Restless Goalposts: Is NAACP Even Relevant?
by Tim SlagleThirty years ago, a group of mothers who had lost children to drunk drivers organized a group called MADD. They had a legitimate beef. There were too many drunks on the road.
To Americans at the time, drinking and driving was a national pastime. We would routinely take risks that are unheard of today. More than one state would actually allow you to have an alcoholic drink in your hand while you were behind the wheel. (The joke was that in Texas, it was mandatory.)
The MADD lobbying and national awareness effort was quite successful, and within a few years, drunk-driving accidents had been reduced. Terms like “designated driver” started to sweep the national zeitgeist. The comedy boom of the eighties (where I cut my chops) was fueled in part by the crackdown, since comedy made it possible to be entertained in a bar, without becoming profusely incoherent.
But then something strange happened. The Mothers didn’t stop being mad. Rather than celebrate their happy victory, they cracked down even harder. They promoted seat belt laws and roadblocks. In 2000 they lobbied to get the legal blood alcohol down to 0.08% ; a level that most competent drinkers could handle safely. Comedian Doug Stanhope once joked that he was a better driver at 0.08% than his grandmother was completely sober.
Meanwhile the percentage of drivers getting arrested kept increasing, to the point where the stigma of a DUI conviction was no longer negative. At cocktail parties, people will sometimes play a strange version of Liars Poker, where they compare each other’s court recorded BAC, to see who has the highest.
The negative side of the tighter enforcement has been met with contempt for the law. Since 2000, studies indicate that alcohol related traffic incidents have actually been increasing, after decreasing for two decades. In a truly Kafkaesque twist, MADD leaders started getting arrested for DUIs.
And still the Mothers rage on. (In fact they’re not even really mothers anymore, the CEO of MADD is a man.) In a recent article, the future of MADD is laid out, a zero tolerance for alcohol, (which could lead to the arrest of people using mouthwash, cough syrup, or cookie dough ice cream with a little too much vanilla extract). A big clue to their continued existence is also suggested: the 30 million dollars that is paid out in salaries. Once you start raking in some serious cash, it’s hard to close up shop.
The same thing happened with the NAACP. Once a necessary organization, the National Association for Advancement of Colored People advanced colored people so far, that we can’t even call them colored people. They advanced through Jim Crow, through desegregation and eventually into the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and now the highest office in the land. They have also advanced in sports and the arts, and right now Oprah Winfrey is the richest self-made woman in the world.
How much further can you advance? It seems to me, that when three out of five letters in your acronym no longer apply, you should probably disband. Because all that is left for you to do now, is embarrass yourself. The Tea Party / Shirley Sherrod debacle is a great example of what happens when a group has grown far past it’s successful mission.
The NAACP is today as pathetic today as Hugh Hefner– patriarch of a revolution that ended forty years ago; looking as natural in pajamas as any other man of his age and health; although his claim of virility seems forced and almost laughable.
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86 Comments
Per the title….the NAACP is nothing more than a legal 'club' for black racists…so, no they are NOT relevant! These people never seem to understand (just like MADD) that when you keep pushing people into a corner, by piling more laws on top of more laws, eventually they WILL start pushing back!
The NAACP is only relevant today to those people who find the idea of competing against everyone else an impossible proposition without the added crutch of someone providing them an extra benefit to make up for their lack of courage to undertake their own happiness.
Short answer: No.
Like NOW, the RAINBOW PUSH coalition, and any of the Unions, the NAACP is an organization that has outlasted its context.
There was a time when each of the aforementioned organizations served an important purpose. Unfortunately, each of them remains when the injustices that spurred their formation have passed.
It is kind of like wearing a bandage after the wound has healed. Keeping braces in place after the teeth have properly straightened.
There is no need.
The only thing these organizations can do now, is to draw attention to the very things they were trying to overcome. The only thing NOW can accomplish is alienate women in the workplace. The only thing Unions can do is ensure that employers bring better lawyers to the negotiation table. The only thing the NAACP can accomplish is continue to draw attention to race, and divide the nation along racial lines.
