UNDER THE SKIN OF A RACIST

IS FEAR IN THE DISGUISE OF JUSTIFIABLE BELIEFS

Not all racists think it is wrong to believe they are better than other groups of people based on their fears. Okay, they also probably don't believe it is their fears that are at the root of their racist comments or underpinning philosophy. But if you could remove vision from all of us, probably this racist stuff would be about as weak as the economy right now. And just how would we be able to give our fears a way to judge people different from us if we couldn't see them?

Racism is just a way to lift up how you feel about your weak opinion of yourself. It fills a need to put someone down to pretend you are better than you are.

The Star of Canada

TheStar.com | World | A nation's underbelly is exposed

AMERICAN SCENE

McCain Exposes America's Underbelly

David Olive posted online Oct 11, 2008

This is the week, Joe Biden said, that John McCain decided to take the low road to the White House. A partisan observation, certainly. But true just the same.

With increasing desperation, McCain and his presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, have depicted Barack Obama as a naive, untrustworthy, Manchurian candidate who "pals around with terrorists."

Irony is not given to Republicans. McCain attacked Obama this week as the cause of the global financial crisis, when it was the Republicans' sustained effort to remove the bars from the Wall Street zoo that culminated in the current spectacular mess.

McCain's proof of Obama's doubtful patriotism is the Illinoisan's vote against an Iraq-war funding bill that McCain also voted against because it was too pork-laden. But the ugliest and most potent McCain-Palin charge is that the Democratic Party's presidential nominee is not one of us.

"This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America," Palin told a rally this week – an allusion to Obama's skin colour, foreign-born father, and "exotic" upbringing, in Indonesia and mostly Hawaii.

McCain, as it happens, was born in the Panama Canal Zone, a quasi-sovereign but U.S.-administered jurisdiction at the time. The latter status negated objections earlier this year that McCain is foreign-born and thus disqualified for the presidency under the Constitution.

But Obama is blessed with the quality of growing on people the more they see of him – pretty much the opposite effect that Stephen Harper has. Thus Obama's improbable triumph over Hillary Clinton, and success in winning the first two presidential debates.

With victory prospects dimming – Obama has a commanding electoral college edge in states already in his column and others leaning that way – McCain has gone heavily negative, not on Obama's policies but the rival himself.

Even Karl Rove has said McCain steps outside the bounds of truth. So it wasn't a surprise this week that, with the GOP character-assassination machine in high gear, The New York Times editorialized that McCain and Palin "have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember, (entering) the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia."

What McCain has been doing this week is inadvertently exposing the underside of the country he professes to love. As Palin has inveighed against Obama's supposed intellectual snobbery, his fleeting affiliations with Weather Underground co-founder Bill Ayers, and his supposed disdain for the troops (elaborate praise for whom figures into most Obama speeches), crowds in Ohio, Florida and elsewhere this week have shouted, "Traitor!" and "Kill him!"

Palin has made no effort to restrain these animal spirits. This is the part of America that time forgot. Where an angry white McCain supporter approached an African-American TV technician this week and yelled: "Sit down, boy!"

With his appeal to suspicion of "the other," McCain has identified that part of America not ready for the challenges of the 21st century – the very people Obama's policies, and especially his commitment to education reforms, are meant to help. These are the past and future victims of outsourcing, few with better than a high school certificate, who will be left behind in a global, knowledge-based economy. Obama grasps the implications, proposing steps to revive U.S. competitiveness. McCain exploits them as a wedge issue.

In the twilight of his career in presidential politics, McCain is shaping a legacy for himself not as a problem-solver, but one hopes as the last White House candidate determined to showcase for the world the worst of America.

David Olive's American Scene appears Saturdays in World & Comment.

Included here is one comment to the above article that makes a substantial point:

Blowback

My fortune cookie yesterday said "Do not release tigers if you live in the forest" a sort of "Glass houses" admonition. For every attack McCain has sent he is many times more vulnerable to worse stories. Obama knows old extremists, McCain and Palin are on stage with current ones. Obama has a crazy pastor. McCain & Palin are one stage with several who are very much worse, while they are there. It goes on and on.

Posted by FreeDem at 9:51 AM Saturday, October 11 2008

Below is a link to an interesting article from Australia's Sydney Morning Herald

The Weight Is Behind McCain, But Obama Has the Votes
written by Dr Lesley Russell is the Menzies Foundation Fellow at the Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney / Australian National University and a research associate at the US Studies Centre. Dr. Russell talks about the weight of the voter and how it is parallel to living-in-poverty or not-living-in-poverty and how the pounds of the voter give a clue who citizens will vote for.

Australian Daily Telegraph
'Hate'claim fires up John McCain in US presidential race
There is a video with this article that shows Australians about the racism that has come out of the closet in campaign.

The above article and links are from the website Watching America.com ~ which gives links to articles from around the planet and how the USA is viewed from without. If you go to the bottom of the page, the articles are listed by regions and countries. If it is not in English and you want to translate it, you may try this google language tool.

