Good lord, Newt Gingrich sort of gets it.

[screwedup]

Honestly - this is amazing. Newt is known in ATL for being an asshole. However, this is likely the most sensitive thing I've ever heard him say.

[isabel]

I can't believe I just read that. Seriously? Newt Gingrich?

[cville]

Up is down and down is up

[lilac05]

This is a good reminder that people CAN change. We CAN change the things happening in our country. Keep trying to open people's eyes to these issues, and sooner or later, it may sink in! Just because someone is a racist idiot today, it doesn't mean that they'll necessarily be one tomorrow.

[bcv513]

I never thought I would say this, but good for him

[05heel]

Jul 8, 2016 14:46:37 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

This is a good reminder that people CAN change. We CAN change the things happening in our country. Keep trying to open people's eyes to these issues, and sooner or later, it may sink in! Just because someone is a racist idiot today, it doesn't mean that they'll necessarily be one tomorrow.

It took me a long time, and a number of people talking to me through the years to get a sense of this.

This quote makes me doubt what you're saying.  People CAN change, but most people won't.  This is a man with above average intelligence, money, power, and access.  He's saying this basic mess like it's some kind of revelation, as if people dying in the middle of the streets have the time to wait around for people to "get it". 

[pantsparty]

[SwimDeep]

[pantsparty]

I'm glad he said this.

But it sucks that it takes a white man saying it for some people to listen.

[lilac05]

Jul 8, 2016 15:01:22 GMT -5 05heel said:

Jul 8, 2016 14:46:37 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

This is a good reminder that people CAN change. We CAN change the things happening in our country. Keep trying to open people's eyes to these issues, and sooner or later, it may sink in! Just because someone is a racist idiot today, it doesn't mean that they'll necessarily be one tomorrow.

It took me a long time, and a number of people talking to me through the years to get a sense of this.

This quote makes me doubt what you're saying.  People CAN change, but most people won't.  This is a man with above average intelligence, money, power, and access.  He's saying this basic mess like it's some kind of revelation, as if people dying in the middle of the streets have the time to wait around for people to "get it". 

There certainly will be people who won't change.  I agree with that.  But I have personally seen a lot of people change in the last year, in thanks to people who won't give up trying to educate people.  

Newt has such white privilege that I think it takes someone like that longer than most people to recognize that privilege because they're so insulated by it (it's the same with any privilege...the more insulated you are by people like you, the less you recognize the lack of it in others).  It's not right, but that's how things go...unless stopped.  Most other people aren't quite as surrounded by wealth, money, and privilege, and, IMO, can change much more quickly.  We've heard of lots of posters here have new eyes...and that's a start.  It's not the answer, but we can't make progress if people don't recognize the severity and urgency of the issue in the first place.

[05heel]

Jul 8, 2016 15:22:02 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Jul 8, 2016 15:01:22 GMT -5 05heel said:

It took me a long time, and a number of people talking to me through the years to get a sense of this.

This quote makes me doubt what you're saying.  People CAN change, but most people won't.  This is a man with above average intelligence, money, power, and access.  He's saying this basic mess like it's some kind of revelation, as if people dying in the middle of the streets have the time to wait around for people to "get it". 

There certainly will be people who won't change.  I agree with that.  But I have personally seen a lot of people change in the last year, in thanks to people who won't give up trying to educate people.  

Newt has such white privilege that I think it takes someone like that longer than most people to recognize that privilege because they're so insulated by it (it's the same with any privilege...the more insulated you are by people like you, the less you recognize the lack of it in others).  It's not right, but that's how things go...unless stopped.  Most other people aren't quite as surrounded by wealth, money, and privilege, and, IMO, can change much more quickly.  We've heard of lots of posters here have new eyes...and that's a start.  It's not the answer, but we can't make progress if people don't recognize the severity and urgency of the issue in the first place.

huh. I honestly couldn't disagree more. Not saying you're entirely wrong though. I just haven't had the same experiences. I personally think Newt is talking out of his ass, and that his well-documented actions speak louder than any of his words. And people with the least to lose are even more resistant to change than the rich and powerful. If all you have is the vague notion of white privilege, then you'll do anything to keep it. Lastly, I have always found it hard to believe, even here, that these are new concepts for people. Ignorance and denial are two different things.

