ALL racism is wrong
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I am a registered independent, and very middle of the road when it comes to politics. I am repulsed by extremists on either side. I initially supported Obama, but I just don't trust him anymore. Lately I find it very disturbing when I hear some people claiming that the Rev Wright controversy shouldn't be an issue, or is just a distraction from the "real issues". This is a very real issue. The fact that a major candidate for president may very well be a racist is a real issue. It would be different if Obama went to Wright's church once or twice, was turned off by what he heard and never went back, but he stayed a member for 20 years! Now he wants us to believe that in all that time he never heard Wright say anything looney or racist? Really??? Then we're also supposed to believe that he willingly listened to this guy's rants (for 20 years!), had him perform his wedding ceremony and baptize his children, but doesn't share any of Wright's views? Seriously?? If Hillary went to David Duke rallies for the past 20 years but asked us to believe that she wasn't a racist herself, would that fly? I can see the eyebrows raising when I make the comparison to Duke, but really, what's the difference? To say that the Wright issue doesn't matter is to say that some kinds of racism are ok. I have a big problem with that idea.
However, I support Hillary because she is more qualified, diplomatic, has more expertise, competence, understanding, integrity and strength.... and a better track record of policy making. I have nowhere near the enthusiasm, faith or trust in him... I too feel like a vote for him would be the same as voting for McCain. I will never vote for McCain, and I hope all of you would not either...none the less, there will be little hope for the democrats if he is our nominee.
We also have other elements. Please take it into consideration when deciding upon who you vote for.
What I am confused by is this. As Black people we know we have racist elements. However, we assume White's have more. That they hear much worse comments than what Rev. Wright said. They they have heard them throughout their history.
My question is then - am I wrong? Do whites not hear negative remarks about Black people anymore? Is the level that Black people like me think is out there - way out of line?
That is part of the dialogue we need to discuss -
I await your answer and totally understand your reluctance to back a man that you are unsure of. It is just taken for granted in the Black Community that Hillary and most Whites have heard much worse. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I don't agree with your assessment.
We are talking about the last 20 years - anyway I'm out. I would love to continue this discussion tomorrow.
* Discrimination in the housing market (real estate companies and rental agencies)
* Discriminatory sentencing and right of assembly guidelines that target minority communities
* Hiring discrimination base on "black sounding" names on resumes
These are all areas with proven documented institutionalized racism. We have come a long way, but we still have a lot of work to do. For some reason, people feel threatened by the fact we are making progress toward more equality. You should be happy about this - aren't you tired of bearing the burden of white guilt? wouldn't you want to contribute your efforts to balancing the equation? To do so requires some humility and sacrifice: we must be willing to admit the privilege and discrimination that exists if we are ever to lift the curse of slavery on our beloved nation.
Let me also point out to you that Sexism is also empirically proven - and no - i don't believe there is such a thing as "reverse sexism."
Now with that said, I have spent the night in her father's house, had a key to his home. His wife treats my daughter and granddaughter like her own. They have lent my family their family craddle. So what does this all mean? Do I hate this man because he may harbor some prejudices deep down? No, I still love Mr. C.
But it showed me that white people do hear and say things that are insensitive and somehow, we want to condemn Obama.
Intelligent people have a choice to make their own decisions. I am surrounded by racists, but do I have to believe their invective? Can I not dismiss their uneducated rhetoric for what it is, a throw-back to a place in time where they were tainted by racism? I close my ears to the remarks that I abhor and pass them off as an untutored upbringing. Should I correct those remarks? Will it change the forty or fifty years it has taken for those remarks to fully regress? Perhaps the children of those unfortunate bigots will see life in a different way, and if not they, their children.
I firmly believe that Barack Obama hasn't a racist bone in his body. I believe that he, as well as any educated person, can separate vitriolic ranting from impassioned teachings, no matter what the source. I believe that his call for change in this country involves a willingness to forgive those who have taken our freedoms in the past. Those who cannot, or will not, understand that message will vote for another candidate; we understand that and would put our lives on the line again to protect your right to voice your opinion and vote for the candidate of your choice. No matter what the November brings, there WILL be change!
Fact is injustice is about the power broker, not the color of ones skin. I am sick of it and I will not vote for Obama. I read his book and found out who he is.
There is no way the man is going to hate his mother. As a matter of fact he holds his mother in great esteem. For a time, she was a single mother, on food stamps, and just trying to make it. He remembers these things.
One of my very best black girlfriends is racist and it does not affect me at all. I date a white guy and she is cordial to him for my sake but the truth of the matter is, she would rather not be around him at all. So be it....her problem NOT MINE. But I love her and she is still my friend. One day maybe she will grow and see the light.........or not. Again HER PROBLEM!
I refuse to be infected by racism! I REJECT IT AND DENOUNCE IT.
And according to polling report the Rev. Wright issue isn't changing votes significantly.
Check out
Link
Seventy nine percent of people who have heard about Wright's comments says it doesn't effect the way they vote. We don't have to worry about Republican's base, they aren't swing-able anyway, and independents are even less likely to be swayed by the controversy.
The thing the Wright issue is doing is making an enemy of Obama to their base. It doesn't get votes.
There are two things that happened in the Bay Area. Vietnam caused people to live around military people who were culturally diverse. People from all over the world and country were stationed here. Second, that Hippie revolution also caused people to unite.
