Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1797594)

I have never ever heard anyone say "white power". I honestly didn't know it was wrong to say. Who gets to decide what is naughty and what is nice???

Originally Posted by Ponygirl (Post 1798001)

Every day I read TOTV and am truly disturbed. Today there is talk of “they” and “them” and what is wrong with the words White Power”, that’s the same as Girl Scout Power. REALLY? I read the daily never ending threads filled with nasty language and negative stereotypes either due to implicit bias or overt racism.

And for what reason? Is it to satisfy the need to bully or the false need to protect your white life style or just to gossip in half-truths like mean 13 year old girls. It is appalling behavior and the most appalling was a recent post using the n-word disguised by using two number sixes instead of two letter g s. And the Moderator did not remove.

It is an embarrassment to be part of this community. See the recent article abt the golf cart rally (can't post link) and the article yesterday in the Washington Post, that the white power video was a glimpse into the politics in the Villages (can't post link).

Not sure what everyone is afraid of. I see people protecting their singular white lifestyle and it is sickening. The better option is to enjoy the beautiful town and make it welcoming and inclusive.

My husband and I bought a house in the Villages 4 years ago and planned to move here soon. We are fearful to see if there is a drop in housing prices after the negative golf cart parade videos were viewed nationwide. From the above articles, take a look at the negative comments abt the villages to see how the rest of the country feels abt the village lifestyle and whether they would want to be part of it.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1798172)

If someone wants to be mad, they will find something to be mad about. Nothing wrong with Twinkie Power, Or Power to the kitty-cat lovers. Or Girl Scout Power. A lot of really mad people seem to find things to get even more upset about. I think it unfair to visit their anger on a bunch of people who are just probably the nicest folks you could find anywhere. Very few of us Villagers have ever owed anyone a debt and not paid it. Most of us have never, ever, ever been in jail. An awful lot of us, especially those past the seventies mark, made a financial success of their lives and started out damn close to poor if not poor, by anyone's standards. Most people don't care what color you are but do care if you break the law. They won't like you at all if you shop lift or steal cars, or use someone else's credit card. Simply because they don't do stuff like that. They would go without and probably go hungry before they took something that wasn't theirs.

I am really tired of being attacked when I don't think I have done much of anything except be born white. I think that all this stink is being maneuvered into the forefront of news because of what year this is and what is happening soon.

I say Uncle.

I don't like the aspersions cast. I may not be a wonderful soul, but I am like most people here, I am doing the best I can and I wouldn't deliberately hurt anyone no matter what color they are. EVER.

Originally Posted by Terry L Elliott (Post 1797569)

LoisR
One simple question to you....would you object if someone had yelled “black power”.
My objection to your post has nothing to do with the comment. My objection is that you object to the man saying “white power”. Where are his equal rights?
To paraphrase a quote...I do not support what he said but I will defend to the death his right to say it.
After all....it is the 4th of July.
Have a good one.

Originally Posted by LoisR (Post 1797495)

By now, probably most, if not all The Villages has heard of or seen the video of the man yelling “White Power” at the recent golf cart ride. As inappropriate as that statement was, I started to think about why anyone would even use it. I then thought of several conversations I have had in the recent past with Villagers when we shared original homesteads and I mentioned I was from NY. On three separate times, I was asked, “What was it like living with “them?” “Where you ever attacked by “them?” “Weren’t you afraid to live with “them” so close? On two other times I mentioned we had to go into either Leesburg or Wildwood for an errand and we were asked what type of gun do we carry? The people asking the questions stated that they never go into “those areas” without a pistol.
That got me to wonder where, or how and why does one develop thoughts and fears like this? As humans, we are not born with a genetic predisposition to be a racist, bigot, or hater. As humans, like all other animals, our intelligence (the ability to incorporate and use information) is developed from combinations of our experiences with our environment, including family, our living experiences, including schools and religious associations, and interactions with other people and processes.
So, why would a person who has never met one of “them” be so fearful that they must carry a weapon because they assume they will be in danger? Why would a person who has never met with one of “them” believe they are different than we are? What was so devoid in a person’s development and life experiences that they must yell “White Power?” The questions are easy to formulate, the answers are not. I invite your thoughts.

Originally Posted by LoisR (Post 1797495)

By now, probably most, if not all The Villages has heard of or seen the video of the man yelling “White Power” at the recent golf cart ride. As inappropriate as that statement was, I started to think about why anyone would even use it. I then thought of several conversations I have had in the recent past with Villagers when we shared original homesteads and I mentioned I was from NY. On three separate times, I was asked, “What was it like living with “them?” “Where you ever attacked by “them?” “Weren’t you afraid to live with “them” so close? On two other times I mentioned we had to go into either Leesburg or Wildwood for an errand and we were asked what type of gun do we carry? The people asking the questions stated that they never go into “those areas” without a pistol.
That got me to wonder where, or how and why does one develop thoughts and fears like this? As humans, we are not born with a genetic predisposition to be a racist, bigot, or hater. As humans, like all other animals, our intelligence (the ability to incorporate and use information) is developed from combinations of our experiences with our environment, including family, our living experiences, including schools and religious associations, and interactions with other people and processes.
So, why would a person who has never met one of “them” be so fearful that they must carry a weapon because they assume they will be in danger? Why would a person who has never met with one of “them” believe they are different than we are? What was so devoid in a person’s development and life experiences that they must yell “White Power?” The questions are easy to formulate, the answers are not. I invite your thoughts.

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725 (Post 1797570)

The whole thing seems to be about people acting stupidly.

Originally Posted by croughwell (Post 1798203)

Some people are realists and others aren't live the bubble!