The NAACP is still stuck back in the days of its foundation. It can not believe racism toward people of color has diminished rapidly over the years or that the economic situation has improved greatly among the group they claim to represent. They must keep the myth alive that they represent the poor, downtrodden, misunderstood Black person or there is no justification for their continued existence as a money gathering organization from which they receive their salaries. And since so many of them have built their entire career and future on the premise that rampant hatred is still very much alive, they must continue with the rhetoric.
Unfortunately, the same can be said of MADD. It has degenerated from a useful tool to a money grubbing political group more interested in itself than others. Sounds kinda like our own government.
However,both organizations will continue to exist until people cease donating to pay their salaries.
Unless you consider overt racism, demonization of America, and using class warfare for personal gains relevent, the answer is no.
Which is why the NAACP as well as the CBC are no longer relevant in my world. Both cater to the entitlement society who in turn, willfully encourage their existence. Yet the 2 organizations continue to get rich off the backs of those they place boots on their necks. No shame whatsoever……….
Is a racist organization relevant… nope! Their very existence is racist, imagine if there was a group like this only for asians, hispanics, whites anyone that isnt black… would be considered racist; but these guys oh no they are ok and above everyone.
Worst off the avg person doesnt realize ths organization, a member of the Alphabet Crime Family Org., is only using ppl to advance their agenda, which in its simplest form(after you knock away their sugarcoating) is to push the "you are racist, give me what I want, what you $OWE$ me and respect".
Question: have they not succeeded in their mission as this country has put a half colored man into the White House? The calls of racism are getting old and the only racists I see as of late are those (Sharpton, Jackson, SHERROD)speaking from or on behalf/side of the NAACP.
Remember all this garbage that goes on is a game to them, they politicize everything, those who support them are nothing more than useful idiots. Its a game to all parties involved "left" & "right", democ… socialist vs republican = two parties, err rather the two faces of the one headed progressive beast. Its all part of their plan a simple plan for power and control. Wake up, take the red pill and see whats really going on, stop playing their game and start playing your game through http://www.savingtherepublic.com
It seems that power and notoriety lead to corruption…congress and presidency included. The organization, or the person, believe that they are wonderful and needed even though the rest of the population is hardly even aware that they exist…until they really screw up and do something outstandingly stupid and make the headlines!
NOPE!
Great blog, Mr. Slagle.
I was raised in those glorious Post Revolutionary War days where living large meant a beautiful summer day, a decent ride and a 40 oz of malt liquor.
In my family, if someone had a drinking problem, they didn't go to AA. They took a nap.
Here in Pennsylvania, the bags they put your booze in at the liquor store all read, "Don't Drink and Drive." I don't know how they expect me to get home from work.
Needless to say, M.A.D.D. has really interfered with my "lifestyle."
Nope. Still not relevant.
Obama went to all the finest schools, became senator, multi-millionaire, and the most powerful man in the world. proving there is no lack of opportunity in this country, there is only wasted opportunity.
Still not convinced? Oprah? Tiger?
More? How about Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Rev Wright and Louis Farrakhan — all multi-millionaires and still have the nerve to rant to their followers that the cards are stacked against them in America. Sharpton even bought himself a Bently for his 50th birthday. Rev Wright lives in a multimillion dollar home in a gated white neighborhood on a golf course. The poor, poor babies!
.
True to Obama's Muslim Education/Heritage he is a champ at bringing/promoting strife, fractions, hate and injustice to the land he is ruling. His methods are what is earning him the angst of the American people. He is so filled with hate for America "the melting pot" he cannot see that and will continue fractionalizing our country. The NAACP fits right in with his program of Divide and ????
God Bless the Tea Party
“Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.”
