Passing on information to make the most of t.v. appearances.

[The Backlash Cometh]

Just had lunch with someone from the other side of the minority issue. White male who was raised in an orphanage and who saw the best and worst of the civil right's movement. He just figured out how committed I am to defending minorities in the white island we live in, so he came out and expressed his point of view, and it was illuminating to hear. I thought I'd pass on the information. I'm hispanic (latina) but, when blacks and hispanics are not fighting each other over the crumbs we're given, we often realize we have a common problem to tackle.

This is what he said: He was watching the Larry Elders show and the black people who came onto the show just spouted out that it was whites that were oppressing blacks and that's the reason why black people are financially disadvantaged. He said they didn't go over very well. Immediately I saw the problem and pointed out the following:

(1) Minorities do have valid concerns about prejudice and discrimination, but they have to be specific. Name, names. Tulia, for example. And if you really want to stick it to the man, go to a law library and start pulling law suits filed against municipalities. Do legal research on your own city, and start harvesting the names of the pillars of the community which are burying their mistakes and indiscretions in settlement agreements -- all at the public's expense. I think it would be illuminating. But the important thing to understand is that whites will not listen to you or me, if we speak in generalities. Talk specifics and you'll get their attention. Many of them don't even realize what their own are doing -- at the public's expense.

(2) Spread the word. Before anyone goes on a talk show or radio station to be interviewed, make sure that they understand that if they intend to use the communal "we" word, they must be aware that everything about them is being judged. Their education, public speaking skills and appearance. No problem showing your culture in how you dress, but they should know that they're going to get grilled, so public speaking and a well researched argument is critical.

I saw FoxNews help cement the idea that Liberalism was bad by continually putting up some of the far extreme members of the left to represent ALL liberals; and they would pair them next to a clean cut, shaven conservative. The contrast worked -- against us.

Anyway, I thought I would pass this on, because breaking stereotypes is a critical common denominator for all minorities.

[msgadget]

1. Larry Elders

I saw him comment tonight re the Abercrombie and Fitch lawsuit but am generally unfamiliar with him - is he a conservative talking head?

And, regarding stereotypes, what can we do? (I'm serious, that's not a rhetorical question.) Programs know the impressions they want their audience to have and select or set up the guests accordingly.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. It's the first time Larry Elder's name came up. But I did get the

impression that he was conservative. My friend made it sounds like Elders was making the black guest look uneducated, and possibly even caught him in a lie (regarding his education). It was such a stereotype, that I wondered why any black person would set himself up so.

Going back to your second question, you can get these stereotypes to stop on t.v., but it will take a little work.

Here's my four step program:

(1) Watch the shows and if you notice that they keep gravitating to the same kind of guest, bring it to our attention on DU and we'll help you with a write-in campaign. It worked against Fox. They use to have these butchy haired women with some far left agenda and on top of it all, they weren't even articulate. Then they would have a clean cut conservative to face off the person. The contrast worked -- against us.

Also, I know they are aware of what they're doing, because they jump high whenever the left does anything to stereotype them. Look how upset they are because some commercial makes the white male father figure look dumb.


(2) Research the background of the guest to confirm they're legitimate. This is easy. Call the show, get a name and city and look in the phone book for a phone number.

Then start a counter-offensive.

(3) You need to start becoming more effective in presenting your point of view. For example, today's show appears to have discussed, in general terms, that blacks feel oppressed by white people AND they consider people like Larry Flanders an "Uncle Tom." Do some research and make the argument. If it were me, I'd call the NAACP and have them come up with some juicy, concrete examples of discrimination and then I would ask the NAACP to send a representative to explain their side on the Larry Flanders show. ALSO, I would find someone with literature background to study this "Uncle Tom" character and explain exactly why it does or does not fit. You might find that you have to change your perceptions of Uncle Toms. You might discover that "Uncle Tom" is too kind a word to describe them.

And

(4) Make the real offensive. Show that Affirmative ACCESS is a reality for whites. Go uncover the dirty things that they do every day and get away with. Again, the NAACP should be instrumental here.

[msgadget]

3. Oh darn, does that mean I have to watch shows like that?

Seriously, I think your plan is a great way to fight stereotyping of all kinds. But, I've yet to receive a response from anyone at a TV show since the presidential campaign. Are you saying DU as a group would have a chance?

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Haven't been around here long, have you?

If you make a good case, DUers would help out with a letter campaign. Also, there are people on this newsgroup that write for newspapers and if it is a flagrant problem you uncover, things might get even more interesting.

It takes a small ember.

I remember years ago when the Democrats where in power, there was a news report on one disabled Republican who would peruse everything he could get his hands on in reference to Democratic Congressmen. For instances, what they said at banquets, or on the floor and he would watch how they voted. This information he compiled and sent to the appropriate Republican parties. He was looking for discrepancies, contradictions. He couldn't walk, but for what he had to do it didn't matter. He was shown at his desk, surrounded by clipped newspaper articles.

It's these grassroots efforts from individuals that create embers that can start a fire. We are almost ready to create our own Drudges and I'm sure we'll be more careful about the information we put on the net than Drudge ever would.

I have no doubt that we will follow the same process that FoxNews and the conseratives did. Turn our backs on the current media pablum professionals and create a Liberal media that is willing to talk truths -- and that includes being interspective. The differences will be stark. More importantly, it should knock the other side for their hypocrisy so that Americans can make informed decisions.

[msgadget]

5. Nope, I'm new

and I appreciate your pulling my coat. Now I don't have to just sputter into the wind.