And in today's edition of STFU:

[hubes]

If my co-worker didn't have facebook, I would think that she had posted.

"What do you mean he wants to go teach black kids how to swim? That's not a stereotype. Black people just have such a chip on their shoulder."

[eddy]

I am sort of irritated that this morning on the Today Show, shut up I am on mat leave, they interviewed Gabby but with the other woman who won the all around. Why do we care what Nastia Lukin has to say? She is old news. Let Gabby have her moment to shine.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2012 8:08:54 GMT -5 toledo said:

A friend posted a pic of Gabby Douglas from the NAACP's FB page, and I clicked through to it. It praises her as the "1st African-American and 4th American to win the women's all-around gold on gymnastics."

Duh, right?

The comments are fucking maddening. "why does it matter that she's black??" "stop reinforcing these lines of separation" "she's an AMERICAN, that's all" "was Shannon Miller listed as the first white American??No!!" "is Africa paying half the taxes on that gold medal??" "What difference does her skin color make? Never mind, look what group I'm talking to."

All white people. What a shocker.

It's like 2008 all over again: "why is everyone making such a big deal that Obama is black?" DERP.

Omg. I was outraged about this last night. The announcer said," little African American girls around the world are so inspired now" or something like that. I was thinking WTF? Little white girls are just as inspired by her! What does the fact that she is black have to do with her achievements?

[melindafelinda]

Uhh...

eta: I feel like my intentionally awkward "uhh" is going to be misunderstood. It is meant for the obvious misunderstanding by the above, and not to the OP. Now it is less funny, which was the point. Fuck.

[thebamker]

I felt the same way when you heard/read all that stuff about Obama hopefully being a great role model for the black men in our country. I thought - "or he could be a great president who is respected by everyone - regardless of their color."

[cookiemdough]

I wish I hadn't opened this thread lol.

[thebamker]

Ok - now I'm confused. Which part of this is flameful then? Bringing up the race, or the comments that race shouldn't matter?

When statistics show that a group of people are not typically afforded the same opportunities as others, I think it's good to point it out and celebrate that the odds were beaten. Hopefully - in time it leads to a place where it isn't note worthy anymore.

On the other hand - I feel that person should be an inspiration to everyone... not just the race, gender, disability they are identified with.

That is what my comment was about.

[thebamker]

Aug 3, 2012 9:32:45 GMT -5 @booby said:

can someone please tell me what we are talking about? i want to know if i am going to be flamed or i need to be flaming someone.

I thought I knew, but when I read the responses, I became quite confused.

sorry - I'm no help.

[papie]

Is it just me, or is toledo pulling her hair at the replies right now?

[pedanticwench]

I can't wait for Toledo to come back.

[margotmacomber]

lol

[Deleted]

I need to stop reading these threads. Now I have no idea what is wrong with her hair, what it should have looked like, or who is saying what wrong.

I'm so confused/sheltered/naive

[thebamker]

Aug 3, 2012 9:42:38 GMT -5 toledo said:

WHAT THE MOTHERFUCK.

lol.

But....really?

This didn't bring the clarity I was hoping for. lol

[pedanticwench]

LOL I am dying!!! hahaha

[papie]

lol

[pedanticwench]

Okay look: It DOES matter that she's black. She's only the second AA woman to even be on the US women's gymnastics team and the first to win a gold medal in the all-around.

news.yahoo.com/douglas-shatters-glass-ceiling-historic-win-041155265--oly.html

[cookiemdough]

Aug 3, 2012 9:55:23 GMT -5 @booby said:

Aug 3, 2012 9:48:16 GMT -5 pedanticwench said:

Okay look: It DOES matter that she's black. She's only the second AA woman to even be on the US women's gymnastics team and the first to win a gold medal in the all-around.

news.yahoo.com/douglas-shatters-glass-ceiling-historic-win-041155265--oly.html

i still don't see why it matters.

i keep typing and deleting. i can't formulate a coherant argument about my position. (not b/c i don't have a valid one, but b/c i'm lazy and not that smart when it comes to debate).

Many communities take pride in "firsts". There are many woman that would have been extremely excited to see Hillary Clinton as the first female president had she won back in '08. Yes she should just want to go down in history as a great president, but there is also the aspect of a woman finally achieving something that has been so elusive. I would not find it strange at all that some woman would be particularly excited about that.

This is not really any different. There have been very few AA females on the USA gymnastics team and to have the very first one win a gold all-around is a big deal. I think it is a big deal for all little girls, but yes there will be quite a few AA girls who will be particularly moved because it shows that door is open if they wanted to have similar dreams.

[thebamker]

Aug 3, 2012 9:47:09 GMT -5 toledo said:

I don't understand why my post needs clarity. Truly.

But

white people commenting on how race shouldn't matter as soon as African-Americans show the least bit of pride or ownership in the achievement of an African American, especially in a field as usually lily-white as gymnastics (or presidenting) = stupid.

Ok - I agree. Like I said - I think it's completely noteworthy, pride-worthy and shouldn't be ignored.

That said - When it comes down to who that person is inspiring... I hope it's everyone. It should be.

