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I took a course in college on multiculturalism in education, and something I learned from that class is that we as humans, all carry prejudices, and to deny that those prejudices exists does nothing to help us resolve them. In fact, it perpetuates them. I was surprised through assignments we did in class to discover my own personal prejudices. I always thought of myself as open minded.
I think by claiming that Obama's race is not an issue for many people, and that on some level it influences their opinions of the work he is doing as President, is, well, denial. We are not color blind, though many people will state fervently that they are.
In fact, I believe I may carry a certain reverse prejudice regarding Obama, in that I believe that his background and ethnicity set him apart from any president we've ever had, and therefore, he will bring something different to the table. On the other hand, I acknowledge that he is a politician, and in that way, is the same as other presidents.
I don't disagree that people who are speaking out against Obama may take issue with his policies, etc. I just think it's important to realize that race is a factor, whether people acknowledge it or not.
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House Speaker Pelosi said something today that expressed this deep seated unease I have about the level of hostility being shown towards the health care reform and president Obama. She says it's reminiscent of the violent gay rights battle in San Francisco in the 1970's, the one that resulted in the assassination of Harvey Milk and George Moscone. I am concerned about the level of anger and hate in comments made by critics, including the statement "You lie!" when Obama was addressing congress. Pelosi points out that inciting anger through such comments in the general population may lead to violence, as it did in San Francisco. As I've followed the debates over health care reform, as well as other actions by the Obama administration, I get the sense the debate is going to escalate as people gain momentum, and not only is it dividing us as country, but I worry about the actions of less stable folks. Pelosi thinks that being allowed to speak your mind is a great thing, but also that people need to take responsibility for how their words and actions might influence others. Keep the debate civil and factual people!
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Frygurl
#350041 - 09/17/09 03:34 PM
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Gerikat
Reged: 06/21/09
Posts: 1285
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Have you seen the movie, 'Milk'? It is well worth watching. Informative but sad. Sean Penn gives a stellar performance.
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I did - it was well done, and yes very sad. It spoke to me, especially around the time proposition 8 passed in California, denying gay couples the right to marry. I'm a teacher, and when that prop passed, a student asked me, how can anyone tell you who to marry? I didn't have an answer for her.
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Oh, I know so sad, indeed.  I thought the movie was excellent. I love true stories, no matter how much they hurt.
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Was race a factor when everyone, including House Democrats screamed "liar" to George Bush? - or protested his policies, especially the war? ....Who can forget Cindy Sheehan and her crew. By the way, does anyone even know she had a protest against Obama in August? See how lop-sided the media is.
Not saying Bush, or Obama was or wasn't lying, but we are clearly seeing that people take issue when they feel government tries to push their own agenda (i.e. big government)over the wants of the people.
Michael Steele, along with other African Americans are protesting Obama's agenda. Are we to assume they are racist, too?
You are correct; Obama is definitely bringing something different to the table.
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I thought about Carter's comments that the majority have racial issues etc. The thing is that people so often are not aware that they really are racist or sexist for that matter. It is this 'I just don't like that person for who they are' or whatever, when really they don't even realize the true reason!
The comments on the Today show the other morning were very interesting. Matt quoted someone saying that when the senator screamed 'you lie!' there was an unspoken 'boy' in the air. I thought that was shocking at first but afterward I agreed. He wouldn't have been so offended or so reckless and disrespectful if he just diagreed with the statements. His racism-based hatred was too firey to contain. It is hard to put into words and I haven't written or done work on the subject since school.
When it comes to prejudices we all have them- it could be teenagers or old people or southern white men or stay at home moms or celebrities or hunters or cops or migrant workers and immigrants. I think people need to stop being in denial of their own feelings. I acknowledge all the time that I have predetermined thoughts on teenagers and when one is different it surprises me!
I have no doubts at all that much of the extreme dislike of Obama is race driven. I wonder how Hillary would have done. Would sexism be stronger than racism?
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Nancy could also include the unsettling level of hostility shown by the Black Panthers in the 70's, the hostility and anti-government riots (i.e. bombing of the Pentagon) of the Weather Underground, SDS radical student group-transformed into Weatherman, a terrorist group, or the blowing up of pipelines in Canada, and on it goes........
There are some really crazy nuts out there (like that super crazy man who was once chairman of the San Francisco Housing Corporation appointed by a Democrat, friends of Walter Mondale, Rosalyn Carter, speaker at Democratic HQ, what was his name again?...oh yeah, Jim Jones) who are doing things that don't represent the people they associate themselves with. You can't call all those who wish to protect the constitution "right-wing crazies" just because there are a few nuts out there doing/saying hurtful things. If that is the case, then if you believe in cap and trade, when "ELF" blew up hummers and resorts, you should be identified as one of them. As well, if you are pro-choice, should one blame you for the recent killing of the pro-life protester?
As far as I know, no media- labeled "right-wing crazy" protester has bombed, killed, or caused street riots.
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Whoops, sorry, got my answer in another post. 
Edited by Gerikat (09/18/09 04:26 PM)
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The right-wing crazies I am talking about are the Rush Limbaugh types and that other guy Obama mentioned by name during the elections. I can't remember his name. It is these highly biased and full of propaganda 'media' sources that fuel all the insane townhall meeting rage we have seen of late. I don't know many of their names but they are usually cited as references when people say they heard really out-there things- like the people next to me at the farmers' market who think the health care will make us euthanize elderly people. That is pretty loony to believe that.
I don't really follow your post, but if Simpsons and South Park have taught me anything, it is that the general population is just waiting for a reason to become a violent mob. So I agree with Pelosi.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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