|
You know, one thing I've not heard anyone address yet is racism AMONG those who supported President-Elect Obama. I'm from Kentucky, which I consider to be "purple" state, as it goes "red" in some elections and "blue" in others. Our governor and most of our state-wide Constitutional office holders (State Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, etc.) and two of our six Congressmen are all Democrats. Our Senators and Congressman, as well as our presidential vote, are red.
Anyhow, when Obama secured the nomination, I wondered how my grandfather would vote. Although he's a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, he's also racist. In the end, he justified voting for Obama on the grounds that he was voting for a VP candidate--he assumed that Obama will fall victim to an assassin's bullets, and that McCain would have died in office. Also, throughout the course of the election, I heard of other Obama voters who still clung to racist views, or at the very least subtle prejudices.
So while I do think this election was a step in the right direction as far as improving race relations, the fact that a majority voted a black man into office doesn't mean that the job is done....racism and prejudice are more more complex than who one chooses to vote for. Just as the 48% that DIDN'T vote for Obama did not unilaterally do so on the basis of the race, the 52% that DID vote for him did not unilaterally do so with hearts and minds completely free from the chains of racism.
__________________
"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
-Desiderata
|