The economy has gone from bad to worse for a still growing number of Americans. More people are in danger of losing their homes than at any point in the last 2 years. The Obama Stimulus failed, and talk of a new stimulus - or Jobs for Main Street Act as it's called in Congress - seems just as likely to do nothing as the plan a year ago.
These are facts of the enviroment that America finds itself in today. For those of us old enough to recall the Carter Administration, many similarities exist. Which definitely justifies comment and critique of the job President Obama has been doing since he got elected, even though President Carter brushed off those comments as racist without condition. But it will never justify, on any level, blatant racism.
Every President has a portion of the population that disagree with whatever they may propose. The best of President's have endured that, as have the worst. It is a healthy does of reality and a reminder that the President is still just an elected official of the people, and it is the citizens that ultimately wield the power of the nation. Yet, given this expression of dissent that is our Right, there is a line and it's not hard to know when it has been crossed.
In Plains, Georgia a statement has been made. Considering the comments of President Carter there is no surprise that the statement has been made there. Sadly, the statement is an expression of the lowest kind, a reminder that even in America today there are some that cannot elevate their minds beyond the shameful past of our nation.
Just 3 days ago I mentioned that I was thankful for the start of the New Year (Why I am thankful in 2010) being so different than the start of 2009. I was hopeful that perhaps this year the ugly, putrid, ignorant pestilience that is racism would not show itself, mayhap it had died. But it seems that such regressive thoughts cannot be removed so quickly. Such warped views cannot be corrected in so little time.
America is better than this. By leaps and bounds. We have our problems, like all nations, but this should not still be one of them.
Every American need not agree with the policies of President Obama. Every American need not be of a particular party affiliation or political view. But is it too much to ask that any America that disagrees at least be honest enough and intelligent enough to have whatever view without the disease of racism?
What happened in Georgia was not political. Let's be clear, this wasn't about policy. This was about race and ignorance and fear. It was created by cowards of the worst type.
But now that it has happened, America has a choice. We can stand together and denounce this vile act of a few wretched and miserable souls, or we can hide our eyes and pretend it never happened. The latter gives strength to these villians that they don't deserve and I think America does not agree with. The former is the path that I think the overwhelming majority prefer. But we have to say it.
I've made my statement on this, now it's your turn if you chose.
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