The Young Turks

I have to admit, that I have begun to doubt the heart of large portion of this nation. It's terrible I know. The majority, I'm sure, are just trying to get through the next day, or the next week. But it's all adding up, and starting to boil over, and I don't think we can deny the fact any longer... This nation has become so terrorized, polarized, and hateful, that it just oozes out at the first opportunity.

So for me it all began with the whole "Reagan Democrats" discussion during the primaries. I registered the shadowy dodges about race and difference, but still had hope. Pundits and prognosticators were still awed that there was even a black man in contention, so they were dazzled a bit , I think. Maybe too much to really dig deep enough into it all. 

Then, as time passed, people kept questioning the discrepancy between the general trend of disappointment with Republicans and George Bush, the overall majority of voter identification with voting democrat, and the fact that Obama & McCain were neck-and-neck, or worse at times. Again, the same questions of race and difference tip-toed down the creeky stairs, only to be shoo-ed away by talk of "fundamental policy differences" and political showmanship revolving around the debates.

Then came what was  bomb-shell for me - a true double-take moment - an honest discussion about the "bubba" vote. So the claim was being put forth, quite frankly, that a quite demonstrable portion of the general public would simply not vote for a black man. Period. I think the raw honesty disarmed everyone. And the media simply nodded their way through general clarifying and verifying questions. 'Who, what, where, how, that's all from here - now it's time for sports.' And on the race went...

But then something happened, or rather, something didn't happen... it didn't stop. Somewhat like a snowball, or a repressed gay person trapped in a socially-conservative republican, a wave of hatred began to flow over the Republican base. The party which purports to be socially conservative and prides itself in its alignment with the Christian Right, began to speak in some of the most  prejudiced, fearful, and sinnful ways.

The associations they make they justify based on the current times. But when you look at their judgements, these people are degrading the very core of American traditions, and what it really means to be both an citizen and a person of faith.

I must take issue with associations between people's names, backgrounds, lineages, creeds, religions, or any other characteristics, as a potential marker of danger or dangerous associations. Seriously? Really? C'mon! Are we not "All... created equal"? How far have we come from thinking that any person descended from a black man was black "because he still has [black] in him". Replace black with Arab and that's what the McCain volunteers are spewing. Depsite the fact that they mean Muslim, and don't care to understand the difference - they'll hate them anyway.

This is flat-out prejudice. How can we begin to reduce (or raise in some cases) a person to the a false standard that we apply to a whole race, or culture, or religion. When are we going to start judging people on their actions, their personal accomplishments, and what they build in life (or all the planes they crash, unrepentently)?

Meanwhile, everyone just records and watches it all happen. Some speak out about it, and suggest that action be taken. But the reality is that nothing will get done. Because if there was a point in this presidential race, before the economic "crisis", when 80% of voters idenitified a negative opinion of Bush, and Republicans, but Obama never got 50% of the vote, then >20% of this nation has some deep-rooted prejudice. Think about it. Think of 10 people you know. You're telling me that at least 2 of them don't have some serious personal issue with some group of people?

So what's my fear?

Well, I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America. I have spent my entire life in the U.S. of A. And I've paid my taxes. My Great grandfather, grandfather, and father have all worn uniforms of this country...

Should it matter that I'm brown-skinned? Do I have to worry that I speak another language, and if I do in public someone might give me a weird look, think that I'm not an American, and ask me for my green card or something? From now on, when I plan a domestic vacation, do I have to do a tolerance check on the place I'm visiting, just in case?

Surely you're telling yourself that I'm taking this too far. But right now, all across this "great" land of ours, people are spreading hate liberally. If you haven't seen it, there are shouts for death being broadcast, symbols of intolerance being worn proudly, and stubbornness ruling the way. People who claim to be citizens of this nation are telling each other lies, half-truths, and degrading men, nations, cultures, and religions, to make themselves feel better. And in the meantime, we are all just waiting around for a straw to break the camel's back - for someone to get hurt.

Oh, and when that happens, I bet you $10 they'll be able to prosecute it as a hate crime. Because over the past 10 years, through the tragedy of 9-11, the war in Iraq, and everything else we've been through, the one thing this country has learned, more than anything else, is pure, unadulterated hatred.

And that "my friends", scares the living sh!t out of me.