Competition: beat my tale of woe.

[lawrocket 3]

I'm posting some history of how my ancestors treated like dirt to show why I need affirmative action. I want to see if anybody here can beat me.

I'll start worst first. I'm about 1/2 Irish. That's right, my ancestors were Mick Potatoheads who couldn't keep good jobs working on the railroads after they got back from fighting in the civil war. Irish ranked below the toaster in terms of hwo they were perceived.

I've got about 1/4 English blood, too. Yep, my ancestors were shit on by the Limeys, so came to America to eke out a living in the coal fields. Life was good, but ended at age 26.

My father's side of the family was Mormon, and got kicked out of every place they went until settling on the land that God forgot of Salt Lake. I think I should get some land in Illinois.

Don't forget what the Romans did to my Germanic ancestry, as well. Those Romans interrupted our lifestyles to kill my ancestors dead! I expect to receive my share of the Cresta Run sometime next week.

Of course, my Scandinavian blood gives my skin a pink color. There isn't even a spot for "Pink" on the census. On top of that, we face the horrors of the sun far greater than any of you melanin-enhanced people do.

So, I guess that with all the bad stuff that happened to my ancestors centuries ago, I should expect to be elevated in some way. Bring it on!

Can anybody beat MY tale of woe? Come on, let's hear how badly your ancestors had it. It may get you government benefits, scholarships, or even a guest spot at the Democratic National Convention!

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[PhillyKev 0]

This argument is ludicrous. After one generation, white immigrants were white Americans and no one could tell they weren't descended from Betsy Ross.

Blacks are still black and are still targeted by racists.

[rehmwa 2]

Quote

Can anybody beat MY tale of woe?

I was making trail mix the other day and the only M&Ms available at the store were Shrek M&Ms.

Those colors on M&Ms are not right....

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

This argument is ludicrous. After one generation, white immigrants were white Americans and no one could tell they weren't descended from Betsy Ross.

Blacks are still black and are still targeted by racists.

The same could be said of the Chinese working on the railroads. While not as shit on as my irish ancestors, they had it pretty rough. Yet, Asians have a pretty tough time with scholarships and college entrance, etc, because there are so many qualified recipients.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"I've got about 1/4 English blood, too."

In which case you owe me, as the English pushed my ancestors off their farms (highland clearances) to make way for sheep.
Its payback time, so dig deep dude.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[lawrocket 3]

Hey, I'm English and Irish. I've got a constant internal struggle. That's how I explain being so fat. It's the Irish trying to blow th British up!

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Gawain 0]

I might have it... [ tongue in cheek]

I'm about 1/4 Scotch/Irish (there's debate within my family about exactly where, I think Scottish), 1/4 Polish, 1/4 German, and 1/4 Croatian. So, I have similar tale as you for the Irish part, we all know the sh*t that's been slung at the Polish (we have a well defined class of jokes too), same story with the Germans, and there are similar "religious" issues that faced Croatia in recent years. *tips the scale*

[/tongue in cheek]

Having said that, a persons heritage means little to me outside of simple historical interest.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[PhillyKev 0]

Regarding Asians, the institutionalized racism against them had not been instilled in every generation of Americans that ever existed. The primary reasons for discrimination against immigrants was because natives blamed them for taking what they saw as their god-given jobs. The primary reason for discrimination against blacks is based on racism.

[TomAiello 26]

I can beat it.

My brother qualified for Affirmative Action in college, and I didn't.

We went to the same college. I entered three years after he did. The university did not change it's policies in that time.

What was the difference? My brother looks more like my Mom, and I look more like my Dad. So the nice lady at the registrar's office, when we showed up to register, checked "Filipino" on my brother's form, and "Caucasian" on mine.

So, two kids with exactly the same genetics, family background, and upbringing were treated differently by the system based upon the totally subjective evaluation of some bored bureaucrat.

If you're wondering, we really do look very different--we used to win bets that we were related, back in college.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[TomAiello 26]

Hey Kevin,

A (not so) hypothetical. If someone's four grandparents were natives of North Africa (Arab, essentially), the Phillipines (Asian), Germany (Caucasian) and America (around a quarter native american, with the balance various European immigrants), should that person qualify for affirmative action?

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

So, two kids with exactly the same genetics, family background, and upbringing were treated differently by the system based upon the totally subjective evaluation of some bored bureaucrat.

You're kind of proving the point that people make assumptions and judgments based on apparent race. In the case of AA in favors the minority. In almost every other aspect of life in the US it goes the other way.

I can't find it but there's a pretty nifty test around somewhere that shows you images of blacks and whites and asks you questions about the pictures. It's pretty much impossible to have a score that doesn't favor your own race no matter how fair you try to be, or even when you think you're favoring the other race.

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

Hey Kevin,

A (not so) hypothetical. If someone's four grandparents were natives of North Africa (Arab, essentially), the Phillipines (Asian), Germany (Caucasian) and America (around a quarter native american, with the balance various European immigrants), should that person qualify for affirmative action?

It depends. I never claimed that the current implementation of AA was right, but the idea is. What should be done? If it's found that there is a disproportionate number of a particular race getting hired or getting admitted to school of EQUALLY qualified applicants, then something needs to be done to correct that.

[Deuce 1]

I'm half Irish and half French.

