President Jimmy Carter is stating what I’ve been saying for a while (and was “taken to task” for in the comment section of the last post). Namely, many of the attacks, both in the “substance” and tone, against President Barack Obama, are thinly veiled expressions of racist disbelief that a black man is POTUS. And while I was compiling my evidence and articulating a reply, it suddenly dawned on me that I can lead horses (or elephants) to water, but I can’t make them drink. Understand that this is not simply Republican-bashing. It is simply a realization that while there are many independents and Democrats (and some Republicans) who disagree with the President’s ideological and practical governance of the United States, the extreme ideas by fearful and ignorant people are gaining traction with the not so ignorant because they hold one thing in common: Fear of a black planet.
There are groups of people angry and scared and confused whose sole similarity with each other is their hatred of the President. Elderly people who will benefit from changing the manner in which their medical insurance is billed and their prescriptions are screaming at their elected representatives that President Obama is a socialist; people are saying “they want their country back,” but when asked what they means answer, “I don’t know”; Glenn Beck is on “national television” saying that the half-white President has a problem with white people…the President’s birth/legitimacy is still being questioned, by “concerned” almost-citizens and echoed by members of Congress – where were they when Senator McCain was running for the office? And if you don’t know why that’s relevant, you’ve proven my point.
But alas, people who are in the majority rarely acquiesce that their domination of societal and cultural norms without confrontation and overwhelming evidence (and many times not even then). Whether that is white people in the United States, men on the planet earth, English speakers, heterosexuals, the non-disabled… the domination doesn’t matter. From our language to our institutions, the codified methods of discrimination are not rewritten without cataclysm.
Sorry… I got a little carried away. Maureen Dowd, President Carter, and many others are beginning to speak the truth to power. How long will it take before the people who disagree with the President’s policies, but don’t ascribe to the fearful racist elements that show themselves in screaming fits at town halls an as mouthpieces for economic predators acknowledge and disavow the people that drown out their legitimate arguments?
Just some final thoughts: Here is the post I was beginning to write. I’m including it more for the articles linked…
Unpacking the Knapsack
In critiquing the critics of the President, I have been accused of: a) playing the race card, b) being racist, c) loving a good stereotype, and d) falling back on hyperbole when I didn’t have any facts to back up my assertions. Hence, I will attempt for those who, in good faith, misunderstand how race plays a part of the wildly aggressive campaign to delegitimize the presidency of Barack Obama, and in doing so simply acknowledge the symptoms without diagnosing the disease, thereby insuring the nation continues to suffer from the illness.
The ridiculous combination of conspiracies being hurled at President Obama are not new ground. The level of serious consideration that they’ve gained in Congress, though, are. From Republican Senators and Congresspeople questioning the President’s birthplace, to the continued lie that is “death panels”
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Of National Lies and Racial America
Carter: Racism plays major role in opposition to Obama
6 responses so far ↓
Chibou // September 15, 2009 at 11:04 pm |
This is as much a response to this post as it is to the comments to the one preceding it – “who lie?”
What’s up with all the defensive posturing regarding a very real issue? racism exists and for those fighting it so vehemently, you might want to ask yourself what that’s all about. Your immediate dismissal of racism’s existence (especially in terms of the disrespect of the president) indicates a break with reality and a reluctance to engage in difficult but necessary conversation about the abysmal ignorance bubbling to the surface (as President Carter describes it).
The immediate dismissal of racism’s existence also demonstrates an overwhelming tendency towards communicating to be understood rather than to understand. get your heads out of the sand people. A point is not in-valid just because you don’t get it or have never experienced it.
Posts about activism as of September 16, 2009 » BLOGVIDEOS // September 16, 2009 at 12:15 am |
[...] of the world, then shipped to Albany, be sold for less than tires made in Albany? Here's how. In Realtime . . . – powerfulbeyondmeasure.wordpress.com09/16/2009President Jimmy Carter is stating what I’ve been [...]
Wow // September 17, 2009 at 8:57 am |
I wouldn’t contend, and know few who would, that racism doesn’t play some part in opposition to the President. I think there is a definite portion of the population still infected by racial stereotypes. However, I cannot concede that it is the predominant factor giving rise to issues with Obama’s presidency.
People have very real issues with some aspects of the President’s policies. Circumstantial evidence, such as race, cannot be used against those people everytime they speak out against the President’s policies.
I do think anyone who says they “hate” or “fear” the President (either past or present) has some real issues in one manner or another. They let the issues cloud the man. I feel strongly that we’ve generally had good men in our oval office over this country’s history. Sometimes misguided, they still have the country’s best interests at heart. Obama is certainly in that group of good men.
My question is, where is your mirror? Can you really state that much of your contentious language throughout the history of this blog isn’t based in a fear and hate of the white male established class? We are all born into our skin, without choice. Yet, from my recent experience reading your material, it appears that any white man standing in front of you starts on your bad side, and must prove himself to you. God forbid he vote on the other side of the table.
I guess I ask myself, what is this blog you’ve created? It can’t be a political blog, as it never discusses policy in any detail. It feels more like an “us against them” blog. It is that “us against them” mentality that is making things so difficult in American politics. There are people on Capitol Hill that don’t care what policy Obama is pushing, if he’s pushing it, they are against it. Similarly, there were those people last year with the same attitude toward Bush.
It’s maddening, and I can only feel that arguments that focus on our differences (those darn white men talking about our black President) only exacerbate the problem.
ReyMac // September 17, 2009 at 4:57 pm |
But did you read the Peggy McIntosh article? Or the Tim Wise? As a man in our sexist and patriarchal society, my responsibility every day is to figure out how to dismantle this system because it demeans both the oppressors and the oppressed. Being cognizant of the privileges I have because of my xy chromosomes in the United States is the beginning of that awareness. If you ask me what this blog I’ve created is, since you don’t seem to know, I will tell you: it is an opportunity for dialogue and awareness. Granted I’ve gone a few political rants, but I’ve also owned up to those. I don’t argue about our differences in skin, or gender, or ability. I do argue about perspective, because from there everything is shaped. We see the world with different eyes. It’s not all the same.
James // September 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm |
Playing the race card is the last act of desperation by the left. Liberals can’t fathom why any American wouldn’t want government run health care, so the only possible explanation is.. racism!
Nevermind the fact that Barack Obama received plenty of support from white voters to be elected POTUS. Those Republican white racists that you refer to didn’t seem to have a problem with the appointments of Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell as Secretary of State, or with Michael Steele as the Chairman of the RNC. Is Michael Steele a racist because he doesn’t support Obama’s policies?
Did those white voters, who were a big part of Obama being elected, all of a sudden become racists over the past 8 months? Sorry, your argument certainly wouldn’t pass LSAT logic.
Yes, we can all admit that there are still racists in our country, and every country. That said, can anyone disagree with Obama’s policies without being labeled a racist? Or is that just a means to silence anyone who dares speak out against Obama? It’s like an unspoken rule: you can disagree with Obama, but if you say it out loud, we’ll just call you a racist and be done with you. How productive.
As a final point, 1-term Jimmy Carter was possibly the worst U.S. President of all time (if you need me to explain why, I’d be happy to). Having your arguments validated by him is no badge of honor.
ReyMac // September 19, 2009 at 5:45 pm |
Not all Republicans or white people or opponents of President Obama are racist. Duh. The onea that aren’t need to speak up, because theor legit concerns are being outshouted.