Bridging the racial divide?
Posted by Moonage on 18 Mar 2008 | Tagged as: 2008 Presidential Race, Racism
A lot is being made over Obama’s dealing with his pastor’s comments. Now, here’s where the big problem is in my opinion. You’re going to have to bear with me while I kind of lay it out. The Obama camp jumped all over Hillary Clinton for being associated with someone they perceived as being racist because they implied Obama wouldn’t be special in this race if he were pasty white. Then, no sooner than they trashed Hillary for hanging out with someone who made one comment that defied their entire life’s history, someone Obama hangs out with is singled out making MANY comments that defied his life’s commitment. So, this entire scenario is a no-win situation for either candidate because neither candidate is actually the one that made the actual comments. In both cases, the candidate is expected to confess for sins they did not make. That is the state of race issues in the United States. Simply being anywhere near someone who baits the issue will get you burned. Apparently that goes black or white, make or female, Republican or Democrat. The issue is just that over-sensitive.
And, it is 100% misguided and wrong.
We’ve tried for forty years to create a grey society. We have passed all kinds of laws that says you can’t even mention the word “black” or “white”. This apparently isn’t working too well. How’s about this, we celebrate the differences? How’s about black Americans be encouraged to be proud of being black in America. However, let’s encourage Irish Americans to do the same. Italian, Hawaiian, French, Jewish, Masai, everyone. We encourage cultural diversity instead of trying to stamp out something that is so fundementally a part of human nature it can never be stamped out. Instead of being a black/white thing, it would be a culture amongst many cultures, all proud.
So, rather than Obama asserting he’s black AND white, he should be asserting he’s American. In this country, you can be black. You can be white. You can be neither. And, you can be pasty white and sing the blues. That’s what’s special here. And, in the entire debate between Obama and Hillary, not one single person has seen that. All they’ve seen is the division. If all you see is the conflict, then you have no answers.
7 Comments »
on 18 Mar 2008 at 3:35 pm 1.Stormwarning
said …
You know me well enough by now to know that I couldn’t care less what color anyone is. What I do care about is that Rev. Wright’s tirades are very off-base, for an American of any color. For Obama to have not fully disavowed the man for what he said, and instead, essentially saying that Wright’s comments were understandable because of the times in which Wright grew up, simply isn’t enough.
on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:35 am 2.Moon said …
I agree. However, Obama could totally re-focus the entire issue of race relations with the open door he’s been given to media. Instead, he’s taking the safest route possible by pandering to all sides. I’m very disappointed, but not surprised.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 3:26 pm 3.mw
said …
Well said. Great post, one of your best IMO. I thought more of his speech than you did, but this point…
… was spot on. I was also struck by the monumental hypocrisy in many of the reactions to the Ferarro v. Wright clips. In particular, I found Olbermann particularly galling and posted about it here.
BTW - I like the paneling. Reminds me of my family basement when I was a kid.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 5:39 pm 4.Moon said …
Olbermann always galls me. He is the epitome to me of all that is wrong with “news” these days.
I’m having fun with the Democrat primary because I really don’t care which one wins. Therefore, I can sort of see things from a “fair and balanced” perspective. I knew a LONG time ago this thing would get ugly as the differences between the candidates is too obvious to ignore. For a long time I thought they did a good job of ignoring the obvious, but when the Obama camp started hitting Hillary as being racist ( without saying she was racist ), I knew the gloves would come off. That’s when I’m sure they got tired of ignoring Wright.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 5:42 pm 5.Moon said …
I’m also having fun with this incredibly tacky, 70’s retro look. I was shooting for a log cabin kinda look, but the paneling is just as fun. And, this is a dirt simple theme to work with.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 8:03 pm 6.mw
said …
Oh - one more thing - I wanted to make sure you understood the kindness and consideration I have been showing you by not mentioning at any point that Kentucky was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA. Think nothing of it. It is just in my nature.
on 23 Mar 2008 at 8:20 pm 7.Moon said …
So considerate of you. I’ll remember your kindness next year when Kentucky returns to where they most usually are. This year is paybacks for hanging on to a coach too long.