[gummybear]

Huh. I'm impressed, in a skeptical kind of way. I hope I am wrong.

Just thinking he might be saying this to be the wise, understanding and compassionate Ying to Trump's crazy, brash and outlandish Yang. This draws in those Rs who are so turned off by Trump's disgusting racism.

Like I said, I hope I'm wrong, because it's eloquent and spot on.

[sonrisa]

Yeah. Super sensitive. Which is why he used the word "normal" in "normal, white American" rather than "average." Because white Americans with black relatives or close friends or other experiences which have given them some insight into reality are abnormal.

This may be the most compassionate thing I've seen Gingrich ever say and the prejudice still shines through.

[FastHands]

He's fucking pandering. Trump's PR person got to him too. While I'm glad that his audience might actually hear his message, it also kind of makes me fucking sick.

[lilac05]

Jul 8, 2016 15:29:27 GMT -5 05heel said:

huh. I honestly couldn't disagree more. Not saying you're entirely wrong though. I just haven't had the same experiences.

Lastly, I have always found it hard to believe, even here, that these are new concepts for people. Ignorance and denial are two different things.

I agree with you that actions speak louder than words.  I'm not holding my breath that what he said was sincere, or that it'll necessarily change his actions.  I can only hold out some hope that it will.  The fact that he even says it is a step in the right direction.  I try not to judge people's sincerity, because some people DO change, despite poor choices in the past.  However, the fact that he is a politician and it's an election year is not lost on me.  

We have obviously had very different experiences and I can only speak from what I have personally seen.  (And I obviously believe your experiences to be true, too.)  I grew up in a very small town in rural Midwest.  Our school was literally >95% white & our town was essentially the same.  My mom (~70 year old now) grew up in an even smaller town in another state.  She can literally tell you the first time she ever saw a black person...and it was the summer before she went to COLLEGE!  I didn't know black people growing up.  Not because I actively chose for it to be that way, but because there was NO diversity in our town.  (Though, even at a young age, I was somewhat sensitive to things.  I requested a dark-skinned Baby Heather doll for Christmas one year.  I figured all of the girls would want the white doll with blue eyes like them.  I didn't care if the doll looked like me, I just wanted all of the dolls to be loved.  My parents didn't seem to understand, but Santa brought me that doll anyway.)  I was in denial about racism in America because I was ignorant, not because I chose to ignore the issue (and I believe that to be true for most of my friends growing up).  I didn't see it all around me because it wasn't visible in my every day life like it is today in a bigger (yet still small) city.  I would have fought tooth & nail if the term "racist" had been used to describe me because there was never any ill intent, nor did I think poorly of any other race...but I was.  And I was surrounded by lots of people who were the same way.  I didn't understand my privilege.  I am appalled at some of the things that I thought when I first left my small town (anyone can break the cycle of poverty/abuse and racism is in the past), but it really was from pure ignorance.  (It was the 90s, so limited access to the Internet and no social media.  We learned from history books & the news.)  I learned very quickly & now try to help others see it, too.  Again, while I can never judge a person's sincerity, I have had several people thank me for explaining things (often using things I've learned from here) and have said that they can see things differently.

So, while change is not something that you may have seen in your experience, I have seen it.  I have seen what I believed to be ignorance* that has changed.  And actions suggest that it is sincere change.  I don't share this to say that you're wrong by any means, but to offer hope that things are changing in at least some areas.  