~ Victor Hugo (1802-1885) ; French author
Unfortunately, it is also true that nothing is as irrelevant as an idea whose time has come and gone. This is not to suggest that "colored people" have no problems that they need to overcome; rather, that the approach embodied by the NAACP is not only ineffective, it is actually counter-productive.
Sounds more like these " fabulous four" made their money by scamming their own folks rather than by honest labor.
It is sad but very, very true. The NAACP has evolved and morphed into the "Black Klan"
If you don't believe it, go to one of their conventions or meetings and witness the vile diatribe of "white hate" spewing forth from each and every speaker’s mouth.
Why do We the Citizen Taxpayers of the US have to pay for this?
I guess the race mongering trolls have had their effect. I've typed out two or three comments today and
proceeded to erase them because I was sure my words would be twisted to have a meaning other than
what I intended. I for one am sick and tired of this shit that has been going on here on the Bigs for the
last several days.
I just wonder if this intense debate thingy could set up to automatically delete a comment once it reached
a -15 or so? Also it would be nice if once you were deleted for -15, you were restricted from commenting
for 24 hours.
I think they are completely relevant. They are just poorly run and focused on the wrong things. If anybody has seen the sorry state of the black community you'd know blacks need help. But the NAACP isn't helping blacks, its attacking whites and serving a left agenda that is even hostile toward blacks. As Charles Barkley once said "Blakcs have been voting democrat for 50 years and they STILL are poor".
yes there is REAL racism in the US but the left and the NAACP cheapen the word, ruing it similar to abusing NAZI or Hitler to death.
Yes racism needs to be addressed but the NAACP has NOTHING to do with racism other than racism against Whites and Asians. Don't like racism NAACP, then try listening to some rap music and crack down on the idolizing and hero worship of scum street thugs, drugies and gangstas.
Hey I got a kookie idea. Maybe have black who have made something of their lives mentor blacks who can't get their act together and quit demonizing every black who isn't a card carrying progressive stooge.
Playing the "racism" slot machine is akin to legalized fraud. There are really no winners except the powers may be over the NAACP, Aryan Brotherhood, KKK, La Raza, and for people like Jeramiah Wright, Louis Farrakhin, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the majority of the Democrat Socialist Party who are too numerous to mention by name.
The NAACP has evolved into nothing more than another arm of Black Liberation Theology. The current socialist regime subscribes to the same theology.
The NAACP, just like Jackson and Sharpton, cannot let racism die because if it does, they're out of a job…..
Okay, true story here. Four times in the last eight years, I have been called to jury duty, and gotten far enough to be sent to a panel that went into the voir dire….Every single one of them was a DUI trial ! Yes, there were too many drunks on the road…but what are the costs added to society for this kind of ridiculous enforcement ? And, now, we can't even think about asking and deporting drunk illegal alien drivers with no insurance ! (okay, that was a stretch, I admit it)
I wonder how mch Ben Jealous makes to spew his hate? I wonder how much the NAACP pays the race baiters Sharpton and Jackson?
If everyone has an organization I want one for our side. I propose that we form the Fed Up Conservative Keepers Of Federalist Freedoms. If you don't like it figure out the acronym and follow the directions. /sarc
Some of us started a group in college in response to MADD, it was called DAMADD, Drunk drivers Against Mothers Against Drunk Driving. We didn't have any salaried people in our group!
Hey again you bunch of followers of a racist pig. I signed in again to drop you a present. Yes, obviously I am having a hard time boycotting Breitbart today. Michelle Obama wants us to all sign a birthday wish for her beloved husband on his 49th birthday. Please be patriotic and leave the usurper a B-day message. Mine was "Do the right thing and resign you commie!"
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/barackbirt...
ryda, you swerved into a point I was also curious about, where does this organization get its funding?
I have no idea if it operates off of donations, grants, fairy dust?
Add ACLU to the mix!
The NAACP is merely an orgy of liberal reasoning
Hey Barry. Why didn't you just put a big banner on the View yesterday?
