Like many of my fellow white brothers and sisters, I have struggled with this realization for a long time. It is painful, and I wish I weren't so. But it's time to face facts. From Mitt Romney to tube socks, from the SATs to slavery--we are the root of all that sucks in this world.
That's why I support Barack Obama--because this suckiness must end, and let's admit the truth, for the sake of our pale children and grandchildren, we cannot afford four more years of honky rule.
And that's also why I was at first overjoyed to hear an interview Barack Obama, when he said his grandmother was "a typical white person."
What a beautiful thought: if all white people were like Barack Obama's grandmother!
And so, for a short while, I felt better about my whiteness. After all, if Barack Obama thought we were OK, then maybe we were.
But the reaction to his kinds words brought me back to reality.
From Taylor Marsh to Joe Scarborough, the response was clear and unequivocal--we white people suck.
Now I know many of my fellow whiteys will be offended by my words. They will protest, "but I don't suck," or "I know one white guy who doesn't suck." Look. I have heard all the excuses. And there might be a few cool white people in this white sea of suckness--but that doesn't excuse the fact that we bring so much suck into the world.
At the end of the day, I don't know if Obama can turn the tide of suckness. He's after all only one man, and there are a lot of white people in this country.
But I have hope--a beautiful hope, that someday, with Obama as our presdient, we white people won't suck so much, and that maybe, just maybe we can become more like his grandmother.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to Starbucks and read USA Today.
Sincerely yours,
A white guy