oh folks--this thread on Racism--are really stiring up trouble for Hillary-there

[rodeodance]

are others also as you know.

I also posted in here a an apology by Hillary (just a bit ago--so please see it)--it was there also.

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject Racism Is Unacceptable. It Cuts Beyond The Political Game. It Is Real, And It Is Shameful.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5051321#5051321
5051321, Racism Is Unacceptable. It Cuts Beyond The Political Game. It Is Real, And It Is Shameful.
Posted by OPERATIONMINDCRIME on Wed Mar-12-08 09:44 PM

I can't sit back so quietly any longer. After watching Olbermann's special comment tonight, I knew in my heart he was right. I didn't agree with every single aspect of what he said, but I didn't need to in order to recognize that the core of what he was saying, the spirit of what he was saying, was absolutely right.

This is a post of objectivity and reality. It is a post that is as real as it gets from me.

As soon as I learned about Ferraro's comments I was immediately bothered by them. But because of my DU addiction and the tone of GDP, instead of focusing directly on that issue I instead felt inclined to protect Hillary from the backlash, since I knew some would try and connect it to her. At the time, knowing how disgusted I had been, I felt confident that Hillary would quite quickly condemn with force those remarks and issue an unmistakably clear statement that such comments are reprehensible. Unfortunately, as I type this right now, that hasn't occurred and it is too late to change that.

I've seen defenses of Ferraro's statements, and I let many slide because lord knows the Clinton side here gets beat up enough already. But there is a line sometimes that transcends politics and candidates, and racism is one of them.

Geraldine's comments were beyond a shadow of a doubt racist, even though I am convinced that she doesn't BELIEVE that they were. But one need not believe in something being racist for it to in fact be racist. The fact of the matter is that she used his race as the defining characteristic of why he is where he is. It was said in a condescending way and almost with resentment. Now granted, I understand how passionate she is that Hillary be the nominee, but politics should never trump the concept of finding racism unacceptable. It was if with her comments, she was implying that Obama could've just been any black man, and that it's all some game of "Hey!!! Let's boost up a black guy for once! It's time!". That is, in essence, what she was attempting to get at. She was acting like if you take away the fact he's black, then he would've been home licking his wounds by now. By saying such a thing, she is undermining him as not being a person just like anyone else, but instead just being a novelty; a black novelty. Yes, such a mindset is most certainly racist.

But the problem is that she doesn't even know it. In fact, those continuing to defend her don't even know it. That's a huge problem, and one that's even more of a problem than blatant racism.

I say that because racism still permeates our society to unacceptable degrees. It's softer than it used to be, it's more hidden than it used to be, it's more subtle than it used to be, but it exists just the same. The fact of the matter is that so many in our society continue to be so blind to the subtle racism that exists everywhere, and continue to let it slide as if it's ok. Make no mistake; it isn't. Geraldine and others don't recognize that her words were racist because they're so ACCUSTOMED to such things being ok to say. They're accustomed to the nuances and subtleties of racism that permeate our society, and aren't aware enough to actually recognize the racism.

That's what bothers me about all of this. It's the fact that we have grown as a society to recognize blatant in your face racism and for the most part when displayed our society stands up and condemns such things. But what is so sad is that subtle racism, nuanced racism and justtttttt approaching the line type racism, is largely ignored and ofttimes not even recognized by so many. This is the 21st century. By now, any display of racism should glare out to us all like a piece of food stuck in someone's teeth. But that's not the case. Sometimes, we need to be spoonfed the explanations of racism in order to see it at all, and even then sometimes still fail to understand. But my friends, that just simply is not good enough. Racism, subtle or otherwise, is simply unacceptable.

Back to the issue. Hillary of all people should be able to recognize racism when confronted with it. She had the opportunity, yet for political reasons; since Geraldine was probably valuable as a friend to her; chose lazy dismissal of the incident over doing the right thing and outright condemning it strongly and in unwavering fashion. That was a mistake. It was even more of a mistake because this issue had visibility. Whenever an issue of racism arises in an arena where a strong message against it could be sent to MILLIONS, such an opportunity should NEVER be missed. Not for politics, not for convenience, not for ANY reason. She had the chance to send the right message to the american people. She had the chance to remind everyone that racism is simply unacceptable; period. I'm saddened to say this opportunity was in fact missed, and it makes my heart heavy to say that.