Barack Obama's birth? Ah, what a blessed event that must have been in that hot Kenyan hospital with his non-American, Kenyan daddy and Kenyan grandmother as witnesses. How special!
If she were so concerned about celebrating her husband's birthday, then she should have stuck around the White House instead of booking a lavish trip to Spain at taxpayer expense. The other question that I have is why is this trip "closed to the media"? What are they trying to hide now? I got it, they are trying to hide their arrogance and disdain for the American people that they smear as racists on a daily basis with their surrogates in the NAACP.
This is the same woman that has made many hateful comments about the United States being a "downright mean country". Kind of ironic if you ask me.
I would be foolish to speculate onecorn…..
But, I always believe that the "moral" support of an organization/entity (such as these two) would certainly benefit financially through said support. In a roundabout way. Think about it.
Another way of looking at it maybe is a saying I've used many times in my world:
"I am not rich in finances, but I am wealthy with friends". The only difference for me is the wealth stops with friends…..
"I signed in again to drop you a present."
In other words, you took a shit on our floor……….
No problem, nothing a little lysol and a shamwow mop couldn't handle. Buh bye!
No, the NCAA(L)CP isn't relevant. Neither really is Sharpton or Jackson, the favorite mouthpieces of "Race Bait Inc", except to the media.
And, the biggest idiot of the year award goes to Vince! Let's explore some thought, if that is possible on your end. If I were Laura Bush and wanted to get tons of happy birthday wishes for my husband George, do you think I would post on MediaMatters.commie to get those happy wishes? Hum?
I left you this link hoping that you would send "appropriate" conservative greetings for the usurper that calls himself president, as I did.
I am sorry that you are as paranoid as you are. It must make life hard.
"Reverend" Al Sharpton never went to seminary school
That is the most honest post I have seen about all this crap! You are so right!!
Good one!
NAACP is absolutely relevant to keeping web sites like this operational. Where would you all be without a villain? Keep drinking the Tea and blaming everyone else for what is essentially your own problems.
Question: How is Race relevant to a web site supposedly devoted to Conservative principals?
One of the biggest money makers for Blacks with "degrees",……
the NAACP,……….
"we're bigger than US Steel"
"looking for someone who wants to be president"
I know it's not PC, but it's the truth, isn't it?
Answer: To keep reminding dolts like you that conservatives are more concerned with liberty than race.
The NAACP is much more relevant than the teabaggers!
My dream come true! I've waited all my life for you to noticed me. Thank you so much.
Now F U C K OFF!
OK, that pretty much states it. You are NOT capable of thought.
BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ROFL @ Vince the dummy.
Like a monkey in the cage at the zoo. Are you sure you are a conservative? Most conservatives have higher brain power than you. You're making us look bad, man. Suggest you embrace your inner liberal and get to a coffee party ASAP! You don't fit in with conservatives.
NO!
DAMM – drunks against mad mothers
The NAACP provides a good living for its leaders, who would probably be unemployable otherwise. Other than that, it is worthless.
TarHeels, I am disappointed in your rating. It took you 276 posts to get that negative 113 score of yours; it took me only 16 posts to get a negative 90 score (and I AM A CONSERVATIVE THAT USED TO RELIGIOUSLY READ THIS SITE).
Now, do tell us about all the teabagging that you have received from the NAACP. Just don't give many details – that stuff is gross!
How can you even question their relevance?
Without the NAACP, there might an audio greeting card for sale that references "black holes". Today! In 2010, for fnord's sake!
Plus, think about all the education they do. Without the NAACP, as a white man I would have no idea who is "black enough" to be defended against being beaten by people repeating racial slurs, and which African-Americans apparently deserve such treatment because of their perceived political beliefs.
Wow, didn't take you long to reply.
"I signed in again to drop you a present."
'Wondered what that smell is. Who's the racist pig to which you referred?
Do you have a point, Vince the Dummy? Was I going to fast for you or something?
