that race is an arrow in their quiver that they use with precision. The puppet masters in the GOP aren't so much concerned with race as the core issue as they are cognizant of it as a weapon that draws blood quickly. It sows chaos on the left and infects rage in the right. Their core issues - and this cannot be repeated enough - are money and power.
We are all, by and large, animals that tend towards our particular clan and if you scoop up American history in a bucket and pour minority status on any of the currently favored groups they would find themselves similarly marginalized, beaten down, and oppressed. Some on the left understand this and there is an ongoing debate about restitution vs reconstruction using a more equitable model. There is no consensus among us and this fault line is exploited effectively when we start to argue among ourselves over who has experienced the most pain, the most injustice. And of course a theoretical exercise does nothing for the daily reality of groups of people in America today who live in a society where they are constrained, judged, pigeon-holed and sabotaged by this basic human flaw.
On the right, they also understand this failure of human intellect; it is a driving fear. They see the debate not in terms of a search for justice and a future for all of us, but a unified march towards removing their privilege and power and handing it over to another group: immigration, gay marriage, taxes, health care, religion / family values. For them, it all boils down to that.
On the left, members of favored groups like white males - to which many here belong statistically and I am a member according to forms - need to stay focused on our unique role in this ongoing battle. Unlike racial minorities, gays, women, Jews and Muslims, we need not enter the debate on who has suffered the most historically; we know without a doubt it is not us. What we need to focus on is our place in this battle. Our physical bodies give us inside access and insight to the way the other side thinks. We need to stay engaged in their world, query their logic, investigate their plans and bring that intelligence back to those fighting on our side. Our physical form is a uniform we wear that gets our boots into the enemy camp. Our physical form has nothing to do with our souls, our consciences and our faith and there is no need to defend it, lament it or protect it. Progressive white men: it may hurt your feelings that are you not trusted and you may have even experienced unfair judgement over something you cannot control. Oh well, get over it, there are bigger troubles afoot.
Van Jones gets forced out by a racist cartoon like Glenn Beck, a wise woman gets wise Latina'd, a mixed race president is screamed at by Congress and compared to Hitler by mobs, gays have legislation passed enforcing discrimination...while simultaneously, GOP leaders and media spokesmen promote hatred and discord and fear and NOTHING HAPPENS to them. These are old tricks and an old tactic but when seen in light of the larger battle they are cause for deep alarm. The big, fat public opinion of middle America is up for grabs and leans predictably towards whatever is perceived to be least stress for them financially, intellectually, emotionally. The battle for their favor is happening now between partisans on either side of them.
What is transpiring is a call to action, a call to conscience and a call to arms - whether metaphorical or psychological or physical. We are in a battle for the soul of our country with people who are driven by greed and hatred and fear. There is a racial component to what is going on, yes. But that is the subplot. The larger war - the older war - is about right and wrong, justice and injustice, hatred and love. Our ideological enemies are cornered, on their heels and at their most dangerous because they see their era of dominance slipping from their grasp. They fear if they lose, they will be punished for their sins, because that is what they would do. Never mind all that, we will show them their false god is not ours - like we have before - when it's over.