Are We All Racist Now?

[Billy Britt]

John Stuart Mill, in 1859, wrote, “We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still.”President Barack Obama said in a recent television interview, “The truth of the matter is that there has been, I think, a coarsening of our political dialogue.”I would challenge the President’s assertion that political dialogue is coarsening and suggest that those who disagree with what is being said almost always deem political dialogue course.If by that he means that the voices of disagreement are rough or primitive, unrefined or unpolished, then I would say, well, that is the American way.The spirit of descent has always been a part of the American character, and those who wish to stifle contrary ideas are those who would choose conformity over freedom. In a county where each citizen has the right to make a fool of him or herself, censorship of speech is an anathema.Yet, our politicians, and even the public at large, are herded into the slaughterhouse of social, political and spiritual correctness.The President further stated, “I will also say that in the era of 24-hour cable news cycles, that the loudest, shrillest voices get the most attention. And so one of the things that I’m trying to figure out is: How can we make sure that civility is interesting?”Civility might be made interesting by the Harvard debate club, but then again the United States Declaration of Independence may have seemed civil unless you were the King of England.Reflecting on the monarchy, Joe Wilson, the South Carolina congressman who said, “You lie,” during the President’s recent address to Congress forgot that a subject is never to speak ill directly to the sovereign.To the detriment of the nation, Americans have, from the beginning, shown an empirical awe toward the Presidency, a reverence which has given far too much power to an office that is suppose be just one of three co-equal branches of government.Naturally, Maureen Dowd of the New York Times has weighed in on Mr. Wilson’s comments and has concluded that Wilson is not just a braying fool but a racist, as well.She writes, “Surrounded by middle-aged white guys—a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club—Joe Wilson yelled ‘You lie!’ at a president who didn’t. But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!”While it is not given protocol to speak out during a presidential address in the House of Representatives, Mr. Wilson’s two words were far from a racist outburst.This charge of racism is serious stuff and one of the things I have feared. The pattern continues to emerge that any criticism of Mr. Obama—real or imagined—is shouted down by the word racism. This is a divisive tool that threatens the very fabric of our society. Criticism and differing opinions do not threaten a free state, rather it is those that repress the coarse voice that embrace despotic rule.Of course populist tyranny in the form of political correctness binds the tongues and endangers liberty for everyone. America’s growing victim culture has given rise to a climate where any disagreement is met with calls for words and thoughts to be censored for the good of those who may be offended.Let me say, that I am offended at your offense in so much that I offend myself by not offending.When Serena Williams repeatedly cursed a line judge at last week’s U.S. Open I did not see racism. No, it was just a tantrum by a narcissistic athlete who was losing a tennis match. The judge may have made a bad call but William’s berating the official with multiple profanities, threats and finger pointing was over the top even by John McEnroe standards.Unsportsmanlike, yes, racist no.When hip-hop singer Kanye West took the microphone away from country singer Taylor Swift and reduced her to tears at the VMA show saying that Beyoncé should have won the award just presented to Miss Swift, I did not see a racist, no, just another famous clown.And I suspect Wilson is at best an inarticulate etiquette apostate with a propensity to put his foot in his mouth, even when right, but not a racist.While I question their actions, I defend their right to make idiots of themselves.The scriptures teaches us that, “A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.”So let the fool and the wise-one use the weapon of words to win the war of ideas.Of course, Kierkegaard said, “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”Kind of makes you wonder, eh?

[susan lefevre]

Thanks for the great idea, Cindy! I'll pass it on. With all that's going on, we must not forget our soldiers out there in no-man's land. Freedom isn't free.

This has little to do with this blog (or does it?), but if you've never heard the poem, "It's the Soldier", here's a link. ( And Jeff, please tell your jarheads "thank you" for me.)

http://www.capveterans.com/caprd_025.htm

[Jeff and Debbie Mohn]

Wow, the flea collar sound great...I'm gonna ask my kid.

[Cindy Kuchmy Kelley]

Ideas for care packages for our troops in the war zone. We've got a desert storm veteran in our fellowship, and he says that flea collars are really popular. There are sand fleas there, and the troops put the flea collars on their ankles so the fleas don't bite. Strange but true. Any feedback out there? Have you heard of this too?
Oh yeah - and no chocolate on the cookies and goodies - it melts.

[susan lefevre]

Does that mean your son is out for good? And for now, at least, I think my skin tone will remain a mystery.

Hey, if race is why so many vehemently disagree with BHO, how is it he got elected? Hmmm?

[Jeff and Debbie Mohn]

Ocean blue, You bet, white men never did jump very well. Is that inherent? Sounds like you've got the score on stuff for troops. My kid is home now and we expect him to finish college in December. Shaneqwa Francesca Iman Sacagawea, hum, somewhere between olive and dark is my best guess.

[susan lefevre]

Jeff, you know I was kidding re: "Can white men jump?" comment, right?
Where is your son, Jeff, stationed now? I joined a local group that will be putting together packages to send to our troops in Afghanistan for Xmas. We're meeting in late Oct. and late Nov. and are interested in "adopting" individual soldiers, as well as sending bulk packages. They love to receive good coffee, e.g. Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, etc. as well as those individual powdered drink packets (Gatorade, etc.) and wet wipes, anything that's lightweight. Any other ideas?

[susan lefevre]

Funny, we've had a lot of jumpers here in "The ATL", too -- off the overpasses, or at least they threatened to, and I seem to remember most of them being white. Seriously, the only real thing inherent in man is the sin nature, as we all come from Adam. Back to the definition -- this time I'll emphasize, not that any race (or trait of any race) is superior, but the BELIEF that it's superior. And that don't make it so!

[Jeff and Debbie Mohn]

Which person or race is better at what, no matter how the betterment may have been derived, whether inherent or learned under good or adverse conditions, is of a lesser concern to me than one's success or the lack thereof when compared to another. I imagine that more white men have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge than other types of men, certainly less women. If the trait is "inherent", does that suggest that it or the lack thereof came from God?

[susan lefevre]

Jeff, I think the emphasis in that definition I gave is "inherently". Can white men jump?

[Jeff and Debbie Mohn]

David is and has been out since before 911 and Jeffrey is in and has been since the Iraq War began. According to the ocean lady's definition of a racist, they both may very well be racist, in that they both doubt that any two people are identical and therefore that any two races are identical. This would seem to suggest that with any two people, performing the same task, one would be better than another. This would seem to indicate that no two races are the same either, nor would any two races perform the same tasks identically. In other words, all people are are different and one can readily make this determination simply by observation.