pig

yes, abaya and charlatan have summed up exactly what i was implying with the vacuum chamber picture. these discussions on racial aspects - much like the discussion about a year ago about a predominantly white fraternity in pennsylvania (i think?) - always sound more rational when they are taken out of the context of historic discrimination, generational poverty, racial symbolism, and the like. i am personally somewhat incredulous that someone, in this case timalkin (but i'm sure the sentiment is held by others as well), would honestly think that black people in the united states wouldn't feel a certain amount of pride and excitement over the election of the first black president. or that black people wouldn't predominantly want to vote for someone who was black, given that a majority of black people found him to be a viable or perhaps exceptional candidate.

when you put the possibility of a black candidate ascending to the white house inside the context of the history of black/white race relations in the united states, i think it's impossible not to be proud and excited that we were able to elect a black person to the presidency. i think this is a perfectly understandable human reaction, and i can see no way to demonize it. it's a big deal, and i don't think people are wrong to recognize it as such.

i did not intend to call anyone empty headed. i would posit that i, perhaps obviously, have a different opinion on the matter, and therefore would find the contrary opinion/analysis to be incomplete or lacking in depth, however. if that is empty-headed, then i suppose i can go with that.
-----Added 9/11/2008 at 08 : 25 : 52-----
My opinion? Hopefully never, as I think celebration of whatever you happen to be is a wonderful thing. I think more celebration of the diverse "things" we are would be fantastic.

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