The Politics of WORDS
WORDS! WORDS! And more WORDS!
Since the 2008 Presidential election, many of us have watched and listened with increasing incredulity to the vitriolic communication capturing the nation’s headlines. Much of the communication sounds and feels reminiscent of pre/post reconstruction and civil rights era rhetoric as factions divided and closed ranks around their individual interests. “Why can’t we all just get along” is still the cry of peace in 2009. I have been shocked and highly concerned about the manner in which some have decided to use their 2nd Amendment rights to vilify the current President of the United States and reconstruct change into fear, fright and the will to fight!
Maybe you missed some of the most controversial statements:
(The names have been left out to protect the not so innocent)
“President Barak HUSSEIN Obama is a racist. He hates white people.”
“You lie!”
“President Obama is a socialist, commie!”
“Yes, I meant what I said, I hope he fails!”
“Well, I think white men were 100 percent of the people that wrote the Constitution, 100 percent of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence, 100 percent of people who died at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. Probably close to 100 percent of the people who died at Normandy. This has been a country built basically by white folks in this country who are 90 percent of the entire nation-in 1960…”
Add to these words the thousands of news photos showing signs and pictures of the President with the recognizable Hitler mustache, devil horns, and a bone through his nose, as well as individuals attending his rallies toting guns…it’s a little more than out of control wouldn’t you say? And to add hurt to injury, many of these individuals purport to be devoutly religious.
WORDS! WORDS! And more WORDS!
So where are the voices of reason, sanity and civility? I have always been taught “out of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Well, my heart as well as my passion for communication that heals, tells me that I must write and speak out against this revisionist, anarchist and racist hate mongering SPEECH! It’s time to have a dialogue about the importance and effects of communication on our collective lives…one long over due in the American psyche. We are and will continue to be a nation divided by the color line until a critical number of us care more for the future of our children and our nation than we care about protecting our personal past or our particular present!
A large majority of American people elected a President of impeccable character, ability and compassion who brings with him the distinctive characteristic of being of mixed race, though having always self-identified as African American. In my lifetime, I have lived through Jim-crow (as a young child growing up in the south) and the civil rights movement. I have been labeled the “N” word, colored, Negro, black, African American and a person of color. The “labels” that have often eluded me and my ancestors have been those of: pioneer, scientist, city planner, clock maker, revolutionary, doctor, nurse, scholar, pastor, poet, abolitionist, soldier, astronomer, botanist, politician, inventor, etc., etc., etc....and all these BEFORE the end of slavery.
Fast forward 146 years later and the President of the United States is labeled an “illegal alien” by the crazed “birther movement” as well as the other dreaded “N” word - Nazi. Yes, it is enough to make you cry…and I have. I have cried for the millions of young American boys and girls who have to keep reliving a horrible past that refuses to be healed. If we do not use our voices to silence the forces of hate and fear, we are indeed conspirators to their misguided deeds! Our children deserve much better and so does the legacy of millions of Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and other ethnic groups who have TOGETHER built America.
In spite of the refusal of some to acknowledge the contributions of all the cultures that have made this great nation, we have: the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, the first Black Attorney General of the United States, the 2nd female Secretary of State, and the first African American President! There is a lot to celebrate, reflect upon and be thankful for, but let us not forget – there is work to do before we can proudly pass onto our children a nation that truly practices its declaration “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men {people} are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” These are WORDS that act as the true moral compass of our nation. Are your words meant to heal or to kill? Are you speaking your truth? Let’s hear it; I am silent and ready to listen. There is no coincidence that both words have the exact same letters. You must be silent, inside and out, long enough to listen. Let the communication begin!
10 comments:
Thank you for this inspiring post. Sadly, many of my clients and colleagues express negative ideas about the President and ethnic minorities in America. Because I'm a white male, they think I agree with them. I'm in a bind: if I say something about their bigotry, I could lose their business (and I need their business!). But if I say nothing, then - as you suggested - I am part of the problem. I feel that in the end, all I can do is remind them that the country is made of very diverse people with diverse opinions and leave it at that. Sometimes, they pick up the hint.
