I think it’s time, in light of all the recent events that have clearly spotlighted the American public’s attitude toward race, for the liberal left to put down their “America is a racist country” signs and move on.
Last night a black man, and one with a distinctly ethnic name - Barak Hussein Obama - won the Democratic Iowa caucus rather handily, beating a woman who was supposedly annoited already as the next president, and a man who is about as white as white can be. And if Obama’s momentum continues he may well be the next President of the United States. Correct me if I’m wrong but - isn’t Iowa a largely white state?
This coming Monday Piyush “Bobby” Jindal, a first generation American born Indian, whose parents came from a humble background in India and migrated to America in hopes of a better life, will take over as Governor of Louisiana. He was elected by a wide margin and without a run-off election and the people in the Deep South state of Louisiana are thrilled with their choice. So much for the Southern racist Billy Bob that haunts the dreams of the left.
All around the country we see black mayors, police chiefs and other community leaders. Our military has many black officers, right up to General rank. A black astronaut going up in the space shuttle is old news. Nobody even mentions it anymore.
I know that this will come as a disappointment to the left but, really, nobody cares what color you are anymore. It’s your conduct that matters. I don’t know a single person in my life who cares if a black family moves in next door to them. What they care about is if that family keeps up their house, mows their yard, controls their kids, and are generally good neighbors.
This whole “America is racist” thing is a myth that is perpetuated by the left and by the race pimps who profit by keeping the pot stirred, and by the socialist/welfare/nanny staters who think that the government should provide cradle to grave care.
America as a whole has largely gotten past racism. Are there individuals - on both sides of the coin - who haven’t and who still use the slurs and think that the old jokes are funny? Sure. To deny that would be asinine. But a little at a time those too are fading away.
So, for all you people out there who are convinced that racism is an absolute plague in America I have a brief message: Come out of your little bubble and take a good look around. It’s really not what you think it is.
Just ask Barak Hussein Obama and Piyush “Bobby” Jindal.
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Comments: 27
Still, when it comes right down to it, I think on an individual basis, you are right. And I think Obama is the kind of man few would object to having next door. He seems to have integrity, and that goes a long way with some people.
Seriously, I think Rob is off on this one. (A) Noone seriously contends that "America is a racist country". (Funny how Rob sees this as yet another "left vs. right" issue, BTW.) So, the basic premise of this article is flawed.
(B) "Nobody cares what color you are anymore." That is another flawed premise, as Rob admits further down.
(C) Bobby Jindal's election and Barack Obama's narrow win (in the Democratic caucus, BTW) last night do NOT prove the (flawed) premise, anyway.
This is one of Rob's weaker articles, IMO. Instead of setting up false confrontations of the left/right variety, I would prefer to see Rob fight to ensure that fewer and fewer of us perpetuate racial (and other) stereotypes and discriminate on that basis.
I certainly don't believe that "America is a racist (or other "ist") country." But, I feel that the intolerance that DOES continue to exist is important enough that I've been spending much of my blogging/Gather time combating it. I would hope Rob would join me in that fight.
He can start by joining and participating in "GATHER Discusses Tolerance," at nohate.gather.com
And, in this case, I just went to cut and paste my comment on his blog, and just learned that it wasn't even Rob who wrote this. It is from another blogger that posts there. So, my earlier comment should be re-read to refer to the author ("pilgrim") of the post rather than Rob.
To the article: I think we have come a long way in this country, partly because of the influx of immigrants and interracial families, of which Obama's is one. I do believe, because I have seen it happen even in the "liberal" Northeastern states, that racism still effects education, employment and equal rights for non-whites. Maybe you just don't notice that most urban areas are disproportionately filled with racial minorities, living in disintegrating neighborhoods with inferior schools. Maybe you just don't notice that out in the country with a mostly white population. The effects of racism are not wiped out just because some white guy like yourself feels all okay with a black family moving in next to them. Get real. You are trying to simplify a complex, long-term issue down to the absurd with a few token examples.
Obama's winning Iowa doesn't prove all that much on the racist front. Winning the presidency would be a totally different story.
I WISH this article was 100% true. I hope it is some day.
Check out the AMA website and read the many articles about how minorities are getting INFERIOR TREATMENT where it counts, in emergency rooms.
I am so glad the AMA does not hide this problem.
Only several years ago we had a good old Klan cross burning 40 miles from my home in the town of Jerome Idaho. There was one lone counter demonstrator, he was Caucasian and I'll bet my bottom dollar he was NOT a Republican.
There will always be such people who want to feel superior, mostly their self esteem is low, they have no other reason to make race an issue.
I like Obama for what he represents himself to be and will follow him carefully.
The courage to name the problem and make it unnacceptable is a virtue; change will not occur without examining the situation honestly. The tendency to loudly label any obstacle as having racial origins merely confirms the prejudiced in their beliefs and makes it less likely that minds will open, ears will hear and people will change.
Only when we start talking to each other and honestly listening without thinking ahead to our own agendas will any real change take place. This is only going to happen one person at a time....
Notice that no skin color was mentioned in this comment? That is because this issue goes so much further beyond that one parameter....
Paul, The way I read it that is just what Rob was doing. I agree with him to a large extent. What stirs up racism in this country? Newspapers! The Government! Professional anti racists who's livelyhood depends on racism!
When Bush was Govenor of Texas he appointed a judge. The news report was all about how wonderful it was that the man was "African American". It never once mentioned the the man was emonantlly qualified. I had to look him up to discover that. The very legislation against "Hate Crimes" is racist and we all know it. Never heard of a crime of love.
I'm going to stick to what Mother Wright taught me. They left me on the doorstep of an Ethopian farmer when I was a kid. When I became aware and could understand she taught me that there are NO Black people and there are NO white people. We are ALL various shades of BROWN.
Clark, That remark was not only untrue it was un called for.
Are you trying to deny that the GOP has used the "southern strategy" to capture the southern vote? Are you actually trying to deny that the GOP has embraced and fostered overt racism? I can provide you with staggering amounts of documentation to prove otherwise, if that's the case.
Get real. The GOP is the party of racism. It has been since LBJ and the democratic party handed over the south when they chose to embrace the civil rights movement.