I've gotta wonder.
The more I hear people spew their diatribes about how those who voted for Barack Obama voted purely, or at least mostly, because he is black the more I want to ask why it's such a point of focus for so many.
Seriously. I swallow a scream down about every time.
People! Stop listening to John McCain, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh (to think I used to listen to that man), and Karl freaking Rove. If you honestly believe Fox News is "fair and balanced," I've got a couple bridges to sell you. To nowhere.
When I was investigating the church, a common quip was "You don't go to a Chevy dealer to find out about Ford."
The same applies anywhere else. You don't go to radical conservatives to find out about Barack Obama. It transcends stupidity, to be honest.
I really wish people would afford Obama's supporters with a bit more intelligence and discretion than "you voted for him 'cause he's black." I also appreciated Limbaugh's lovely summation of Colin Powell's endorsement: "It's all about race!"
Gee, thanks, Rush. And everyone else who echoed his sentiments.
It makes me wonder who, exactly, is thinking a little too much about race.
Hmm?
I have followed Obama for two years. I considered voting for McCain until he allowed someone to stick a hand up his butt and a tie a couple strings on his extremities.
It has nothing to do with gender or race, but rather quality of character, ideas, courage, and dignity. Toward the end, McCain proved to me he had nothing on Obama. Nothing.
Just for the record, I've had it with people saying they're scared of Obama. Should I reverse the race card and insist they're scared because he's black? Would that be fair? Absolutely not.
But I will suggest that perhaps some of it, if not all of it, has more to do with ignorance. As a busy people, we're prone to believe anything we hear and not do the research to back it up. We look at white men in suits and ties and assume they're conservative. We hear one, a former prisoner of war, say that his opponent is a closet socialist, and people agree because it sounds good, sounds right (damn liberals!), and it comes from...wait. A politician.
Since when did we trust what politicians say, again?
Look inside yourself and ask why you voted McCain if you did. Was it because he's Republican? White? A war hero? Old? Because your parents did, your church did?
For most of us, this isn't about race. I know for some it absolutely is, just like there were people who would've voted for Hilary just because she's a woman. People want history to happen in their lifetime. It's understandable, but hardly the best reason.
Just remember, there are people who voted for John McCain because he was the white guy. It's safe, it feels good, etc.
I just happen to believe there's more racism from those who cry "racist!" than people want to recognize. Just like sexism. How many of you are honestly scared a little of Muslims? Mexicans? Gay people?
This is a rhetorical question, but I think it's an important one. I think it's only human to have some kind of -ism within you. I do. The first thing to do is recognize it so you can fight it. Remember that God loves everyone, black and white, bond and free, male and female. Sometimes people decry ideas and people with zeal because they are trying to distract from their own prejudices.
If this hits home, and I imagine it should with most people, then we need to work on that.
http://www.barackobama.com/
20 Years of FMH
2 months ago
7 comments:
I'm so tired of the rhetoric. It's like, during the primaries, when I voted for Clinton, people said it was because she was a woman. No, it wasn't. it was because I worked for a health insurance company for four years and know tons about the health industry, and she was the only candidate who knew what she was talking about when it came to health care, which is a big deal to me and my family. She obviously knew the industry, and her answer was a thousand times more thought out than anyone else's.
Back during that time, I saw a news report that interview black women. It asked them, are you going to vote for Obama or Clinton? Are you going with the black person or the woman, since you're a black woman. It made me so upset - what if they wanted to vote for McCain? Are they limited to the black candidate or the woman because of their race and sex? Sheesh!
And btw, I know of one person who told me that it must be so difficult to be lied to because I believed Fox News was biased. She said it was the only place she could get the truth. Yeah. There are some real wackos out there.
"If you honestly believe Fox News is "fair and balanced," I've got a couple bridges to sell you. To nowhere."
HAHAHAHA! You crack me up. I'm in a weird mood tonight, so maybe that's why I'm just getting entirely too much joy out of blog-stalking.
