Rep. Westmoreland (GA) - Obama "uppity"

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I'm been in the south my whole life. Never heard it had racial connotations.

In the American South, it's just about the ONLY way the word is EVER used. And you claim you've lived there your whole life and don't know that? :roll:

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe

Originally posted by: spidey07
How in the HELL is that racist? He IS uppity, especially his wife.

Originally posted by: chucky2
Uppity is not racist. Uppity is what poorer (and when you're as rich as Obama is, most in the US are poorer) call rich b@stards.
If you think this is racist, get your 'Woe is me' and/or 'White Guilt' meters recalibrated.
Chuck

I lived in Birmingham in the 1960s. I drank from "Whites Only" fountains, and wondered why I couldn't get a snack at the "Colored" diner in the basement in Macy's. I grew up with racist pricks and proud Klansmen. If you don't know what a Southerner means when he calls a Negro "uppity" you are woefully ignorant of American history.

The year is 2008. We can call anybody we want uppity because it describes their attitude.
Obama and his wife are uppity. I'm sick and tired of this PC nonsense.

Try The Redneck Shop, in Laurens, SC. You can get your Hood and Cloak in a variety of styles and colors.

Old style Southern Racism is alive and well in 2008. Your "ignorance" of it doesn't negate that.

edit: sp

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe

Originally posted by: spidey07
How in the HELL is that racist? He IS uppity, especially his wife.

Originally posted by: chucky2
Uppity is not racist. Uppity is what poorer (and when you're as rich as Obama is, most in the US are poorer) call rich b@stards.
If you think this is racist, get your 'Woe is me' and/or 'White Guilt' meters recalibrated.
Chuck

I lived in Birmingham in the 1960s. I drank from "Whites Only" fountains, and wondered why I couldn't get a snack at the "Colored" diner in the basement in Macy's. I grew up with racist pricks and proud Klansmen. If you don't know what a Southerner means when he calls a Negro "uppity" you are woefully ignorant of American history.

The year is 2008. We can call anybody we want uppity because it describes their attitude.

Obama and his wife are uppity. I'm sick and tired of this PC nonsense.

Who are you to say what words are or are not offensive to another race?

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe

Originally posted by: spidey07
How in the HELL is that racist? He IS uppity, especially his wife.

Originally posted by: chucky2
Uppity is not racist. Uppity is what poorer (and when you're as rich as Obama is, most in the US are poorer) call rich b@stards.
If you think this is racist, get your 'Woe is me' and/or 'White Guilt' meters recalibrated.
Chuck

I lived in Birmingham in the 1960s. I drank from "Whites Only" fountains, and wondered why I couldn't get a snack at the "Colored" diner in the basement in Macy's. I grew up with racist pricks and proud Klansmen. If you don't know what a Southerner means when he calls a Negro "uppity" you are woefully ignorant of American history.

The year is 2008. We can call anybody we want uppity because it describes their attitude.

Obama and his wife are uppity. I'm sick and tired of this PC nonsense.

:laugh:
"I'm taking it back!" (Clerks 2)

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe

Originally posted by: spidey07
How in the HELL is that racist? He IS uppity, especially his wife.

Originally posted by: chucky2
Uppity is not racist. Uppity is what poorer (and when you're as rich as Obama is, most in the US are poorer) call rich b@stards.
If you think this is racist, get your 'Woe is me' and/or 'White Guilt' meters recalibrated.
Chuck

I lived in Birmingham in the 1960s. I drank from "Whites Only" fountains, and wondered why I couldn't get a snack at the "Colored" diner in the basement in Macy's. I grew up with racist pricks and proud Klansmen. If you don't know what a Southerner means when he calls a Negro "uppity" you are woefully ignorant of American history.

The year is 2008. We can call anybody we want uppity because it describes their attitude.
Obama and his wife are uppity. I'm sick and tired of this PC nonsense.

Try The Redneck Shop, in Laurens, SC. You can get your Hood and Cloak in a variety of styles and colors.

Old style Southern Racism is alive and well in 2008. Your "ignorance" of it doesn't negate that.

edit: sp

Him using the word "uppity" doesn't make him a racist/KKK member, though.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: spidey07
[
I'm been in the south my whole life.

