I don’t usually quote the dictionary but:
noun, plural com·mu·ni·ties.
a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.
Just so’s the debate doesn’t linger longer then it should, I’ll accept your definition for what it is.
That’s a fine definition. But notice it’s an “and” (I added the emphasis), not an “or.”
But even if was an “or” statement, there’s a lot more to having a “common cultural and historical heritage” than merely having one similar trait or demographic data point. When a politician talks about the “Muslim community,” for example, which cultural and historical heritage are they talking about? There are historical Muslim traditions throughout Africa, the Mediterranean, Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. They don’t all share a common history or culture. Oh yeah, and also the Middle East, where they’re all fighting each other.
What about the “Hispanic community” that I hear so much about? Are they talking about people from Spain? Descendants of the Mayans or Incas (two different cultures)? Conquistadors who killed those Mayans and Incas? Nazi leaders who fled to Argentina? Business owners? Farmers? Migrant workers? Cartels? It’s ridiculous to think that everyone who speaks Spanish shares a common history and culture, but that’s what we’re supposed to believe when people talk about this imaginary “Hispanic community.”
Just two examples, it’s pretty easy to tear apart any of these imaginary communities that politicians claim to represent.
This is the primary factor for defining a true community. Most of the people in a specific location may or may not share some similar traits but it is the shared location and shared experiences in that location that makes a community not the traits. And even in that shared location the people there are likely going to vary significantly in their beliefs and actions.
Lumping people together who are from diverse areas and backgrounds simply because they have a trait in common (such as race or religion) is pretty useless. It would be like me trying to claim I am part of the same community as the rich folks in the Hamptons because I’m white and they’re mostly white. I suspect I might have more in common with a Martian than I do with someone from the Hamptons. It’s a totally different universe than the one I live in.
It does have its uses. It can be exploited for personal and political gain. The definition of such “community” is extremely strict, and people who fail to match it, bring lots of hate upon themselves, like the Left did to Allen West and Larry Elder, and not to forget “…you ain’t Black!”
I never thought I’d be playing the semantics game in a USCCA forum. I never thought I’d have to explain a clear, dictionary definition of a word in a USCCA forum. I joined the USCCA and engaged in the forums to get away from the academic pursuit of left-wing double-speak Unfortunately this is not to be. I will continue to use the word community as I see fit. I will try to avoid discussions that pertain to semantics rather than the subject at hand. If the USCCA stands for what I think it does then I should not be academically harassed for my comments. I hope.
Stop the quibbling!
com·mu·ni·ty kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē
pluralcommunities
often attributive
1
: a unified body of individuals: such as
a
: the people with common interests living in a particular area
broadly : the area itself
the problems of a large community
b
: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
a community of retired persons
a monastic community
c
: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society
the academic community
the scientific community
d
: a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests
the international community
e
: a group linked by a common policy
f
: an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (such as species) in a common location
g
2
a
: a social state or condition
The school encourages a sense of community in its students.
b
: joint ownership or participation
community of goods
c
: common character : LIKENESS
community of interests
d
: social activity : FELLOWSHIP
3
: society at large
I agree with @Ouade5, the usage of the word means a lot. The Left likes to co-opt words and change their meanings. One of the first co-opted words from my youth was “gay”. I have yet to meet a homosexual that meets the real meaning of that word.
Merriam-Webster definition of Community
1 : a unified body of individuals: such as
a : the people with common interests living in a particular area broadly
: the area itself the problems of a large community
b : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society
a community of retired persons
a monastic community
c : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger
society
the academic community the scientific community
d : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political
interests the international community
e : a group linked by a common policy
f : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (such as species) in a common location
g : STATE, COMMONWEALTH
2
a : a social state or condition
The school encourages a sense of community in its students.
b : joint ownership or participation
community of goods
c : common character : LIKENESS
community of interests
d : social activity : FELLOWSHIP
3 : society at large
the interests of the community
I believe that the Merriam-Webster definition does not include the definition of “community” the Left likes to use in defining the “black” community, nor any of the abnormal communities they label, such as LBGTYAWKQRSVDXZ%=+2Pi&WTF?
[edit] I apologize if I left out any of the other supposed “communities”.
I am afraid this Pastor’s words may inspire some decent men to indeed walk peacefully, and they will get hurt. Police will not provide safety for them, just like NYPD turned their backs on Guardian Angels.
Would be better to have a few dozen strong men with baseball bats meeting these feral teens… for a friendly game, if the teens bring gloves with them.
“Stop the quibbling!”
My sentiments exactly. How an entire discussion centered on one word is beyond me. It is social engineering to the max. The attempt to a change the narrative of an entire community. Perhaps the poster is right. There is no community - at all in USCCA. It’s acedemia at its’ most cunning. Without morals. Without conscience. Is it any wonder why the gun controllers laugh at us? We can’t even tolerate or agree on the dictionary meaning of an innocuous word.
Don’t loose hope my brother. Those guys that sit in the basement of mommies house do eventually put on pants and run up stairs to see if mommy done making cookies. Really though, there are some that come here just to be a pain in the a$$, ignore them.
It’s not the basement and she bakes brownies !!!