Nasty business. Gareth wants to make me a serf, and Remi wants to kiss me.

[TomAiello 26]

I actually don't believe there is a lot wrong with private level discrimination or bias. If people want to be bigots, that's their right.

I definitely have a problem with government mandated bias.

Private bias is just a (perhaps undesirable) consequence of freedom. Public bias is a (definitely undesirable, in my opinion) consequence of an overly intrusive state.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

If it's found that there is a disproportionate number of a particular race getting hired or getting admitted to school of EQUALLY qualified applicants, then something needs to be done to correct that.

I disagree. The "hired" part depends on if we're talking about private or public employers.

I really do belive that private parties ought to have the right to make decisions based on any lame ass criteria they want.

Public entities shouldn't have that right. In fact, if I had my way, almost all entities would be private, so that wouldn't really be an issue.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[KATO33 0]

Quote

I'm posting some history of how my ancestors treated like dirt to show why I need affirmative action. I want to see if anybody here can beat me.

I'll start worst first. I'm about 1/2 Irish. That's right, my ancestors were Mick Potatoheads who couldn't keep good jobs working on the railroads after they got back from fighting in the civil war. Irish ranked below the toaster in terms of hwo they were perceived.

I've got about 1/4 English blood, too. Yep, my ancestors were shit on by the Limeys, so came to America to eke out a living in the coal fields. Life was good, but ended at age 26.

My father's side of the family was Mormon, and got kicked out of every place they went until settling on the land that God forgot of Salt Lake. I think I should get some land in Illinois.

Don't forget what the Romans did to my Germanic ancestry, as well. Those Romans interrupted our lifestyles to kill my ancestors dead! I expect to receive my share of the Cresta Run sometime next week.

Of course, my Scandinavian blood gives my skin a pink color. There isn't even a spot for "Pink" on the census. On top of that, we face the horrors of the sun far greater than any of you melanin-enhanced people do.

So, I guess that with all the bad stuff that happened to my ancestors centuries ago, I should expect to be elevated in some way. Bring it on!

Can anybody beat MY tale of woe? Come on, let's hear how badly your ancestors had it. It may get you government benefits, scholarships, or even a guest spot at the Democratic National Convention!

Damn i am so envious of you you have knowledge of who you really are Irish, English, German, Scandinavian incredible!!

Some say I can't claim African as part of my ancestry because I wasn't born there.
My family history only goes back to my GreatGrandfather we know he was born a slave and settled in Arkansas. that's about all we know. He probably would have written our families history down but unfortunately Slaves weren't allowed to learn to read or write. Damn I wish I could identify my ancestral history like that.

Blue Skies Black Death

[lawrocket 3]

That's my point, KATO. Doesn't matter what happened to my ancestors. I am me, and what happens to me is what matters.

My dad is a raving fucking lunatic. I've got that in my history, too. And it's something I can do nothing about except be the best I can be. And the best I can be is me.

My ancestors were all those different nationalities. I'm Jerry.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Deuce 1]

Quote

And the best I can be is me.

Not anymore. I have bought the rights to you, and you must now be someone else.

We have already met our targeted goal of people like you, so you must select a different type of person to be from this list of types of people of whom we have not yet reached our target goal.

[KATO33 0]

So you are not really interested in anyone beating your tale of woe???

Blue Skies Black Death

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

So you are not really interested in anyone beating your tale of woe???

Nope. Everybody's got them. I have them. You've got them. Deuce has them. I've been screwed over far too many times myself to worry about how my Great great great great grandfather was screwed over in 1836.

I'd like to tell you some more tales of woe, but I need to work off this $100k in student debt. No, I didn't get any scholarships. No, my grades weren't good enough. Yes, I suck it up and drive on.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[kallend 2,174]

Quote

I'm half Irish and half French.

Nasty business. Gareth wants to make me a serf, and Remi wants to kiss me.

Take the serf option, but watch Gareth like a hawk.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

Blacks are still black and are still targeted by racists.

And you don't think there is racisim directed at caucasians from "minorities"?

If a black person can be and "African-American" can I be an "Italian American?" I'll bet my ancesters came to this county a whole lot more recently than many "African-American's".

What about my South African friend who happens to be white and has now got his citizenship in the US. Is he an "African-American"?

This PC, AA, EO B.S. needs to go. There was a purpose for it in the past but now it's just a barrier to us being what we are. Human beings.

To paraphrase a dumb man with a brilliant thought "Can't we all just get along?"

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[diablopilot 2]

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Hey, I'm English and Irish.

Yeah, try this on:

1/4 Italian (Sicilian to be exact), got the mafia blod trying to corrupt me.

1/4 Columbian, yep the cartel is in there too....

1/4 Irish, IRA anyone?

1/4 English, and we know they bloody well pissed off a bunch of the world "occupying" everything.

I'm fucked.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[Keith 0]

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Yep, my ancestors were shit on by the Limeys, so came to America to eke out a living in the coal fields.

Then you owe me money for kicking my Native American ancestors off their land and giving them smallpox I'll be nice though, and only insisit on half of your future income.

(edited for spelling error)

Keith

Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

And you don't think there is racisim directed at caucasians from "minorities"?

Yes....but by and large minorities don't have as much power as whites. That's the point.