That's more than obvious.

Give spidey a break. He's not racist, just ignorant and uncaring.

 

[dainthomas]

Stay classy, Georgia!

 

[GrGr]

That was the genious of McCain's Palin pick. It mobilized the 'white trash' factor.

 

[senseamp]

Those goddam uppity richers.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: loki8481
poor choice of words, but the definition fits.

up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous

Forgive a Canadian for perhaps not understanding, but isn't the entire point of "the American Dream" to aspire to be above one's station? Is it uncouth for one who starts off in the middle class to aspire to be, say, the President of the United States?

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: loki8481
poor choice of words, but the definition fits.

up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous

Forgive a Canadian for perhaps not understanding, but isn't the entire point of "the American Dream" to aspire to be above one's station? Is it uncouth for one who starts off in the middle class to aspire to be, say, the President of the United States?

I guess if you're from Georgia it is. Maybe we can ask Butterbean if he decides to log on.

 

[sportage]

I remember as a kid in 1965 going to Florida on vacation. We lived in the midwest in farmland and things were pretty much all white.
In Florida at 11years old, I noticed Laundromats built side by side. One said LAUNDRY the other COLORED LAUNDRY. I thought it was really weird you had to go next door to wash your colored clothes. Then our Florida relatives explained what that was for me.

It just hit me in the gut how ANYONE would treat another human that awful. I never had been exposed to raciest before. But to build a separate building just because you couldn?t stand another person was so ignorant, especially for adults.
Ever at 11 years, I knew something was really twisted down in that part of the world with people.

That was 1965. Its now 2008 and really not much has changed.
Thats why my concern in this election is too many white folks will
say one thing in public, but mentally be stuck back in 1965 when they are alone in the voting booth.

I really worry about the ignorant dumb people that continue to be fooled so easy, and vote ignorant dumb time after time. I can?t help but wonder if it isn?t something in the water or what?
Brain damage is a terrible thing, especially when so many suffer from it at election time, then go vote for someone that ends up with a 20% approval rating. Like they couldn?t see THAT coming and figure it out back in 2000, 2004?

Or believe drilling more and more will solve something. Especially when its Exxon that will be charging $6 a gallon, and not the Saudi?s. Like Exxon really won?t put profits ahead of country.
Or that Mccain talks about wind energy, and some saps cheer and believe him, when Mccain voted to end tax credits for building wind energy. Like you can?t see that BS coming at you.

Or that he believes giving someone making 5 million a year a tax cut, as helping the middle class folks. That being the definition of giving middle class tax cuts.

My dad is in his 70?s and he often says really dumb things too. We just know what to believe, and what is a ?senior moment?.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: loki8481
poor choice of words, but the definition fits.

up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous

Forgive a Canadian for perhaps not understanding, but isn't the entire point of "the American Dream" to aspire to be above one's station? Is it uncouth for one who starts off in the middle class to aspire to be, say, the President of the United States?

It's the term elitist that gets me. I WANT the president of my country to be elite. I want him or her to be extremely intelligent and incredibly successful in every aspect of life. He (or she) might not be the most fun person to kick back and watch football and drink beer with, but that's OK. We've tried having a Joe Average as president already and what did we get out of it? Pretty much exactly what you'd expect if you pulled any other random guy off the street and made him president.

 

[JD50]

I've heard the term "uppity negro" before, but I didn't know that using the word "uppity" in any context is racist. Seems a little silly, but I guess if a majority of black folks do find it offensive and racist then it is. Still seems a little silly though.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I wasn't aware it had racial overtones until fairly recently. I suppose I should stop calling my kid uppity...

Yep, I just call mine porch monkeys.


Its ok, we took it back.

 

[alchemize]

OK I think she could have expanded on her thoughts, not sure why she was so niggardly with her statement.

I'd say 50/50 it was intentional. I've heard it both ways....not as a slur, and as a slur.

 

[Hecubus2000]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Pens1566

Originally posted by: spidey07
How in the HELL is that racist? He IS uppity, especially his wife.

The word uppity has negative racial connotations ... someone from Georgia would probably be aware of it.

