Wednesday, May 14, 2008

So. We Are NOT Color Blind

One question was answered last night. Loud and clear. It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican. It has everything to do with race. Racism. In West Virginia.

There is a lot I can say that is politically incorrect about the white, blue collar voters that are so supportive of Hillary, but one thing I have to give them credit for is that they are honest. They didn't vote for Obama because he is black.

Now I have to ask, which Obama do we want? It obviously matters. Some very much want him, no matter what he is. Others don't want him because of what he is. If Obama was white would they still have voted for Clinton?

I don't think I have to carry on about Obama versus Clinton anymore. As we're told, the numbers are against her. She will either continue on being the spoiler or she will exit gracefully. At the moment it appears she plans to continue. What the end result will be for the Democratic party remains to be seen. What the end result is for Obama also hangs in the balance.

The issue to me, is now one of racism. Obviously it is alive and well. That saddens me. I have felt if anyone could bridge the gap it would be someone like Obama who is neither white nor black, but both. It saddens me that he is still being judged, by voters, by his appearance and his name rather than his capabilites and accomplishments.

By voters. Partnered with our rage over illegal aliens, mostly Hispanics; our segregated cities - blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and the predominantly white "burbs", we are still a nation divided.

When the ministers of our faiths still rail about outrageously inaccurate injustices, both white and black, we are still a deeply divided nation.

Red state, blue state. White, Black, Brown, Yellow, Red. Singular, unto themselves.

Hope? Change? I wonder if it's achievable if we can't see past the color of the standard bearer. We say we want to regain our place as leader of the free world; regain our reputation as the land of opportunity. It isn't going to happen unless we do something about our own prejudices. Unless we are willing to face our own misconceptions. Unless we are able to join together as Americans to move ourselves forward.

This is the time, before the general election, to take a good hard look at ourselves and decide how we want the world to see us. As they see us now or as we would like to have them see us. It isn't up to them. It's up to us. It's not looking good.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I truly believe that a huge portion of the racial intrusion into this election, can be charged to the media. They continually refer to Obama as the first black candidate for president. Why? That really has nothing to do with anything. While they refer to horrible Hillary as the first female candidate, they do not refer to her as the first white woman candidate. Race is surely an issue. My head isn't in the sand. But, if the media would behave responsibly, nay intelligently, we would never read that Obama is black (which actually he isn't) or that Hillary is female. We would simply read about what the candidates stand for...what their positions are. It is the media flogging the racial issue...sad. CU

Word Tosser said...

"or she will exit gracefully"....
the longer she waits the less graceful it will be.... especially with Edwards saying he will vote for Obama...

The New Arch Druid's take on the news said...

Quite frankly, would the news media have played up the "race issue" if Senator Clinton hadn't heavily? Would Rev Wright have been an issue if Senator Clinton hadn't applied that "alien other" when it came to Obama? The news media has chosen to adhere to genuine journalistic standards. They can't so much take Obama to task for his accomplishments, so they'll paint him in the darkest hues on race. CNN on-line, Senator Clinton "crushes" Obama in West Virginia and to what end? She still lags in delegate count.

Playing Field said...

I believe that the media and the Clintons and their campaign are equally responsible for the obsession with race issues in the Democratic race. I also think that it is unfair to ask Obama to transcend race or to encourage color-blindness. He is a proud black/white bi-racial man who is also smart, courageous, farsighted and a champion for change. That is a fact. And isn't that enough? Do people have to have him to reject and bleach out his family, his culture, his heritage?

The task is for us white people to transform the stereotypes and fears we have about black people and to root out our unconscious and usually unwanted sense of white superiority. It is a sense that comes from being born and raised in a society where, in a million ways, white is valued as the default color and culture.