Mourning in America
I was listening to public radio in the early morning hours today and heard something that woke me all the way up.
They were interviewing South Carolina voters and they asked one Hillary Clinton supporter why he wouldn't support Barack Obama.
"I'm not ready for him yet," he drawled. Why? "Well, I don't know. I don't want to say something to make you believe its a racial issue. I just don't believe we're ready for him yet."
At least he was honest. He is not ready for a Black President, and he apparently doesn't think others are either. Now for the record, the guy was a 74-year-old retired truck driver from South Carolina. He's practically a walking talking stereotype--ironically, the opposite side of the same coin he tossed in Obama's direction.
But that statement smacked me up side the head with the remains of my own idealism. I was really starting to buy in to the idea that Barack Obama could win or lose this thing on his own merit. Content of the character and all that.
Now, though I'm wondering what Black Americans often ponder--how many people feel just like that retired trucker, but are just too nice or should I say too polite or maybe even too scared to say? I could be wrong, but his use of the pronoun "we" suggests that he at least believes he's got significant company.
Now, I know racism is far from dead (I believe its part of the human condition but that's a whole 'nother blog) but I'm honest enough to acknowledge that I was starting to think that in 2008 the majority of us are at least trying to get past all that, and a really good candidate might transcend. Idealistic? Absolutely. But now I'm wondering if it was just plain old naive.
posted by Derek McGinty @ 2:52 PM
6 Comments
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6 Comments:
You're right this is a topic for a whole "nuther" blog. I could say a lot on the subject, and I do like exploring it, I learn more when I do (even when just to myself thinking).
But... keeping it short?
You did say he was a Hillary supporter? That is without a doubt, a step in the right direction.
There are all sorts of discriminations, gender and race as well as religion.
I saw the poll on wusa9 that asked this very question, and I voted that we may not be ready (yet).
I am (and have been), but that's just one vote. Also I might add I'm republican (or lean that way), so even though I'm ready.... Obama? nope he's not my guy.
I think both he an Hillary are electable though.
Look at it this way, they are percolating to the top, more and more will slowly rise and the ranks will fill with a diverse group of credible candidates in the decades to come.
You are not naive, no more than me. Evolution is a very slow process. Patience...
Well, Mr. McGinty, being the abject pessimist that I am, I always figured that if Obama was put on the Democratic ticket, even the Democrats would vote for the Republican because of WHAT he is. I don't think the country is ready for a Black President or even Vice-President. I was pleasantly surprised at the Iowa Caucus and I think that those events may have given me a false sense of security. I believe that Obama is a great man and he seems very competent as a leader (despite getting baited into a schoolyard brawl with the Clintons). But there is something very 'MLK' about the situation, get my drift? I hate to say that, but the way people act, how could it not be on my mind?
i can kind of understand what you're saying dereki mean my mom is an 89 yr old black woman, born and raised in arkansas, a true southerner, and when were talking recently about the outcome of the polls mentioned on television, and it was announced that obama was in the lead, my mom actually said,"i hope that child dosen't win", i asked, suprised, "why not "?. and her answer was "THEY might kill him".
it's the same mentality the man from south carolina has, but on the opposite side of the street, i hear my mom and her friends talk, all avid voters,lived and raised in the jim crow south, fought to vote, go to school, and after all that they still won't vote for obama, and they shouldn't just BECAUSE he's black, but they won't beacuse THEY, might kill him. go figure
bev in california
I'm tired of all this talk about Obama's electability. Have we all forgotten the Barrett Report? The Clintons' crimes were buried two years ago but are sure to come up during the general election. Once the American people know what was in the report with respect to the Clintons suspected use of the IRS and Justice Dept to go after political opponents, you can forget about Hillary as President.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/EDITORIAL/774081954
I don't know if you are naive, but if you are, I am too. I am not ready to let go of the hope that Obama could be our next president. He is the first candidate in a long time who has made me believe this country's best days are not behind us; that he is really passionate about improving this country and not just on some power trip. He reminds me of JFK - and I felt this way long before Caroline Kennedy endorsed him.
I am a white, middle-aged registered republican woman - so there are some of us out there who are ready.......
As for that retired trucker from South Carolina? Don't worry - eventually all the dinosaurs died out.......
Will Obama could not only be the first black president but the first Muslim president. He states that he is now a Christian and is thinking about being baptized. Did he start calling himself a Christian for political reasons? If he is sincere about being a Christian, he should have been baptized. He cannot be a member of a Christian church unless he is baptized. He can attend the church but not be a member. He went to school as a Muslim. Does Obama attend any church on a regular basis and is studying to become a member. According to the Muslim faith he would still be considered a muslim.
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