Link to Watching America's collected articles and posts about the USA Presidential campaign

June through August 2008 articles from Watching America.com on Racism:
Racism is the Biggest Obstacle Obama Faces Kenya
Obama and the Question of American Racism Germany
Obama Support Riding on Racism Uganda

Recommended read by a South African blogging acquaintance and internet friend:
Message to America Where I Come From

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Barack Obama

Senator Obama's Economic Rescue Plan for the Middle Class

Senator Obama delivered a major economic policy address to lay out his economic rescue plan for the middle class in Toledo, Ohio this afternoon. He unveiled his Economic Rescue Plan for The Middle Class . This is a comprehensive four-part plan to deal with the immediate crisis that builds on proposals he has previously announced and includes several major new ideas. We can’t wait to help workers and families and communities who are struggling…

CONTINUE READING

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IT'S THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER, GERALDINE ~ THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT MR. OBAMA

Geraldine Ferraro has an opinion and then she has an opinion about her opinion. I don't agree with either of her opinions. "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," Ferraro said. "And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

That is her opinion.

"The concept" is what? She doesn't express "the concept" with clarity.

And then Geraldine said this:

"Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"

My opinion is that Barack Obama is where he is because of his character, his work, his gifts, his values and how he has run his campaign. For me, I wouldn't care if he had my color of skin, no skin or was female ~ I would support him because of how he behaves and the integrity and authenticity that I see in his being. Also, I see a person whose ego is in check.

After getting to know Hillary more during her campaign, I can say now, that I wouldn't vote for her if she was male. Or if she was black. My not voting for Hillary is based on my opinion of her character, how she behaves, my opinion of her integrity and authenticity. And her ego. Not on her skin color or her gender.

No skin, genderless and still a human candidate? Given the qualities of the persons ~ my vote would still go for Barack Obama.

The following is from a speech given by man who knew a thing or two about being black in the United States of America.

"...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

...I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

Full speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s
of August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.

I see Geraldine Ferraro's view as racist. I see Geraldine Ferraro ignorant of her own bigotry. And I see a woman who is angry and hostile. A lot of us who are white people just don't get "it". Pat Buchanan who told a black woman to "shut up" tonight on Dan Abram's MSNBC show doesn't get it.

White people who like to believe that they have a corner on understanding what it feels like to live as a black person in a black bigoted-rooted country have a false sense of reality. Geraldine claims that her record proves she isn't a racist. I don't need to see her record when I hear her words.

Just because you say you are not racist doesn't mean you understand what bigotry is. Just because you say you are open-minded doesn't mean I see you as open-minded. Just because a person says they are Christian doesn't make the person one.

Hillary Clinton has allowed the pattern of throwing racist innuendos or direct comments repeatedly during HER campaign for President. It is divisive. And it shows who she is. And what threshhold she is willing to go over to get what she wants?

Geraldine says she is the victim. Geraldine is wrong.

Just my opinion, Geraldine. And Geraldine, those emails that you claim were sent to you from Obama's campaign, I am sure were not. They were just people who had an opinion like you and were expressing it. Instead of emailing you, I am writing this post.

Geraldine, how could any of us who are white claim we are the victim? I know...I'm female too and there is the issue of not being accepted because we are female in this country, but you are confused about being the victim in this case. You made comments that you chose to state and have received reactions that you don't agree with. Those people are just saying what they feel, like you. It could be taken as a weakness that you are claiming to be victimized...weakness, a quality that women get thrown at us because we are female. You said your feelings are very hurt. I have no problem with you saying your feelings are hurt. But wear some black skin and black hair every day in this country and then get back to me about your feelings and how being hurt is just a 24/7 reality you have to deal with from birth to death.

I think some Hillary-supporting women are angry. And are harboring hostility. I think the hostility is rooted in feeling that we women are entitled to having Hillary Clinton be the female President we've all been waiting for. Look at the body language when Geraldine Ferraro is interviewed by Diane Sawyer.
Diane Sawyer video with Geraldine Ferraro

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We hold these truths to be self-evident...I have a dream

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Keith Olbermann on Ferraro March 12, 2008

On Hillary Clinton's life

LEGAL TO HAVE SKIN COLOR AND HAIR

We have never made laws about plant color. But we have about human skin color. Why are "we" so bothered by skin color and the texture of human hair? I love color. Imagine a world without color.

The thing is I look white. Well, not white. But you know that skin color that is referred to as white.

As far as I know, I am part French, Irish, Swiss, and German. My mom’s side has had an official research done and published in a hard copy book (cover page) that informs that the name Mickley was originally Michelet. My father’s side has had no formal search, but while in Switzerland, I was informed by the nuns where I was staying that a man across the street had my last name, Hammel. And there is a Hammelburg in Switzerland, however there is also a Hammelburg, Germany. My red hair and fair skin is shared by no one in my family. Since my father’s mother had the red hair gene, and I assumed she was Irish, I thought that is where I got the red hair. But when I was in Innsbruch, Austria, I met a young lady who had the exact color of red that I have now and the same complexion color. Red hair has many shades. Even my color has not remained the same. It was once darker. My mother’s mother told me once that there was someone black in my ancestry. No one else has ever mentioned this. I did have one black hair once. Who knows? And some wonderful Hopi told me I looked Cherokee while visiting in Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo’s home in Arizona.

