Going through my e-mail, I just read this reflection from Frances Rice, Chairman of the National Black Republican Association, on the election of Michael Steele as chairman of the Republican National Committee:
For the first time in the history of our Republic — since our founders established this nation on Judeo-Christian values anchored on a fundamental truth that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — the fate of our nation rests in the hands of two black men.
The fate of our nation rests in the hands of two black men, an interesting evaluation of the meaning of Steele’s election following that of Barack Obama. And a sign of how far our nation has come from one of the ugliest chapters of our history.
To think that when each man was born, it was hardly possible for a black man or woman to advance to the highest levels in nearly every field of endeavor in America. And now look where each man is. Truly a sign of how America is in a constant state of self-repair and self-improvement.
Let’s hope this progress continues.
It’s an interesting take on our current political reality… but for those of us who don’t believe govt is the be-all, end-all of society, I’m not sure our Nation’s fate rests in the hands of 2 black men… or a biracial guy and a real black man, as it really is.
I like to think our Nation’s fate lies in the hands of the current generation growing up in grammar school in America. Wow… are they going to be saddled with some horrible debt! And that fate may not include an American-primacy in the world or western hemisphere… who knows?
I would consider it more progress if race simply didn’t matter.
#2: Me too, V the K. Naturally, there’s a lot of chatter out there on the Internet about Steele being a “token” that’s just a tool for the racist Republicans to counter the image of Obama. The people making such statements are too obtuse to recognize their own racism–they know nothing about Steele and don’t care to, but assume his skin color got him the job because why else would the GOP put a black man in a position of power? The crucial distinction between Obama and Steele is that Steele is actually qualified for his job.
or a biracial guy and a real black man, as it really is.
For most of our nation’s history, a half-black man would have been legally the equivalent of someone with two black parents, and subject to the same restrictions on their freedom.
The people making such statements are too obtuse to recognize their own racism–they know nothing about Steele and don’t care to, but assume his skin color got him the job because why else would the GOP put a black man in a position of power
So when conservatives suggest that Obama is just an unqualified black man who benefited from some kind of affirmative action, do you call them racists?
Would the sentiment be the same if the black men were Tupac and Mumia?
There is a quality content which is not being addressed here; I’m not exactly excited that a radical such as Obama is being celebrated simply because he is a black man who managed to get elected.
As long as they grow up in public schools, they won’t have the first clue of how to handle it except to look to Uncle Sugar.
“So when conservatives suggest that Obama is just an unqualified black man who benefited from some kind of affirmative action, do you call them racists?”
No – because usually it is liberals who focus on the color of skin versus content of character.
Don’t believe me? Here are some hard facts for you, kiddo:
1. Conservatives like you for WHO you are.
2. Liberals like you for WHAT you are.
Prove me wrong.
Regards,
Peter H.
5: “So when conservatives suggest that Obama is just an unqualified black man who benefited from some kind of affirmative action, do you call them racists?”
No. Obama is NOT qualified, and it is not racist to say so because I know what his qualifications are. I’ve seen what’s on his resume despite the fact that the media did everything in its power to gloss over it. In contrast, it IS racist for people to simply see Steele’s dark complexion and shout “token” while knowing NOTHING about his background or experience (and believe me, they don’t). And by the way, it is presumptively not racist to at least consider the possibility of affirmative action being afoot when it concerns the Democratic Party in general because it’s part of their religion. They worship diversity for diversity’s sake and make no secret of it. Conversely, the Republican Party has fought racist quota systems since their inception and has been at the forefront of eradicating them. So when an idiot liberal instinctively calls Steele a token and hasn’t bothered to learn anything about him (other than the fact that he just became the head of the RNC) that IS racist.
Oh he is definately not qualified, my proof is his response to the question about Iran last night.
The mullahs probably can’t believe we have elected such a weakling.
God help us!
I try and usually succeed in not viewing anyone as white or black or even half black which is bizarely insignificant. Let’s all judge folks by their competence and results.
Today Democrat President Obamas Tresury Sec, tax cheat, Tim Geithner spoke to us about the pork bill and further efforts to shore up the banking system. The DOW plunged 350 points. Competence and results. Crooks and failures. Dummies and boobs.
