About racism: a question for DUers

[OneGrassRoot]

We see it getting uglier now, with Palin inciting the racists within their base.

I've witnessed racism and bigotry, cloaked in religious fundamentalism, getting stronger throughout Bush's reign...he emboldened them, and Palin takes it to a new, very dangerous level.

This is NOT a question about campaign strategy; this isn't a political question AT ALL.

As a white person, I don't pretend to have a clue what other races experience. No doubt there are things about daily life for others I would never consider as being difficult, but they exist; just as I, as a heterosexual, can't pretend to understand what my LGBT brothers and sisters endure or encounter daily.

Still, I'm aware racism and bigotry exist, and have been immersed in it my entire life. I have railed against it my entire life rather than turn a blind eye.

I sense it getting very dangerous now...like 60's dangerous (I was too young to have directly experienced those turbulent times), and my instinct is to call it out, louder and stronger than ever, because it's the sweeping it under the rug that has caused the insidious spread and fervent intensity.

These people HATE the idea of being "politically correct," yet they aren't owning up to their racist beliefs any longer. For the first time in their lives, they are denying there's anything racist about this election and their hatred of Obama. I call bullshit, and encourage them to be open about their racism. I don't pussyfoot around it and encourage them not to either.

To me, something needs to come out into the open for it to be addressed and, hopefully, eventually healed. Like a wound...it needs air to heal.

Yet is that selfish of me? I wonder if African-Americans specifically would prefer it stay more hidden; do you feel you and your loved ones are in more danger if these racists get more vocal and agitated, as we are seeing at Palin rallies?

The different tentacles of racism are going to continue to spread -- and it does work in many different directions -- until we hit it head on as citizens, not strictly through government mandates which serve to enrage racists even more.

I'm asking for your thoughts. I feel very strongly about this; again, I was raised around and continue to be surrounded by racists (I mean the type who would proudly claim to be in the KKK). I'm not talking subtle racism. Yet the fact that they have "gone to ground" since Obama's nomination has me concerned and I don't want to let them hide their...filth.

I'm not talking about the Obama campaign doing or saying anything about racism. I'm asking your thoughts about average citizens such as myself calling it out for what it is.

Am I being selfish by stirring the hornet's nest? I'm putting myself in danger by doing so, but I realize this; my concern is that I may be blind to the fact that I'm putting others in danger by not letting sleeping dogs lie, so to speak.

[Porschenut1066]

1. The first racist thing that the McCain team did was the ad showing

Britney Spears and Paris Hilton? Anyway two white blonde's with a black guy. This was a deliberate ploy to stoke all of the bigots fear of black guys and white women. When I mentioned it to my other half she thought I was crazy, she thought it was just a bit of fun. I told her the Neocons don't do anything for fun and that this had a much deeper meaning than it appeared on the surface. It was to eat away at a subconscious level the fear of the racist bigots to fuel hatred and fear of black men being with their white blond women.

To me many of their tactics are obvious I just wish so many other people could just wake up and think for themselves. But they are indoctrinated by their churches not to question their leaders and by fox news to believe rubbish.

[dipsydoodle]

2. racism and bigotry

are all in the mind : usually those of retards.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Well, that's a given. ;) And they're terrified....

of anything and anyone different from them.

The Dominionist types are EXACTLY what they accuse progressives/liberals/democrats of being: "cowards and pussies."

(That's their wording, so please no flamefest about the use of the "p" word by this female)

[dipsydoodle]

7. No probs

I've got four pussies - two Chinchilla Persians, a Bengal/Siamese cross and a Main Coon/British Shorthair cross. :)

[OneGrassRoot]

8. LOLOL....

:hi:

Thanks I needed that this morning. :)

Wow, Chinchilla Persians...I need to find a pic of one of those. Your other babies are no doubt beautiful, too.

[dipsydoodle]

10. This will keep you going

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

11. beauuuuuutiful. :) Thanks! n/t

[zeemike]

4. I am old enough to have experienced the turbulence of the 60s

And experienced it first hand in Mississippi in 1965 looking for 3 dead civil rights workers. And it was not pretty at all.
But what I did learn from it is that it is a disease of the heart. And in most cases it is terminal. You can't change them, you must let them die out and change their children's hearts.
I will relate to you a story I heard and it is claimed to be true.
Two Southern white men were at a speech by Ralph Abernathy and after the speech they went up to him and said that they just wanted to shake his hand and that they loved his speech. As they walked away they were heard to say one to the other "He is a good old N**** we will gas him last"
And that is the state of racisms in this country. It has gone underground. To your face they will say anything you want to hear but in their hearts they are as bad as ever, only waiting until they can overcome the opposition and turn this country to a fascist state.

The only thing we can do is keep them underground until they all die out and try to change the hearts and minds of their offspring.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. So we're relying on the youth...more than ever....

to vote in this presidential election.

It seems to me that the youth are, by and large, less racist than the older generation. HOWEVER, when they are racist, it is more extreme than I have ever seen before.

