Racism is UGLY

I wanted to write something amazing and eloquent about my view of racism in this Presidential race and Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. Then I read this article this morning, and realized I could not have said it better myself...

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Where's the racial outrage when white generals endorse McCain?

By Griffin · October 20th, 2008

"But the reality is that Colin Powell, in his interview with Meet the Press, gave about a dozen reasons why he would be supporting Barack Obama over John McCain- McCain's response to the economic crisis, McCain's selection of Sarah Palin, and Obama's growth over the last two years, just to name a few.  None of those reasons had to do with race, yet that is the first thing these prominent conservatives see in Powell's endorsement.So here's my question: John McCain has been endorsed by over 200 retired and active military officers, the vast majority of them white.  

So where was this racial outrage when all those white generals endorsed McCain?  I mean, obviously they were only doing it because of the color of his skin, right?  Even though none of them, to my knowledge, explicitly cited McCain's race as the reason for endorsing him, that just had to be why.  After all, they're white; he's white.  And it would be naive to suggest that that had nothing to do with their decision.

So again, I ask to the Rush Limbaughs, George Wills, and Pat Buchanans of the world, why didn't the discussion immediately turn to race when any of those white military officers endorsed the white candidate for president? And why is your reaction to the Colin Powell endorsement anything less than racism?"

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The definition of racist is "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others"

So these questions come to mind...

If I'm black, and I vote for Senator Obama because he is black, am I racist?

What if I'm white and I only vote for Senator McCain because Obama is black, am I racist?

To say that Powell endorsed Obama simply because they are both black is ridiculous. If you are going to say this, then all the white generals and politicians that are supporting McCain are doing so because he is white. Correct?

If you can't see this argument, then the only words I can come up with is not really being racist, but completely practicing a double standard. It can't be one without the other. You can't use the race card with Obama/Powell and not use it with McCain/and the hundreds of white Generals that endorsed McCain.

And please, don't get me started on the Muslim thing. The belief that  Obama is Muslim or even a terrorist is both IGNORANT AND RACIST.

If he was really a terrorist then we are all plain stupid. The entire country is. The fact that he is an ELECTED OFFICIAL of our Government and has served as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and we didn't "figure this out" by now, I'm scared for all of us and our National Security.

AND REALLY...

What if he was Muslim? Who cares? The idea that if you are Muslim means you are "BAD" or a "terrorist"  is the ugliest of all the tactics that are being used in this election. The teachings of Islam are beautiful, just as the teachings of Judaism and Christianity are. What if he was Atheist? Oh goodness, he probably wouldn't of gotten this far, correct?

To say that something is wrong with him if he was Muslim, is the worst, disgusting and racist topic so far. The problem is most people are ignorant to Islamic teachings. Because of the attacks of 9/11, we are predisposed to believe that Islam=evil. It would be like grouping ALL white Christians with extremist KKK members and beliefs.

The REALITY and TRUTH is ALL extremist groups are dangerous. I read a comment on a post on CafeMom the other day that I loved and believe wholeheartedly:

"We do not need to teach our children TOLERANCE, we need to teach them ACCEPTANCE."

This is the only way we will ever grow as a nation. This is the only way we can stand up to the rest of the world and say as Americans, that we believe and claim that,

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence.

Your thoughts?

Comments

[Carole Cohen]

I had dinner the other night with five McCain supporters, or should I say, conservatives who happen to be supporting McCain. (I was the only 'odd man out' so to speak). We talked about the Powell endorsement and none of them mentioned race. Thankfully there are tons of people who hold their beliefs and do not feel the need to bring up the race card. As you sadly mention however, there are people who still do. Thanks for this because I had not seen the article.

[Lori]

Though you might like to see this letter that appeared in the Star-Telegram:

How Racism Works
What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class? What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?
What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard? What if Obama were a member of the "Keating 5"? What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.
Kelvin LaFond, Fort Worth