In his testimony Michael Cohen called the president of the United States, Donald Trump, a racist ( and a conman and a cheat).
If someone would call me a racist in public, in particular, when I am the most important person in the country, I would sue that person for defamation immediately.
But oddly, Cohen's words didn't even cause a wrinkle in the White House pond. Yet the issue of racism is an open nerve in the US.
In America, the Keynesian economists from Harvard and Tufts University wanted to promote a fairer society after the war,
but the biggest problem was not poverty as such: after all, there was more or less full employment.
In America the traditional problem of justice emerged as a result of the war: racial equality.
So many blacks had fought in Europe and the Pacific Ocean, and if they were expected to risk their lives for their country just like whites, why shouldn't they be treated equally after the war?
The document that would have just as much influence on American society as the Beveridge Report had on the British,
was released when the war went on all fronts in favor of the Allies in January 1944.
It was a gigantic work that required six years of preparation, with the title "An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy".
The Swede Gunnar Myrdal (1898-1987) was invited in 1937 by Frederick Keppel, president of the Carnegie Foundation, that paid for the study, to write the work because the Swedes had no colonial past.
The lifestyle of the American black person, every aspect of his being, was conditioned, a reaction to the world of whites,
and the main consequence was that blacks were outside the law and outside the various institutions of the country, and especially outside politics.
Myrdal's conclusion was just as critical as his analysis. Congress, he said, was not willing and, or able to correct the wrongdoing.
Something else was needed and, according to him, this 'something' could only come from the courts.
These, he said, were to be used as a way to enforce the legislation that had been included in the law books for years;
this legislation must be designed to improve the conditions for the black people and to make it clear to the whites that times were changing.
In the US everything is not done primarily according to the bible, but according the Law. The days of today are exemplary.
An historical example: Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court (Dec 9, 1952 – May 17, 1954)
in which the Court ruled that American state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional,
even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality.
This "equal in quality" refers to Plessy v. Ferguson, a former decision of the U.S. Supreme Court issued in 1896.
It upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality, a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal"
And then it is 1963: The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door Incident. It took place at Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama on June 11, 1963.
George Wallace, the Democratic Governor of Alabama, in a symbolic attempt to keep his inaugural promise
of "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" and stop the desegregation of schools,
stood at the door of the auditorium to try to block the entry of two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood.
However, the legacy of the 20th century for black people in the US is, that in the 21st century they are equal to any other person in the US with the same rights.
Thank you for your attention again...
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Peter Watson: A Terrible Beauty (2000)
The DiscussionPeter Watson: A Terrible Beauty (2000)
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:22] CB Axel: I'm not seeing the equal rights.
[13:22] CB Axel: Blacks are still discriminated against.
[13:22] herman Bergson: That is the open nerve, Gemma
[13:23] herman Bergson: You have a president who not even protetsts against being called a racist
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): terrible situation
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he knows he is an asshole and is proud of it!
[13:23] herman Bergson: I find that very telling and odd
[13:23] CB Axel: Well, I think Cohen was being kind.
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but to lots of the country cohen is a liar so
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it does not matter
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump probably takes racist as a compliment
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): trump has a history of being one
[13:24] herman Bergson smiles
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wayyyyyyy
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): back
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and his father
[13:24] herman Bergson: Got a point there, Bejiita
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): possible kkk
[13:24] CB Axel: He forgot that Trump is also a misogynist and outright crook. The White House won't sue for defamation, because there is too much evidence for a lawsuit to be successful.
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:24] herman Bergson: That was my thought too, CB
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no they will be happy when he goes to jail
[13:25] herman Bergson: If there is one thing in life Trump really regrets, then it is his becoming president
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): jail? bury him deep down in the largest trash dump there is
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well he is sure thinking of stayine
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nnno
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cause thats what e is, garbage
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Cohen going to jail
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he
[13:26] CB Axel: Anyway, when blacks aren't being jailed for longer terms for marijuana possession then white men are being jailed for money laundering, obstruction of justice, etc maybe then we can say racism is over.
