Range_This11

I think some of the examples are extreme, but the general idea I agree with. No one is stopping you from designating a month for your own own ethnic group. If you don't think that learning a little extra about African Americans would give you a fuller understanding of history, even during the shortest month of the year (counting Leap Year Day), then you are choosing to remain ignorant of some important events that improved not just African Americans' lives but everyone's lives. When a person revels in ignorance, then that person becomes intolerant to new ideas. Perhaps it does highlight cultural/ethnic differences, but that does not automatically have to create more tension. The tension comes with the resistance to learning about difference. By what you call being proud, you are creating "us vs them" scenarios; dividing people instead of uniting; viewing differences as something negative. And I do realize that there are people on both sides of the ethnic divide that are guilty of these actions.

Morgan Freeman does not speak for all blacks. Neither does Al Sharpton, James Brown, or any other famous or influential member of the black community. It looks like a few posters here seem to be using the argument of "every ethnicity should get a month if blacks do!" as a way of simply saying "I don't think black people deserve a month of cultural celebration and historical reflection." I don't doubt this will be denied, but it's easy to see who is just a wee bit prejudiced. If you have to say "I'm not a racist, but..." it usually means whatever follows is probably a little racist. There should be absolutely no problem taking ONE month out of the year to recognize the ethnic group that was--BY LAW--oppressed, used, and otherwise completely degraded as human beings for nearly 375 years. As a side note, saying "slavery has been over since the end of the Civil War" means nothing. Neither does "none of us today participated in owning slaves." The mistreatment of African Americans goes much, much deeper than the chattel labor system. Most of our parents (and all of our grandparents) experienced an America that was segregated. Even after the Civil Rights act of 1964, prejudice, inequality, and racism did not disappear. Even today many laws still indirectly (whether or not that is on purpose or not is for another debate) put African Americans and other ethnic groups at a severe disadvantage. Instead of moaning, complaining, and trying to conjure up as many reasons why there shouldn't be a Black History Month, why don't we go out and celebrate this month TOGETHER? It's not just for African Americans to celebrate, after all. We should all be celebrating the culture and history of a large portion of Americans and participating in things that are partially or even completely foreign to us. But then again, many people in this country (and a few in this thread) are narcissistic cretins that believe the world will be forever divided on ethnic issues, and that celebrations of ethnicity and culture serve only to highlight tensions and racism. To those of you who truly believe this, I have saved a very special part of my heart that mourns for your limited perspective of the world. EDIT: Also, Ring_World, the historian in me is cringing so badly at your interpretation of "Hispanic history." :mad:

I would agree, just wanted to check to see what you were really referring to. Owning work and owning time are very different concepts. Basing the argument on the ownership of work would nullify it, BUT since you aren't doing that...well stated! :shades:

I don't see a wage laborer as owning any sort of work at all. They own time, which they are compensated for(whether or not it is fair compensation is not the issue). They do not own the work that they do. That work is owned and assigned by some sort of superior--a manager, supervisor, boss, whatever you want to call it. The worker owns his or her time, but the person in charge of the operation owns the labor of that person.

There is no such thing as the taste of alcohol. There are different types that all taste distinctly different, you just have to find one you enjoy. I drank by myself quite a bit this summer. Usually it was 4 or 5 or 6 beers sitting out in the sun after work, but I had enough friends around where we would all end up getting together and playing lawn games.

I guess my point here is that most workers in America are very far-removed from the products they produce. Why should we apply this rule to the music and film industry, but at the same time not make the same argument for the rest of the workers?

Xbox 360: Stuart Lumpkins I mostly play BF3. Add me to the registry!

Problem solved.

I don't consider this to be wrong. Still being honest. As far as utilitarianism sees, this is a win-neutral situation. Person A got music/movie/content; B received no product, was deprived of no product, received no money, and was deprived of no money (before you say that's false, saying it's true implies the seller has the money before the transaction takes place, which is obviously untrue). But it's not neutral at all. Person B is being deprived of the right to control the material they make - which is a very important right. A different situation, but could offer a critique of the reasoning. To what extent does the average worker control the material he or she makes? I could drone on about Marxist concepts of alienation here, but I won't bore you with the details.