*Much of the ignorance that I saw came before and right after the events in Ferguson.  If people are still claiming ignorance now, after all of the media/social media attention in the last year, I agree that they're just in denial or are willfully ignorant.

[TR]

Jul 8, 2016 15:20:19 GMT -5 @beachbella said:

Jul 8, 2016 15:18:10 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

He definitely wants the VP nod...

If Trump is picking then Newt is going about this the wrong way.

[miso]

Good coaching and PR with self-serving political goals in mind.

I don't think racists change.

[TR]

I don't think he's changed, but I am surprised he even parroted this opinion when so many in the GOP refuse to condemn any of it and continue to stay silent about Trump's bullshit, etc.

[cville]

I don't think he's sincere, but I'm still shocked he said it. The appearance of sensitivity to issues of race and ethnicity aren't exactly what I would think he'd need to appeal to Trump supporters.

[honeychai]

I'm not buying it.

Nice sentiment though.

[Deleted]

I think he had someone else write it, and it's proof positive he's Trump's running mate because otherwise, I am 100% certain he does not care.

[lovelovelove]

Warning, rambling thoughts ahead.

There definitely are people that are ignorant, in denial, too self absorbed,too dense, uneducated, underexposed, etc that just do not think critically about these issues. From what I've seen around me it's a lot of regurgitating fox, Facebook nonsense, and having their inner circle feeding off of each other. Perhaps with Gingrich saying this, it at least gets airtime in those outlets, thus reaching an audience that is not typically exposed to this line of thinking from a source they would find credible. It is painful and pretty unbelievable that this is the state of some of our population. I'm not sure what will actually effect change, but exposure to as much information, language, and points of view as possible, especially for people that generally don't have that exposure for one reason or another, is hopefully a step in the right direction. I hate that this is where we're starting from with some people. Our whole country is broken and there is such a lack of education in critical thinking, sociology, and true history.

I don't think he's sincere and doubt he wrote it, but I'm glad this information will be (hopefully) making it to an audience that needs it waved in front of their faces. Who knows though; I feel like nothing makes any sense these days.

[jellymankelly]

Yes, I feel like a dumbass because I JUST said to my husband yesterday that Newt had redeemed himself a little, and then THE SAME DAY he basically pulled out the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard him say. I take back what I said...

[pantsparty]

I guess a media coach can only take you so far...

[lilac05]

I still stand by my belief that some people can change, but it's obvious that he's not one of them. Idiot.

[sonrisa]

Jul 15, 2016 9:23:42 GMT -5 toledo said:

Bumping because the real Newt Gingrich stood up again.


www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/newt-gingrich-sharia-nice/491474/

Newt Gingrich effectively called for the deportation of all practicing Muslims from the United States Thursday night. His suggestion, which would almost certainly be unconstitutional, represents perhaps the most sweeping call for a religious test proposed by a mainstream political figure over the last few years, which have seen a strong backlash against Islam.

“Let me be as blunt and direct as I can be. Western civilization is in a war. We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background, and if they believe in sharia, they should be deported,” Gingrich said on Fox News. “Sharia is incompatible with Western civilization. Modern Muslims who have given up Sharia—glad to have them as citizens. Perfectly happy to have them next door.”

Gingrich continued by saying that anyone who visited a website associated with ISIS or Al-Qaeda should be prosecuted as a felon.

Xenophobia and hatred aside, has it ever occurred to Newt that there are many muslim USCs? Or does he think you can deport citizens?

[05heel]

This is why I roll my eyes at anyone who proudly states that they had to be confronted about their bigotry over and over again before they "got" it. This may include some of you. Keep that dumb shit to yourself.

[andwhat]

Didn't work Newt. Per CNN he still picked Pence.

[05heel]

Jul 15, 2016 9:56:25 GMT -5 Queen Dick, Hibernating Bear said:

Except for me. I'm totally normal now. I want to make 05heel proud.

Nobody appreciates crazy more than I do, dude.  Normal people make me nervous.