The next phase of that integration process was that black people began calling themselves niggers and gays called themselves fags and lesbians called themselves queer. So, all those name calling games became just words--obsolete.
Then, came hip hop and rap. Those two things brought about a current of integration because all people love to dance. Dance is a cultural element which brings people together.
Not gonna happen one because its wrong and two it still hurts and always will because its pointing out something a bout a person that has no bearing on them as an individual.
If Obama is to be judged on Wright then McCain should be Haigie and Hillary on Jessie Jackson and Monica Lewinsky etc. They are not responsible for each and every person they have ever come into contact with just as you and I are not.
They are responsible for what they say and do.
You know, my dad is racist. Says awful things about white people. I am not racist at all in the least. I have a girlfriend who does not like white people or trust them. I am not.
Why is it so hard for people to understand that you have associations and loving relationships with people to whom you do not see eye to eye on. Your world view never expands if you only associate with people that are like you.
On a final note, I don't think that anyone in the last 40 years can be racist when running for public office. When you run for public office, you are serving ALL the people and the laws of this country holds each canidate to that fact.
All racism is wrong.
so where is your outrage against Hillary?
I think your outrage against Obama for going to this church is mock outrage - it is disingenuous and insincere.
Clearly you do not feel equally about "ALL" racism as you claim - otherwise you'd be saying you can't vote for *any* of the candidates.
I think you are just looking for a way to swift boat our nominee - and that's just lame.
By golly, I think I got it now....
Our leaders and the media have a responsibility to look past the things that we cannot change about ourselves: Our gender, the color of our skin, disabilities, ect.
I believe that Hillary is exploiting the resentments that exists and these resentments are not of her making but to those who are closed minded, these resentments tend to resenote and we cannot and will not move forward as a country and live up to the words: WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL......
And the funny part is, when you speak to hard working Americians, White Americans, they will tout being patriotic, and yet, not believe the words in our Declaration of Independence....now isn't that unpatriotic, moreso than not wearing a flag pin?
Everyone who wants to vote for endless war in Iraq will vote for McCain. The sensible people will not.
If Obama spoke to black people in the same way, there would be an uproar to the umpteenth degree. The fact of the matter is I beleive that white people (correct me if I am wrong), believe in and trust people in authority way more than black people.
We do not believe or subscribe to everything our pastors say. I know I don't and I am catholic. Please if I listened to the church, I would not use birth control, would not be pro choice, would not have supported civil unions, and the list goes on. If I listened to what you all tout here, I should have left the church because of the sex abuse scandals. But I choose to stay because of the community, the body of Christ.....has nothing to do with who is in the pulpit each Sunday. As a matter of fact, we get a lot of visiting priests due to the shortage.
Finally, and I am going to go ahead and say it, if you are black and you are in a city with a great deal of black people, and you are a politician, you cannot connect with the black voter without joining a church. I think the church Obama belongs to is the largest black church in Chicago....someone correct me if I am wrong. But the fact is that who is to say that he simply did not join the church for the community? An electorate? I am not saying that is the case but that would factor in to where I attend. Perhaps I am an ass (smile).
Only ONE of these people had the courage to speak against this war in October 2002, in the midst of a contentious bid for re-election, and I'll give you a hint: it was not Hillary Clinton OR John McCain.
That's all the evidence I need, because I was there and I know what it meant to all of us who tried to stop this war from happening.
This just cannot be dismissed, and it is strength for our party going into the election. Remember John "for the war before he was against it" Kerry? Never again.
Well, let me introduce you to the Democratic Base, its nice too meet you.
DO NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE NATZIS. My mother was jewish and family died. Hilter's father was a jew and it had nothing to do with race. IT HAD TO DO WITH ABUSE OF POWER AND HOW THIS MAN PLAYED THE RACE CARD. He was neither blonde or blue eyed. IT IS ALL ABOUT RHETORIC! The card has been played!
Obama played this and when it is over it will not be nice. DONT LIKE RACE CARD BEING PLAYED, AND I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA.
this has been done to death. would you judge the more than 8,000 women and children who go to the same church to pray on Sunday? would you condemn them as racist?
What about now that rev. Wright doesn't even preach there anymore - is anyone who joins that church now a racist? would you judge and condemn them?
what about the millions of members of the United Church of Christ, the (predominantly white) congregation Obama's church belongs to? would you condemn them for belonging to the same denomination?
Do you see where this kind of thinking leads?
Obama deserves to be judged by his own words and actions - *not* by someone else's. And his words and actions throughout his life show he is the person he says he is.
We shouldn't even have to discuss this among democrats - for goshsakes, we've all been accused of so many thing by the GOP why should we have to defend ourselves against each other like this???
PLEASE! No rational person would make that comparison. The KKK, has a track record of committing terrorism against american citizens. They rape, they burn crosses, they firebomb and assassinate people. They terrorize, kill, lynch, and banish people.
do not even go there with such ridiculous comparisons, get real.
That's all i need to know to tell me Obama is not the "avid follower" you describe.
(BTW, our very own party leaders criticized Obama for doing this... Wright was very well-respected - even among the Clintons - at the time).
I don't like Wright very much - and I certainly don't like his prancing around the spotlight - but I am clear headed enough to recognize the difference between his rhetoric and Obama's.
you should be intelligent enough to tell the difference as well.