People are angry very angry. Some have not gotten over the fact that our President is now Barack Hussein Obama. We saw this seething anger during the campaign and we have continued to see an escalation of that hatred since the election. Some are saying what we are seeing is just plain old politics in trying to paint the President as "other". You often hear President "Bill Clinton went through the same thing". Yes, Bill had it ridiculously tough but President Obama has an additional target on his back. He is a bi-racial man who looks...(gasp) BLACK. This diary is not just about those who can't accept a minority President it is also about people whose composure is reaching a boiling point.
I guess folks who think you should use anything that is considered a weakness to pummel your opponent thinks this is just hardball "politics" (I heard Campbell Brown say that last night). I personally think there are some lines you shouldn't cross given our history in this country. Stroking racial tensions is one with things like:
Barnes & Noble Window Display
Republican Committee Woman's Group E-mail
Republican Diane Black of Gallatin E-mail
Republican Mayor Dean Grose of Orange County, CA
Pastors Praying for the Death of Obama
Time Magazine
NY Post's Sad Depiction of Stimulus Package
Birthers
Ms. Michelle Bachmann's "Gangster Government"
First Time Ever Heckling a President as he address Congress Link
I could go on and on and on. These are not teabaggers and crazies like Rush Limbaugh and some on conservative radio these are networks, politicians, pastors, RNC Committee Chairwomen, print-media each with a huge platform and an agenda. So, to say these dog-whistles and race baiting is only a fringe element requires me to suspend belief. Just as people asked the President to denounce Rev. Wright where is the denuciation of all of this craziness and hatred from the Right? Rush Limbaugh took it to a new low today (inciting racial tensions between fellow Americans) I didn't even think that was possible. Some may interpret this information differently than I and that is your perogative. However, as an AA woman raising young boys I see this as pure HATRED for the man. Not just the message or policy differences. And just what does that say to them? I can tell them all day long that it doesn't matter or that not everyone is like that but they have eyes and a barrage of information being 14 & 17.
What's really sad is my boys have stopped asking me "Why Are They Doing this to the President" because they think they know and have said "Because he is BLACK". They didn't get to hear the President's back to school message at school (had to show it to them on youtube. You mean to tell me the leader of the Free-World, Commander In Chief can't talk to the school kids? When has that ever happened before? So, yes not only are the teabaggers seething with rage so are many AA. I'm madd as hell at those who try to invalidate my feelings or tell me that I don't see what I see or the media who has tried to downplay what is point blank in their faces and not report it for what it is. An AA Reservist was assaulted today protecting her daughter Link. Is this the beginning of something even more ugly? We cannot continue to ignore what is right in our faces ignoring it will not make it go away. There are many wonderful wonderful people out here of all races and cultures and we need to start taking this racial stuff more seriously because if we don't the environment is being set and people are boiling at both ends. I hope somehow the people with the most power to influence do so because this could get real ugly.
MR. PRESIDENT AND STAFF IGNORING THE PROBLEM WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY.
UPDATE: I've often wondered why difficult and honest discussion on race are never recommended? Just wondering especially since this seems to be the topic of the day with President Carter's comments and all.