Grievance Mongering, Reparations and Racism in the U.S.

Michelle Malkin has a post entitled, "Grievance-mongering at the gym" regarding the latest in civil rights violations; this one involving a Muslim woman wishing to have uninterrupted prayer time in a gym.

Arrwa Mogalli, left, and Ammerah Saidi are upset with the Fitness USA gym in Lincoln Park, Mich. which they claim reneged on an agreement for split facilities for men and women. They said mixed exercise violates Islamic standards of modesty.

Regarding the quote with the picture....does the world's king of capitalism not have an answer to the "mixed exercise" issue? Are there no entrepreneurs capable of answering the call? Must people protest through the courts instead of with the wallet when "offended?"

Off the subject of "civil rights" and on to the subject of civil rights: what's up with the issue of race in America these days? To my suprise I have posted a number of times relative to the Michael Richards "racist" outburst and the reaction of the "outburstees," and other recent gross "insensitivities" here, here, here and here.

My suprise is due to the fact that I even care, but why shouldn't I care when something of this nature happens and it reveals latent issues of "racism" in my country. Latent issues of "racism" that for all intents and purposes in my mind, isn't so much racism as it a reaction to the use of a certain word by a certain "white" guy.

Richards has been analyzed to death (unfortunately for some, not literally) and the concensus is that he is a "racist." Now I just have some questions based upon personal experience.

Have you ever heard the one that goes something like this?

"Blacks don't really live in cold areas because they don't like the cold weathter."

Is this an instance of ignorance or racism?

Years ago I overheard someone speaking (well not really overhearing as I was one of the people being spoken to) about a couple of black men that were reconditioning an old building with the intention of using it as a destination for inner city youths. Geography-wise this building was in a rural area of a state or what in many states is considered "upstate."

The person remarking happened to live right next to the building in question. She was very scared of the black men being there and said regarding her nightly walks,

"I just walk in the woods when I'm near the building because they don't like the woods."

Is this an instance of ignorance or racism?

If I get some answers, I might be able to continue the post.