Sort of like this? But yes, should be common knowledge for any tool :shades:

The law disagrees. Just because it's the law does not mean that it can change what something is or isn't. There's many laws that don't make sense. Completely contradicting my earlier convictions on contextually irrelevant quotes, here's a little nugget: "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law." -Martin Luther King, Jr.,"Letter from Birmingham Jail" 1963 So, who's ready to go to jail for the law that they feel is so wrong? :P

If I remember right, he's actually very self conscious (so he claims), thus the eccentric outfits he is constantly wearing. I think it also has to do with how they record his voice as well. His voice is very "mixed-down," meaning that it is at the same volume or less than the rest of the band's sound, whereas most bands turn the singer up. His voice is the instrument, not himself. No need to draw attention to the person, or so the philosophy goes. I've found that it's best not to speculate why that band does certain things, it just leaves you muddled.

Why don't you just return it, and pay the difference for a brand new copy (since it was only two dollars under)? That would solve your problem.

Take your time if you're going to do one...both of you :shades:

I've been meaning to make an addendum to mine for months, but I never have time. My music tastes have expanded in the last couple years.

Hey, I need some squad mates that don't suck. Anyone want to play? I'm on XBOX 360 and my gamertag is Stuart Lumpkins. I usually play assault class and conquest.

I'm going to try not to sound like a jerk-off, here goes. I think there is a difference in philosophy here. In ten years, the likelihood of you remembering any of the details of what you were forced to learn is low, but you will remember how you critically analyzed a body of information. You will retain the ability to read a book, article--whatever the case may be--and internalize it, draw conclusions from it, and translate your argument into a well written essay. This is a skill that can be transposed on many aspects of your life, not just for reading about how Charles Beard (and his wife Mary) was one of the leading Progressive academics :shades: (By the way, there is a ton of information about America's democratic identity in all of those topics you listed) The evidence or answers provided to you may not always be 100% correct or even interesting. That is not the point. The point is to create a controlled environment where you can hone your skills as a critical thinker. Also, if you are pulling random facts out of the air (even if they are true) that are outside the course material, you have no way of citing those sources--unless, of course, you have memorized the citation. If you do not have a source or other cite-able evidence, you cannot make a claim or argument in the field of history.

Doctors should not the be the moral authority in any situation. They should objectively care for each person equally and fairly.

Most pizza delivery places (at least in my experience...and I've ordered A LOT OF PIZZA) normally charge a $1.50 delivery fee. That money is used to help offset the delivery driver's wage. When I delivered pizzas, the drivers would "tip out" the cooks our tip money so not to create an utter hatred between the two factions in the workplace. Just as a side note, I wouldn't make it a habit of not tipping pizza/sub delivery people. We remember which apartments or houses tip well and which don't. I've seen cooks or delivery boys mess with people's food if they know the person doesn't tip well. It's in your best interest to flip them at least a couple bucks.

"This tipping automatically stuff...it's for the birds!"

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Someone else who understands comparisons to Nazi Germany are completely and totally ridiculous. By the way, all the lawmakers--including those who sponsored the SOPA/PIPA bills--are rescinding their support of it. It will not be passed. SOPA and PIPA dead - for now

I already said I didn't agree with the shut down, so relax. Second, please do not make the comparison to the Nazi regime. We are and never will be ANYWHERE close to the oppression that the Nazi party used in Germany. Nazi comparisons are almost always ridiculous and inappropriate. My point was that the quote was too dramatic. And it is.

I'm sorry dude, but this quote was said in the context of the horrific apartheid system in South Africa at its height in the mid-1980s. I don't know how readily it should be applied to Megaupload being shut down. I don't agree with the shut down, but the quote is a little dramatic for these circumstances :lol: