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| The Curse Of Race And Gender
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April 26 2008
Back at the start of the current American presidential primaries, many mainstream media pundits talked blithely about how the United States had moved on, past racism and sexism. This would be an electoral contest fought on the issues and a candidate's color or gender wouldn't matter. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the White House.
To those of us watching the primaries from outside of the United States, it's becoming painfully apparent that Barack Obama's major failing is that he is an educated African-American who is not sufficiently deferential to white people.
When Obama's pastor said something controversial, a firestorm erupted. Meanwhile, white preachers can unload on Gays and Jews without worrying about consequences. If John McCain had told Pennsylvanians that they were bitter about something, nobody would have said a thing. The fact is that many whites don't want some black man telling them about how they feel. The word "elitist" has become code for "uppity".
If Obama can get past his color, the Republicans have the next salvo ready to fire at him. They are already using the dreaded "L word". In America, being called a conservative is a compliment. Being called a liberal is the kiss of death. This is ironic when one considers that the revered American Founding Fathers were considered liberals in their own day and were quite proud of the fact.
It's a measure of how far the United States has drifted rightward that Americans feared being infiltrated by communists back during the 1950s, while they are now hostile to anyone whose views are to the left of those of the late Ronald Reagan.
After Obama has been derailed, the Right will turn its guns onto Hillary Clinton. Even her smallest mistake will be touted as evidence of her feminine weakness and proof that women aren't tough enough for the nation's highest office. With those two dangerous radicals Obama and Clinton discredited, Americans will have an excuse to elect the candidate whom they have secretly adored all along, an old white guy who is a war hero.
I"ve met many Americans who are wonderful people and I believe firmly that there are tens of millions of voters in the United States who are neither racist nor sexist. Still, saying that racism and sexism are no longer important issues in America is like saying there is no longer any sex in porn films.
Before some people flame me for being anti-American, I ask them to print a copy of this post and to file it away somewhere. Read it again after the election to find out whether I was right. By the way, I'll be delighted to be proven wrong.
What do you think? Are race and gender playing a significant role in the 2008 election?
George
P.S. Please visit my online bookstore at:
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=893655
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Posted by gjcondon on 2008-04-26 13:50:48 | Rating: | Views: 126
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