Carlos Laack's Blog

Everyone has their own way to seeing how they get along with others in different ethnicity backgrounds.

In my eyes, I keep it real with everybody. I'm not racist. I don't discriminate other people because of the color of their skin. I'm honest about this because for one no matter who anyone is, I don't know that person just as well other people in the City of Milwaukee don't even know who I am. I personally would really get to know the person before I render a verdict on saying if I like them or not, but regardless of anything, the fact of the matter is that "I'm not going to tell someone head up that I HATE THEM because of the color of their skin, I HATE THEM because they hate African-American people like me or I HATE THEM because anyone else from other different ethnic backgrounds are better than someone like me and all other African-American people". No, I'm not going to say anything like that or anything even just as low as that comment or pure out of order. I wouldn't even mumble the comment behind my back or towards others because it's just pure disrespectful.

I go by a person's actions - not by who/what they are. The problem is that being accused of racism is a catchall excuse at times. Some people think that Michael McGee jr is in jail because of racism instead of by his own actions. Some people think Michael Vick was arrested because of his race rather than for his actions. If you are for limiting immigration or sending back illegal immigrants you are considered racist by some.

I think the term racism is used too much and in a lot of cases in which it is not appropriate.

As long as there are different skin colors there will be people who apply characteristics to people of the other color. I am white. At one time in my life I held what would now be called racist views. I've been the victim of racism as well. I was denied even the right to apply for a job because I was white and male. I have been targeted with hate speech as well. I don't believe the canard that minorities can't be racist because they don't wield power. Memebers of a minority group can be racists and some are indeed racists. What began to turn the tide for me was when I got to know a couple of black guys in college. Then I got a job where I worked with a guy who was French-Canadian and who had been on the receiving end of a lot of hatred from Canadians. He taught me that if someone does you wrong you blame that PERSON and not the race. I never forgot that. When I became a Christian God really set to work on me and He's seen fit to use me to encourage folks regardless of race. My job takes in into the inner city of Milwaukee quite a bit. I've met a lot of wonderful folks there. I try to be on the lookout for the good stuff, the positive stuff there and everywhere.

The one of the truly odd, and strong characteristics of America is racism. When people look back at America hundreds of years from now, they will look at how silly of a country America was for judging soley on the color of one's skin. You know most other countries judge a persons ethnicity, and where they're from and who their people are. Idk, I'm sure we'll look like real idiots for this one. Maybe history will judge Canada the smart ones after all.

When Dr. King talked about his four children, Yolonda, Dexter, Martin III, and Bernice, about the comment that "they would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character", he was on point. The key word from that sentence was "character" not "color". In this day in age some probably doesn't understand what that means. Sometimes where I go, even when I'm driving, no matter the place, say like Mayfair or the Midtown Shopping Center, I get some odd looks from groups of people and ask myself, what are they staring at me for? Have they seen black folks before? Half of the time, I don't get odd looks and go about my business without harm. Is that to do with color? Nope. Just the attitude. Or as I like to call it, barriers of negativity.

Desertwinder, I'm curious about your comment. Why do you think you become racist here? And was there any one thing that may have caused you to change?

For anyone else... what does it take to end racism? Can you even get rid of racism?

Like I said before, what it takes to end racism is to people to get to know others from other ethnic backgrounds. Know where they're from, know they're likes and dislikes, know they're religion, ETC...

We can get rid of racism. I don't "think"-- I know we can, but like I said before, "People have to learn to do it for thereselves" and know what racism actually means and not know how to draw more attention into making racism even worse than what it already it is now.

I think we need to do marches up here like they had did down South in the old days when Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. was around and really know how to bring people together. Like Dr. King's niece, she was here in Milwaukee on FOX 6 WakeUp. We need to lead a march to end racism, because we may not know each other now, but we are all GOD's children in Christ and Our Lord and Savior want the best for us and I feel that his best is our best and we need to do a better job and speaking out and helping out others no matter who we are and what background we come from, because if there is anything we all have in common it's that we are all HUMAN BEINGS.

if we all thought the same and looked the same the world would be boooooorrrrriinnnnggg,

every hear this analogy..." if everyone were tall then nobody is tall " ...because it would be nothing existing to compare it to.

the only way to experience that you are tall would be to exist with someone else "shorter" than you.

(...and i do wish i was taller...lol)

if you can understand this analogy then you will find the key to ending racism....we must all realize that we are all unique and at the same time we are all one ....spiritually connected whether we believe this or not

....like i said before we all have a little racism in each of us .....either it's because we don't know or understand something or we get frustrated with another person's beliefs, music tastes, lifestyle, ....i could go on and on..

let's celebrate our differences and embrace them...it's a blessing ....plus it makes life more exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that if they're going to ask people to fill out the "ethnic" portion on any form, it should list them all and have us have the option to check more than one box. We are not cookie cutter cut-outs. The last form I filled out, listed African American, white, hispanic, Asian and other. If black people are given the respect of being called African American, and Hispanics get the respect of having their own classification, why shouldn't everyone be shown the same respect? I hate the term "caucasian" or "white". Caucasian sounds like a disease... "Hey, I'm caucasian" that sounds worse than being a leppar. And white? I am not white, more like a pasty pink with olive undertones. My family is Italian, so why not Italian American??? Why do only certain ethnicities get special classifications? And what the hell is "other" on these questions? Is that for extra terrestrials?

You only need one box. American.