I really appreciate your words of wisdom. Thank you for the time you share with us. NJ
As the mother of a mixed race son (half Black, half Mexican), it saddens me to see the hateful backlash against a man that has accomplished so much and has brought such great hope to millions of people who never thought they would live to see a black United States president. We as a nation should be proud at this great moment, but instead it is being tarnished with seeds of hate that unfortunately still linger and have the potential to grow and spread. I pray that things change for the sake of all that live in this amazing country. Thank you for a challenging yet intriguing class Professor Perkins...T.Salazar
I think that there will always be hate and prejudice that will seperate us all. Even with having a african american president, it doesnt change racism. Now with conflict with other nations, we are now more prejudice to their culture and their nationality. We will never learn to embrace other culture and love each other because one race will always think they are the better race. Its an ongoing battle and you would think that it would pass through time. We can each take our own approach and teach our kids not to be racist and appreciate what is different. Its the little steps and maybe one day we will not have this problem anymore.
Well I'm sorry to say that this is progress.....I do wish that we lived in a country that's as forward thinking as England on matters of racism, but we don't. When I say that this is progress, it's because sadly, it is. 150 years ago our country faught a violent and bloody war to abolish slavery (something that half of the country faught against), less than 50 years ago Martin Luther King was assasinated and now we actually have an African American President, so there is progress happening. I think it's really pathetic that a bunch of ignorant and backward people are even given one second of publicity. We may have faught for freedom of speech in our country, but at what cost??? All I can say is give us another hundred years, many people forget that we are a hundred years behind Europe on this issue, I have hope that we will catch up to them and I think that we elected the best man for the job.
It's ironic how they teach us to be American as possible but they don't want us to experience the success of becoming President. That is like raising an adopted kid like your true child except you don't foresee the same opportunity for him/her since he/she isn't your own. I don't think there is anything we can do to help such ignorance. All we can do for these people is to feel sorry for them. A Different Mirror, by Ronald Takaki, was a great journey for me, that depicted the racism that minorities had to endure. Although, it is very biased it tells a shameful American history that all ignorant people should learn from. Does it take a creation of a new world to get over racism and discrimination or even then will it still exist? Because til now it remains an issue.
As a military man with over seven years experiance eating, sleeping, working and fighting with people from every type of culture and diverse backround you could think of I have trouble understanding why the color of ones skin has anthing to do with a person's individual characteristics or work ethics? A person's religious preferance or cultural back round does not effect thier ability to lead our great nation. If America could bring blacks and whites to fight together in Vietnam war during the height of racial conflict in a America than why is the rest of today's society having such a major issue wih a minority leading our country? People need to give our president a chance to take action on his words and remember that MAJORITY of us United States citizens voted him into office. We live in a democracy and if we ar not happy with his progress at the end of his term simply vote in a new president. Many people are speaking out of hatred or ignorance and don't even have a clue about our new presidence stance on everyday issues. judge President Obama on what he does or dosn't do and not on the color of is skin.
J. SILVA
The sad reality is that all the hatred and negativity of the closed minded masses will continue to be instilled and passed on to their children. Their lack of knowledge is what prevents them to accept the changes happening around them. These people have a problem moving forward unless it's "their" way. I have personally felt the wrath of discrimination since I can remember, just because I am different. It's really unfair and the feeling of incompetence is overwhelming. I can only imagine how the black community feels when they hear these slurs and nonsense. I’m grateful that my life experiences have opened my mind and made me learn to appreciate myself and the diversity I bring to my family and my peers. I have no doubt President Obama will excite his duties well and leave a positive mark in history. Obama is what this country needs! There is no need or time to appease these misguided souls. I know one day the bigots will look back and be thankful for the things President Obama did for “their” country.
A.Infante
As a mixed race woman (half black and half Mexican)I find it sad that our country cant be happy for this amazing accomplishment in the African American community. We really need to stop being so selfish and think of the future. I loved this entry. It really makes you think. Thank you for an amazing experience in your class.
-Arianna Guerrero
The United States has a great diversity of people, and that's what makes U.S. up. I don't understand why some people just can't get over color and race. We are all different and that's what makes everyone so unique. People have to understand that we can not have that color line that has existed for decades any longer. They must understand that color isn't everything, what matters and counts the most is in the inside, we must all understand that.
M. Acuña
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