In Self-Defense II: Protesting the Protesters

Inspired by this chilling, classic 1876 cartoon.
Henry Fu  - The way I look at it is I defended the right of spoiled rich athletes who never knew a day of real oppression in their pampered lives to protest our country and our flag."

Muhammad Rasheed - They are protesting the systemic racism that oppresses their entire group, it doesn't matter if they were given a piece of the vast wealth they generate for the team owners or not. Remember, one of these "spoiled rich athletes" was recently roughed up by a cop after the MayMac fight for no other reason than because he was a Black man.

The "spoiled rich athletes" comment leaves the impression that you feel the money bought their silence fair-n-square, bought the stoppage of their belief that Black lives matter, and bought their allowing the continued oppression of their people.

Wallace L. Garneau - They are protesting the wrong things.  American Apartheid

Muhammad Rasheed - You believe they shouldn't protest the continued subjugation and exploitation of their people? Why?

Wallace L. Garneau - I did not say that. I said that they are taking the wrong side.

Muhammad Rasheed - The football players are taking the wrong side?

Wallace L. Garneau - Yes. Read the article. It spells it out clearly.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol What if I disagree with your article? Did Jesus write it?

Muhammad Rasheed - Stand by...

Muhammad Rasheed - Wait... YOU wrote it!!

How come you can't just sum this up here?

Muhammad Rasheed - Alright, hold on (this better be good too).

Muhammad Rasheed - Wallace L. Garneau wrote: "African Americans had been moving north in great numbers to seek better economic opportunities than were available in the South."

They were also escaping the terror inflicted on them by white supremacist groups during the height of the lynching era.

Wallace L. Garneau - Economics had a lot to do with it too. You are right though that active persecution, which was worse in the South, was also a large factor.

Muhammad Rasheed - Okay, so your article lists some of the items that aid in the systemic racism that oppresses Blacks (conspicuously omitting the many housing-based confidence scams like redlining and gerrymandering directly responsible for the enormous wealth gap between the races), but you think the athletes are wrong for peacefully protesting the oppression of their people.

I don't get it. Was this just a trick to get me to read your article?

Muhammad Rasheed - Both the GOP and the Demos are responsible for items that make up components of systemic racism, and both parties represent the USA, symbolized by the flag and anthem the activists direct the symbol of their kneeling.

They are protesting the oppression of their people.

Muhammad Rasheed - Is the point of directing me towards your article, Wallace, to vilify the Democrat Party?

The "wrong side" you alluded to was just a partisan rival comment. The African-American's political opinion can be found on both sides of the aisle, and their needs as special interests can be managed by either. The trick is that the ethnic group needs to come together as a political group inside of which ever party makes the most sense to do so under (naturally I would suggest they do so under the Democrats since the post-Southern Strategy era has left the GOP openly hostile towards them).

The bottom line is that their protests aren't a partisan issue, it's a justice issue -- the systemic racism at the nation's core was put there by both parties. Which one of them is going to help them remove it?

Wallace L. Garneau - Why percent of African Americans voted for Hillary Clinton? Republicans are not hostile to African Americans. We are hostile to the policies that are oppressive to our inner city communities.

Muhammad Rasheed - There's a greater percentage of Black votes going towards the Democrat Party because of the overt hostility the GOP has displayed towards them in recent decades, especially since the Southern Strategy of Reagan recruited the anti-civil rights white conservative Southern Democrats to the GOP team en masse.

Muhammad Rasheed - That's the party that the modern white supremacist subscribes to when he bothers to play the partisan politics game at all.

Muhammad Rasheed - Do you deny this?

Ethan Hauber - The Southern Strategy isn't what you think it is. THE MYTH OF THE RACIST REPUBLICANS

Ethan Hauber - The only racist Democrat that "switched sides" was Strom Thurmond, and that was after renouncing his racist views.

Wallace L. Garneau - I do deny it. African Americans started voting primarily Democrat in the early 1930s, and white Southerners began voting primarily Republican in the 1980s. Neither switch occurred when the 'big switch' supposedly happened.

Ethan Hauber - What's ironic is that the New Deal was a pretty explicitly racist set of policies that excluded blacks.

