Conflation
Yesterday September 3, 2013 we were teased and then mis-informed, though not in an obvious way, by CNN and others that a NYC outfit was ordered by a Federal Court to pay some $285,000, in damages, to a former employee.
It was established that some person in authority had abused her by calling her the unspeakable word in a tirade. It appears that that conduct is his wont. He calls it tough love.
The focus, or matter, on which the case turned is a conclusion that the "defence" that there could be no "offence", since both abuser and abused were black, was without merit.
Methinks the Judge's conclusion is not wholly wrong (although the result is right) and his confusion results conflation of terms and from his lack of knowledge of baseball and Caribbean history. My facts may be wrong, but that will not stop me from writing them or relying on them.
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson is celebrated for many reasons, most prominently for being the first African-american to play in the major leagues. Some years ago, he was referred to as the first "negro."
El Tiante
Some years ago, I viewed a special on Louis Tiante's return to Cuba, after many years absence. He paid homage to his father while disclosing that his father did not make it into the major leagues because his father's skin colour was too dark.
A little known fact is that other people, and there were many, who would appear to be black and would be classified as such, were playing in the major leagues before Jackie Robinson. They simply happened to be Latin or Hispanic and not too dark-skinned. With the preceding qualifications such people were given a bye.
The abuser hails from the Dominican Republic. From his photographs, he appears to be dark-skinned, but I can assure you that I doubt that he believes that he is of the same race as the woman he abused and methinks he is right. Methinks that gave him license to call her that unwritable word. In this attitude he reflects an attitude commonly known, but unspoken, and if not, perceived. It is an attitude that was practiced by Rafael Trujillo, a light-skinned man who massacred some dark-skinned neighbours. I suspect the abuser knows his country's history. It is an attitude that regrettably is recognized here and at high levels, in that it is reflected in instruments that set or are used to implement public policy. Go get a census form or loan application!
I love the people who decline to answer those question. What I think of those who fill in the data, from observation, is unprintable.
Play ball!
Chris Matthews
A week or so ago, as part of the King celebration, Matthews observed that African-Americans have a distinct and different history from other black people, including those who came from the Caribbean. I smiled and agreed because history and culture are major components of race. Ask the Brits.
Race and skin colour are different things.
It was established that some person in authority had abused her by calling her the unspeakable word in a tirade. It appears that that conduct is his wont. He calls it tough love.
The focus, or matter, on which the case turned is a conclusion that the "defence" that there could be no "offence", since both abuser and abused were black, was without merit.
Methinks the Judge's conclusion is not wholly wrong (although the result is right) and his confusion results conflation of terms and from his lack of knowledge of baseball and Caribbean history. My facts may be wrong, but that will not stop me from writing them or relying on them.
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson is celebrated for many reasons, most prominently for being the first African-american to play in the major leagues. Some years ago, he was referred to as the first "negro."
El Tiante
Some years ago, I viewed a special on Louis Tiante's return to Cuba, after many years absence. He paid homage to his father while disclosing that his father did not make it into the major leagues because his father's skin colour was too dark.
A little known fact is that other people, and there were many, who would appear to be black and would be classified as such, were playing in the major leagues before Jackie Robinson. They simply happened to be Latin or Hispanic and not too dark-skinned. With the preceding qualifications such people were given a bye.
The abuser hails from the Dominican Republic. From his photographs, he appears to be dark-skinned, but I can assure you that I doubt that he believes that he is of the same race as the woman he abused and methinks he is right. Methinks that gave him license to call her that unwritable word. In this attitude he reflects an attitude commonly known, but unspoken, and if not, perceived. It is an attitude that was practiced by Rafael Trujillo, a light-skinned man who massacred some dark-skinned neighbours. I suspect the abuser knows his country's history. It is an attitude that regrettably is recognized here and at high levels, in that it is reflected in instruments that set or are used to implement public policy. Go get a census form or loan application!
I love the people who decline to answer those question. What I think of those who fill in the data, from observation, is unprintable.
Play ball!
Chris Matthews
A week or so ago, as part of the King celebration, Matthews observed that African-Americans have a distinct and different history from other black people, including those who came from the Caribbean. I smiled and agreed because history and culture are major components of race. Ask the Brits.
Race and skin colour are different things.
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