Obama For President, Ya Digg?
Yesterday, while surfing the blogosphere, I visited one of my favorite news crowd-sourcing sites, Digg.com. I entered the term "Obama" and was surprised to see that almost three weeks later, folks are still ranting on (yes, ranting) about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermon which contained several remarks some members of the media have labeled as "anti-american," "racist," and "pro-terrorist." [For those of you not familar with him, Rev. Wright was pastor of the church Senator Barack Obama (D - IL) attended when not in Washington, D.C.]
In another Digg search, I entered the term, "race" and reviewed links ranging from the full text of Barack's March 18 speech in Philadelphia to a CBS poll surveying the success of Mr. Obama's oratory genius. Ahh, the power of the Internet: it leaves no opinion or angle unturned ...
Watch: Obama's "A More Perfect Union" Speech
Yep, everywhere I surf on the Net someone's got an opinion about Rev. Wright or the speech Barack gave shortly after the controversial tape of his pastor was released. What to do? Jump in and give my two cents of course ...
Defending My Hero
People vote for candidates for a variety of reasons. Policy-wise, Obama and Hillary Clinton are almost identical. The deciding factor on who I plan to vote for has more to do with life experience and how it relates to the future generation of America. Most Americans aren't wealthy for the majority of their life. Most haven't been the First Lady, or had a childhood filled with upper-crust privilege. Nope, most American's work long hours for a wage that doesn't justify the amount of effort they put in -- or the results their employer will gain from it. Many young Americans come from a divorced or single parent home. An increasing number of young American's are offspring of a bi-racial or multi-racial union. None of these experiences line up with the life of Mrs. Clinton or Senator McCain (R-AZ), and after reviewing the side-by-side comparison sheet of all three candidate views, life experience rules.
When November comes around, you can bet your tax rebate that I'll be voting for Mr. Obama. It's not without hesitation however. You see, when I first learned that the senator from Illinois was making a go for prez, I was happy and saddened at the same time. Ever since I was about eight or nine years old, I became aware of the implications skin color can have on social circles, economic status and social standing. There is a unique social learning curve you endure as a bi-racial child, so being told I "look like a nigger" in the sixth grade by one of my peers had a profound effect on what friends I would keep, colleges I would attend, employers I would seek out and organizations I would support.
As a result of several incidents like the one above throughout my adolescent years, I was always keen to an open dialogue of race and progress with my friends and family. When I was in high school, I remember having this optimistic view that racism would be eradicated in my lifetime. In one particular conversation with my school mate Vic, I vividly remember asking him if we would see racism's downfall in America before we die. He looked up from his cardboard-tasting cafeteria pizza very confidently and replied, "No."
Vic's reply would stay with me for several years, drive me to read as many books on race, ethnicity, and social economic theory, and ultimately help me come into agreement with him. I guess I can chalk up my hope to demolish hate before I die to a youthfully optimistic --yet, naive-- outlook on life. Don't get me wrong though --I still have great hope the hate we experience in this country will be eradicated one day-- it just won't be when Vic or I are around.
This leads to the aforementioned "hesitation" I experience when I mention that I plan on voting for Senator Obama. More directly, I'm scared he'll be assassinated.
You see, there is still an entire group of Americans who carry the baggage, grief and pain of the United States, pre-desegregation. These Americans are on both sides of the racial fence (hence, some of Rev. Wright's remarks). It is these same American's who give birth to younger Americans, instill the same backwards and apathetic moral compass and ultimately allow hate to fester in the fabric of this nation.
I want to see someone who represents the experience of the majority of young America win the presidency and run this nation. Almost equally, I'm fearful of what tragedy could result in trying to elect the most qualified person for the job.
Am I just living in a cloud of fear, or are my feelings justified?
**Note: The views/opinions expressed in this article are the views/opinions of the author, not Razoo.com.