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is so so true
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): trump that is
[13:26] herman Bergson: Indeed CB
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i was thinking that yesterday at the sentencing of Manafort
[13:26] CB Axel: And when blacks aren't being shot by cops just for being black
[13:26] herman Bergson: Isn't 80% of US prisoners black?
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 7 years
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): possibly
[13:27] CB Axel: And when blacks can buy their way into elite schools
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well actually that has been going on for years
[13:27] CB Axel: Yes
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think that is how trump got to the business school
[13:28] CB Axel: I'm sure it is.
[13:28] herman Bergson: But there is one little light.....for the Law all are equal...whatever color you have
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): where he was NOT at the top of his class
[13:28] CB Axel: And how all his dumb ass kids got into Penn.
[13:28] CB Axel: Instead of into the pen.
[13:28] CB Axel: °͜°
[13:29] CB Axel: Those laws have been in existence for decades.
[13:29] herman Bergson: So you say there still is discrimination in the US
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): how about the letter cohen wrote to threaten allllll his schools not to release his grades or sat scores
[13:29] CB Axel: Blacks do have it better than before those laws were enacted, but we still have a long way to go.
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and they never did!!!!
[13:30] herman Bergson: But how about Chinese or Hispanic people....are they discriminated in the same way?
[13:30] CB Axel: They are discriminated against, but not exactly in the same way.
[13:30] herman Bergson: Or do African Americans have a special position in it all?
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I remember a class i took with a Black professor on these topics and i asked him how long he thought it would be before racism disappeared adn he said 200 years
[13:31] CB Axel: Asians have been kept out of some top rated universities because they are Asian.
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not exactly the same Herman
[13:31] CB Axel: Hispanics are discriminated against much like blacks are.
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): they are looked down upon but it is different
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): still different
[13:31] herman Bergson: Does the historical fact that the blacks were slaves of the white play a role here?
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): absolutely
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): they were looked upon as apes
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and since they did not understand the language or customs as slaves
[13:32] herman Bergson: Every time you see a black American you think...hey man...you were a slave....when you see a Chinese person you don't have that feeling
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): were dumb
[13:32] CB Axel: I actually think that it might make things easier for blacks because they were brought here and didn't just move here "illegally."
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and unteachable
[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why unteachable?
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): too stupid to learn beertje
[13:33] CB Axel: They were thought to have inferior minds.
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): really that was the thought
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): nobody is too stupid to learn
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:34] herman Bergson: I think that 200 years is a good estimate...
[13:34] CB Axel: I think 200 years might be right.
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Have you ever seen the movie The Help
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Get that movie if you can
[13:34] CB Axel: That is a great movie.
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sure was
[13:34] herman Bergson makes a note
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I stil watch it on tv
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good example of mid 20th century thinking in the south
[13:35] herman Bergson: what is it about, Gemma?
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some of which stil today
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is about Black workers in the homes of some people
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in a town of the south
[13:35] CB Axel: But even intelligent blacks were discriminated against. Just watch the movie "Hidden Figures."
[13:35] herman Bergson: ok
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and their treatment
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh i just saw that !!!!
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the other day
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): loved it
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): see The Help first
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): then Hidden Figures
[13:36] CB Axel: Brilliant female mathematicians doing calculations for NASA had to go to another building just to use the toilet.
[13:36] herman Bergson: ok...good plan :-)
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): half a mile run!!!!
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): amazing stuff
[13:36] herman Bergson: I have heard about that
[13:36] CB Axel: I agree, Gemma. "The Help" speaks more to the point of this discussion than "Hidden Figures."
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ;eactly
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some funny stuff in it too
[13:37] herman Bergson: Gonna be a nice weekend :-)
[13:37] CB Axel: lol
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): great
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hopefully yes
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well the help does the south and hidden figures takes in some of the north
[13:38] herman Bergson: But though there still is discrimination, the situation has improved...there is no way back
[13:38] herman Bergson: The News shows don't seem to make a difference between black or white commentators
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): There are many improvements
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): in most careers
[13:39] herman Bergson: I think that has a positive effect ....such people can become role models
[13:39] Blackrose (blackrose.baroque): not to forget the black president
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): mm
[13:39] CB Axel: I listen National Public Radio a lot, and they've added many more Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians to the on-air people.
