Posted by
C. L. Palmer on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:23:58 PM
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, a vision of a day when men would be judged by the content of their character, when the issue of race would finally be left behind, when we would all see ourselves as part of one conglomerate people rather than a jumble of divergent races and cultures. The Obama nomination, and the subsequent debate, represents a near-realization of that vision. Republicans from John McCain to Rush Limbaugh have not criticized Barack Obama for his race, but only for his words and actions. Frankly, the issue of race has only been raised in response to charges of racism on the part of the Obama camp. That, in brief, is the problem. It isn't the white racists who carry the torch of racial differentiation these days; it's the descendants of those who were once victims.
The average white Conservative would much rather forget the issue of race as a whole. To begin with, the very concept of racial division is becoming somewhat obsolete. Many, if not most, of us are of mixed racial heritage. I myself am part Cherokee. My children are Pomo Indian and Hispanic. My neice is white, black, and Philipino. In my family, race is simply a moot point. I notice the same trend occurring all over the country. Let's face it: despite the fervent wishes of Liberals everywhere, the Melting Pot still exists and is doing its job.
Moreover, those of the thirty-something generation and younger have never lived in a time when racism was viewed as tolerable. We have a hard time conceptualizing just what everyone is so upset about. I, for one, don't carry around anger because banks forced my grandfather off his land during the Dust Bowl. By the same token, I have little sympathy for those who blame their indigence and lack of success on slavery and past racism. Those things didn't happen to you! Aside from the ever-depleting population who experienced segregation first-hand, most African-Americans have never experienced legally enforced racism. Few have experienced even acts of explicit, overt racism either. Thus we constantly hear of "code words," "looks," and the "you can just tell" variety of experiences which often tell more about the percipient than the accused racist.
In short, it's time we got over the issue of race. The Republicans have. Someday, if they see it as politically expedient, even Democrats may. Only when a black candidate can run without anyone, especially the candidate himself, even thinking of race as a factor will Dr. King's dream have come true. We're halfway there. Barack and friends, the ball is in your court.