Phillip Standridge Sr. - I just got home from the Congo a few days ago. Maybe you would like it better there. I wouldn't stay were I'm not wanted. I hate that we have mistreated so many of you.

Muhammad Rasheed - Wallace L. Garneau wrote: "...and white Southerners began voting primarily Republican in the 1980s."

You deny that the GOP has been actively hostile to Blacks, while admitting that the very white supremacists Blacks migrated up North to escape began voting Republican in the '80s like I said.

I don't understand what it is you're supposed to be denying.

Muhammad Rasheed - @Phillip... The old "Go back to Africa!" response, eh? That's Racism Classic. Maybe you should've left this one to the more civilized of your group? #ItsBetterToRemainSilentAndBeThoughtAFool

Muhammad Rasheed - @Ethan... "Ironic" to what? Didn't I say that BOTH the GOP and the Dems have racist blood on their hands a few times now? I thought I was clear that the activist kneeling was a whole systemic racist protest, and not a narrow partisan one? Please note that Kap's kneeling didn't begin under the Trump Admin.

Ethan Hauber - The Democrats have a history of overt regulations that took black competition out of the market as well as state expansion.  Walter Williams column: The welfare state's legacy

Ethan Hauber - Also, I'm not a Republican, just for future reference.

Muhammad Rasheed - So what's the point of bombarding me with anti-Democrat rhetoric?

Muhammad Rasheed - Since the kneeling item ISN'T a partisan issue, then what ARE you arguing exactly?

Wallace L. Garneau - @Muhammed... The places in the South that went Republican were the urban centers - not the country. It was a reduction in racism in the South that flipped it Republican.

Muhammad Rasheed - Ethan's article: 1.) "the GOP deliberately crafted its core messages to accommodate Southern racists."

2.) "the GOP captured the core of the Southern white backlash vote"

They admit this while still proclaiming it's a "myth," and then go about trying to spin it with socio-political commentary to convince the reader that what they admitted actually happened, was actually a myth. lol

John Chrabuszcz - Haha, Bennett was not roughed up. He lied. It's on film.

Muhammad Rasheed - @John... New Police Body Cam Footage Of Michael Bennett Arrest Released

Ethan Hauber - @Muhammad Rasheed... because I'm not a Democrat either. I'm an Austro-Libertarian Anarcho-Capitalist.

Muhammad Rasheed - So you're neither a Republican nor are you a Democrat, and you believe bombarding me with anti-Democrat rhetoric, in perfect imitation of a GOP true believer, is a sensible response to my support of the very non-partisan activist peaceful protest.

Ethan Hauber - I will say this: Libertarians always have the best interests of people in mind.

Muhammad Rasheed - I know what the Libertarian ideals state from my research (I'm particularly moved by Rose Wilder Lane's famous work in the literature), but the members of the Libertarian party and friends certainly haven't done a good job of demonstrating those ideals in the last decade.

Muhammad Rasheed - Why would I wish to partner with a group whose members regularly espouse the same anti-Black rhetoric of my active enemy during the darkest days in American history?


Muhammad Rasheed - Your vision and ideals for the nation do not align to my own. I'm suspect of your version of "best interests."

John Chrabuszcz - @Muhammad Rasheed... still don't see roughing. He ran from cops, he's being detained. I'll bet there's thousands of guys who ran from police who wish they were roughed up like that. I won't argue with your premise but this is a weak case.

Muhammad Rasheed - Unlike you, John, I'm not inclined to trust a cop's word after all they have shown. They'll have to earn it. Currently they stand at a tremendous deficit.



Ethan Hauber - "Libertarians spouting anti-black rhetoric."

Lol where?

Ethan Hauber - You cannot minimize state sanctioned violence without first minimizing the state.

Muhammad Rasheed - The most high-profile ones were in Dr. Paul's newsletters, remember?

Ethan Hauber - The ones that he literally had nothing to do with and wasn't aware of the existence of until the media got wind of it?

Muhammad Rasheed - That's just the clean-up effort to save the Revolution propaganda train.

Ethan Hauber - Not an argument.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol Of COURSE it is. A lie, is a lie, is a lie, Ethan.