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and some of the women running for president will too
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but
[13:40] herman Bergson: In relation to his successor the black president was a disaster.....a source of renewed racism
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): phoo
[13:40] herman Bergson: The ultimate frustration of white supremacists....
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): He had to be very careful NOT to appear to have a hiddn adgenda of black take over
[13:41] herman Bergson: impossible...a black president....
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:41] CB Axel: I don't think racism was renewed. It just angered them enough that they decided to let their racism flag fly.
[13:41] herman Bergson: Indeed Gemma...
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and there were those who really believed that
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): exactly
[13:41] CB Axel: Which I think is pretty much a good thing. When racism had to be hidden, we didn't know who the assholes were.
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): white supremacy groups became stronger
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): starting then
[13:41] CB Axel: Now they wear bright red hats. :-)
[13:41] herman Bergson: Very true CB
[13:42] herman Bergson: But yet we can look at the positive sides of developments in this matter
[13:43] CB Axel: I think Air Force 1 should be replaced by a 737 Max 8. :-)
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I heard a fellow on the Moth last week talking about his time in the service in Vietnam
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and programmed to crash on takeoff
[13:43] CB Axel: No need, Bejiita. They do that just fine on their own.
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): He did not himself understand the racist stuff that was going on
[13:43] herman Bergson: Black Americans have more chances, are equal for the Law, can achieve important positions...
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Himself a Black but not really identifying as such
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): even then in the viet village there were separate bars inn town for either
[13:44] herman Bergson: yes, Gemma, that can happen
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:45] herman Bergson: But it is a complex proces....we are easily inclined to think in terms of US and THEM
[13:45] herman Bergson: thus also black and white soldiers equally could be inclined to do so
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess
[13:47] herman Bergson: Well..I guess the problem of racism still exists, as do its historical roots
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly it does :(
[13:47] herman Bergson: This time we must conclude that we didn't save the world today...but in 200 years...who knows :-)
[13:48] herman Bergson: So..keep up the good spirit and enjoy your weekend :-))
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and look a Burma
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and in china
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and iraq
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lots of racism against certain groups
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not Black
[13:48] herman Bergson: True...
[13:49] herman Bergson: But yet we should stay positive :-)
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it will change
[13:49] herman Bergson: Homo sapiens DID make some progress
[13:49] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you Herman and class/world :-) sunny weekend!
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hm
[13:49] CB Axel: There was a comedian years ago who pointed out that in Northern Ireland, a country with essentially no Blacks, Jews, or Muslims they still found things to fight about.
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): religions
[13:50] herman Bergson: Religion CB
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): religion
[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): haggis:)
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I have to run off
[13:50] herman Bergson: Thank you all again for your participation....:-)
[13:50] herman Bergson: Class dismissed
[13:50] CB Axel: They fought about who was worshiping Jesus correctly?
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok cu next time
[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:50] herman Bergson: and bye Gemma :-))
[13:50] CB Axel rolls her eyes
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hopes cb gets her finger out of the electric socket
[13:50] herman Bergson: No no CB.....
[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :))
[13:51] CB Axel: And kill my snakes!
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahah trying to look like me?
[13:51] CB Axel: Never!!
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bye now
[13:51] bergfrau Apfelbaum: bebye Gemma:o) ...soon on the golf course!
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu around¨
[13:51] herman Bergson: The protestants were actually linked to Brittain
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bye Bergie
[13:51] herman Bergson: and the catholics to Ireland
[13:51] CB Axel: Herman, you are much more optimistic about the human race than I am. :-)
[13:52] CB Axel: Well, I'll see you all next week. Only one more week of the time being off.
[13:52] CB Axel: Bye bye
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