Do you think I am Racist Just Because...

We are seeing a number of post-election articles extolling the sudden advancement of race relations in America because B. H. Obama was elected to our presidency.  The tone and intent of these articles vary widely, for instance, Harry R. Jackson, Jr. (Race Still Matters, Townhall.com, Nov 10, 2008) presents a positive suggestion for the coming together of churches to effect a faith-based approach to closing the racial divide.  On the other hand, Ken Connor (Still a Long Way to Go for Equality, Townhall.com, Nov 9, 2008) lectures us about how we have now shown that we are no longer a racist nation by this election.  I am afraid that Mr. Connor is being a little devious, in that the real purpose of his article seems to be to get us to give up our bigotry towards other areas of human rights.  You should read his article, as he makes some valid points.  Indeed, his concerns are, to me, much more valid than his introductory point.  I may be a little sensitive here, but it seems that his use of the "racism" term to bring attention to his real agenda smacks of – racism.
  
These particular articles are, by no means, being questioned as to the intent or sincerity of the authors.  They are simply convenient examples based on a major flaw (my word, not theirs) in the current, wildly popular premise that America has been a racist country, and now, all of a sudden, that has gone away.  Racism has been dying out in this country for quite a while now, and we should all be better off for it.  Those of us who understand and applaud the fact ARE better off for it.

Those individuals and groups, black and white, who perpetuate, and try to profit from, the practice of systematic racism need to look deep within themselves and learn to accept people on their merits, not use or mis-use them because of skin color.  Will this election put to rest the prejudices and abuses of these people, who truly are racist, no matter their color?  Left to their own devices, probably not.  After all, even racists have most of the rights in our country.  Ironically, it seems that the black proponents of racism (the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons) will likely be more affected by this election than the hate-mongers on the white side.  It may be a little harder for them to sell their “snake oil” in the light of facts, such as we have elected a black president.  I would suggest to the new president and his old party that, rather than pass a lot of new laws to control the white racists, just ignore them and let that particular brand of hate die with them.  It is dying out, you know?

So, all of the above is provided to set the stage for a series of questions and/or comments that I plan to introduce, and hopefully to get some feedback,  detailing those things that I think many people attribute as racist attitudes simply because they in some way are connected to a minority.  I will define the point and then try to give you my thoughts on the “racial” connotations.  I am, obviously, hoping to generate some good discussion, but, if that does not occur, I will have gotten my thoughts down in writing

I am doing this as an informal poll.  If you choose to participate, just give me your answer and add any comments you may have.  Instead of trying to cram all of the questions into a single post, I will present additional questions in subsequent posts.  In that way, we can give each of the subjects its appropriate level of attention.

Do not be mis-led by the seemingly lighthearted approach to my poll.  Rest assured that the specific questions or points raised in this effort have been of major concern to me for many years. 

For the sake of limiting the tedium, there are a few guidelines on participation:

1. I, and other readers, do not know you and are, therefore, likely to judge your intelligence by the clarity and civility of your writing.  Only you know how you want to be viewed by others, but I will appreciate everyone keeping it clean and civil.

2. Remember, we would like to have the benefits of your own thoughts, so no cheating or referring to Talking Points from either party.  That will keep us from having to read through the same boring “intellectual stimuli” over and over;

3. Please do not read just the first few words and jump straight to a conclusion.  The idea is to generate some thought and maybe even a little discussion;

4. Likewise, maintain a little intellectual honesty in your thought processes.  Unless you are using group-think, the only person you will be lying to is yourself;

a. According to exit polls, 47% of Americans think it is pretty dumb to do that (lie to yourself, that is), 33% asked if there was any alternative, 15% said that sounded racist to them and 5% voted “present”

b. The margin for error is impossible to calculate because a number of self-proclaimed moderates changed their responses several times.

c. I used the Washington Ethical Behavior Standard  (WEBS) in developing these statistics, so don’t waste your time trying to verify them, or my time (and that of the other readers, if we have any) in trying to refute them

5. Main stream media types, there is no need for you to use your valuable Palin research time (and/or Obama worship time) to participate in our little project.  I have already written down your collective “yes” simply because I am a white male, born and raised in an extremely small Southern town;

6. Bill O’Reilly should not vote because it will not sell any books for him.  If you want to know the depths of my admiration for this court jester, you can read a couple of my previous posts;

7. Carl Cameron should not vote because no one will be whispering in his excitable little ears for a “major” scoop (see the next item).  Need to vet those sources a little better, Carl.  You are dangerously close to being grouped with Chrissie Matthews in the “tingly-leg media,” and

8. McCain campaign staff twerps will not be blamed or credited with the results here, so there is no need to clutter Carl’s telephone with whispered un-sourced accusations that Governor Palin is funding this with her lingerie allowance.

Otherwise, all Americans, including those who let themselves be hyphenated and are proud of it, those who abandoned their party and conservative principles when the going got a little tough, and those narrow-minded liberals who never open their thought processes to anything that moveon.org doesn’t tell them, are welcome to interject their Two Cents’ Worth, as it were, into the discussion.
  
We will, of course, be willing to provide the results to Bill Ayers for inclusion in his soon-to-be-award-winning education reform efforts for the Chicago schools.  One only has to look at the state of education in Chicago schools to see that his endeavors are at least as deserving as Al Gore (his personal carbon footprint is growing at an astounding rate) and Jimmy
Rabbits-are-meaner-than-Iranians Carter.

So, here we go:

How many of you think I am racist  just because…I voted for John McCain (actually, of course, I voted for Sarah Palin but it has the same force and effect) instead of Barack Obama (and the piteous Joe the Biden)?

The prevailing theory in Democrat circles (including the msm) and the Republican turncoats such as Colin Powell seems to be that everyone who did not take this historic opportunity to vote for Obama did so only because of overt racism (isn't that racist in itself?  Oh, of course not, blacks can't be racists, can they?). 

However, let me clue you in on a dirty little secret - if Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, Lynn Swann or J. C. Watts were running for national office, I would support them in a heartbeat.

You see, it has to do with the agreement that you have, or do not have, with their core beliefs.