Tuesday, October 28, 2008
On the "Race Card"
Though I am sure that in America, we would like to think that racism is history. That in today's modern day and age we can rest assured that the racial tension that had nearly exploded in the 1960's is a chapter that we have long since closed in the History book of America.
While this may be true for some places in America, racism is still very much alive (and hopefully unwell). True, there may no longer exist public lynching parties, and while there may be laws in place that help curb state sponsored racism, it undoubtedly has evolved into a different monster. Unfortuntely, addressing racism is something that has been swept under the rug so to speak. Some Americans are tired of addressing racism, while others vehemently denies its existence, and while others are constantly bringing it to the forefront of every issue. Americans do not like their noses rubbed in a terrible aspect of their culture, and calling out racism in America has become some sort of a bad joke.. whereby "pulling the race-card" is now thought of as the last ditch effort by minorities to take an unfair advantage.
Since Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama has taken the center stage of the up comming elections, race and ethnicity has definitely been on the minds of Americans whether we choose to accept that or not. With such a monumental election about to take place, isn't it about time that Americans take a moment to really adress the issue of race once and for all?
Today I was making my way through the various news outlets that I stroll by and happened to come onto this article: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/27/government-foils-skinhead-plot-assassinate-obama/
"A source in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told FOX News that the two skinheads, who were picked up in Crockett County, Tenn., were plotting to shoot 88 black students and decapitate 14 others described as non-whites. The source said officials believe the suspects were planning to attempt an assassination against Obama. Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for the ATF, said the suspects also sought to go on a national killing spree, with Obama as its final target. "They said that would be their last, final act -- that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama," Cavanaugh said. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying.""
Or how about the incident with the young campaign volunteer for John McCain made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in what she had said was a politically inspired attack by a black man
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27350530/)
By no means am I suggesting that America is full of skin-heads trying to kill people of color. And by no means am I suggesting that McCain had anything to do with the individualistic initiative taken by the fradulant woman. Rather, I am suggesting that the lack of public outcry is what is so bothersome. The fact that we as Americans can live in a world where this actually happens, disgusts me. Where is the pitch-forked fire-torch wielding masses in march AGAINST racism or racial attitudes like this? Where are the politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle screaming at their constituants that this is unacceptable?
Keith Olbermann said it well on his show The Countdown.
To McCain's credit, he did defend Obama on a number of occasions...
...but is what he said and did enough? Yes, he defended the man, Obama, but what an opportunity for McCain to step out and push his publically dubbed negetive campaign into a positive spin and denounce racist remarks, denounce the rhetoric that has consistantly named devisive and give Americans a moral spanking?! Had it been Obama that were to come out and speak against these acts, it would have surely been criticized as a black man calling the "race card." Had it been Obama speaking out, it would have been criticized as yet another minority person trying to get an unfair advantage by smearing the white majority. Its a hard pill to swallow, but its the reality of the situation. We cannot expect McCain or any political figure for that matter to address every incident of racism or racially fueled remarks as it would probably be physically impossible.. and likewise its not to say that all McCain supporters are racist either. But racism in American hasn't quite reached the status of "it goes without saying, but..." and as this election has proven, America today still has yet to close the chapter racism in its History book.
While this may be true for some places in America, racism is still very much alive (and hopefully unwell). True, there may no longer exist public lynching parties, and while there may be laws in place that help curb state sponsored racism, it undoubtedly has evolved into a different monster. Unfortuntely, addressing racism is something that has been swept under the rug so to speak. Some Americans are tired of addressing racism, while others vehemently denies its existence, and while others are constantly bringing it to the forefront of every issue. Americans do not like their noses rubbed in a terrible aspect of their culture, and calling out racism in America has become some sort of a bad joke.. whereby "pulling the race-card" is now thought of as the last ditch effort by minorities to take an unfair advantage.
Since Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama has taken the center stage of the up comming elections, race and ethnicity has definitely been on the minds of Americans whether we choose to accept that or not. With such a monumental election about to take place, isn't it about time that Americans take a moment to really adress the issue of race once and for all?
Today I was making my way through the various news outlets that I stroll by and happened to come onto this article: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/27/government-foils-skinhead-plot-assassinate-obama/
"A source in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told FOX News that the two skinheads, who were picked up in Crockett County, Tenn., were plotting to shoot 88 black students and decapitate 14 others described as non-whites. The source said officials believe the suspects were planning to attempt an assassination against Obama. Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for the ATF, said the suspects also sought to go on a national killing spree, with Obama as its final target. "They said that would be their last, final act -- that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama," Cavanaugh said. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying.""
Or how about the incident with the young campaign volunteer for John McCain made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in what she had said was a politically inspired attack by a black man
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27350530/)
By no means am I suggesting that America is full of skin-heads trying to kill people of color. And by no means am I suggesting that McCain had anything to do with the individualistic initiative taken by the fradulant woman. Rather, I am suggesting that the lack of public outcry is what is so bothersome. The fact that we as Americans can live in a world where this actually happens, disgusts me. Where is the pitch-forked fire-torch wielding masses in march AGAINST racism or racial attitudes like this? Where are the politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle screaming at their constituants that this is unacceptable?
Keith Olbermann said it well on his show The Countdown.
To McCain's credit, he did defend Obama on a number of occasions...
...but is what he said and did enough? Yes, he defended the man, Obama, but what an opportunity for McCain to step out and push his publically dubbed negetive campaign into a positive spin and denounce racist remarks, denounce the rhetoric that has consistantly named devisive and give Americans a moral spanking?! Had it been Obama that were to come out and speak against these acts, it would have surely been criticized as a black man calling the "race card." Had it been Obama speaking out, it would have been criticized as yet another minority person trying to get an unfair advantage by smearing the white majority. Its a hard pill to swallow, but its the reality of the situation. We cannot expect McCain or any political figure for that matter to address every incident of racism or racially fueled remarks as it would probably be physically impossible.. and likewise its not to say that all McCain supporters are racist either. But racism in American hasn't quite reached the status of "it goes without saying, but..." and as this election has proven, America today still has yet to close the chapter racism in its History book.
