wrythings

How are we going to establish the post-racial society MLK foresaw when political opportunists can’t figure out when to stop digging when they have dug themselves into a hole? Any positive memories I might have had regarding Geraldine Ferraro have been dispelled. I’m embarrassed to share any heritage with her. I’m also embarrassed for NY, my state of origin. We’ll leave Spitzer aside… come to think of it, there is a lot to be embarrassed about in New York State this week - the most meaningful one being the censorship at RPI and in the city of Troy, not the stupidity and scandal of these unfortunate political persons. If only the media would pay attention to things that matter to the health of the polity.

But I do take Ferraro’s attitude as obnoxious and racist… or at least playing to racist sentiments. (Really - both, I think … her attempts to spin herself out of this is pathetic and makes her look much worse in the long run.)

I’m not ‘enamored of Barack’s blackness’ … It’s incidental. Clearly identity politics is at play - motivating supporters for both campaigns, but Barack has a consistent message that fits the post-racial ideals many of us hold. And Geraldine - I’m not black …. am I being racist in calling you on your racism?

I am sure there are many people out there who have said or thought the very things Ferraro has so bluntly stated. What is ridiculous to me is that they defend it as ‘fact’… their statement isn’t a fact. It’s just a sad sign of low character. More Americans need to study biology … there is one race: human.

And as for painting Barack as a Muslim… some people complain that Hillary didn’t take a stronger stance in regard to the fact that Barack is not of the Muslim faith. She said she takes him at his word. Yes. Do take people at their word and at their deeds when asked about their faith and character, but really, it’s the wrong answer to the wrong question. The right response is that although we know Barack to be a man of faith, with long-standing commitment to the same Church, if he were of the Muslim faith, that would NOT disqualify him for office. This reeks of the days when other religious bigots questioned Kennedy’s loyalty because of his Catholic heritage. Clearly, however, some of us in America are not done with anti-catholic bigotry either. Has Ferraro commented at all about Hagee and McCain?

The Democratic Party needs to transcend Identity politics. I’d support woman or man, a person of any ethnic heritage or religious faith, if they demonstrate themselves to be of high moral character, lead by example and inspire us to our higher calling as a people.

I’d also like to give people a little room to make some mistakes, and a chance to redeem themselves when they do. (But please, stop digging.)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 9:10 pm and is filed under elections, excellence, politics, social justice, thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.