I've been reviewing my diary posts, and I noticed that two themes seem to dominate: Race and Guns. In the aftermath of the George Zimmerman trial, there has been much talk about both of these issues, and much of the talk has been about denying the roles they played.
Here are two facts that have not been denied by anyone. At the time Zimmerman called 911 to report spotting "the suspect" Trayvon Martin, all he knew was that Martin was a black guy wearing a hoodie. Even though Zimmerman's defense team did not assert the "Stand Your Ground" law, its implementation had a direct affect on the way the judge charged the jurors.
President Obama recently addressed these issues in an impromptu speech to the White House Press Corps. There are those on the right that say he's injecting race where it doesn't belong, and critics on the left who say it is too little too late. Personally, I think talking about race is always too little and never too late.
Welcome to Racists Anonymous. I'm not saying this is a 12 step program to cure all the ills of racism, but it will certainly take more than 1. Step 1 is admitting there is a problem. Can we at least agree on that? For those that are offended by the suggestion that they might be racist, here is some good news; we all are! Racism is hard-wired into our DNA. Here's a little entertainment break from the Broadway musical "Avenue Q"
http://www.youtube.com/...
In the early days of civilization, people from different tribes were threats to survival. Because of that, we developed an instinct to distrust those who looked different. We couldn't help ourselves. To this day, we have a subconscious tendency to like people who are like us.
When I was young, I believed that racism was learned. This notion was based on an anecdote which was presented thusly: A black man played music for a class of white elementary school students. Afterwards they were instructed to draw the musician, and only one drew him with even a black hand. I cannot verify this story, and I will not vouch for its veracity. I only claim to have heard it. What I will say is that we can learn to not be racist.
What's more is that it is easy to learn and we've done a really good job so far. However, we can do better. Anyone who reacted to the President's speech on race in the aftermath of the Zimmerman verdict as a call for a race war (See the Daily Kos "nutpickalooza" that Saturday), did not hear it. If you are a right wing nut, you may have thought, "Hmm, now what? He's right, I do follow black people in stores and watch them. I also clutch my wife's purse tighter and hold her breath when one of them steps onto our elevator."
Thanks goodness Field Marshall Hannity came along to translate Obamese into wing-nut. Yes, I'm aware that "Field Marshall" will be construed as a Nazi reference. El Rushbo followed by assuaging the white guilt- helpfully pointing out that 600,000 white people lost there lives to end slavery. He conveniently ignored the fact that half of them were fighting to keep it, and many of his listeners proudly wave the battle flag of that side.
Joe Scarborough earned a reprieve from the Doucheborough moniker by raking Hannity over the coals for his remarks. By the by, if you look to your left and Scarborough is there, you need to re-think your world view.
Last year, Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) "evolved" and decided to support same-sex marriage after admitting to learning he had a gay son. At the time, many on the left wished that Republicans' could have sons that "came out" as poor. I wish Republicans' could have sons that "come out" black and wearing hoodies. I wish Steve King (R-Mars) would have a son "come out" Mexican.
Cut and paste the following into word processing software, print it out, and paste it on the fridge:
The more you meet the "strange others" the more you realize that they are neither "strange" nor "other."
"Those people" are really just "people."
There are more white people on welfare and/or SNAP (food stamps), and many have jobs (sometimes more than one and still need the help).
"We" do just as many drugs as "They" do, we just don't go to jail for it.
We look for crime in "Their" neighborhoods, which is why we find it there.
If you find me hypocritical to tell you to be tolerant of those who don't look like you while I refuse to tolerate those who don't think like me, I can deal with that. Now, go watch Bulworth and follow it with Blazing Saddles. You deserve a laugh.