i just remembered an incident that happened to some friends and i when we were stationed in jersey in 1958.
four of us, one of my buddies was single the other two were married, drove to dc. we singles were going to listen to oscar peterson or some other piano player and chase woman and the married guys went to their homes. on the way back to the base we stopped at some crappy cafe on the road, i went to the bathroom and when i came out my buddies said we would get food to go. i didn't want food in my hudson hornet so i said bs, let's eat here and then go. a whisper in my ear said they wouldn't serve all of us. i'm from brooklyn and when i was younger i tended to get pi**ed off easily so i said to the owner or whatever he was "are you sh**ting me? why can't you serve all of us. my buddies pulled me out of this joint where, as i recall, i was leery of using their toilet. on the way back to the base we all talked and i learned what it like to be treated like sh*t because of color and being unable to fight it for fear of death to your family from your "white neighbors". it's over 40 years and i have not forgotten it and will take my disgust and hatred of bigots to the grave.

Bigots are ignorant and show no intolerance for anybody or anything, thus they should be viewed with disgust and pity!!!! Charlie

That's a very telling story of reality from 40 years ago. It's a shame that so many "do-gooders" have diluted the words "Biggot" and "Racist" by using them in situations where it isn't accurate. Also, since your anger is well placed, would you feel that justice is served if the son or daughter of that owner had to pay a fee to your friend of color? We can't sweep the crimes of yesterday under the rug, but neither can we capitalize on them other than the lesson learned.

tailgater no i don't think it is necessary to pay the children for the suffering of their ancestors to serve justice and if the children think they should get any money, they are trying to capitalize on the past they didn't live through. they don't even deserve an apology.

Amen, Rick!

As Rush would say, "Double Dittos, Rick and Crossbones"! Charlie

And of course at the heart of this whole thing are the sleazy attorneys who stand to pick up a truckload of money by freeloading this process to the max! Charlie

Thank you, Rick, for your candor. It is good to know that common sense isn't completely lost on those that "lean left".

OK, I will post my 2 cents on this as another of the left leaning minority on this board. I wholeheartidly agree that the "race card" is played way too freely in todays society but (and this is a big but)there is still widespread prejudice. I do not feel that reparations are appropriate for decendants of slaves but was way overdue for the Americans of Japanese decent that were kept in internment camps. I do feel that a good bit of the white population views Halle as black and the jist of her speach was appropriate (but very long winded). Have at it guys.

Boy I hate that term "playing the race card". I remember when Ray Rhoads got fired as the coach of the Packers a few years back. There were hints of "he only got fired because he was black" in the papers. When his PR was asked about this they said, "We aren't going to play the race card yet" as if they are playing a game of sheepshead or something. It just drives me nuts.

What would you call using race as a tactic? Again, I truly feel that race is still a big issue in this country but there are many instances that race is used as a tactic where race really had nothing to do with the issue at hand - that to me is "playing the race card." Sorry if you don't like the term, but I feel it applies. Barry

Yes, there is racism in America 2002. As long as individuals are free to think for themselves there always will be. Just as there will be murder, rape and theft. But the "RACE ISSUE" is kept alive not by racists, but by the feel-gooders and the minorities of color themselves. Perhaps if the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons of the world would go away, then we could think unbiased about every decision. When a white guy gets fired, his performance or attitude is examined. When a black guy gets fired, his color is examined. When Halle won the Oscar, I thought a fine actress was chosen. When I listened to her speech, I thought the award was fixed in order to make a statement. When I see a group of young black Americans laughing and playing, I swell with pride for our future. When I see a gang of thugs swaying with a "home boy" attitude, I wince in agony. If that gang happens to be black, I somehow become a biggot in the eyes of the Liberal Left. When professional athletes complain about the low number of black coaches it is claimed to be due to racism. They state the "facts": 80% of the league is black, yet only 3% of the coaches are. Yet they ignore the reverse statistics: only 15% of America is black, yet 80% of the millionaire athletes are. How does this happen? The "race issue" is only an issue when somebody needs it to be. Other than that, it is simply a bunch of uneducated fools who think they can judge a person by their skin color. Perhaps we should pity the biggot rather than fight them. Many people don't mind a battle, but few want to be pitied...

tailgater i believe you hit the nail on the head.

Damn, the three of us agreeing, this is a hallmark moment when Rick agrees with me and tailgater!!!!! Charlie

As far as Ray Rhoades getting fired, he deserved to be fired! He is a great defensive coordinator, and a miserable example of a head coach! No race was involved, just a bad job of coaching! Charlie

My nomination for best actor ever.... O.J. Simpson.

Jesse Jackson is an extortionist and should be in jail. Robert Mitchum was the greatest movie star and "Farewell My Lovely" one of the best hollywood film noir movies ever made. Halle Berry is beautiful and sexy but a lousy public speaker. How come you guys don't put up so many posts over in the cigars area? This is interesting, but you know you are just pi$$ing each other off over here all the time with your bullheaded opinions, whereas if you only like maddies, who cares, even lunatic liberals like maddies ;o)

Jesse can bend his body backwards?

Mostly he bends other people forward, lol.

Robert Mitchum in the original "Cape Fear". One of the most menacing, dark character portrayals in the history of film