[Ponygirl]

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.

[Don5154]

Originally Posted by Ponygirl

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.

As always, the news will always show the 1% bad side of everything. But if you don’t feel TV is the place for you.....sell your hose now, I’m sure you can many money on it.

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by Don5154

As always, the news will always show the 1% bad side of everything. But if you don’t feel TV is the place for you.....sell your house now, I’m sure you can make money on it.

I agree. The Villages isn't nearly as racist as all of this makes it sound. The news (and TOTV) have simply focused on a few knuckleheads. Most people here are friendly and inclusive.

[Swoop]

Is there a double standard? If you yell Black Power, it’s fine, but if you yell White Power, you’re a racist bigot?!?? I don’t condone any form of bigotry or racism, but is this double standard just hypocrisy, or is it media driven?

[Henryfrakl]

Originally Posted by LoisR

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.

Do not believe the conversations ever happened

[Guitarman1951]

Originally Posted by LoisR

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.

Who the hell are you associating with? I doubt anyone has lived in that kind of isolation all their lives and in all my 14 years here, never have I heard those sort of comments. Are you sure you aren't exaggerating just a bit!?!?

[JulieER]

Oh come on! I watched the whole thing. No one badgers another into saying something like that unless they believed It. I wouldn’t even think of those words to blurt out if someone were beating me with a stick. Sorry, totally off base on this one, John.

[cheweycat]

Heated and contentious political interactions come from a different place than someone shouting “white power”. To me it is obvious. It seems to you it is not. Sorry.

[kendi]

Why give it more attention. Just let the story die.

[Andyb]

Knee jerk reaction in the natural human characteristic of a response is the opposite of what was being said, so as the protesters were yelling Black lives matter, his “natural” response was the word “white”. Not defending anyone, just pointing out what probably instigated that response.

[billethkid]

Dead horse and still reloading?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Simply because there is a difference between "offensively rude protest" and "blatant racism."

So is the term "Black Power" also blatant racism?

I think that anytime to place a race, color or creed before the word "power" or the words "lives matter", there is a problem. That is exactly what is dividing the people of this country.

Our constitution vests the power in "the people". Not any particular group based on race, gender, color, creed, heritage or anything else. We the people should be united in sharing the power that the constitution states is rightfully our.

It's sad that so many are determined to divide us.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by JulieER

Oh come on! I watched the whole thing. No one badgers another into saying something like that unless they believed It. I wouldn’t even think of those words to blurt out if someone were beating me with a stick. Sorry, totally off base on this one, John.

After watching several times, I get the impression that the guy was being sarcastic. Someone called him a racist and he said, "Yea, white power" as a sarcastic response.

[Kerry Azz]

Originally Posted by John_W

Watch the whole video and not just the 15 seconds the media used for their sound byte, which portrayed TV in a bad light. You'll see after several minutes of the woman in black intimidating Villagers into responding and then the camera catching that moment, you'll see it was a setup. Also, you're a little late to the party. This is have brought up a dozen times on this board since that parade on June 14th and discussed at length.

YouTube

Intimidation Doesn’t get a low life to yell racist remarks, the women yelling was expressing her anger. You need a reality check!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

The whole thing seems to be about people acting stupidly.

Bingo.