Today in the news, it was reported that the [url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/navy-gunman-spent-night-mass-buddhist-temple]Navy shooter was a Buddhist[/url]. While that is unexpected, one part of the story jumped out at me:
[quote]After leaving the reserves, Alexis worked as a waiter and delivery driver at a Thai restaurant in White Settlement, a suburb of Fort Worth. A former co-worker said Alexis spoke to Thai customers in their native language.[/quote]
Granted, it fits basically every stereotype I have of the South, but when I saw the town was called White Settlement, I really had to wonder if the name was an unfortunate coincidence, or just plain old racist.
According to [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Settlement,_Texas]wikipedia[/url], the name is actually as racist as it sounds:
[quote]The name of White Settlement originated as a result of there being two settlements in the area: one occupied predominantly by Native Americans (near where Fort Worth is located today), and the other one being occupied by white settlers. The latter settlement received the name "White Settlement" as a way to distinguish itself from the Native American settlement. The city was incorporated in 1941.
On October 14, 2005, city leaders announced a plan to have local voters decide on a possible name change for the town from White Settlement to West Settlement. In the November 8 election, the name change was overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of 2388 to 219.[/quote]
Maybe it's just me having a bad case of political correctness, but honestly, doesn't that just seem like almost cartoonishly racist?
-
I've had enough of this racist thing. I wish everyone else lived in my world. A world where no one needs to point out someone's race, and stereotype actions based on race. Because in my world, there are no races, except for one. The human race. Unfortunately I will never live to see my world. But one day it will happen.
-
The only thing that runs through my head after reading this.
-
If only it was nothing but white people. What a glorious day it would be. No poverty, no crime, no welfare. Just a perfect ivory society.
-
Would it be racist if it was called Black Settlement?
-
I think it should stay. Its a reminder of how things used to be. We can't whitewash history.
-
Its funny, but its probably just a history thing.
-
I'm hoping the people I know from Texas don't see this and get too offended, not everyone down there does or promotes those things, it's just that they're never in the spotlight. [quote]When you do something right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.[/quote]
-
Could be worse... Besides, they have a Thai restaurant there. They can't be that backwards.
-
Why haven't we pushed the south out of the union yet? So assbackwards.
-
i'd say PC. i think now it's a historical thing. also "lol south = racist baitthread general" doesn't really work since the north was just as bad to native americans... who as it turns out, actually immigrated and killed off the natives before them as well.
-