Last weekend, a local business owner had three men come into her store and shake her down, calling her a racist because she doesn’t have a Barack Obama sign in the front of her store.
This is nothing compared to what African-Americans and other minorities have experienced in our country. American history is sordid, to say the least, from the very start. What Columbus and his boys did to the Native Americans is inexcusable. The horrors of slavery throughout the US make my stomach turn. That we still see the effects of the past walking in the present makes me lose sleep at night.
Yesterday, someone called me a racist. Because I am not voting for Barack Obama. I was shaken. And pissed off.
I’ve been called many, many things in my life, many of them true. But something I have NEVER been called is a racist. I know that this person doesn’t know me. This person is judging me superficially. This person assumes because he’s had a bad experience with a caucasian person that all of us are bad. But that accusation led me to think about the heart of this election.
Race is playing a much larger role in this election than I realized. I understand the African-American community seeing hope that an African-American man could be elected president. I would love to see an African American president. But I would love to see a qualified man as president rather than one who only spews rhetoric.
Accusations of racism can be made on both sides. If I am a white woman voting for John McCain and that makes me a racist, doesn’t that make an African-American who is voting for Barack Obama a racist also? Or am I the only person that qualifies as a racist because I have white skin? If that is true, why is that true?
Gender roles are playing a huge part in this election. When it looked like Hilary Clinton was going to be running for president, women were burning their bras in the street, ecstatic that they could finally act like men, be men, have a woman as a president. Someone who favors abortion, wears the pants in her marriage, and wants to see women more powerful than men.
Sarah Palin–she’s more problematic for women. Maybe because she is pro-life, not pro-choice. Maybe because she’s a mommy to her children as well as a strong leader. Maybe because she’s a Christian and seems to live pretty well within that belief system, even in her public life. Maybe because she’s representative of the Proverbs 31 woman.
I don’t know who you are voting for in this election. Frankly, I don’t care. All I ask of you is this: don’t vote for someone based solely on his race. I am horrified that there are people who will vote for John McCain solely because he’s white. I am equally as horrified that someone will vote for Barack Obama solely because he’s black. And if you don’t like Sarah Palin, that’s all well and good. Just don’t base your opinion of her on celebrities’ opinions and SNL. Celebrities want to maintain their hedonistic lifestyle. Anything opposed to that makes them angry. And there are always microphones available to them.
Deneen White 
Hi Deneen,
great post. Welcome to what most whites are living with here in post-apartheid South Africa. My generation is suffering from a regime bent on trying to right the wrongs of the past in an entirely avengeful manner. Contradicting everything Madela fought for. We live with this prejudice every day. But life without challenges is like driving without steering… pointless.
Interesting thoughts regarding Obama. Do me a favour… Have a look at what I said about his chances of becoming president on my blog. Would love to hear your comments.
Keep writing gal!
I would agree it’s terrible, and wish it upon no one, to be called racist for such a ridiculous reason – but I must admit that it might serve a “greater good”, as it were, if these things were to cause enough of a problem for people to realise that it’s an issue pervading our entire society and, where sexism is concerned, is a common occurrence for men. if you disapprove of any given woman for any give position, you’re sexist. I’m finding this discrimination backlash increasly frustrating, and this election is only making it worse; however if people, perhaps the candidates themselves, would take note a deal with it, we could find ourselves headed towards a society truly free of racism and sexism…
Hi James,
I can’t imagine living in post-aparthied South Africa. I will definitely check out your blog.
I love what you said: “Life without challenges is like driving without steering.”
Thanks for reading.
~D
Hi Anonymous,
I don’t envy men in this day and age, that is for sure. I think too many unqualified women stand behind sexism for the reason that they are not promoted and/or taken seriously rather than their own ineptitude. (Reminder…I am a WOMAN saying this.)
I would love for the two candidates to face ANY issue head on: race, gender, the economy, international relations…anything. Unfortunately, doing so would be honest and politics is not an honest job.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
~D
Hey Deneen–
I do not hear Sarah Palin making a lot of comments on her pro-life stance. It seems she has softened on it a bit according to an article I read today.
Would you think she should be more vocal about her pro-life stance?
Have a good night,
Paul
Hi Paul,
I think that there are more prominent issues at hand. Being more vocal about being pro-life will only make her more hated by the feminists than she already is–if that is possible.
~D
I would think standing up for the unborn child for a person like Sarah Palin who has a well-documented view influenced by religion would be prominent. What other issues are more important than that? Fear of hatred does not seem to be an excuse since I have not heard anything about her pro-life position from her mouth except the hypocritical stance that it was her daughter’s choice to have the baby which is a decidely pro-choice view that directly contradicts her previously stated stance on abortion.
Hey Paul,
National security, the economy, international relations…these are all important issues to discuss as they are on the forefront of the minds of most Americans. Frankly, if she were discussing abortion and other hot-button issues for Christian conservatives, people would be shooting arrows at her for pushing her own agenda.
No matter what she says, 99% of America will take issue because she supports traditional values rather than what the media is trying to say are the values of Americans.
~D
Now everyone is talking about the American economy and eclections, nice to read something different. Eugene
Please understand I doubt that any African-American voted for Barack just because he was black. Allen Keyes is also black and also ran for president. He did not win the “black vote”. He did not come close to winning the majority of black voters. You make some good points but you over simplify things.
I did not think Sarah Palin was unqualified because of SNL but because of what Sarah Palin said. I heard her. Her direct statements can not be blamed on SNL. I heard her, and she frightened me.
Hi Mike,
I don’t think that all african Americans voted for Obama because he’s black. What I find/found problematic was that, as a white woman, when I said that I wasn’t voting for him, people assumed it was because of his race. That is why I asked the question if African Americans are voting for Obama, can I not draw the same conclusion of them.
Please note–I wouldn’t make that assumption. But I think it’s a fair question to ask.
The fact of the matter is that the election is over. Obama will be our President on January 20, so every American needs to stand behind him and work toward what is best for our country…not for one group, but for the country as a whole.
Thanks for your comment,
~D