America, how about quitting racism?
Remember when Barack Obama quit smoking cigarettes? Seems like a long time ago.
Did he do it for health reasons? To set a good example for his kids? Maybe he thought smoking would damage his public image? I heard him discuss the topic briefly in an interview. I don’t remember exactly what Obama said, but I remember being happy for him that he quit, for whatever reason. Also, I related to him more by knowing that he has flaws.
Of course, we are all flawed. Even politicians, although many would say, especially politicians.
America, how about quitting racism? Try it for one day. Maybe we’ll feel better and have the strength to continue. We’ll have cravings and might fall off occasionally. But if we keep trying, maybe it gets easier.
I’m not saying all of America is racist. Actually, I think we’ve made good progress. We have been trying. But last week some of us fell off. Let’s take a deep breath and try again.
I’m not saying America is alone. Many places in the world have racial and ethnic divisions. Sometimes, it feels more comforting to pretend that our own individual experience is the only one that matters.
Last week America talked about race quite a bit. No one talked about it better than Barack Obama. If you haven’t heard the whole speech, watch this video now. The whole thing. Actually listen. Or have you quit trying? Still too angry?
The main speech some people heard was Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s. Of course, we didn’t really hear his speech, only excerpts from several speeches, like a trailer to a bad B movie. I don’t want to hear any more Rev. Wright. Some radio and TV shows kept playing it endlessly.
The presidential election is important. It is even more important for America to overcome its racial problems. When I started writing these articles, I didn’t want to discuss race. I naively thought that maybe America had reached a new level of mutual understanding.
Since hearing this one angry black man, I have heard many angry white people especially. The Rev. Wright videos sparked this round of racial animosity. Some media voices poured gasoline on the rhetorical fire. Angry controversy boosts ratings more than calls for reconciliation. But most media voices and most of America upheld the principles of Dr. King, Robert Kennedy, and reason. We have progressed.
I criticize Obama for staying with his church. I still don’t think it was a smart choice for someone running for president. Forget the politics for a little while. This controversy struck a raw nerve in the American psyche: whites angry at blacks angry at whites.
If you ever pray, reflect, meditate, or think, now is a good time to consider being more open to people who are not like you. This racial hostility stuff doesn’t get us anywhere, but we keep trying it, for hundreds of years. It’s Spring now. Redemption is a powerful story. We each write our own story, let’s turn a new page.
Barack Obama has a “white” mother and a “black” father. Obama is classified as “black” because of racism. If you disagree with this fact, please, at least get informed.
Happy Easter!
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Comment by Dean
Posted on March 28, 2008 at 11:34 am
As someone who group up in a church that encouraged diversity of thought, deed, even religion (it was UU and jews and buddhists were regularly among the masses or guest speakers), I find the notion that Obama needs to distance himself from the man who baptized his kids, wed him, and led mass for 20 years to be distasteful.
At what point do you need to distance yourself from someone you don’t agree with ? I have friends and relatives that occasionally make racist comments. I don’t believe I am a racist. And while I would not attend a Klan rally if they were to suggest it (they wouldn’t - just making a point), I feel no need to disown them. I have on occasion rebutted a small minded thought, but then I don’t limit that to racism either
Obama has every right to enjoy the benefits of attending a church of his choosing for personal reasons, as well as to openly rebuke the pastor for poor judgement, as he has. I’m okay with that dichotomy, it’s just not black and white.
Trackback by Allison G
Posted on November 20, 2008 at 9:21 pm
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