Is there any way to discuss racism on these boards without getting banned???/

How about doing so without using offensive words?

Other than stirring people's tempers up I'm not sure what can be gained from trying to discuss racism on a public forum like this. Nobody is going to convince anyone from the other side to change their mind. To me racism is one of the worst mindsets a person can have especially if that same person claims to be a Christian. So the best that can be gained is a continued realization that racism persists and to try to make sure we don't elect any to public office.
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Bob DeWoody

MS - I think it is about power in the US -- for the longest time, that power was purely concentrated with white anglos.

There were some small cracks in this in the early 19th century -- getting a reaction in the No-Nothing party which sought to stem the tide of German and Irish immigrants and some small amount of political power they were getting in a few cities.

There was a major *but temporary* crack after the Civil War in the Reconstruction South -- but that was put back to 'normal' in the Hayes/Tilden election deal which did a major 'undo' command regarding the rights of blacks.

There continued to be a trend starting in the late 19th century with the majoTr influx of non-anglo immigrants. Eventually, this was pushed back to a large degree by strong anti-immigration controls plus a lot of effictive assimilation.

In another thread we touched on the reduction in anglo *male* power as women got the right to vote.

Things stayed at this level -- still pretty much anglo (or northern European) male dominated into at least the late 50's and early 60's.

So it has only been in the past 50 years that the power of the anglo male has been truly (and increasingly) challenged. That challenge has increasingly resulted in reaction from those who have so long held power as well as those who so recently have some access to power.

The coming years are likely to see white anglo males forced increasingly to work with and accept other power groups. Ideally, it will also see increasingly that the non-white anglos work with the new minority.

On TV there are pandering shows of all sorts - some educate as well. Remember All in the Family?

Other than stirring people's tempers up I'm not sure what can be gained from trying to discuss racism on a public forum like this. Nobody is going to convince anyone from the other side to change their mind. To me racism is one of the worst mindsets a person can have especially if that same person claims to be a Christian. So the best that can be gained is a continued realization that racism persists and to try to make sure we don't elect any to public office.

Oh, you want 'Don't ask, Don't tell..'
I understand you well.
Don't speak of the issue and it goes away.........
I just posted for a roust. Yeah.
I do happen to profess to be a Christian.

Therefore, I speak out about things I do have a problem with.

I just hope you know that for the most part you are preaching to the choir here. What I have garnered from the posts of most of the members here does not point toward racism, maybe a little bigotry here and there. People can have widely different points of view and still not be either.
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Bob DeWoody

You can stop playing the "poor white me" card anytime now Mark.
Everything in our society is geared toward the white male. Why would you want to squawk when allowances are made to allow women and minorities a small piece of the pie?

There is a way to discuss racism on these boards without getting banned, you simply need to speak against it.
If you want to speak in favour of racism, go to the KKK boards.
The average Member of the SETI community has no time nor tolerance for racism.
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If any question why we died, tell them, because our fathers lied.
Kipling, Rudyard

I am 62 and I too have been through a lot. Even though I am what used to be referred to as a white anglo saxon person I have suffered through a life of being looked down upon not because of my race but because I was born disabled. I went to public schools where most of the other kids either shunned me or made fun of the way I walked. I didn't get to participate in many of the activities of the other children and those things that I could do I was never given a chance to prove I could. After graduating from college with a GPA only one tenth of a point off the deans list I was unable to secure a position as a teacher because it was assumed I couldn't handle the students. Even with these factors against me I was able to work in civil engineering eventually as a civil engineering designer working on CAD systems. Along the way I have met and dealt with racists and bigots. So I too think I'm in a good position to sense the mindset of many of our fellow members at Seti@home. I just hope and pray that when ET does phone home they are better than we are.
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Bob DeWoody

Now see, I never once thought of the possibility that the original poster is a racist. Maybe I'm not so good at determining other peoples intentions as I thought I was.
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Bob DeWoody

You can stop playing the "poor white me" card anytime now Mark.

That itself is a racist comment. Proof: change the "white" to any other color and that post gets deleted. As always, great job.