I'm glad you said JMHO, because how can you justify this? How do you know that white people rarely think that race matters? Because IMO they definitely do. Where did you get the 10% figure? Just asking.
Simply put, because I
am a white people, and I've grown up and lived most of my 36 years in a state with a
very small minority population. I've seen real racism, and heard racist comments come from people that I
used to respect. At the same time, I've also lived outside this state for a period, and was exposed to a much more diverse population. I've talked to people of different races, and heard the resentment.
But in the end...yes, it is simply my opinion, based on those experiences and on my own research through reading. BTW...if you ever get the opportunity to hear Cornell West speak, I
highly recommend it!
Well, yes and no. In the sense that we should never forget so that we never repeat - like the Holocaust, I agree. But we will never be color blind - and we SHOULD be - until we, among MANY other things, stop passing that resentment down from generation to generation.
But it has only really
been one full generation, Galahad. That's the problem. Are there people that still rail about slavery? Of course. But that's generally only the lunatic fringe (and let's face it...every group has them). But people that are grandparents today can probably remember very well being humiliated when they were younger, and even some older parents lived through some of that...all because of their skin color. Should they "get over it"? Probably so, if only for their own mental health. But would you? I'm not sure
I would, given those circumstances.
OK, I'll bite. What, specifically, will that change look like? What do you see changing about your daily life? How, specifically, will he set us right?
Specifically, it's hard to put a finger on it because, in the end, the president is dependent on Congress to pass the laws and set the direction in which he wants to lead the country. (At least...that's what a president does that actually
understands the constitution. But I digress
)
Barack has plenty of specific plans he wants to put in place that I approve of, from health care to foreign policy to affirmative action for the poor instead of based on race. But in the end, the thing I believe he will most do is change the tone of politics in Washington. He has a history of finding compromise between two sides on issues where people are usually so entrenched that they refuse to even contemplate any middle ground.
Also, don't discount the importance of inspirational speaking. There is a reason that "Ask not what your country can do for you" and "The only thing we have to fear is...fear itself" and "Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall" are carved on our national memory...and it ain't because the speeches were heavy on the policy wonk side of things.
(IMHO of course!)
but I actually think he will be an exciting president...it's good to see all of the young involvement and he has energized a lot of people.
