispanic mother and a black father. I only bring this up because it is relevant to the story.

He was quoted as saying “I don’t care about racial profiling. You know sometimes it‘s good that we are racially profiled because the God’s-honest truth is that 99 percent of the people that are robbing, stealing, killing these drivers are blacks and Hispanics. So if you see suspicious activity, you know what, don’t pick the person up.” This had come about after a driver had been shot seven times in a robbery that netted the shooter about 12 bucks. After listening to what he had to say, I don’t think he truly meant racial profiling, but rather character profiling within certain races. He was basically saying that if a driver doesn’t like the way someone is dressed or is acting, such as gang colors or face covered up with hoodies and glasses, then bypass them and look for someone else. He acknowledged that a large percentage of their customers are black and Hispanic, but that the drivers should use their judgment on who to pickup or not pickup.

Now of course Al Sharpton and others have jumped all over this because Mr. Mateo  used the word racial profiling, but if we are to be honest, many if not all of us has done similar things. When I say this I am referring to blacks and whites, because that is where my associated experiences come from, but I am sure it applies to most, if not all groups.

Have you ever avoided a certain section of town because you assumed, probably correctly, that you weren’t welcome there? That’s profiling. Have you changed the sides of a street you were walking on because a group of youth, acting rowdy, looking you way, were between you and where you had to go? I have and that is profiling. Prejudice is simply pre judging and many times we do that based on experience and knowledge. Is it always right? Probably not. Has it saved people from harm or danger? No doubt it has!

I will be the first to admit at times I use forms of prejudice and profiling and I will continue to do so in the future. Do you?

Some Americans Go To Sleep At Night Wondering About Presidency: “How Did This Happen?”

Rangel Plays Race Card, Says Obamacare The Victim

Well Charles Rangel, I do go to sleep at night, when I can sleep, asking how this could happen. But unlike you, I’m not referring to it in a racist manner, and yes you are a racist, because you  assume that people don’t  approve of the health care reform because Obama is black.

No Charlie, I go to sleep wondering how could we end up in a situation where we have quadrupled our debt in 6 months.

I go to sleep wondering why Obama is even thinking about prosecuting CIA agents who were doing the job entrusted to them of protecting us from further attacks, which by the way they did.

I go to sleep at night wondering how Obama managed to fill his Presidency with non cabinet positions with the likes of communist leaning Van Jones who thinks Republicans are a**holes and who obviously has issues with white people.

I go to sleep at night wondering how Obama lied about wanting to bring people together, when his actions are driving a wedge between, black and white, rich and poor, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, etc, etc…

I go sleep wondering why you Mr Rangel, who is head of the committee that writes tax laws, managed to “forget” to report millions of dollars in income. If I made a few hundred extra I could see myself forgetting that. Does that mean millions is nothing to you, or were you blatantly violating laws?

I go to sleep at night wondering why Obama has not stepped up and nipped  the whole looking at pressing charges against Dick Cheeny in the bud. Although it would be kind of interesting if that happens because I’m sure the reports concerning terrorism and what was stopped because of what we did to prevent them, is something you do not want us to see.

I go to sleep at night wondering how it was allowed for Maxine Waters and Barney Frank to scream that there was no reason for Fannie Mae to be looked at back in 2004, that everything was fine. We see that was bologna!

Yes there are a lot of things I go to sleep at night wondering about, related to President Obama, but it sure isn’t what race he is. There are way too many other things to worry about.

Charlie Rangel, it’s time you and others who use the race card every time things don’t fall your way to stop it! Let the facts stand on their own and quit muddying the waters with irresponsible charges.