Fatume said:
I have to agree with Body Opus on this one. The truth hurts, but it is still the truth. Problem is too many people can't handle the truth and as a result they point to the issue of race profiling.
Thank you for your input on this important issue. I think you make a very good point. The term racial profiling refers to the police policy of targeting certain racial groups for harassment. For example, the police look for any kind of excuse to pull over a young black person driving an expensive car so they can question them. This policy may bag them the ocassional arrest, usually for petty offenses, but it also serves to harass a large number of innocent law abiding citizens, perhaps like our acquaintance, Mr. Opus, if he happens to drive a nice car. I do not support this policy.
Night Hawk and Mr. Opus are quite right in identifying the black community as a community that has more than its fair share of law breakers. This is an undeniable reality and I expect they both have more first hand experience with that than I do. What I was reacting to was the way in which Mr. Opus came out with his accusation. If you want to have a serious discussion about problems of oppressed minorities in this city, obstacles faced by black youth in our society, and possible remedies for this problem of ours, I think that can be constructive and helpful. For example, what kind of community services are available in well known trouble areas like Jane/Keele or Malvern in Scarborough compared to Forest Hill or Rosedale? What kind of programs can be started to address the serious problems that exist in these neighbourhoods? What is the cause of violence and crime in these communities? Is it because black people live there? And how do we all benefit by addressing these problems together?
On the other hand, blaming and accusations just create an atmosphere of fear and loathing. Hey, how many times do you hear people talking about the latest $5 million fraud or embezzlement case....."I wonder what was the description of the people involved.
Let me guess: White male, middle aged (gangbanger) bla, bla, bla, bla, bla"
Well, such a comment would be more funny than offensive, and of course, it would be reality, just like the black gangs who according to Night Hawk control the drug trade in the streets. But the white community is not an oppressed minority, so the comment does not have the same potential to damage and hurt. And really race doesn't have much to do with it. Those middle aged white guys are just in the best position to pull off a heist like that.
My apologies to all for this long response. It is a complex issue that can not be addressed in a one liner. Also, apologies to Body Opus if I have antagonized him. I said that you may be misguided, but really I don't know enough about you to understand your point of view or your motives. But I do find it objectionable when people blame ethnic or racial communities for the problems that we have created and share as a society. That seems like scapgoating to me, even if it isn't racist.