It’s been several decades since my mom made me cookies😔 But my bedroom was in the basement back in those days🙂
That poor woman! I NEVER want to see that look, that abject fear on my families faces! That is why we train! We absorb the principles of situational awareness and don’t go into the ‘Kill zones’ anymore. You can call them what you like but we are in our 60’s, no children, no obligations that require us to go somewhere some asshole deemed Gun Free Zones. If you need me to be unarmed to enter here? See ya later pal !. We HAVE to take our shopping, errands, Dog walks , jobs seriously . Our mall is in a decent neighborhood but like the above RIOT! there isn’t anywhere truly safe anymore or anything in that mall worth risking my life for. This Mall is dying also (and over priced), it’s a ghost town so the mall crossing guards have nothing better to do than hassle you if they think you ‘may’ be carrying…Nope! Not worth it. We don’t even cross the river (into Albuquerque) anymore. The homeless (excuse me UN housed) the Illegals (pardon me; Migrants) the gangs (excuse me 'Yoots") roam free, they can have that city, Police don’t even get out of their cruisers anymore down there (except to give a ticket). Walmart Super center (on San Mateo) shuttered it’s doors because of rampant theft, assaults, RAPES, FIRES, car break in’s etc. Albuquerque is taking it’s cue from other Demoncrat cities like Chiraq, San Franshitsco, etc. I heard something stupid the other day: " If you get caught in a RIOT the best advice is to act like you are part of it!" People, we are so lily white we would fool NO ONE! The advice I have is if you lost your mind and went somewhere you shouldn’t have and get caught in a situation that is turning south on you and you are in your car DRIVE! Keep DRIVING! If they don’t get out of the way that’s their problem DO NOT STOP! YOU WILL DIE! Get through the mob! …your car can take the hits YOU CAN’T, Did you all see the ‘mutant’ with his pants around his knees peel the hatch off that Tesla??? That’s what they will do to you if you stop. They will hurt your woman, man & kids so take the kicks and window smashes and keep driving! That’s why you have insurance, and if you feel inclined when safe call the cops. If on the streets get sheltered, a business would be better than trying to defend yourselves on the streets or get the keys in your apartment door/house and if they get past you you invite chaos onto all your neighbors. Get inside, back to a wall and pull your piece(s). If its THAT BAD you are in for a world of hurt anyway, might as well Center Mass a few and show these jokers you will go down fighting! Are the rest of the mob as brave as the first few maniac’s ? ( if I get blasted for this please piss off! This is what I WOULD DO!) I was followed home from work once, aggressive tailgater I didn’t go straight home, I went to a substation (there were NO cops there but there was a civilian behind the desk and glass. Idiot was so mad for some reason he followed me inside. And he ran smack dab into the business end of my .45! I held the drunken idiot @ bay until the donut eaters finally showed up. I PRESSED CHARGES. Don’t let the bad guys know where you live. I may have said this before but if one person takes heed it’s worth repeating. I took ALL my bumper stickers of my vehicles a couple of months ago. Pro TRUMP (surprised?) Anti gubment etc. In todays climate this is an unnecessary risk. Calling attention to myself is not smart. Same for my house. No Gun Owner stickers, pro trump etc. Invisible every man/woman house, cars, self. When I walk our dogs (big Shepherds) I walk w/ confidence, I belong there, have the right to be there, if you are a threat the dogs will know when I stiffen up, I don’t Open carry anymore either (except in my truck) I feel the threat, I am ready, I practiced, trained to be as fast as I can. Am I the fastest? NOPE, but more ready than a lot of bad guys that are on the streets today. I will show my weapon first, not pull it out. I will let them know I will take no stuff. You keep advancing, the rules of engagement have just changed. I will back up. I will yield ground, I will gauge how far from my truck (and my AR I am). But I will not let them get too close! . You try and hurt the Dog’s or me and you will be room temperature. If they are unarmed I will Krav Maga/karate you into the ground. But I am getting older now and mixing it up isn’t as easy as it once was. I am also partially disabled, this didn’t make me more vulnerable just more stubborn. I will not shoot unless I can’t get away. Armed/Unarmed/Crazy or just stupid ,you ignore the commands ,ignore the weapon shown I think I have given enough chances for someone to understand I am not just some OFWG. It’s the crazy ones out there that really are my concern. The unpredictability of what they may do is the game changer. The gun comes out, in hand (already one in the pipe). No BS, I will take my chances in the courts rather than the hospital or dead.
I try to avoid as much of of the armpit of that city as much as possible, that is why I don’t stop except for gas unless I have to. AS for a solution, well you really DON’T want my choice on what I would.
Just don’t run in there in your underwear.
First time on the internet?
No one harassed you, don’t be dramatic. I merely said there’s no such thing as “the black community,” and then you misunderstood that to be me calling you a racist. Go back and check it if you think I’m lying. No one else cares; you can say whatever you want, just don’t act all shocked that someone out here might use words differently than you do. If you don’t want to play word games, simply stop playing them. No one here can force you to type words you don’t like.
As is the current norm the left has hijacked a common word and weaponized it.
The victim community grows day by day!
Thanks brother. I’ll stay away from the academics who insist on playing the social engineering game.