What Is Fair? July 8, 2010
Posted by lizp4 in Uncategorized.trackback
Main Entry: fair
Function: adjective
1 : characterized by honesty and justice : free from self-interest, deception, injustice, or favoritism fair and impartial tribunal>
2 : reasonable as a basis for exchange fair wage> fair valuation>
3 : consistent with merit or importance
4 : conforming with established laws or standards : being in accordance with a person’s rights under the law —fair·ly adverb —fair·ness noun
This definition is from Dictionary.com. For a four-letter word, it took up a huge page of definitions and explanations, and a whole slew of examples, and this little snip is just one bit from about 2/3 down the page.
With all the meanings and definitions of “fair” there are floating around out there, it’s no surprise that so many people have so many ideas about “what’s fair.” Aside from business dealings, I don’t remember the Bible mentioning “fairness,” or demanding it of its believers. Peace, love, humility, and joy are all mentioned at length, but there are only some references to fairness in business practices and legal judgments mentioned there.
So, how does “fairness” come to be such an embolism in the language these days? Why are we always having to do things “just to make it fair,” not do things that “aren’t fair,” or being warned against anything that smacks of “unfairness” in our dealings with others?
And, who’s to judge what’s “fair” or not? You and I? Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? What’s “fair” about affirmative action, in which Blacks are given preference for education, employment, and benefits?
Prior to the Civil Rights act in the Sixties, Black families in the United States were mostly intact. Fathers were home, mothers were home, and they were all American citizens with all the same opportunities as other Americans. Blacks who were willing to work hard and follow the rules achieved as much of the “American Dream” as most of the rest of us. Most of us didn’t live in the lap of luxury, but we weren’t starving, we had roofs over our heads and clothes on our backs, and education and opportunity were there for all of us. And we all shared in the fruits of the labors of the nation. Now, THAT was fair.
Speaking of Black families, has anybody seen a mature Black man around here anywhere? It seems like all we see are women, children, and young (angry) men, but so few mature men that their absence is noticeable. Please don’t tell me they are all serving time.
We can’t even say “Black families,” today, because the disintegration of the intact nuclear family among Blacks is almost complete. Where before, fathers lived at home, and all (or most) of a mother’s children had the same father, today, promisucity is the rule, and dad is absent, mostly because he was never really in the picture in the first place. Young mothers have numerous children, all by different fathers.
The opportunities are still there, but the quality of life has been deliberately destroyed for these Americans, and they are now paying the price in crime, poverty, and lost hope. What’s “fair” about any of that? Especially in view of the fact that there are certain people among them who deliberately and maliciously prevent them, through harrangues and ignorant propaganda, from stepping forth to claim their rightful share of the opportunities America offers. These evil people use the situation they created to keep their victims from ever learning the truth, climbing out of their poverty, and benefitting from the opportnities.
What they claim is “fair” is dragging most Black people down, by the simple weight of the rhetoric these race hustlers and poverty pimps force onto an unsuspecting Black population. All they know how to do is to live DOWN to the “expectations” of these race hustlers.
They tell them they have no future, no chance to make anything of themselves, and that White people like me are keeping them in that situation, and these charlatans are making money destroying their own people while they are at their destructive work. I hope they like warm climates, because I have my own opinions about where these no-goodniks are going to be spending their eternity.
No, there’s nothing “fair” about the situation in America today. But it’s not the fault of the nation. If you want to see who’s responsible for the loss of dignity, opportunity, and prosperity among American Black families today, you need look no further than the hallowed halls of Congress.
Hey, Washington! You are NOT playing FAIR!
It was a great article in 2010, and it is even more to the point today.
Yesterday, I was to meet a man in a part of Dallas that I do not know at all. He told me to meet him at Grand Ave and Malcolm X,, which tells you something about the part of town. I got there and he was not there, and there was no business there where I thought he worked. I stopped a passing black man, and ask where the Community Health Service was. He said he did not know, but that I should ask over at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center; they would know everything. I asked where this was and he said “over there” pointing off vaguely in the distance. I said, “where?” and again, he said, “over there.” Then he said, “I’ll show you,” and we set off on a six block hike in darkest Dallas.
The MLK Jr. Center was an elaborate place with unemployment counseling, drug counseling, a health center (not the one I was looking for) and much more, all run by back for blacks. There were very few white faces around there at all. I thought I was in a foreign land. The staff tried to be helpful to me, but the clients looked at me like I had no business being in their domain. It was a really strange encounter with our tax dollars going down the drain to very little gain it seemed to me.
PS: I finally found my man, back near Grand and Malcolm X, just about 100 yards away down Grand. We had a nice lunch after all; he bought.
There is a reason for this, Liz. For many years now, the courts have criminalized every action any man has taken, no matter how reasonable, no matter how right. It has had an effect. No one should be surprised, least of all women. This is exactly what they were asking for, even if they did not realize it.
“Most of what is passed off today as “fair” is grossly unfair by this understanding of the word.”
Well, of COURSE. The best way to deal with these people is to start FIGHTING BACK. They have owned the dialogue for far too long.
It’s time someone called their bluff every darned time they threaten a business or a Conservative politician. McDonald’s actually told the bespectacled twit with the facial hair at CSPI to pound sand over the Happy-Meal toys, which is a step in the right direction.
We on the Right need to STOP BACKING DOWN from every threat from the left, real or imagined, especially those from Jesse Jackson and his ne’er-do-well ilk. Another monstrous travesty was the NBP intimidation at the polls in Pittsburgh, which is so much in the news these days. I’m praying there is a way to bring that bunch back to the bar of justice as soon as (praying) we get rid of the cockroaches in the people’s house.
Gee whiz, it’s no wonder it’s the WOMEN of the Right who are in the ascendancy: The “men” appear to have lost a couple of things.
Why, I am shocked!! That is LBJ’s Great Society you are running down there! Draggin’ it through the mud, just like it ought to be. And you are criticizing that wonderfully “fair” program called “Affirmative Action” that prevents every black person from ever competing equally for anything, but instead humiliates him by giving him the prize with zero effort. In so doing, it has instilled a marvelous sense of entitlement, which of course was the intent from the beginning. This is the new form of slavery, government dependence.
They very cleverly destroyed the black family by making it more economically beneficial to have more children with no man in the house than to have a stable, two parent home. Financially rewarding destructive behavior is a good way to get more of it, and it worked like a charm; they can be proud. Today, the vast majority of black children are born out of wedlock.
The black church was once an integral part of the stability of the black community. With the so-called civil rights movement, the black church has been politicized to the point that it has little spiritual concern any longer and is largely simply a cover for on-going racial strife.
To be fair, in my understanding, derives from the idea of being equitable, but also being attractive, as in “a fair lass,” for a comely young girl. Most of what is passed off today as “fair” is grossly unfair by this understanding of the word.