McCain a racist?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Although Flip's generalization is a little harsh, the older you are (in the US/Canada at least), the more likely you are to be a racist.

My grandfather was prone to dropping the n-word more than a couple times, especially in his later years, but at the same time he was raised in a different time period where that language was commonplace. That being said the man didn't have a racist bone in his body and his actions spoke louder than any words possibly could, the stories that I only learned about him after his death and him standing up against segregation during the 1940s make more of an impression than any words that he may have said during his life.

Using terms we now consider racist to determine who is in fact racist is looking at racism without a critical eye for the culture in which one was raised.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by Azure

I guess they had a duty to torture American POWs as well, right? Long after the war was over.

Otherwise, regarding the thread, and what McCain said. Given what the guy has been through, I'm sure he can think of worse things to call his captors.

McCain was released from captivity on March 14, 1973. The war ended April 30, 1975. Your math doesn't add up. He spent 5.5 years as a POW and I am not surprised that he still has some anger towards his captives. I don't think that's something you ever fully recover from. I am sure many of the North Vietnamese POWs have the same view towards the Americans.

McCain has a right to be angry and hopefully time has helped heal some wounds but in his position at the time in 2000 running for president it wasn't the right thing to say under his position. Hopefully 8 years later his stance being a presidential candidate has changed.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Although Flip's generalization is a little harsh, the older you are (in the US/Canada at least), the more likely you are to be a racist.

Load of crap.

rascism has NOTHING to do with age...in fact just the opposite. It has everything to do with education/experience.....or (and I know many hate this FACT) in other words, the older you get, the more you learn.

Talk about another sweeping generalization.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by transplant99

rascism has NOTHING to do with age...

No, but it has plenty to do with when and where you grew up.

I'm sure we're all considerably more 'tolerant' (which is a lame word, but whatever) than our grandpa was. I know I am. And then a little more than our dad as well, and our kids will be even moreso.

To sort of relate it to McCain, he was going to the Naval Academy in the 1950s. I'll bet the student demographics and the language used on campus has changed quite significantly since then.

It's just the time he grew up in. It doesn't mean he's a racist, and I don't believe he is, but a 70 year old man is a better bet to hold some racist beliefs than someone who was born in 1970.