"Fool me once, shame on you..."

Urvy Jaramillo - Meanwhile, blacks killing blacks and other races are ignored and as long as they kill each other, they don’t have to take knees.

Muhammad Rasheed - There's crime in every ethnic group's poor communities, but what's relevant here is that there are dozens and dozens of organizations working on controlling your favorite "black-on-black crime" political talking point. In fact, the Black urban area crime has been on a steady decline for years, with a huge jump during the Obama era.

Funny how you are unaware of these facts while pretending you know so much about Black people. Thanks for supporting the cartoon's message.  

Urvy Jaramillo - @Muhammad Rasheed... Actually, I’m not supporting your message, race baiter

Muhammad Rasheed - lol You're supporting the message of the character IN the cartoon.

Thanks for playing.  

James Cox - Hey bro what about how black people oppress themselves far worse than anybody else does about 90% of us are killed by own people most of us will not marry hot women after impregnating them, don't love and train our children .That's the worst oppression my brother God bless you. I also believe you criticized One race for oppression and ignore what your own base do to each other that kind of makes a person a racist does it not because it's discrimination based upon race. Criticize the the white and ignore what the black is doing to themselves, Which is far far worse, kind of cruel to me my brother.

Muhammad Rasheed - The well-read and wise "bro" will recognize the items you are listing are the effects of the systemic racism designed to keep Blacks vulnerable for exploitation. You have to think deeper. The LAST thing you need to do is listen to their spin on anything.

James Cox - Mr Muhammad Rasheed I will share one more thing with you and I'm finished God bless you sir people do what they do because of the spirit they have in them it is either God or the devil the devil all of us I mean all of us have one of those Spirits in US the devil's not going to act different because of the color of the skin he inhabits he's going to do the exact same thing as white, black ,yellow brown Chinese Russian-American, black white is the same brother. Whatever you upset and blaming white people for blacks will do the same exact thing just like all mankind will but the devil is the devil my brother that's the only difference it never has been and never will be by the color but always about a spirit you the child of God of child of the devil we are all the same God bless you again my brother.

Ethan Hauber - @Muhammad Rasheed... you haven't debunked anything regarding Ron Paul's lack of involvement in those newsletters.

Because it makes sense that an anti-war activist who said racism is collectivism would write those.

Muhammad Rasheed - "Debunked?"

I just don't believe him or his true fans. Should I?

Muhammad Rasheed - I have ZERO faith in y'all's word. #SpeaksWithForkedTongue

Ethan Hauber - Look into some quotes and policies by Gary Johnson. Also, explain why black communities are plagued by singe parent homes after years of federal subsidies and lack of free market competition.

Muhammad Rasheed - I already know Gary Johnson.

Black communities are plagued by the various arms of systemic racism's effects. This is a bipartisan evil. It will continue until Blacks learn to come together as a powerful bloc, and use the force of their political might to tell their representatives "what to do" in order to get what they need for long-term success.

Muhammad Rasheed - James Cox wrote: "Whatever you upset and blaming white people for blacks will do the same exact thing..."

You're saying that because Black people have the capacity to potentially turn around and subjugate, terrorize and exploit whites as has been done to them, that I should just stop talking about it and allow whites to continue to subjugate, terrorize and exploit my people unopposed?

That seems to be the gist of what your point was. If so, you must not expect me to do anything with it except show it to my friends and mercilessly ridicule both it and you. I'll give you 24 hrs to clean it up.

Henry Fu - Growing up Asian I faced racism and bias from both blacks and whites. There will always be someone that don't like you because of your race, sex, creed, or whatever. Spending your time trying to prove a case of systemic racism is a poor waste of your precious time because yes, there are people who wont like you. So what? I spent my time focused on my career and family and I am happy and grateful for the success I have had with both. You should try the same.

Muhammad Rasheed - I don't have to prove it, Henry, it is self evident. The bad guy of our story has taken pains to pretend he isn't maintaining that systemic racist system that benefits only him, but his efforts are sloppy in his arrogance. I don't need to prove it, just discuss it. Silencing people who want to talk about this great evil is part of his strategy.

