Several years ago I remember having a conversation with my parents about Martin Luther King Day. Background: When I was a kid I heard my Dad grumble about why we had to have it as a holiday. When I asked who MLK was, he said something to the effect of, "Oh, he was a rabble-rouser."
Anyway, a few years ago I recounted this conversation to them, and asked why they said that, since they don't seem to have any beef with it now, and my dad said, "We didn't know what all was going on then, the newspapers up here (Northwestern PA) didn't report much. We didn't know about all the killings and beatings and stuff." Whether or not that is entirely truthful, I don't know. Though I am willing to bet there is some truth there.
For my mom's part, she doesn't pay much attention to the news even now, but she did have a brick thrown through the store where she worked (in a small town) during a riot, and didn't understand the situation fully.
Unfortunately neither of them made much effort to find out the reasons for the uproar, beyond what their neighbors said. If they had, they would have been pissed off. My dad has no qualms about disagreeing with people, and my mother has the same streak of "justice for all" and "being a good Christian" that I do (I get it from her).
More after the jump...
They are both Republicans and hardcore Obama supporters, since before the Dem primaries, but the rest of my extended family is divided. I have one aunt in particular (don't many of us?) who regularly forwards those hateful emails about how Obama is a baby-killing Muslim.
Anyway, since all of these attacks on Obama supoorters started, it reminded me of back then before I was alive. So I decided to make sure that this time they are informed and can educate people on what honor and cowardice really mean.
Mom, Dad,
I remember you guys said a long time ago, during/before the civil rights movement you never got news about what was actually happening to people down south. The violence, threats, murders, etc.
Well, here is what's happening in various parts of the country to Obama supporters. Makes you proud to be an American.
Chicago: Political signs bring threats in Villa Park
Wisconsin: Obama Campaign Worker Allegedly Attacked
North Carolina: Bear found dumped at WCU with Obama signs
North Carolina: Tires slashed during Obama rally
Virginia: Campaign Sign Stolen; Shocking Replacement
Texas: Voter Intimidation via Vandalism
Arizona: Racial slurs shock business owners
This doesn't include the multitude of death threats to Obama himself. THESE are the flames of hatred and ignorance that people like Aunt XXXX are fanning with their forwarded emails and vitriolic rants.
This is America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, and we should be able to have spirited political debate and disagreement without cowardly personal attacks, like petulant schoolchildren.
REMEMBER as you read this, though, that Obama is still ahead in the polls. He still has the support of the majority of Americans, and even most McCain supporters (I hope) condemn these attacks. We are better than this, and we as a nation will still rise above the hate.
Sorry for the length. But since you get so many emails with slurs or (false) innuendos about Obama's faith or lack of patriotism, remind people of this:
Barack Obama, a Constitutional scholar who has always fought for the middle class, is and has been risking his life and the safety of his family JUST to serve the United States of America. And that is the most anyone can ever do to show their love for this great country. He is doing all he can to raise the level of discourse, showing no fear, believing in the good of the American people; THAT is real honor.
I truly believe that we can rise above this. If you have relatives like my parents, surrounded ignorance and indundated by hate email, send them an email, show them what is really going on. But show them the positive side, too, that we can and are moving forward as a nation.