Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Way I Sees It
Inspired, I suppose, by Barak Obama, the media now say that it is time for a national dialogue on race, amongst other things. That would be fine except that it involves "the people." "The people," used in that sense, is an idiot, same as "everyone." If we need Fox news and CNN to help us dialogue, then we're in deep doo doo for sure. I can have a dialogue about race, or anything for that matter, with any one person. In fact, if you'd like to, post a comment, and we'll do it. The thing is that a "dialogue," by definition, is two people talking. Chalk up another gross misuse of language to the media outlets of America. And I'm not being pedantic, because, doggone it, dialogue literally translates into "two people talking." Look it up if you don't believe me. So we can not, in any sense, have a "national dialogue" about anything.
That said, let me point out that nothing prevents me from posting my opinions on any thing at all, so I'm going to put in this very spot, right now, my opinions on a few things.
First, Barak Obama. In the first place, Mr. Obama is an upper middle class white guy with a very dark complexion. If you worry about voting for a black man, don't bother, because that isn't Barak Obama. He's no blacker than I am, whoever his preacher may have been. He walks like a white duck, quacks like a white duck, so it stands to reason that he is a white duck. Here we have a golden opportunity to elect a white dude to the Presidency and have the entire world praise us for our progressive racial attitudes. That, plus the fact that he isn't a boomer, are the two biggest advantages to an Obama presidency.
As for race, if you think it doesn't matter in America any more, you obviously don't live here. Or you're fooling yourself, which might be worse. It's a heck of a lot better than it used to be, though. According to the book Microtrends, forty percent (40%) of American black male teenagers today come from good homes, have good grades, and plan to go on to college and a career. The author does not mention the percentage of similarly situated white male teenagers, but it's worth remembering that not all white kids are squeaky clean. A lot of them grow up to be criminals, or even congressmen. So the stereotype black gang banger teen aged boy is out of sync with reality. Still, there are a lot of people who unconsciously discriminate without knowing it, or meaning to (I guess.) The comment Barbara Bush made after Katrina about "those people" being better off is a prime example. Racism goes deep in America, and it isn't really related to slavery per se. Way back in Jamestown there was a servant revolt one time that almost brought down the colony. The response from the burghesses was to make it okay for a "christian servant" to keep his or her shirt on while being whipped, while "non-christian" servants could be whipped bare backed. Thus poor white trash, the concept, was born. When I was in school I knew several kids who would say, and I'm not making this up, "I may be poor white trash but at least I ain't no damned nigger!" Those kids are, most likely still alive. They have the same right to vote as I do. Do the math. Racism exists, and it still matters. I don't think we need another "movement" to make it all better, but it would be good if anyone who doesn't think that way made an extra effort to be sure they don't act that way. You'll notice that the primary effect of "poor white trash" is to help the oppressors because you're not quite as oppressed as those guys. That ruse goes back to the beginnings of history. How about we drop it?
Hillary's next on my list. Not that I care about her all that much. Heck, we had some pretty good years under her husband, maybe she knows the secret. I doubt that she's as big a bitch as she's portrayed, either. On the other hand, she seems to have a memory with a few holes in it. And, like Obama, she seems determined to let us all know how damned religious she is. Sure you are, Hil, you go girl. I'll see you in church, you bet. I will say that if she is elected, there will have been worse presidents. You know, like the incumbent. I don't care which of the three viable candidates we still have wins in the end; we will have a better president. At least one that can say "nuclear."
McCain, finally. I used to like him better, but he's so damned stiff all the time he's starting to give me the willies. On the other hand, he seems honest, which is refreshing. Of course, his state, Arizona, gave us Barry Goldwater, who the Neoconservatives love to hate, so maybe that's a recommendation. Arizona also gave us the current sheriff of Maricopa County (where Phoenix is,) which speaks against the place in a big way. McCain does not talk much about his religion, which, since I actually have read the bible, I know is the way Jesus said was proper to act. Or at least that's what the book says Jesus said. Don't really know, of course. Unlike so many, I never presume to speak for God. But good luck to him (God) anyway. The most unfair thing people say about McCain is that he's old. Well, so was Reagan, and they didn't seem to mind him. (I did, but not for that reason.) But what the heck, let's see how this all plays out, shall we?
