Should George Allen lose re-election for his "Macaca" gaffe?

That may be true, but a red herring regardless.

Oh, and you contradict yourself by subsequently promoting ostracism (and rightfully so!):

 

I'm not kidding you at all. It is precisely that sort of dehumanization that made Americans feel okay about enslaving and lynching black people for all those years -- it wasn't that bad after all, since they were sub-human. That is where the monkey talk comes from. Unbelievably, a US Senator is still on board with all that. Way, way more unbelievably, you have spent 6 pages excusing his behavior. Rather than debating Allen's Macaca comment (since most everyone here, not mention a great deal of Virginia, agrees it was racist and there should be consequences), I think we should examine the fascinating question of why a man of Indian descent has so much energy for defending (and almost even promoting) racism.

 

maybe he's mixed or caucasian looking.. either way it does not look like he empathizes with or represents how sidhart and majority of south asian indians feel I would think..

 

I agree. Whenever someone in power has these racists and hateful views and actually demonstrate it in speech and behavior, it is always a cause for concern. Its good that Allen is getting ostracized by this behavior and his chances for becoming POTUS much dimished. Because if that were not the case, it would mean that the US had not progressed from the time when such comments and attitudes were commonplace and such behavior might actually help someone into office.

 

You do not represent the minority point of view anymore than Clarence Thomas does. If you want to excuse (or even promote) racism, go ahead. But do not pretend to represent minorities on this. You don't.

 

I think NewYorker is also forgetting about about power hierarchies. A US Senator is really high up, and you have to expect better than that from that position. It's one thing to get a racial retort back to a douchebag on the street, but it's another thing when you're talking about public office or the corporate world. Just because you can confidently claim you would call him honkey after he calls you macaca and think it's not a big deal and laugh doesn't mean you speak for Sidarth or anyone else that's offended. When a powerful person wrongs you, it's much more difficult to speak out or take action than a hooligan. Had all this not been vividly captured on tape, it would easily been forgotten and ignored.

 

because I suggested you may mixed or caucasian looking which might explain why you are so passionately defending allen? go ahead and start a thread and ask people if they think I am a racist for saying that..

its just funny that you passinately defend allen for calling a brown skinned person a macaca.. while you conclude that I'm a bigger racist than Allen for suggesting that you may be mixed or caucasian looking..

 

so I was right when I said you don't represent Sidhart or south asian indians on this.. I wonder why??

 

You already did (half-heartedly anyhow):

 

George Allen doesn't even take George Allen's side on this issue. He admitted it was a very bad mistake. Tried his best to reach out with the Indian-American community. Personally apologized to the kid. He totally regrets his action. He screwed up really badly and he acknowledges it. That is not to say we should just let it go cause if he wants to be president he has a lot of issues to work on, esp race, but I don't see how this is not clear cut.

 

again did I say you're not indian? when I say mixed I meant one for your parents may be non-indian? Is that really a racist thing to say? you can turn this 6 page thread of a defense for Allen's macaca "gaffe" to vlaurelio's mixed gaffe if you want..

go ahead start a poll and if majority agrees with you that saying mixed is racist then I will apologize.. if not then you should apologize for balatanyly and repeatedly calling me racist and worse than allen..

 

Political campaigns in America are still dominated by white candidates and their white supporters, and unlike some other prominent minorities, Asian Americans are not particularly well known for their active participations in political activities.

It wasn't a hate speech to the extent of NeoNazi hurling hateful racial slurs at blacks, but it carried similar malicous, humiliating, as well as intimidating overtone toward the targeted person. Remember the brown-skinned Indian descent was one odd man out in a sea of caucasian audience in rural Virginia. I wouldn't rule out George Allen did it to energize his political base.

The context as well as the circumstance of the Allen's quip is as significant as his intent. To suggest it was no more than a light-hearted joke like the one you would throw out in casual social gathering is deliberately ignorant at best.

 

Yes a good debater should be able to argue a devil's advocate point of view effectively. I don't mean to personally attack you, but I just don't think you're doing it well. Sometimes there isn't really another perspective and I believe this is a case. That's why Allen's campaign is in damage control now rather than excuse mode.