American
politicians particularly since the 1970's have argued that our electoral issues
are matters the solutions to which are permeated with nuances. Compromises are needed to resolve disputes. There is good and bad in every idea and there
is an equality of sincerity and honestly and even duplicity in the rival
parties and candidates. The problem is
the voters don't see it that way. They
form opinions, sometimes not based on facts, and they form impressions of
candidates. Those opinions and
impressions determine how they vote. And
most voters don't vote because of nuances.
The
conventions are over - the debates yet to come.
And for all the rhetoric on both sides the election of 2012 comes down
to a clear choice and frankly it’s a matter of Black or White.
I
am a liberal progressive Democrat. But I
have never seen every issue in terms of race.
It is clear to me that since President Obama’s inauguration the radical
right wing tea party Republicans have viewed him not as the American President but
as a Black President. And they don’t
like the color they see occupying the White House. He is not representative of the Anglo-Saxon
Protestant (now read Christian) America that they believe this nation was
founded to be and should be. Despite his Horatio Alger like story of rising
from near poverty, raised by a single Mom, he is derided as someone who does
not believe in American exceptionalism.
And yet he personifies the very exceptionalism they claim to honor. It is America’s historic ability to assimilate
immigrants, albeit with a problem in accepting forced immigrants like the
African-Americans and now accepting immigrants of another language, Spanish, or
another religion, i.e. Muslim. Only if
America continues to be a “melting pot” can our country survive as the greatest
nation on the planet and symbol of democracy to the world. And Obama represents the success of that
“melting”. He is the descendant of 17th
century settlers in the colonies who later fought for our nation's
independence. But he is not American
enough for the radical right wing tea party Republicans. Why?
Because he is Black and his father was African.
I
believe if Obama were white there would have been the same massive reaction to
his health care reform proposals since that reaction was financed and stirred
up by health care business interests. I believe opposition to his appointments
and his other proposals would have been just as strong. And in fact when Bill Clinton proposed many
of the same things he was met with vociferous opposition and stalling of
nominations etc. and he was white. Since
Newt Gingrich the Republicans have been a party of rule or ruin. However the unified lock step knee jerk
reaction to anything the President says and does is more than party difference
it is due to his embodiment of the cultural changes that the nation underwent
in the 60's and 70's. It is because
Barack Obama represents the success of the struggle for equality of the
African-American community that began with Brown v. Bd. of Education in
1954. His support of the Dream Act and
his opposition to DOMA, followed by his support of same-sex marriage, has
furthered his image as the representative of the New America. And, the radical right wing tea party
Republicans want to return to a mythical Old America - one that was White, Male
dominated, Anglo-Saxon in its heritage
and language, and Christian (they’d prefer Protestant but realize the need for
support from conservative White Catholics).
My
ethnic background is white, Anglo Saxon.
My father’s ancestors came to these shores in 1607.
My mother was born in Germany and on her side I am first generation
American. So in a way I represent the
white melting pot. But I do not share
the view of these radical right wingers that blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and
gays should either have no place in our society or should know their place and
stay in it. That was a weakness of my ancestors (many of whom opposed those
views); and, a majority of that population of America rejected that old notion
in the 1960's when White America, or at least a majority, made efforts to undo
the decades of discrimination. Nixon
called those who were in the minority in the white community the “silent
majority”. Well today the tables are
turned the silent majority are those White Americans, many of 20th century
immigrant ancestry, who are being intimidated and silenced by the roarings of
the tea party radicals and depressed by our nations' economic collapse.
This
election is all about Black and White.
And about the future and whether or not we can end this culture of the
color line or we simply try to whitewash it.
My grandchildren don’t seem to recognize that line. Once when playing in an indoor playground my
granddaughter came to me to complain about one of the other children playing
with her. I asked her which one and she
said “the Black one”. I looked in and
pointed to the African American child in the playground. . She looked at me like I was stupid and said
“not him the one over there” and pointed to a little boy wearing a black
shirt. Call me a dreamer but that is the
America I want.
17
September 2012