And although my mother “told” me as a child that all people were “equal”, it only played out as painful for me when I was attracted to one of two black boys while 11 years old at my Yellow Creek Lake Church of God summer camp in northeastern Indiana . I never had met a black person before in my life, but didn’t think anything of it, as... well ... you know, something ~ WRONG to do. His name is Eddie Griffith and was from Gary, Indiana. His minister, Brother Cherry, was a camp counselor. He sang at one of the nightly church services, “No Not One”. A clear and sweet voice. I was “in love”. He was adorable. The only thing we ever did was hold hands, have two pictures taken together and exchange letters. But when those pictures and two letters mysteriously came up missing from my bedroom desk drawer without ever an explanation ~ I was crushed. I cried myself to sleep while smothering my sound into silence. It was only the second emotional pain of my life. And this was my first time of being hurt this way. I didn’t understand. My mother never explained. My father only made a passing comment that I didn’t want striped or polka dotted children, while waiting for the school bus one morning. (The first hurt had to do with a "just-hatched" bird ~ no feathers yet ~ I found on my mile walk home from school, that had been run over ~ when I was in third grade. I was going to nurse it back health, but my mother made me throw it away in the woods across the street from our house. That hurt.)

So when I once again had a black person in my life in my thirties, I knew what to expect. Disapproval. I was not wrong about that. When Mark and I decided not to get married, but to live together, we planned a “Commitment Ceremony” which we invited his parents, one friend each and my family. But when my family couldn’t condone our decision not to marry, it was better not to have that “aura” present. They have never approved of me in general. Just never fit the mold.

I have been thinking of race lately. White people can do that. Think about race only when it is convenient or when it suits us. If you are not white or don't look white, you don’t have that choice. It is thrown in your face daily. One of the people I met in New Hampshire while volunteering for the Obama campaign, said that the lady at the door she was canvassing wouldn’t touch her flyer about Barack, but was instructed to lay it down at the door. This young girl, looked fine to me. I didn’t ask her what her race was, but it struck me as puzzling because I didn’t see why someone would think she wasn’t white. I’m aware of racism, but even this was a mystery to me.

The host of where I was staying asked me if Richard Wolffe was black immediately when I showed him who he was. I didn’t get the reason for the question. What would it matter first of all unless it was an issue? And anyway, Richard doesn’t look black to me. So.

After Eddie, my 11 year old beau friend ~ my dad always would think I was some expert on whether someone was black or not. He would ask me if Leslie Uggams was black, etc.

These questions to me are telling. When my cousin pointed out that the people of Lousiana were black and his reason for explaining ~ in his mind~ their behavior during hurricane Katrina was because they were black, I found that a bigoted statement on a couple of levels. When I heard a family member, say that hurricane Katrina happened because all of the people in the area were evil, I thought this had bigoted undertones to the statement.

And when a couple people thought they were being open-minded and showing their acceptance of Mark, they said, that they didn’t think of Mark as black. My comment was to a family member, that Mark thinks of himself as black.

After 15 years, I am no longer living with Mark. But I miss his extended family. They opened my world. They welcomed me. I felt accepted by them. They have had to deal with white people their whole lives.

At our “Commitment Ceremony” we wrote our own “vows”. I included a small excerpt from SPORT OF NATURE By Nadine Gordimer. Below I have included this excerpt between the *….* but I have also included what follows this portion. I enjoy the differences. And I acknowledged the difference by using this passage. Why pretend? I see no reasons. Part of the enjoyment of life is to see the beauty and differences can be beautiful. I love skin. There is nothing like touching skin. Body to body. It’s quite a gift given to us to enjoy. I know it makes some people cringe to think of white skin and not-white skin touching, but I’m not one of those people.

* Lying beside him, looking at pale hands, thighs, belly: seeing herself as unfinished, left off, somewhere. She examines his body minutely and without shame, and he wakes to see her at it, and smiles without telling her why: she is the first not to pretend the different colours and textures of their being is not an awesome fascination. How can it be otherwise? * The laws that have determined the course of life for them are made of skin and hair, the relative thickness and thinness of lips and the relative height of the bridge of nose. That is all; that is everything. The Lilliesleaf houseparty is in prison for life because of it. Those with whom she ate pap and cabbage are in Algeria and the Soviet Union learning how to man guns and make bombs because of it. He is outlawed and plotting because of it. Christianity against other gods, the indigenous against the foreign invader, the masses against the ruling class ~ where he and she come from all these become interpretative meanings of the differences seen, touched and felt, of skin and hair. The laws made of skin and hair fill the statute books in Pretoria; their gaudy savagery paints the bodies of Afrikaner diplomats under three-piece American suits and Italian silk ties. The stinking fetish made of contrasting bits of skin and hair, the scalping of millions of lives, dangles on the cross of Christ. Skin and hair. It has mattered more than anything else in the world. Page 177

More text in the comment section...

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Emily faced racism in her family. But her family has come around.