I was talking about Breitbart. I considered his attack on Sherrod a racist, leftist-style attack that is beneath conservatives. Do I think that she is some type of criminal and racist? Yes, absolutely. I've read some nasty stuff about the woman. I also think that she is a communist. Would it be better is she held no office of position? Yes, absolutely. I just consider the tactic used slimy as heck. If we sink to the liberals level, then who are we?
Restless Goalposts: Is NAACP Even Relevant?
Are any racistist, or race baiting organization[s] relevant at all? Not in my book!
"If someone had a drinking problem, they didn't go to AA, they took a nap." Great line, Original Mike! My personal favorite rejoinder to, "Are you sure you're OK to drive?" is still, "I HAVE to drive — I'm too (bleeping) drunk to walk."
Excellent point, cb750, "They are just poorly run and focused on the wrong things." You're right, there is real racism — much if not most of it embodied in "stereotypical thinking" — that could more effectively be addressed and resolved without the race-baiting and divisiveness of groups like the NAACP.
Ditto ("good one").
It's almost like you're waiting for someone, like me, to bite and then used your preprinted replies that were given to you by your leader to insult Big supporters. You reply a couple of minutes after my posts. Next time you may want to wait and pretend like you really don't care, maybe half hour or so. It's like you have no life. Just saying…
oh i KNOW you did not just hate on hugh hefner! dude is dating twins, let's pay our proper respects.
Well Said. To bad you can't deliver this message to Jealous Ben.
You know what? We all have something to over come. We are all picked on or discriminated against for some reason at some time. That's how it is. There is no more segregation there is no Jim Crowe, there is nothing stopping a black person from making their way in this life, no more than anyone else here. I'm willing to bet there are just as many whites that have suffered in their way as blacks have suffered just differently. The only difference is blacks can go crying to the NAACP if we had a NAAWP there'd be lawsuits as far as the eye could see. Maybe the NAACP should start advising it's members to grab their boot straps and start pulling.
Hey douche bagger.
How's it feel when you get tea bagged by Coach K every year?
What will Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson do for money if they can't stir up racial tensions?
No, but very good propaganda tool for democrats.
Shirley Sharrod and her husband may well have good reason to hate white people, which doesn't change the fact that they do hate white people. Now I didnt grow up in the deep south I dont really know what life was like there, the Sherrods are an older couple and I will not judge them. I hope this all quiets down.
But the NAACP and sophisticated Political hacks like Ben Jealous need to stop using race as a political weapon, were not going to accept that anymore.
It is not until YOU force it upon us, you're the ones obsessed with race.
It's all about the money, also I'm sick of all the PC shit you can't say this you have to say that or your going to offend some one Wa Wa poor babies and you can only say your sorry for so long how long are they going to milk this cow? They want money just like all the democrats that were saying when Obama gets elected were going to get some money. geme geme geme!!!!! Blame some one else for your short coming even Obama he blames Bush for everything be a man stand on your own two feet. so yes the NAACP is not relevant.
Racist, Racist, Racist Yawn!!!! that word is getting to be so useless. You can disagree with Breitbart with out using that word.
The Tea party is about personal rites and freedom from overbearing government. What does race have to do with it? Oh I forgot that's all you've got.
The Tea party fights for every ones rites not just for the colored folk as in the NAAcoloredPeople. Isn't that word racist?
Even racism itself is hardly relevant anymore. The word is so easily and uselessly flung around now, that it has very little weight, meaning, or consequence anymore. It's become a near fraudulent word that is more often than not, used in a hypocritical or counterfeit nature, and usually says more about the deliverer of the word, than it does about the intended target.
Relevance is relative. To those who listen to Hallmark cards and get offended the NAACP does offer a safe haven for their particular affliction. At least, if anyone needs to find an ignorant racist with a chip on his/her shoulder the size of New Jersey, we know where to look. I mean, Obama has to find his czars from somewhere.
A bunch of train seals who bark racism whenever the DNC throws them a fish.
