Zooey wrote:

Oh, she’s trying.

This “essay” was not an assignment. She just wrote it and emailed it to me to ask me my thoughts.

See, I spent 20 minutes in class yesterday making distinctions between Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism (systemic and institutionalized). I said that Reverse Racism is basically not possible since minorities don’t have the structures in place to fortify discrimination. I think she was reacting to the general unfairness of that. In America, everyone should have the right to be racist. It’s unfair that racism is just another privilege of the white elite. At least, I think that’s what I have on my hands.

It did cause me to think about it more, and I can now think of an example of a black-controlled institution that discriminated against me, so I guess that was Reverse Racism, but I don’t think Reverse Racism really exists – not the way Rush Limbaugh and his legions believe it does, anyway.

Yeah, the “reverse racism” issue is tricky. Whatever group of humans has the most power
is, obviously going to have a scarier, uglier, kind of “racism” etc.
But figuring out all the concentric and overlapping kinds of “power” is a complex task.

It always helps me to think of these things in abstract non-historical ways — for example
thinking of a planet or city with green people and purple people…
And then after that kind of thot-experiment to look at actual history…

Anyway, its fun to see young people stretching, growing,
changing, learning, aint it. I mean, when it actually happens.
Not sayin it will happen with this student.

Teachers get to have that experience of satisfaction
when they can help a young human become more humane.

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• This reply was modified 10 years, 6 months ago by wv.

Well, I’ve read a lot worse 🙂 I mean, the writer is lacking
a lot of political-development and the ideas there are kinda
jumbled and off-the-mark but…i dunno…at least that
young-writer is…oh…”trying.” I mean, the writing suggests
a young person who is struggling and thinking and “trying”
it seems to me. I have read a lot of shit from young people
who don’t even seem to be “trying”. If that makes any sense.

As far as the actual substance of the thing — I think the writer
could get something out of a few essays on white privilege.
Seems like the writer gets hung up on “labels” and doesnt have
any grounding in history…..blah blah blah.

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Hmmmm. I dunno, but I suppose I’d have to say…no.

Mainly because Seattle is arguably the best team in the NFC
and possibly the NFL. And the Rams wont have Tre or Gurley
and the Oline probly aint quite all gelled and stuff.

I expect a good showing though. I expect a close game.
But I figure the first win comes in week two.

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Well lots of different views on the Oline in general.
Those two guys sound fairly optimistic.
Then ya got Laram who said he sees no real outstanding ‘strength’ anywhere
on the Oline. (If i remember right)

Its all purty Exciting.

The Offense and Oline in particular
is kindof a mystery wrapped in an eggroll
inside a toaster oven.

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NERam wrote:

Ridiculous. I guess if the wave is travelling in your direction, you hop on for the ride, eh?

Certainly, the asterisk should be applied to all of Billy’s wins, going all the way back to his Wesleyen days.

I’ve heard rumors of a hoodie with a red asterisk hitting the runway this fall…

i think there should be an assterisk
next to his high school yearbook photo

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NERam wrote:

I wouldn’t mind seeing something like this meted out. Scarlet letter kind of thing…

http://s5.postimg.org/q61urytdj/Patriots.png

OMG, that made me smile.

Really, nothing else ever has to be said —
just that picture. The picture says it all.
Really, it does.

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• This reply was modified 10 years, 6 months ago by wv.

lyser wrote:

fuck u wv – we only lost because they cheated whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, if u read Martz’s comments he acknowledges what u say – 3 turnovers I think it was – that was the difference.

Sad thing – that 2001 Ram team was better than the ’99 team. We win that game 9 out of 10 times.

I will never believe the “better team won” that day – how do we know Law was not tipped off on the route via signal theft? How do we know they didn’t abduct Proehl the night before, place a Ceti eel larvae in his ear thus rendering him susceptible to the suggestion that he fumble away a big play at a critical moment? Huh? How do we KNOW? They obviously are big fat cheaters – I wouldn’t put anything past them. Cool thing is everybody knows it now – asterisk firmly in place. Laff….

Yeah three Turnovers by the Martz offense
and Zero for the Belichex offense. Ah well.

As for the hit on Warner — yeah, the Refs missed the call on that one.
Shoulda been a penalty and they missed it. Ah well.

As for the argument Belichex had his henchmen
inject a Ceti Eel Larae in Proehl’s ear,
and said Eel Larvae placed hypnotic suggestions in Proehl’s mind
that he should fumble at a critical time — Well, yes, I believe that happened.
But then Martz should have adjusted to that. I mean, he had to know
the Refs were going to allow Eel Larvae and he didnt adjust to it
until the fourth quarter. By then it was too late.

Fuck the Patriots,
wv

Laram on the topic of Away Games.
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———————————————————
Laram – Realistically the Rams could lose every away game…

except probably the Washington game.

New qb, playing behind a young an inexperienced o-line in hostile environments, against top pass rushers, is a recipe for failure.

at Washington – (toss up) Home field favors the Skins and Rams coming off of a physical game against Seattle

at Cardinals – I expect Calais Campbell and Okafor to wreck the Rams o-line.

at Green Bay – Definite home field advantage, loud and will cause the Rams problems with line calls. Will probably have to go with hand signals.

at Vikings – Young improving team with a good pass rush. Everson Griffen and A. Barr can get after it.

at Ravens – Tough place to play under any circumstances. Suggs and Elvis Dumerville licking their chops for this one

at Bengals – Another tough game in a hostile environment against a tough D.

at Seahags – It’s been impossible for us to win there under normal circumstances. The Rams will again have to go to hand signals in this game

at Niners – Niners aren’t what they were, but this is Rams/Niners in theri house.

Looks like 1-7 possibly 2- 6 at best to me on the road.

Winnbrad wrote:

It gets worse…

Seahawks – 50/50
at Washington – should be a win
Steelers – 50/50
at Cardinals – loss
at Green Bay – loss
Bye Week

If the Rams are 3-2 at the bye I’ll be thrilled. There’s no way this team wins in Arizona and Green Bay. IMO they gotta start the season 3-0 to have any real shot at the playoffs.

The good news is, after the bye, the Rams have Cleveland and Frisco in St Louis. They could win both of those.

The bad news is they still have 5 road games after that. And so far, under Fisher, the Rams have not proven to be a good road team. They’re one of the worst, actually.

The remaining schedule after home games against Cleveland and San Fran. I can’t see the Rams winning any of these road games.

@ Minnesota Vikings
Chicago Bears
@ Baltimore Ravens
@ Cincinnati Bengals
Arizona Cardinals
Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
@ Seattle Seahawks
@ San Francisco 49ers

I think they can beat the Cardinals on the road.
I think that one is winnable.

I have a hard time picturing a win
on the road at Green Bay though.

Gurley could certainly change
things if he can play.

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JT keeps acting like the Rams should have let Austin D throw
more passes in preseason — why? The coaches know
what they have in Austin. They saw him play game
after game last year. A few more passes in preseason
wouldnt change anything.

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