Even though he wasn't my candidate of choice - There was a big part of me that was extremely proud when Obama won the presidency. I remember journaling about it to my kids and telling them that this is truly a great day that some thought would never come. I told them that I hoped their reaction to the idea of never having had a black president was similar to mine when I first learned about segregation and realized it wasn't "that" long ago.

I do know that similarities tend to tickle something extra inside when a person you identify with achieves greatness.

[thebamker]

all the "omg - lol" replies are making me feel like this.



I think I'll just go now. lol

[hubes]

I can't even formulate a response (which is normal). All I can say is that in my limited experience, especially with my co-worker, who I mentioned above, the same people who say "why does it matter?" are typically the people who spew the other racist stereotypes.

[melindafelinda]

Aug 3, 2012 10:03:06 GMT -5 thebamker said:

all the "omg - lol" replies are making me feel like this.



I think I'll just go now. lol

It's because an OP makes a statement and then people reply and are like "I agree with you!" and then say the exact thing she was criticizing.

OP: Red apples are gross
Reply: I agree! They taste fucking fantastic!
Other people: lol

[thebamker]

Aug 3, 2012 10:06:06 GMT -5 melindafelinda said:

Aug 3, 2012 10:03:06 GMT -5 thebamker said:

all the "omg - lol" replies are making me feel like this.



I think I'll just go now. lol

It's because an OP makes a statement and then people reply and are like "I agree with you!" and then say the exact thing she was criticizing.

OP: Red apples are gross
Reply: I agree! They taste fucking fantastic!
Other people: lol

LOL! I'm tracking now, but I had to reread the OP while knowing the intent first. I just wasn't processing the comments as intended.

Then I got scared b/c I didn't want anyone to think I didn't understand the gravity of the accomplishment. I do, and I think it's incredible. Therefore - she is a person I would want, and encourage, my 'white' daughter to look up to.

Same thing with the President - I don't feel like respecting him should be saved for a certain race, so those comments always irked me a bit.

So that is where I took it... while missing the point.

Which - if you look at my last few days of posting, you can see it's quite the trend right now.

I'm dealing with some life crap right now, and apparently that causes me to just run my mouth at random. it's so awesome :/

[papie]

Aug 3, 2012 10:17:58 GMT -5 thebamker said:

Aug 3, 2012 10:06:06 GMT -5 melindafelinda said:

It's because an OP makes a statement and then people reply and are like "I agree with you!" and then say the exact thing she was criticizing.

OP: Red apples are gross
Reply: I agree! They taste fucking fantastic!
Other people: lol

LOL! I'm tracking now, but I had to reread the OP while knowing the intent first. I just wasn't processing the comments as intended.

Then I got scared b/c I didn't want anyone to think I didn't understand the gravity of the accomplishment. I do, and I think it's incredible. Therefore - she is a person I would want, and encourage, my 'white' daughter to look up to.

Same thing with the President - I don't feel like respecting him should be saved for a certain race, so those comments always irked me a bit.

So that is where I took it... while missing the point.

Which - if you look at my last few days of posting, you can see it's quite the trend right now.

I'm dealing with some life crap right now, and apparently that causes me to just run my mouth at random. it's so awesome :/

(((Hugs)))

[thebamker]

omg - please don't feel sorry for me. I just need to shut up - for real. I mean, come on, I took issue with Magic Johnson's ability to live yesterday guys. lol.

I'm fine - just distracted by some big changes. thanks though.

[hbear]

Thank you, all.

I enjoyed this thread very much!

;D

[thebamker]

Aug 3, 2012 10:29:20 GMT -5 hbear said:

Thank you, all.

I enjoyed this thread very much!

;D

I'm certain I speak for everyone when I say "you're so freaking welcome it's not even funny b/c you're the coolest person ever and all anyone wants to do is make you smile in this dark, dark world."

[eightangryreindeer]

So, in conclusion, it matters and it also doesn't matter.

[scotty]

I kind of felt that way, to a degree, but obviously not in a discriminatory way. But, it's not something I'd really go out of my way to comment on. More of a 'wish we were one and that was the end of it', but alas, it's not that way, and it's worthy of noting. Like having a black President.

I am so happy for her, and it was so awesome to see her mom's reaction.

[hubes]

I wish her race weren't a big deal. I wish that there was enough equality that we could just look at her and say "oh yeah, she's just a regular gymnast!" but we aren't there yet.

She is a role model for every little girl out there, absolutely. But you can't tell me that you would look at a woman president and say that it means just as much to your son as it does to your daughter? Or to you as it does to your husband?

[fuckyourcouch]

Aug 3, 2012 11:53:31 GMT -5 scotty said:

I kind of felt that way, to a degree, but obviously not in a discriminatory way. But, it's not something I'd really go out of my way to comment on. More of a 'wish we were one and that was the end of it', but alas, it's not that way, and it's worthy of noting. Like having a black President.

I am so happy for her, and it was so awesome to see her mom's reaction.

this. I'd never think to take it as a racial thing and I would be one of the people thinking of it as being an american victory rather than an AA one, but not discounting that obviously the country as a whole isn't to that point yet and it's obviously going to mean a lot to the AA community.

that was a long sentence.