I do think, to prognosticate a bit again, that it is much too early in the process to worry about what the democrats may be doing to themselves in the extended primary race. In October we'll see who's got legs for sure. Until then, pick your horse and watch the show.
That said, let me point out that nothing prevents me from posting my opinions on any thing at all, so I'm going to put in this very spot, right now, my opinions on a few things.
First, Barak Obama. In the first place, Mr. Obama is an upper middle class white guy with a very dark complexion. If you worry about voting for a black man, don't bother, because that isn't Barak Obama. He's no blacker than I am, whoever his preacher may have been. He walks like a white duck, quacks like a white duck, so it stands to reason that he is a white duck. Here we have a golden opportunity to elect a white dude to the Presidency and have the entire world praise us for our progressive racial attitudes. That, plus the fact that he isn't a boomer, are the two biggest advantages to an Obama presidency.
As for race, if you think it doesn't matter in America any more, you obviously don't live here. Or you're fooling yourself, which might be worse. It's a heck of a lot better than it used to be, though. According to the book Microtrends, forty percent (40%) of American black male teenagers today come from good homes, have good grades, and plan to go on to college and a career. The author does not mention the percentage of similarly situated white male teenagers, but it's worth remembering that not all white kids are squeaky clean. A lot of them grow up to be criminals, or even congressmen. So the stereotype black gang banger teen aged boy is out of sync with reality. Still, there are a lot of people who unconsciously discriminate without knowing it, or meaning to (I guess.) The comment Barbara Bush made after Katrina about "those people" being better off is a prime example. Racism goes deep in America, and it isn't really related to slavery per se. Way back in Jamestown there was a servant revolt one time that almost brought down the colony. The response from the burghesses was to make it okay for a "christian servant" to keep his or her shirt on while being whipped, while "non-christian" servants could be whipped bare backed. Thus poor white trash, the concept, was born. When I was in school I knew several kids who would say, and I'm not making this up, "I may be poor white trash but at least I ain't no damned nigger!" Those kids are, most likely still alive. They have the same right to vote as I do. Do the math. Racism exists, and it still matters. I don't think we need another "movement" to make it all better, but it would be good if anyone who doesn't think that way made an extra effort to be sure they don't act that way. You'll notice that the primary effect of "poor white trash" is to help the oppressors because you're not quite as oppressed as those guys. That ruse goes back to the beginnings of history. How about we drop it?
Hillary's next on my list. Not that I care about her all that much. Heck, we had some pretty good years under her husband, maybe she knows the secret. I doubt that she's as big a bitch as she's portrayed, either. On the other hand, she seems to have a memory with a few holes in it. And, like Obama, she seems determined to let us all know how damned religious she is. Sure you are, Hil, you go girl. I'll see you in church, you bet. I will say that if she is elected, there will have been worse presidents. You know, like the incumbent. I don't care which of the three viable candidates we still have wins in the end; we will have a better president. At least one that can say "nuclear."
McCain, finally. I used to like him better, but he's so damned stiff all the time he's starting to give me the willies. On the other hand, he seems honest, which is refreshing. Of course, his state, Arizona, gave us Barry Goldwater, who the Neoconservatives love to hate, so maybe that's a recommendation. Arizona also gave us the current sheriff of Maricopa County (where Phoenix is,) which speaks against the place in a big way. McCain does not talk much about his religion, which, since I actually have read the bible, I know is the way Jesus said was proper to act. Or at least that's what the book says Jesus said. Don't really know, of course. Unlike so many, I never presume to speak for God. But good luck to him (God) anyway. The most unfair thing people say about McCain is that he's old. Well, so was Reagan, and they didn't seem to mind him. (I did, but not for that reason.) But what the heck, let's see how this all plays out, shall we?
I do think, to prognosticate a bit again, that it is much too early in the process to worry about what the democrats may be doing to themselves in the extended primary race. In October we'll see who's got legs for sure. Until then, pick your horse and watch the show.
Labels: Politics, Social Commentary