The Republicans were the first to be colorblind and give positions to people because of who they are not what they are. Colin Powell and Condi Rice were Secretaries of State (a very powerful position in our government) and they received no real attention. As a matter of fact, Rice was shamelessly attacked in some very racist contexts from the left. If Obama had any real experience and accomplishments and did not look like an incompetent freshman in this office, I would be happy to celebrate the country’s first black president. The same way I did Powell and Rice, but you mention it once as a national point and move on, because the truth is it does not matter what color their skin is. Bringing it up over and over again seems to be a statement of accept it because it is the right thing to do, not accept it because he is the right man for the job.
I don’t care if the cat is black or white so long as he catches the mice.
While I can appreciate the politically correct and perfectly Christian impulse to try to ignore race and focus on the content of one’s character, not the color of her skin, the truth is that race still matters in America, in govt, in the courtroom, the boardroom and even in the gay bedroom. And race matters even far more outside most of America than it does inside America –which is not saying a whole lot.
And it matters supremely inside our gay community… racism is alive and well in our gay community –where the majority think everyone else is out to get them and rail against the other guy’s intolerance.
To argue race doesn’t or shouldn’t matter is to miss a 2 ton purple elephant in the middle of our world, our culture and our lives. It’s noble to hold or believe in Dr King’s dream or some other race-neutral sentiments, but even with Obama and Steele… race still mattered in their election, their selection and their respective directions.
If it didn’t, we wouldn’t need affirmative action, minority contractor set asides, preferential treatment for advancement of minorities in education or business, tokenism, quota or continued support for inner city institutions that are crumbling, decayed moral ratholes. Race matters… just wait for the Slavery Reparations bill to get moving in Congress. Or look at what racial bigots did to SCarolinians who wanted to fly the Confederate flag. Last week, my son, in social studies class, called the Civil War the “War of Northern Aggression” and got corrected by an uber-liberal nun who said that was a Klan phrase. The nun, with some persuasion, aplogized & corrected herself the following day.
Race matters. I’m more inclined to believe America’s turned a page when we have the first Native American muscled-bound lesbian elected President, not a white man’s mild interpretation of what black ought to be.
The fate of our Nation (capital N there) doesn’t rest with BarryO or MichaelSteele. The fate of their respective political parties, might. But not our Nation –we’re a whole lot more than just that.
Comment in filter land awaiting release by the kindly author of this thread. Thx.
While I can appreciate the politically correct and perfectly Christian impulse to try to ignore race and focus on the content of one’s character, not the color of her skin, the truth is that race still matters in America, in govt, in the courtroom, the boardroom and even in the gay bedroom. And race matters even far more outside most of America than it does inside America –which is not saying a whole lot.
And it matters supremely inside our gay community… racism is alive and well in our gay community –where the majority think everyone else is out to get them and rail against the other guy’s intolerance.
To argue race doesn’t or shouldn’t matter is to miss a 2 ton purple elephant in the middle of our world, our culture and our lives. It’s noble to hold or believe in Dr King’s dream or some other race-neutral sentiments, but even with Obama and Steele… race still mattered in their election, their selection and their respective directions.
If it didn’t, we wouldn’t need affirmative action, minority contractor set asides, preferential treatment for advancement of minorities in education or business, tokenism, quota or continued support for inner city institutions that are crumbling, decayed moral ratholes. Race matters… just wait for the Slavery Reparations bill to get moving in Congress. Or look at what racial bigots did to SCarolinians who wanted to fly the Confederate flag. Last week, my son, in social studies class, called the Civil War the “War of Northern Aggression” and got corrected by an uber-liberal nun who said that was a Klan phrase. The nun, with some persuasion, aplogized & corrected herself the following day.
Race matters. I’m more inclined to believe America’s turned a page when we have the first Native American muscled-bound lesbian elected President, not a white man’s mild interpretation of what black ought to be.
The fate of our Nation (capital N there) doesn’t rest with BarryO or MichaelSteele. The fate of their respective political parties, might. But not our Nation –we’re a whole lot more than just that
#13 – Hear, hear!
Regards,
Peter H.
Dan, any chance of releasing the filtered comment?