But I love that you just say it like it is. And I also cannot describe how much I respect Mormons who know how to use a well placed swear-word. :)
Like "vagnole". Guess where I see that. And I swear I didn't look until after I'd started talking about swear words. But doesn't that just really sound like some crude insult? You should start calling close-minded people vagnoles. Yours truly, random letter generating program.
Your blog is prescient. And it is giving you kudos.
Amanda: I used to sincerely believe Fox (or, as Natalie calls them "Faux" haha) News was just as it claimed to be.
Unfortunately, this is yet another example of people eating what they're fed without looking at it first.
So easily some people will eat crap without even realizing it.
Anyway, yeah. It sounded good because, you know, damn liberal media, it's nice to have the "truth" because obviously liberal slant has no hint of truth within it, right?
I've heard of the black woman thing. It's beyond annoying. Just awful.
Natalie: I had to look up prescient lol, not often I gotta do that anymore. Thank you.
Vagnole...takes me back to my Beavis and Butthead days :) You're right. Sounds a lot like a curse word.
:) glad to elicit giggles! yay!
(word verif: predrupe. hm)
Hubby and I were driving around and listening to Rush and then later Glenn Beck. I will say one thing, some people just won't listen to facts. Some lady called in saying she refused to accept the fact that Obama won fair and square blaiming voter fraud. The host explained that while he was not happy about the results and can not agree with most of what Obama's policies and stances are on many issues, he is the American Pres. not the Democratic or Republican pres. He explained that the margin was so large that he had to help her see the facts. She refused. So I see what you are talking about. But the people who I talk to (granted probably not that many) don't talk like this. I would hope that even though I can not agree with most of Obamas policies/ideas he is the pres. elect and that position deserves our respect. Difficult though that may be for some. And on the flip side, I hope that soon the inflamed emotions die down soon from prop 8. Graffiti on our church buildings, protests at our most holy Temples. Very sad.
I like this prayer of St. Francis of Anassi:
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Our buildings might be targeted, protests at the temple (I've no problem with this as long as they remain peaceful), etc, but what we need to do as a Christian people is help heal wounded hearts.
Agree with it or not, we've really hurt people with our actions and our money and words. Just like there needs to be an increase of love after chastisement, there needs to be an increase of love and a greater working toward understanding and compassion here. There really isn't even half a degree of the kind of understanding that is needed. We still seem to buy into too many myths about homosexual people.
I don't think for a moment all those who voted against Obama think those who did, did because of his race. Just like not everyone against Prop 8 are acting out in violent, illegal ways (of which peaceful protests, even in front of the temple, aren't). There will be zealots on both sides. It's up to the more level headed of both groups to come to some sort of understanding, I think.
I found a thing that said: "If you vote for someone because of the color of his skin, then you're a racist."
It doesn't matter if you're voting against or FOR the person, if your decision is based on their skin, then, yes, you are a racist.
It's just funny how people can so blind. Like I said before this woman would not see the facts as they are. She was blaming voter fraud, and conspiracy theories. The talk show host, who was conservative, was telling her Obama won by so much that voter fraud could not have thrust him to victory by that big of a margin. She wouldn't listen. That's a lot of peoples problem, and we find it in both issues. Some people are blinded by anger, some by political affiliation, some by skin color. Everyone seems to be "stirred up to anger, everyone against his brother". It's very sad. Things are escalating, I would hope people keep their heads and hearts about them. I'm not trying to wave the "they're persecuting me flag" though they are sure targeting our Temples and churches; but Christians in general. I don't think that anyone is going to be tarred and feathered, for the most part what I'm seeing is actually somewhat civil. One press release I read talked about a protest and they announced it would in front of the Oakland Temple. The release also begged people to leave their anger/hatred at home. Their point is to change hearts not scare people to death. Frightening old ladies walking into church is not what they wanted all over the press. Anyway, my point is, I fully support prop 8, I know there are many people who do not. It is a difficult issue to be sure.
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