I reject his strategy. The USA's most enduring evil will never go away if the oppressed agree to remain silent like cowards. You think being a coward in the face of evil will make me happy? lol I thought you were a soldier?

James Cox - @Henry Fu... Amen bro.

Henry Fu - Yes, systematic racism exists along with systematic bias against short people, systematic religious intolerance, etc. etc. Point is, you will waste your life spending your time consumed with the boogeyman. Better approach is simply to acknowledge it exist, move on, make your own life better.

Muhammad Rasheed - You are unaware of what "systemic racism" actually is. It is a tactic that deliberately prevents the Black community from building up wealth over generations, that deliberately widens the wealth gap between Blacks and whites using real estate/housing scams, political disenfranchisement, and non-economic liberalism. I am in the middle of a war, and your misinformed opinion of it, and dismissal of decades of research cannot help me.

Henry Fu - It is the government and the virtual plantation holding hostage the black community. It is the self-victimization of the mind. The more you focus on finding the boogeyman as the reason for your failures, the least likely you will get ahead.

Muhammad Rasheed - Getting ahead isn't about me, it's about my entire ethnic group. Fighting against "the boogeyman" is the only righteous work in front of me. You've already explained that you prefer cowardice over the fight, and that's fine. That's your path and you may have it. I reject your offer to take it on for myself. I have to look into my family's faces every day. Cowardice is not my portion. No, thank you.

Rodney Norton - That’s a lie Muhammad, & there lies the problem. There tape proving Michael Bennett is a flat out liar. Notice it hasn’t been brought up lately. It’s just put in the column of bad cops, poor innocent mIchael. Same goes for mIchael Brown. Who in their right mind goes after a cop, or tries to run from them? It’s about personal decisions, not skin color. There are cases and the should be prosecuted If found guilty. Busy Systemic? Nope.

Marv Gaby Mitchell - The issue of race is interesting. Currently a black child has more opportunities in life than a "white" child born today. We have laws to assist the black child in housing, education,employment, congressional representation and so much more. I get upset listening to how the black community is being oppressed by police? That's crazy, you act like a thug and yelling racism when you are treated as a thug? Besides, the facts do not support this claim. The black community is broken and no one is willing to acknowledge that fact. The crazy part to this is you can't discuss this issue with out being called a racist. The name racist is so quickly losing its sting as it continues to be abused. We need to do away with laws that divide us. We need to stop classifying ourselves by color. I am not a white male, I am an American!

Muhammad Rasheed - Please stop pretending you two are interested in any facts when all three of us know that is not so. All you care about is the spin of your partisan talking points that help you sleep better at night.

Muhammad Rasheed - Facts singes your skin the way holy water prolly does. Be honest for once. You'll release the burden in your souls. Such as they are.

Henry Fu - @Muhammad Rasheed... if you aren't willing to listen to reason and you refuse to read any real books on the topic then what exactly are you trying to achieve here?

Muhammad Rasheed - It's pretty clear at this point that you hold no reason to share, Henry. Did you not literally just dismiss everything I had to say in favor of willfully misinformed nonsense?

As I said, my point was to be heard.

Muhammad Rasheed - You know nothing of the topic of systemic racism, yet proudly labeled it "boogeyman" as if not knowing about something is a badge of pride.

Muhammad Rasheed - Is that what "reason" sounds like to you then?

Henry Fu - The dismissing is based on the fact that 1) you don't have any new facts to contribute, 2) you simply repeat the same propaganda over and over like some mantra. Tell me I'm wrong.

Muhammad Rasheed - 1.) You are unaware of any OLD facts on the topic, so your charge is laughable at best.

2.) We all repeat the same "propaganda" over and over, since the issues remain the same. I won't ever ask you to tell me I'm wrong since you've proven to be unqualified for the task.

Muhammad Rasheed - Marv Gaby Mitchell wrote: "The black community is broken and no one is willing to acknowledge that fact."

"Systemic racism." Pretty sure I acknowledged that a few times.

Muhammad Rasheed - Rodney Norton wrote: "Notice it hasn’t been brought up lately."

It's going to court. Bennett is going to sue the crappola out of those people. Good for him. I hope it destroys them, and they're forced to build an entirely new police dept. from the ground up.