So much has been written about and alluded to carefully about race and racism in this presidential campaign that I think it’s time for us as human beings to remove “carefully” and insert “starkly” into this conversation.
Racism is disliking , discriminating, and hating someone simply because of their color of skin. It’s wrong, it’s ugly, it’s narrow-minded, it’s despicable, and it’s ignorant. It’s also real though many of us would deny it. The problem of racism is that it has multiple ownership with many of those proprietors of hate not realizing the stake they have made.
Think about it; if you think Barack Obama is the best candidate , but you won’t vote for him because he is a black man, then you are a racist. Yes? So let’s offer another side to this and see how it fits. Suppose you think that Barack Obama is not the most well-qualified candidate in your mind and heart, but you vote for him because he is black whether you are or not. You are also a racist. Yes? Why? Because race is the only basis for your decision.
Racism is a convenient substitute for thinking because it is easier to resort to the primal stupidity, ignorance, narrow-mindedness and hate inherent in such a feeling. Our better angels tell us that the only thing that really matters in this election, or any event where race is involved is the content of character and leadership of a man or woman. If Barack Obama becomes the Democratic presidential candidate, and ultimately president, it should be only because of his qualifications.
Unfortunately, we’re not there yet; race is too important to too many, but when we break the barrier without discussing race as a barrier, then we as the human race will have matured beyond pro and con racism, and we all will win. I’m Gary Sutton.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pro and con racism -- some thoughts
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7 comments:
You make a good point, but I'd add this:
An African American might vote for Obama because he is black, which you would call racism, but what if it isn't what it looks like? What if the vote for Obama is cast because that African American feels that Obama understands his personal paradigm because they share the same colored skin? That man is still voting based on skin color, but is it still racism?
Doug,
To expand your question beyond the political sphere, if a person lives, worships, works, goes to school, dines, and associates with groups solely based on skin color or some other physical characteristic, then IMO that person would not necessarily be guilty of racism, although the possibility of being a racist exist.
I would view this type of person as ignorant, bigoted, and stupid, which IMO is spawned from the same origins as racism. Since the people who care about being politically correct don't consider it PC to call people stupid, the label of "racist" has become the catchall term for this type of behavior.
I do find it interesting that if 90% of the black voters in an area vote for Obama because of his race it is a non-issue. However, if 90% of the non-black voters vote against him for the same reason is a cause for national concern.
"I do find it interesting that if 90% of the black voters in an area vote for Obama because of his race it is a non-issue."
Interesting if true. We have evidence that Obama is getting 90% of the African American vote...but where did you see any evidence that they were voting that way because of his race?
RB: "Interesting if true. We have evidence that Obama is getting 90% of the African American vote...but where did you see any evidence that they were voting that way because of his race?"
No real evidence, just personal experience based on a number of conversations. I am not saying that the entire 90% is voting based on race, some people vote based on party affiliation. If voting was based on solely on race, then Lynn Swan and Michael Steele would have gotten more votes.
I don't fault the 90% for voting for Obama. 90% is good, however Saddam got 100% of his voters so Obama has room for improvement.
"I am not saying that the entire 90% is voting based on race, some people vote based on party affiliation."
Given that this is the Democratic primary I would be so bold as to say close to 100% are voting for him based on party affiliation.
Of course, nobody is voting for him because they feel he is the best candidate. That would just be crazy talk, wouldn't it?
RB: "Of course, nobody is voting for him because they feel he is the best candidate."
Obama's opponent in the DEM primary has disapproval numbers close to 50%. I wonder who these people are voting for?
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