The things we do to each other based on ‘race’ — the shallowest way to tell each other apart. This day has been a hectic, tense and disheartening. As a person of color, there are no words in any language that can describe with precision how intensely I feel about the absurdity of racial hate. The rationale for racism has to be beyond reason.
– Why are some White people so hateful of colored people? Really, what is their good reason? What about dark skin still compels some today to hate?
One news report I recently read about the overt racism faced by Obama volunteers in Indiana will make you ask the same:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051203014.html
As I’ve said elsewhere, most recently in response to a comment by whymyvotedoesn’tcount, the decent thing to do is often what is least favorable, often that which is contrary to my interests as a colored person — and that is to take the higher ground and respect a bigot’s right to free speech.
Obama’s campaign is essentially choosing this difficult road. While itself absurd, what is, after all, a better way?
Create then compete: R. Bong Vergara
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May 13, 2008 at 10:55 pm
escapistfairy
Well, I’m a white woman, but I don’t hate people of color. I actually prefer them. I’m rather attracted to my friend who is an African-American. I wrote a post called Crash… It was written shortly after I watched the movie Crash that he suggested to me and it made realize the real world.
May 13, 2008 at 11:21 pm
rbvergara
escapistfairy, I’m glad for your visit. I have no doubt there many more like you. My deep lament is caused by those few who remain hateful.
I wish blogging could do something substantive to contribute to change. At this moment, what that effort is escapes me. I just know that ignoring racism is not it. And no amount of organizing or activism seems to help; these efforts just hardens the hate already there.
May 14, 2008 at 10:12 pm
karen v
I read that same article and I’m not even surprised anymore that racism still lives.what’s appalling is how a presidential candidate(HRC) can sit there and further contribute to it by emphasizing or encouraging the divide by including in her speech and stressing that Obama can’t win the election due to “hardworking whites” who only support her.
Kudos to Obama for not letting it affect his confidence but in today’s world there is no room for bigotry and ignorance.given the fact that whites are no more entitled to live in America than us “colored” people.
Being a filipino it hurts me that people still choose to see me for my skin color and can’t recognize that when it comes down to it we all share the same dreams and struggles, and maybe even values for that matter. This primary election has certainly opened up my eyes and brought out the best and worst of the American people.
If people are voting for the color of the dem candidate’s skin and not substance, integrity and what they can offer, then I’m sorry to say but America will continue it’s downward spiral.
May 14, 2008 at 10:24 pm
rbvergara
Some have said that the conditions faced now by the US are similar to those faced by Rome before its fall.
I don’t agree. A fall is not irreversible; it is not a fixed destiny. Instead it is a result of neglect by bad leadership and apathy by bad citizenship. The best way to guarantee the future is to make it.