When a fool is speaking, or in this case posting, sit back and let them continue. They are only re-inforcing what the gist of the artcle is. Yes, it can be irritating, but as with most things educational there is some irritation involved. Kind of like poison ivy, people can warn you over and over not to touch, but until you actually contact it do you understand the warning. Let them rant!
As long as there are racist people in this country..the NAACP is very RELEVANT!!! The racist aren't going away anytime soon just look what they're trying to do to Mrs Sherrod now.
Mr. Slagle…don't mean to nit pick your article…but the NAACP did not clear the way for blacks to serve in the US House and the US Senate. There were blacks serving during the Reconstruction period and if my memory serves me correctly from my public skool edumacation, the Reconstruction period (1865-1877) was after the Civil War and before the 1909 when the NAACP was founded.
If you're referring to the time that the Democrats restricted the voting rights of blacks and imposed Jim Crow laws, which then resulted in the Civil Rights Acts to be passed and perhaps the NAACP had some relevance in the passage of the Republican supported and dominated Civil Rights Act, then you are correct. It is difficult as the article is written to determine when you are giving credit to the NAACP
I can't wait until Andrew unveils his new website! It will make the trolls' heads explode!!!
Nobody really gives him or the others the time of day. Plus as a continual reader, you know that if you post in reply to someone, you are less likely to have your material read and thus dinged
The NAACP ARE the racists.
Kind of like La Raza.
DUI is a cash cow. From OT paid by the fed strictly for DUI enforcement (burglary and robbery and rape and murder are still on the locals' dime) ludicrous 'alcohol education' schools conducted by contractors who engage in kickback schemes to politicians to an issue that cowardly politicians, fueled by MADD money, can jawbone without fear of opposition.
The BAC limits are arbitrary and unscientific. The fines and punishments are completely out of proportion to the crime especially at lower BAC levels. And then there are the checkpoints which make a mockery out of the 4th and 5th Amendments.
The media delight in seeking MADD's opinion on all things alcohol even if driving isn't in any way related to the story. In the same manner, the media continue to pour gasoline on the racial fire by giving credibility and airtime to the likes of the NAACP and Sharpton/Jackson et al.
The hand grenade labeled RACIST has lost its explosive power.
Now we see the last resort of the race biz: "They want to reinstate slavery!" Anyone who believes such a thing is clearly not in his right mind. So why are we listening to them?
I wouldn't know. Dean Smith, former UNC coach, owned the series against the K rat. Tyler Hansbrough never lost against Duke on their home court. Thus that is why UNC fans call it Hansbrough Indoor Stadium. Ty Lawson was undefeated against Duke in his 3 years at UNC. UNC has the better program and always will. Why don't you look back to 1995 when the Rat quit on his team, like Sarah Palin quitting in Alaska, because he claimed he had back problems when the real reason was that they had NO TALENT that year. His assistant coach, Pete Gaudet, took over and they had a losing record. Gaudet got blamed and fired when it was the Rat's fault the whole time. The Head Coach is responsible, that's why they call him the damn HEAD COACH! Dean Smith, John Wooden, Bobby Knight, none of them would have pulled the slimy manuever that K did.
Oh, gee, maybe it's because the NAACP publicly called the Tea Party a group of racists, and everything that conservatives published after that has been to refute that accusation….
Nah. It's because conservatives enjoy seeing Americans held down by progressive pimps who "take care of them" as long as they vote the correct way, and beat down the hos who choose to live their freedom.
No kidding ! The shakedown artists are really good about screaming about the things that it is "clearly unreasonable" to disagree with, aren't they ? When did we decide that every single accidental death was "preventable" through "proper legislation?"
haaaaaaaaaa Reconstruction, if only america had left it alone this place would be a lot better off when it comes to race relations.
Summary of charges: "Back when they were only getting in the way of my grandfather's White Privilege, they were cool. But now that they're getting in the way of MY White Privilege, it's time for them to go!"
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