Marcus, I know what's going on because I have seen it. Please don't start a war on the SML just because people don't know better. One thing I know for a fact is that I am white and I have been told about stuff like this before I actually knew. I was resistant to believing it just like other list members. However, it's not something you can just tell someone about for them to understand, know and fully agree with you about. They really need to hang out with black people for a long time to see it with their own eyes. They also need to hang out with a group of Asians to see what they get too. Each culture seems to be treated a little differently while someone's being unfair to them. I just want you to know that because I'm white, I come with a little bit (actually, quite a bit) of ignorance regarding this topic. It's nothing I can really help, but it was sure easy denying the relevance of something that actually does exist until I saw it with my own eyes. I also know that there is no since in arguing with a white guy about it. You will not educate him. That is impossible because it was impossible for me. I couldn't be told, I had to see it for myself to figure it out. It's pretty sad that it still happens, and I hope you can see why us white people act so negatively when someone brings up the issue. There have been so many black people that yell "racism" just to stir up shit. This is why you get all the comparisons and degradations to the story instead of support. It's not because we're racists, it's just because we're dumb about the topic. My own stupidity has got me to a point where a black co-worker called me a racist. I was offended because I am not. However, he was offended when I called him "boy." I was so stupid because I used that word for everyone (white and black, but mostly my peers) and didn't "see" anything wrong or racial about it. He did. I soon learned that the older black men and women are more sensitive to words and actions that often have no racial intent. They are more likely to call someone a racist based on their words or actions. The black people who will make that call real quickly also have a stupidity fault just like the white guys. They are ignorant to the fact that some white guys are too dumb to know better about certain things. I had a tough time explaining that I wasn't a racist and it was just a matter of me not knowing better. I also had a tough time understanding why he called me a racist so quickly. That was just the start of my education when I opened up my eyes and saw what was really going on. Not all whites and blacks have the stupidity faults that I was talking about, but a lot of them do. That right there is what makes racism so tough of an issue. Some people (mostly whites) won't swallow the idea to easily, and some people (mostly blacks) eat it up a little too quickly. You have to take each case individually. All because a white guy experienced the same thing that a black guy did at a dealership doesn't necessarily mean that racism did or didn't exist with the black guy. No one knows exactly what was going through the salesman's head at the time. I do know for a fact that it's not Nissan's standard operating procedure and the salesman and maybe the dealership should be held responsible instead of the whole corporation. But sometimes when a whole corporation goes down for the actions of one salesman or dealership, it wakes everyone up and gives hopes and promises of it not happening again. Later, Jason Bosaw Webmaster The Sentra Network http://www.sentra.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Sentra Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 10:54 AM Subject: Re: SML-NON-P: To Marcus concerning Nissan "discrimination" > In a message dated 7/11/01 11:07:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > << To Marcus: > > Let me start out by saying, sir, I'm very proud of you for being a vet > and > that you can afford a Mazda or an Infinity. I'm sure that on your planet, > you must be a great and noble man for those great achievements. Let me > reassure you that race is not required, or optional for that matter, when > applying for credit. I am a young white male who bought a 1999 Sentra, > brand new. When I wanted to take it (a Sentra, not a Maxima) for a test > drive, rest assured that there was a salesperson along for the ride. A week > before that, I was considering the purchase of a new Ford Ranger 4x4 and > took it for a test drive also. Wouldn't you know it, there was a > salesperson in that passenger seat as well. When I went inside to talk > about financing, they offered me an APR of 18%. I stood up and left. Now > tell me, should I go back and sue Ford for offering me a high interest rate? > No! There are too many other places out there looking for my business and > can give me a more competitive rate. I think that the people bringing about > these charges should be ashamed of themselves for continuing this endless > cycle of race games and "poor little old me" syndrome. It's time to wake up > and realize that if you have questionable credit, you get the higher rates. > That is all. End of story! ! ! >> > > Grow up kid. When I was 19 years old they rode with me too. But I haven't > been 19 since 1985. I haven't had the typical salary of a 19 yr old since > 1990. The car I drove to the lot cost more used than the car I was trying to > purchase. The white person that took a car out ahead of me was also younger > than myself. At what point should I take something at face value kid? It is > easy to assume that these things never go on when they do not happen to you. > If I was 19, white, and male I might believe that there is no discrimination > as well. I will tell you that there are very few women or minorities in this > country that have not experienced what we are discussing here. Give yourself > some time and you will feel it at some point as well. I am not saying that > every dealership uses these practices, but there is a thing called profiling. > Hopefully you will not ever get pulled over because you have a Sentra that is > dropped, tinted windows, rims, a sport muffler, and just crossed an > intersection with a cop that thinks that you are a problem just because he > has a stereotype in his mind. If and when you do, you will understand the law > suit and why they sometimes are necessary. > > Sincerely, > Marcus > > > +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ > Have questions about your car? Try here: http://www.sentra.net > > > +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ List archives ==> http://www.escribe.com/automotive/sml Have a question? Try the archives first.