I'm been in the south my whole life. Never heard it had racial connotations. I can't keep up with all the non PC terms any more.
*head spins*

+1

 

[hellokeith]

I just talked to my mother - lifelong democrat, school teacher/counselor, bilingual working with minorities in public school system for 30 years - on the phone and asked her what "uppity" means. She said it means someone thinks they are better than someone else. I asked her if it is racist, and she no, it is just a class insult.

There you have it. If it has racist overtones, it must be regional, because in the southwest it is not a racist term.

 

[CitizenKain]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: loki8481
poor choice of words, but the definition fits.

up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous

Forgive a Canadian for perhaps not understanding, but isn't the entire point of "the American Dream" to aspire to be above one's station? Is it uncouth for one who starts off in the middle class to aspire to be, say, the President of the United States?

Its a unique thing in American politics in recent years. Its based on a special blend of anti-intellectualism where people who wish to better themselves with school and further education are regarded as elitists. When they attempt to use their knowledge and skills to help things, they are shouted down and ignored because they are elitists who aren't used to plight of the common man. Of course this is coming from rich, well educated members of the republican party which has somehow remained non-elitist despite going to the same school the others went to.

 

[mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by: dainthomas
We've tried having a Joe Average as president already and what did we get out of it? Pretty much exactly what you'd expect if you pulled any other random guy off the street and made him president.

GWB was hardly a random guy off the street. He's from a rich and well connected family. If anyone fits my mental image of "elitist" when used in this context, it's him.

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
I just talked to my mother - lifelong democrat, school teacher/counselor, bilingual working with minorities in public school system for 30 years - on the phone and asked her what "uppity" means. She said it means someone thinks they are better than someone else. I asked her if it is racist, and she no, it is just a class insult.

There you have it. If it has racist overtones, it must be regional, because in the southwest it is not a racist term.

Case closed everybody. Some dudes mom said it's not a racial slur. Last one out shut off the lights.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
I just talked to my mother - lifelong democrat, school teacher/counselor, bilingual working with minorities in public school system for 30 years - on the phone and asked her what "uppity" means. She said it means someone thinks they are better than someone else. I asked her if it is racist, and she no, it is just a class insult.
There you have it. If it has racist overtones, it must be regional, because in the southwest it is not a racist term.

And the legislator in question is from that region.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: CitizenKain

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: loki8481
poor choice of words, but the definition fits.

up·pi·ty (p-t)
adj. Informal
Taking liberties or assuming airs beyond one's station; presumptuous

Forgive a Canadian for perhaps not understanding, but isn't the entire point of "the American Dream" to aspire to be above one's station? Is it uncouth for one who starts off in the middle class to aspire to be, say, the President of the United States?

Its a unique thing in American politics in recent years. Its based on a special blend of anti-intellectualism where people who wish to better themselves with school and further education are regarded as elitists. When they attempt to use their knowledge and skills to help things, they are shouted down and ignored because they are elitists who aren't used to plight of the common man. Of course this is coming from rich, well educated members of the republican party which has somehow remained non-elitist despite going to the same school the others went to.

it's more the fact that he wasn't in the senate long enough to take off his jacket before he started running for president... and assuming he had the stature to give a speech in front of the brandenburg gate was a pretty "uppity" move.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I personally think this whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion. Two things. First, uppity DEFINITELY has racial connotations. It has its root in talking about blacks who tried to rise above their station into white society. It is fundamentally a statement about class more than race, but because class and race are inexorably tied throughout our country's history, especially in the South, to say that it has no racial connotations is ignorant. Second, my mother called me this when I acted up as a child. If a white parent can use the word with her white son, I think we've moved beyond the level where the word is solely about race (as opposed to, say, the n-word). If this Senator had used the word uppity to describe a white man instead of a black one, no one would even know, because the media would never report that.

He should not have used the word given the history behind it, but it's honestly a complete non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: hellokeith
There you have it. If it has racist overtones, it must be regional, because in the southwest it is not a racist term.

To be completely clear, when I was taking about the "South" I meant basically Texas and further east. The Southwest would lack the same history regarding the word since most of it didn't historically have a heavy African-American population among other things.