What are we so afraid of?

[Blue_Roses]

I had a conversation with a neighbor of mine this morning and something was revealed about this person that I had never seen before: Fear. It wasn't the fear that Bush will continue to pillage and inject his ignorance into this country, no, it was a different kind of fear--one might even say unconscious bigotry. The conversation started about our current primaries and the win that Obama took in Iowa. I asked what they thought about it and the comment was,

"I just don't think this is what we need,"...
Hmmm. Okay. So I went on to say,
"What do we need then and who can provide this for us"?
Silence and then,
"I don't know."
Wow.

This is a person who voted for John Kerry, is a middle-class, "worker" and someone who is constantly complaining about Bush. I asked if they knew anything about Obama,

"No."
Hmmm...
"Okay, so you're really just a bigot then"?
"Hell no, I'm not a bigot!"
"Okay, then what are you so afraid of?"
Silence again. And with that, the conversation was over.

I've been mulling this conversation over all morning and I keep coming up with the same question. What is this guy so afraid of?

I don't have a chosen candidate this primary season, unlike in 2004. They all have certain qualities that I like and honestly, anything is better than Bush. However, with that said, we need more than someone who is a step above Bush. We need real change. Change that only comes with an opposition so strong that it stirs what lies dormant. Whether that opposition is fear, blatant bigotry, or just pure hate, it can only happen when the status quo is challenged and we see it through the eyes of others. For some reason the movie, "A Time to Kill," come to mind.

When Samuel Jackson's character, facing certain conviction, looks at his lawyer, Matthew McConaughey's character, and says,

"You're just like them Jake.(talking about the white jury)
McConaughey winces and says,
"I'm your friend. I ain't like them."
Jackson goes on to say,
"Oh,you don't mean to be, but it's just how you was raised."
Silence.
Jackson continues,
"That's why I hired you. They need to see me through YOUR eyes."
Wow.

And for those of you who have seen the movie, you know the powerful court scene that comes next. I often wonder why this movie doesn't get the credit it deserves for some awesome writing.

I see a new generation emerging. One who has hope. One who doesn't want the status quo. One who doesn't agree with the politics of the previous generation. One who wants their world to be better. It excites me for my children, but as a parent, I can't help but think, don't we really know what's best for them? Is that what all this squabble about hope and change is all about? I look around at those who have chosen their candidate and see an obvious pattern--one I too, often fall into. But this time, I'm choosing to see this through different eyes. Eyes that aren't subjective and biased, whatever that may mean. I'm trying to see it through the eyes of those who may just know something about what kind of future they want. Our children are smart. So often we think we can't learn from them. We think we know it all. With the choices from the past, do we?

I don't know who I will vote for. My primary isn't until March, but in the meantime, I'm going to try very hard to look at this election with "open eyes" even though I know old ideas will creep in. The future of my children's success depends on it.

[Avalux]

1. You know what I'm really afraid of?

That some sort of catastrophic event will occur before the election and Bushco will use it to declare martial law, suspend the election and continue their stranglehold on this country.

[Faygo Kid]

4. I'm with you.

I just can't see this crowd giving up power through normal Constitutional processes. It would run counter to everything they have stood for so far. I really think this is going to be one hell of a year - 1968 all over again, maybe with even worse things happening.

[asjr]

5. There you go! Exactly.

[EFerrari]

2. When you think about it, the Republics depend upon fear to manipulate

their base. That's what they do.

They aren't like us. They have no use for ideas or for planning for the general good. They have fear.

[billbuckhead]

3. And until this new world arrives let's let the Republicans destroy America

If we turn the next election into a referendum on race in America, the Republicans will win and we will lose, not just the election but what little left we have of democracy.

[Blue_Roses]

6. yep.

[blogslut]

7. Your friend has never seen this happen before

None of us have. A black man isn't just running for President, he has a very good chance to win. Your neighbor is witnessing what we're all witnessing - an outright miracle.

[Annces]

8. Just a closed mind

It is quite common. People like to be in the norm, even the so-called rebels will often become conformists after their 20s.

[gaspee]

9. I am so sick

Of the way, here on DU, anyone who is not an Obama supporter is considered a racist or "afraid."

Fuck that. I want a progressive, not a centrist. I don't care what color or gender that person comes in.

I'm not voting for HRC even though I consider myself a radical feminist. And I do mean a RADICAL feminist. So, am I a closet misogynist?

So yeah, sure, call me a closet racist or in denial or any other damn thing you want to. You and the rest of the Obama supporters need to get off the racist track.

The thing is, I *do* believe this country is too racist to elect him to the presidency if the youth vote doesn't come out in droves. If the youth vote comes out, I really do believe he could win in the general.

But to call anyone who doesn't support his candidacy a subconscious bigot is bullshit.

I don't support Obama because I don't like his religious pandering; I didn't like him when I met him in person at a small fundraising dinner and I sure as hell don't want to compromise with people who have proven over and over again that to give them an inch is to give them the whole damn country.

We need someone who will stand up to these people, not someone who thinks we can negotiate with them. Over the past 8 years, when has appeasement ever worked with the thugs running our government? Never, that's when.

So call me skeptical about his chances of "working with" these fuckers. What we need is a supermajority in BOTH the Senate and the House and anyone with a D after their name as president. At this point, I don't even care who.

We need a presidential candidate who will not rile up the fanatics to get out there and vote down the ticket.

At this point in time, I feel that having both the Senate and the House firmly in dem hands -- to NEUTER the President - is about the most important thing about this election.

[Blue_Roses]

10. and I'm so sick of

the way you can't even post a thought or idea without someone jumping the shark on ONE issue that is addressed. Believe it or not, it is the underlying issue--you live in Rhode Island right? Then we are not only from two different states, but two different worlds. It makes me sick how people who have never experienced the blatant racism much less the covert racism, think they know how every one should feel. This may have been a post that should have been directed to those in the south, who know this scenario all too well.

Jump off that high horse and see this for the discussion it is and NOT as an "I support Obama" thread.

[AndyTiedye]

11. I am afraid of the Republicans. Huckabee scares the hell out of me

Your profile doesn't say where you're from, so it is hard for us to evaluate what you are saying here.

In any case, it seems that you are the one telling us how we should feel.

"I just don't think this is what we need,"...
Hmmm. Okay. So I went on to say,
"What do we need then

(Where do I start? Someone who will stand up to the Repiglicans and the Religious Wrong, and not pander to them. Someone who will end the war. Someone with experience. Someone who can see a way forward out of this mess and articulate it. SOMEONE WHO WILL WIN BY A LANDSLIDE SO THEY CAN'T STEAL IT AGAIN)

and who can provide this for us"?

(Al Gore, of course. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be running)

Silence and then,
"I don't know."
Wow.

(I don't know either. Certainly not Hillary or Obama. Maybe Edwards, if it's the one who is campaigning now, not the one who served in the Senate. DK, hell yes, but he's pulling something like 2% and rumor has it he's dropping out.)

This is a person who voted for John Kerry, is a middle-class, "worker" and someone who is constantly complaining about Bush. I asked if they knew anything about Obama,

"No."
Hmmm...
"Okay, so you're really just a bigot then"?
"Hell no, I'm not a bigot!"
"Okay, then what are you so afraid of?"

(President Huckabee)

Silence again. And with that, the conversation was over.

Is it any wonder that the conversation was over when you accused your friend of racism on such flimsy grounds?