Race, The Fear Factor And Politics

Race equates fear.  Even our President seems to be willing to promote this philosophy.  How a son of his would look like Treyvon.  They'd look like the three that recently killed a young baseball player and the two that beat to death an 87 year old sitting in his car too. It's the wrong comparison, Mr. President, for I doubt if you had a son they'd behave that way because they would have been taught better.

Just for the heck of it I'm going to explain who I fear and why.  The President says he experienced women holding on to their purses more tightly when he or others like him approached.  It was the 'black experience'. I'd do the same but it would depend on their dress and demeanor, not their color.

But you see, it's not just blacks.  I cringe when I see a bunch of white kids using foul language, dressed like nothing that should be allowed in a decent place of business and hogging the sidewalk or whatever.  It's the dress and demeanor.  They take pleasure in intimidating.

I've lived in both Texas and southern California where Hispanics actually dominated in some areas.  They never gave me pause because they weren't known for criminal behavior and didn't appear threatening. They were industrious, hard workers.

It's pretty much the same with Orientals.  I think of them more as achievers than anything else.  They don't appear threatening, even in groups.

On the other hand, there was a time  I'd not have given a thought to people of obvious middle eastern heritage.  Today I find myself tending to steer clear.  It's because of how they are now perceived, justified or not.

It's an issue of which I'm now keenly aware because we're inundated with it thanks to the media.  When terrorism is emanating from those middle easterners and you hear about it enough it affects you.  When the crimes that get the most publicity are crimes committed by blacks against whites and you hear about it enough it instills caution if not fear.

I have never been witness to an administration that made more of a point of race than this one and then calls foul when it's pointed out.  Instead we should be looking at the crimes and what inspires young men to kill for a thrill or $50.  Of course we know what a lot of it is.  The old cliche, the breakdown of the family.

I might add that it's also too much welfare.  The more kids, the more money.  The father is necessary only to create the kid. It's an evil, ugly, vicious cycle with no easy fix. We're creating a society of dependency. We did it with the native Americans, we're doing it with the poor blacks.  Meanwhile, those of a different skin color who are industrious are moving up and in and will one day dominate our society and we will be relegated to the status of the failed.  All because our leaders blame all the wrong reasons for why our society and civility is deteriorating. They go for the feel good fixes rather than those of substance.  Substance requires effort from all sides. It's work and it isn't easy.  But the fix would be a real one.  If only...

If the politicians feel the policies of this President are bad for the country it's time for them to say so rather than quaking in their boots in fear of being called a racist.  It's time for them to understand it's those who call them racist  who are the racists and move ahead.  He and his administration are the leaders of the whole country no matter the ethnicity.  To continually use it as a wedge is a disservice to the entire country and in the end it will be more than a footnote in his legacy. And it will be deserved.