Best Of

@Amos_Umwhat said:

@VegasFrank said:

@Amos_Umwhat said:

@silvermouse said:

This strikes me as an outstanding example of race baiting propaganda. Exactly of the nature to ensure that conflict between the races remains active in our country, and never dies.

With complete disregard of facts or truth, Mr. Bolling reaches into the psyche of the disaffected or delusional, offends anyone who believes in merit as being a primary source of personal accomplishment, thus keeping the flames of hatred stoked in order to provide a source of power for those who wish to exploit those sentiments in certain segments of our population.

Well, that's politics for you. Some things never change. I'm sure the Socialists will enjoy the gist of this one.

I should add that I don't fault Edward, having lived through the years when institutional racism was a real thing I say none of us want that to return. Why don't we just let it die?

I don't mean to start anything up because I really don't want to, but I think it's important that we all realize it's an institutional racism is alive and well in the United States of America. I was like you Steve. I didn't believe it I even spoke against the idea several times. And I adopted a black kid. I can tell you that it's real. I can give you a hundred no **** examples that will be tldr. Or maybe you wouldn't even agree with some of them. Maybe you would agree that was institutional racism just racism.

But that's not true. To me institutional or systemic racism means that the racism is built into the system + the system leaves one with very few choices but to remain in the system. Credit scores, public schools, social services, grocery stores, and prisons are all examples that keep systemic or institutional racism alive in this country.

You can slice it and dice it and alibi it anyway you want, but the bottom line is that if you're born into poverty, you're going to grow up in poverty and you're going to live in poverty as an adult. If you go up a class it is only one class. There are no outs unless you can shoot a basketball or sing a song. Poor people are born with no money they're trying to act like they have no money they're not giving opportunities to make any money, and they are encouraged to reproduce in the neighborhood with no money so their children grow up poor.

You're probably right. I remember the days of separate water fountains, whites only lunch counters, separate schools etc.,which thankfully are gone. That's what I think of when I say institutional racism. I was just a kid, but I remember.

My Dad was a loud voice for change in those days, and change came. It seemed that it was only a matter of time, and letting the oldsters die off, before we would inevitably reach MLK's dream. I longed for the day when a persons worth would be determined solely by the content of his character. I still do. That's why I said I don't fault Edward for posting the cartoon, I'm sure that was the intent.

I see the cartoon in question as being race baiting. I'm sure it was meant to expose the underlying racism that, sadly, still exists in our society, however I believe that it is one of many things that will serve only to perpetuate and exacerbate that very thing. I believe that we are long overdue to let such things go. Let those feelings die.

Unfortunately, just like when the military is always "fighting the last war" instead of the one taking place right now, I think that such things as Black History Month or Black Entertainment Television are simply prolonging the olden days, and preventing the healing of society. It seems like self-imposed segregation, just like the klan used to preach.

I'd just like to see us let it go and treat each other based solely on the work we put into being the people we are. Instead, hate seems to be endemic. It seems that even with the best of intentions we judge each other based on superficial trivialities. This is evident in our political games. I keep seeing references to "MAGA hate", but I also see videos of black people attending MAGA rallies where they are greeted with phrases like "Good to see you", and "Glad you came out", and "Isn't it a lovely day.

Contrast that with what might happen to an old white guy in a MAGA hat at a Harris/Walz rally.

Not pretty.

I could go on, but I hope I've sufficiently conveyed my point. Thanks for the reasonable response.

A lot said there. I also appreciate your perspective and won't argue about how far we have come because we have come very far.

I disagree with you hun celebrating black history or Black culture or women's culture or any other culture in America. For so long in this country, races and ethnicities and demographics were segregated into different neighborhoods and different regions and were shamed for being where they were from. Just like we celebrate Irish culture on St Patrick's Day or Mexican culture on Cinco de Mayo, there is nothing wrong with saying, "hey, this guy did something pretty cool in the 1950s." The best part about these celebrations is that you don't have to take part in them if you don't want to. Let people take part and let people have a good time and let them feel proud. If you don't want to participate, have a nice day sir.

Speaking of greeting somebody softly with have a nice day, I find your maga rally comment to be funny really. I wonder how a butch blue haired lady wearing an "I'm with Her" t-shirt would be received at a trump rally, or two effeminate black fellas holding hands would be received.

No I don't, of course. 😂
https://youtu.be/jd95dufYBrU?si=-xf-8q1Ly8WvXOt2

Just like the all-male black couple or the blue haired woman with the T-shirt, I think that anybody who wears a mega hat to a Democratic rally is there simply looking for trouble, and they shouldn't be there. Of course, we will blame the crowd instead of the instigator in all three cases, at least if it can sell one single advertisement.

Thanks Steve, appreciate your perspective. Have a nice day.

Your future doctor is using ChatGPT to pass med school so you better start eating healthy.

Seems back to normal.....

@ShawnOL said:
Congratulations, Lindsay. Don't forget us when you're a corporate bigshot.

Who's to say I'm not already a corporate bigshot who simply plays it cool?

I don’t like the fact that the response options and number of responders to a category is the SAME color.

All kidding aside. Go to know. Can’t wait. We know it will be good.

@TheCigarChick said:

@VegasFrank said:
@TheCigarChick

This new format blows hard. Can we have the old one back?

The original formatting/theme was sunset by Vanilla (forum hosting site) many, many months ago. While we're able to remain on it for the near future, there will be some changes that Vanilla institutes that I cannot override because the coding is no longer supported.

That being said, I never knew these little tweaks were happening on the Vanilla side because it's time I come clean to you all: I've been off CIGAR.com business for months now, and so I'm not super in-tune with the day-by-day of it all anymore. While I'm still with STG and will always have a major soft spot for CIGAR.com, I got promoted and moved to a different division of the business. I've kept - and will keep! lol - my Admin privileges for the Forum as I'm one of the few people in the company overall who knows the inner-workings of this site feature, but I'm only logging in when one of you tags me in a post or sends me a DM.

I can tell you I work for General Cigar now, so more than happy to take your thoughts/questions/concerns about our portfolio, as everyone's opinions on this Forum truly matter to me.

Congratulations on the promotion Lindsay. Good to know we still have your ear. Just one question. Who do we bítch at now over, well, whatever lol?
C’mon, give us a name 😂