This is a crossroads in so many ways for this country, for humanity.

Thank you for your thoughts and for sharing that story.

[BadgerKid]

6. Agreed, it's going to take citizens

uniting to fight actively against racism/ists. Just look at how the Left is coming together politically in this election. We see that it takes a critical mass of sorts to act for change.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Critical mass indeed. It's going to be a long month...

I hope the tide of positive change continues to rise.

:)

[rucky]

9. I've discussed this with our campaign coordinator...

He had an good take on how to approach racism during canvassing. We were instructed to stress the positive story of Obama's rise - growing up with a single mom, being biracial, uprooted and poor, and rising above all those hurdles to excel in college, get a law degree from Harvard. When he could've taken a high-paying job at a lawfirm, he chose to return to his roots in Chicago's Southside and help his community. It really is the American Dream that someone from such a background like Obama's can achieve so much and help so many people along the way. That's what inspires me most about him.

Making it personal (inspires me most) and making his story positive and relatable goes the farthest in disarming the superficial criticism of him, IMHO.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I hope he is able to share more of this story in tonight's debate.

Thanks, Rucky.

:hi:

[KharmaTrain]

14. It's Intolerance In General

The big "selling point" of the GOOP has always been it's regimented certainty to almost every issue. Many of us call this the big lie...one that's been the centerpiece of this corrupt party's "ideology" that has now been absorbed by two generations of voters with little knowledge of what this really means.

It's a negative reaction to progress and to use fear of change (and the agents of that change) as the rallying point. Be it Russian Commies or A-rab "terrorists" or gays or "feminazis" or blacks or "libruls" or just "big government"...there always needs to be a strawman who can be demonized, hated and feared. This fits nicely into the "worldview" of American (and specifically white, male) superiority that fuels the current GOOP.

I've long called out people about their "closet" racism this year...people who try to find reasons not to either support or even give Senator Obama respect by using excuses like Reverend Wright or some other right wing talking point as their reason. Those who want to hate and fear will do so...and sadly, there are many in this country who thrive on that. We are still a provincial nation with two conflicting views...and a nation that is going through a generational and social change. The GOOP is fighting this change and fear is their biggest tool.

There are some historical perspectives I also see here...and how Senator Obama is reacting. First, is Jackie Robinson...a man who had to overcome and ignore a lot of racial taunting by proving his worth on the field...in many ways Senator Obama's appeal is that we can overcome prejudices and come together as one (you gotta know this scares the GOOP...there are a lot more of us than them...and growing). Secondly, is the campaign of Harold Washington in 1983...he first had to beat an entrenched Democratic machine to get to the general election and then had to fight a Repugnican whose campaign slogna was "before its too late". Many of Obama's key people cut their teeth during the "Council Wars" days...and I see a lot of the same synergies at play.

No matter who you are, you've faced some type of discrimination. Be it for one's color or sex or orientation or religion or ethnicity...or for being fat or a lousy athelete or not "cool". To ignore that discrimination and intolerance exists is to allow the problem to grow (as we've witnessed over the past 25 years)...but I do see progress, and just the fact that I not only have seen a black and woman rise to become legitimate Presidential contenders in my lifetime gives me hope for the future.

Cheers...

[OneGrassRoot]

15. BRILLIANT summary!

Thank you, KharmaTrain.

The big "selling point" of the GOOP has always been it's regimented certainty to almost every issue. Many of us call this the big lie...one that's been the centerpiece of this corrupt party's "ideology" that has now been absorbed by two generations of voters with little knowledge of what this really means.

It's a negative reaction to progress and to use fear of change (and the agents of that change) as the rallying point. Be it Russian Commies or A-rab "terrorists" or gays or "feminazis" or blacks or "libruls" or just "big government"...there always needs to be a strawman who can be demonized, hated and feared. This fits nicely into the "worldview" of American (and specifically white, male) superiority that fuels the current GOOP.


When you wrote "regimented certainty" it was an AHA moment for me. I speak of this arrogant certainty with regard to the religious right, but it IS the GOP's ideology - shoving this certainty of...whatever makes their followers "feel" better...down our collective throats.

The arrogant, dismissive, bulldozer mentality embodied by Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, et al. Yes, regimented certainty, based on willful ignorance.

The Party of Arrogant Certainty Based on Willful Ignorance.

Yes, yes. I'm putting an essay together, and this is a key element.

Thank you again so very much! :)

[KharmaTrain]

17. I Look Forward To That Essay...

You can plug this concept into many of the big chestnuts the "conservatives" and specifically the repugnican party has thrown around for years. It's keeping it simple and as black and white as possible...make it into a bumper sticker slogan so its easily digested and transmitted. Actually when you look at it, quite an effective and scary tactic.

Many far greater minds than mine have addressed this aspect...and it shares a similar fundamentalism that fueled totalitarianism as well as being used by many religions. Keep 'em ignorant and "assured"...give 'em answers on everyting (even if they don't have answers) and always defer to authority as the ultimate answer. For some, this type of world provides them with safety or comfort...and also is a haven for intolerance.