It makes my heart heavy because I know when it comes right down to it, we aren't as far ahead in this society as we should be. Racism, though in a more subtle way, is still far too acceptable to far too many, and that, in and of itself, is a disgrace.

To any Hillary supporters who won't condemn Geraldine: I ask you to reconsider. Step back from politics for a second and try and see what is right. Please, please agree that racism, even when subtle, is unacceptable and not something that ANY of us should tolerate or keep silent about. Remember what I'm about to say, and remember it LOUD and CLEAR: What you tolerate, you teach.

We cannot continue to teach others around us that subtle racism is ok. It isn't. It is every bit as unacceptable as blatant racism. Please realize that.

Obama is most definitely not where he is on account of being black. Her saying so, even without realizing she was doing so, exposed her as someone who is still a victim to the inherent acceptance of the subtle racism around us. To those who condemn racism and can recognize subtle racism, we all know that her comments were disgusting and inaccurate. I hope those who have not gotten there yet will step back from the bias of politics and try and reach a level where they can see just why this is true.

Obama is where he is because he is a talented, intelligent, inspiring and motivational politician. Unfortunately, that gets muddied because as a society and as this primary season has readily exposed in many ways, we are still way too consumed with racism and sexism when viewing our society as a whole. I'm saddened to have to say that, but it's the truth. Because of that, some men have gone to Obama, some women have gone to Hillary, some african americans have aligned with Obama, and minor bigots to major bigots have gone to Hillary. The rest of their support has been from regular people who don't give a shit that she's a woman or he an african american, but instead just view them as, well, good candidates.

But because of the inherent sexism and racism that still permeates our society, both gender and race have come into play. That's a shame, but it's the truth. It kinda proved that even if in the end of it all we DO elect our first woman or african american president, that there were large parts of the country still not thrilled to have done either. My god we should be so much better than that by now. I've seen throughout this season that we're not, though thankfully many of us are. Just simply not enough of us (us meaning our society in general).

But as it relates to Obama, he is competitive and ahead because of who he is, as a HUMAN BEING. Sure, he is getting almost all of the black vote with many of them doing so due to race. But we can't view that in a vacuum. When combining those going to Hillary because of gender, with those going to Hillary due to their own minor if not major bigotry issues, those numbers are almost undoubtedly a wash. See, when you break down the numbers and try and discern %'s of those voting genuinely, meaning on the candidates' merits instead of races or genders, you'd see that it is still an amazingly competitive race with Obama likely ahead. So if the black vote was more evenly split as we'd expect otherwise, if the southern males (and many others for that matter) weren't racist, if some weren't picking Hillary based on gender, we'd likely see that they'd BOTH still be competitive and that the numbers given back to each in the respective categories would still put Obama as being ahead. So saying he's ahead because of being black, or because of blacks aligning with him, is just an exercise of stupidity. It is patently false.

But it is so easy for people to say that. It is so easy for people to dismiss, and at times even approve of, Geraldine's comments. That is UNACCEPTABLE. Her comments were racist whether intentionally so or not. They are not readily recognized by some as being such because as a society, we tolerate and accept far too much racism and are so accustomed to such things as being normal, that it doesn't cause us alarm. But that needs to come to an end. It starts with sending a strong message EACH and EVERY time such racism, subtle or not, is detected. It starts with all of us. Hillary had the chance to declare to millions that even subtle racism is unacceptable. She missed that opportunity. I'm very disappointed in her for that. But I'm not gonna miss mine. I AM going to make a strong statement against Geraldine's comments and other people's acceptance of them. In fact, I just did.

Racism is unacceptable. Always. Period.

Please, stand up and declare the same.

[flordehinojos]

1. rodeodance,

the race baiter is obama, who may not directly use his lips to race bait, but allows others to do so on his behalf when he knows that the charges of race baiting and racism are not true. it will take a baracka obama himself to stop all this horseshitting about racism.

[libbygurl]

2. Sorry, I beg to differ from OMC's stance on this one.

It is BO who has been using the race card from the start. And that Jeremiah Wright speech on video is one of the most hateful speeches I've heard yet.