[Panther Thunder]

Everyone please be mindful that BluegrassRival’s is a multi-race community and you may be communicating with many different ethnicities. What is considered acceptable by some may not be acceptable by another. Often misunderstandings can occur because of the way something has been written, and other people can take offense.

I believe racism portrays ignorance. Judging someone because of their race is narrow-minded. Alexander the Great once stated, “I do not separate people, as do the narrow-minded, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me each good foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek is worse than a barbarian. “Essentially, what Alexander is saying here is that there are good and bad people in every race. Judge the individual, not the race. The world is full of ignorant and evil people from all different ethnicities. At the same time the world is full of peaceful, understanding, and educated people from all different ethnicities. In the end we are all human beings, all part of the same human race. Audrey Smedley (2007) points out that the very idea of 'race' implies inequality and hierarchy. It has also been claimed that biologically there are no scientific classifications that delineate human groups into 'races' (Graves 2004).

To me this thread is bias because it generalizes only one specific area of Kentucky and only specific race, and doesn’t offer any other comparisons. For instances, Why not ask, “Is racism any more wide spread/prevalent in Eastern Kentucky than it is in Western Kentucky, Central Kentucky, Northern Kentucky or an entirely different state for that matter?” Now, I assume you are implying that only white people are racists in Eastern Kentucky. (Even more bias) Why point out one specific race? Are races outside of white people incapable of being racists?

The thread should have been titled, “Is the state of Kentucky racist?” or even “Are you racists?” If a random sampling was conducted throughout the state I guarantee you would be similar results across the board.

I am from Eastern Kentucky and I don’t know any racists people. I have never heard of any racist organizations or cults, no hate crimes based on race, no racial discrimination in the workplace, has ever occurred that I am aware of, at least not in my lifetime, and I’m 30 years old. There were/are multi-cultured people all around me (from school, to sports, to work, to church.) and everyone interacts and coexists without any problems whatsoever. Where, exactly, are people that assume Eastern Kentucky is racist gathering facts? Am, I implying that racism doesn't exist in Eastern Kentucky? No, I am not, I just never experienced it. Ignorant and narrow-minded people are abundant throughout our world. Not just Kentucky or Eastern Kentucky. Just turn on the news.

Well first I'm sorry if this topic was offensive to anyone and second I have just been tired of hearing poeple in the community make racial slurs and comments not neccessarily being full-blown racist but still the comments out of hand. And it was intended that the majority of EKY is caucasian and the topic of being raicst was not intended to one specific group but at all races and groups. Such as African Americans, Asians, or any type of religion that may be subjected to prejudice hate or iggnorant comments. But, if by any means if I have crossed any lines I am very sorry and it was not intended to put down or hurt anyone. Just a topic to talk about and see how others feel about this subject.