Thank you and good luck on your essay...I think a lot of people are starting to wake up in this country...and it's been a rude one.

Cheers...

[wvbygod]

16. Could you point out the racism you are seeing?

How is Palin taking it to a new, very dangerous level?

I read the OP and did not see what act you are defining as racism.

[OneGrassRoot]

19. I'm pressed for time, so my apologies for being rambling in my response...

I'm not certain how to explain it clearly, since it involves a lifetime of interacting with racists and bigots, and now weeks' worth of observing her and how others respond TO her.

What I've observed in the last eight years is the racism cloaked in the religious (Christian) fundamental/evangelical movement.

This has come to a head with Obama's campaign. Their focus is on him being a "terrorist" and a "muslim," when what they are most afraid of is the fact that he is black. I've persisted with a few until they admit that that is what it comes down to. They're afraid "blacks are going to try to get back at white people." They use the bigotry against muslims since 9/11 (another thing subtly advocated by Bushco and blatantly advocated by their supporters -- such as the "Obsession" DVD going around now, right before the election) to link Obama to being a muslim and a terrorist. And, as much as they hate muslims and Middle Easterners in general, they hate black people more because that's more familiar to them.

What they're really afraid of is anyone who isn't white. Bottom line. It's the white Dominionist movement, and all of Palin's churches have been tied heavily with this movement. The hypocritical fundies know this, and they love it. I say hypocritical fundies because true Christians aren't filled with such hatred of others. Her presence as being ONE OF THEM (rather than Bush who simply pandered TO them) is empowering them even more, and they are salivating that a fellow end-timer/Rapturist could hold such a position of power to influence this country "getting back to strictly Christian ideals," which is exactly what I've been told.

There is latent racism since the Civil Rights Movement coming to a head now, as well as racism against all persons of color which is part of the general fire being stoked to make "white Christians" afraid that others are trying to take their rights away (right to proselytize, right to supremacy based on being white, yep, yep).

That's what I'm seeing and hearing, and that's the reason for Palin's audiences being enraptured (pun intended) with her.

[Brewman_Jax]

18. They're not hiding

maybe they are in polite company. The latest AP/Yahoo survey found here http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race shows that their feelings are just below the surface. Consider the terms "Bradley/Wilder Effect" or "Voting Booth Conversion". Also, it's nothing new. See the republican "Southern Strategy" from the '60's and recent senate campaign tactics used in NC (Jesse Helms-R vs. Harvey Gantt-D) and TN (Bob Corker-R vs. Harold Ford-D).

Fighting it will be an uphill battle, but it will have to be at the grass roots level. When racists find that their target audience (pun intended) are not receptive and won't let them hide, they'll have to change.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. That is my feeling as well...

that once they see we won't let them hide, they'll have to change (or at least squelch their beliefs and not go underground to plan hateful acts, because there will no longer be an underground).

I understand them not admitting it in polite company; yet what alarmed me was the fact that people who I grew up around and who BRAGGED about it my entire life were suddenly denying they dislike Obama because he's black.

I realize it isn't new, and I also see their feelings are just below the surface, dying to get out - they WANT to express this hatred. Palin is empowering them to do so by simply being up there, being one of them (racist cloaked in religion..one of them, not simply pandering TO them).

I agree. Thank you!

[Brewman_Jax]

21. You've a double uphill battle

in a society based on racism and white being the default norm. You have a vast majority that can't/won't see racism even if, to borrow from (Miami Herald columnist) Leonard Pitts, it walks up to them, steps on their toes, pokes its finger in their chest and says, "Hi, I'm Racism."

[pipi_k]

22. How do we do it?

Change the hearts and minds of racist offspring, I mean, in the hopes that racism itself dies out...


By the time a kid gets to school, at the age of five or so, he's probably heard and seen enough racism at home to make it pretty difficult to change their minds. Couple that with the fact that, even if they're getting "deprogrammed" (for lack of a better word) in school, these kids still have to go home where the primary teachers...their incredibly racist parents...have an extraordinary influence on them.

Their parents, both figuratively and literally, hold the power of life and death over them...at least in the minds of the kids, if not in actual fact.

I was blessed with a father who was not racist. In fact, I would often hear him mock white people who (before the Civil Rights movement really got going) would rant against "uppity n###ers" who didn't know their places, who refused to sit in the back of the bus, etc., but these same people would traipse off to the beaches, pour bottles of Coppertone on themselves, and attempt to fry themselves to a point where some of them were even darker than the "uppity n###ers" they detested/feared.

None of it made sense to him, and, even as a child, it didn't make sense to me either.

Had someone tried at that point to change my opinions, it would probably have been a rough uphill climb, because if my DAD...the most powerful guy in the world (to a kid) said it...it must be true...

So that's my concern...

It's all well and good to say we have to get to the kids and allow racism to die out, but how does that get done without ripping these kids from their homes and "deprogramming" them?