We have a shameful state of affairs when high rank elected officials refuse to back off and continue to incite those among us who are the real enemy of the Republic. Not because they disagree with policy, we all do to an extent in a civil manner, worse, they are the so called fringe. I am not too sure, because those who stand silent against this evil are also culpable. It is evil refusing to reject and denounce this actions, regardless of ideologies and political affiliation, we all must speak, no, shout out loud and clear, against actions that are reprehensible and can be dangerous for the welfare of the country.
If you do nothing then remember what happened when Martin L King died.
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Andrew M. Manis is associate professor of history at Macon State College in Georgia and wrote this for an editorial in the Macon Telegraph.
Andrew M. Manis: When Are WE Going to Get Over It?
For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it? Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?
Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."
Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps. But there were no bounties on their heads. And even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.
But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -- that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that school children from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."
Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can - once and for all - get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentments about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?
How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?
I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?
How long before we starting "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God's sight?
Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan: First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built, I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.
Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama. Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."
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It takes a Village to protect our President!
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Comments: 27
I've been trying to say this same thing since this election, but I am not nearly so eloquent. We need to GET OVER IT indeed. But here in Michigan, the overwhelming majority of white-skinned people voted to eliminate all affirmative action as "racism."
We have a much longer way to go than most of us will accept.
I am writing mine today and I am sure I will hear from many.
But people need to be reminded that their silence makes them equally guilty.
When did your hear anyone say to a president go back to Ireland or Germany or any nation he was originally from?
Only now, why? you answer that.
All I know is , I did not grow up with racism, I am italian came here at 22, but immediately when I came I noticed it.
It is apparently in the DNA or it spreads in the water, not sure.
Actually AFRICA is the cradle of civilization, we all came from there.
There was a time when they felt empowered to engineer the murder of any leader, black or white, who threatened to bring unity to the chronically fractious American left.
I'm getting old, now. Let me assure you, I won't die peacefully in a country that allows that ugly bit of political strategy to occur again.
As Europeans began exploring and trading with Africans they were mystified at the beauty of Africa and the efficiency in which the Africans governed their land and peoples. Europeans became preoccupied with taking the land and resources from the Africans. They developed the evil practices of slavery and colonialism to carry out their desires to rape Africa, her people and her riches. The greatest lie the world has ever known came when Europeans tried to cover up their evil practices, claiming they were civilizing the dark African continent. A part of reparations should include European educators and scholars writing and lecturing on the true history of the world. Africans had gone through 24 great dynasties before the first sign of European intelligence arrived on the planet in 850 BC with the Odyssey and the Illiad. Africans were living in a state of peace and in tune with nature when the first act of European aggression came from the Roman invasion in 332 BC. The Greeks di! d go to Africa in 525 BC, but they went with the intent of learning and seeking trade. The Greek civilization owes all of her heritage to the African peoples, as do all the other nations of the world.
I helped raise a black child for five years. The first time he came home and asked me what a "jungle bunny" was, I was ready to tear the school down. Instead, I called his grandmother and said, "Look, I know being white makes me think I have the luxury of getting all outraged and indignant. But I'm not reacting for me, here, am I?"
She said I was right and thanked me for calling first. She said I was just getting a taste of what black people have to put up with all the time. She said I was not about to set the American education system right this week just because I got bit by the great American tradition of racism. The most important thing now, was for the black child to learn how to deal with the fact of racism and not to be crushed by it. She said, "Just remember, he's going to be black all his life."
Well, Grandma shared some of her wealth of experience raising black children in America and we figured something out on that basis. But, without her help, I would have raised a self-destructive monster.
Never worked before, evil feeds on itself and grows.I think all people of goodwill should fight against this cancer from spreadin by speaking out.
And stop relelecting this mindless thugs to congress.
We have to let ALL the politico's in DC know that if they remain silent OR complicit that they will be spurned and reviled...........publically and at the POLLS!
We have a country to run, and protect..........................enough of the petty games....................do your JOBS!
We each need to contact our senators in state to complain about their behavior and do nothing attitude.
Act like your life dependes on it, because it does in the end.
Especially if they are having quiverfuls of children and homeschooling them.
I agree that silence makes a person guilty. We must all let our politicians know that this is NOT okay. Since we haven't successfully ditched Mitch, my letter to him is in the mail.
I think he is a good person but I told him I will not vote for him because of the party and what I see happening with his leaders in congress.
I said they are inciting people with their behavior versus calming them down.
I also said the right wing-fringe protesters are homegrown terrorist and not the only one with guns in Virgina.
Told him to talk to the party bosses in congress to stop the Rush and company attacking the president. That silence makes them guilty and could cause bigger problems.
Until there are changes, will not vote for republicans on the state level.
I also signed the petition, the link is on another post.It goes to homeland security.
fencing
Haven't any of you noticed, not even the non-Fox broadcasters, ABC,NBC, CBS, PBS,NPR are speaking out about the 24 hr. per day attack on President Obama. Most of it lies.