Just Because
Tuesday October 02, 2007
What Does It Mean?
I have to be honest. I don't presume to be an expert, or even someone very knowledgable, about politics, or race, or racial relations in the U.S. and how race plays a part in politics. I don't even claim support for a particular presidential candidate, and I can hardly be considered left-leaning. And I also don't want to attack any particular person, because I don't find myself opposed to people as much as I find myself opposed to their ideologies or the dogmas to which they prescribe. I just have to say that I'm confused and baffled by attacks over the last few years, and most recently by Jesse Jackson, with regards to Barrack Obama's ethnicity and his actions in relation to his race. So what does it mean to "act white"? How is it that someone isn't "black enough"? Who determines this?
In a presidential campaign, there's a need to try to appeal to the masses, or the majority of americans. Well, that may not be completely true, as we learned in 2000. I guess the key is about winning as many states as possible, whether the majority of americans are in those states or not. Anyway, getting back to the point, what I want to know is how is a candidate supposed to appeal to the majority of americans? Is it about the policies they are promoting? Is it about what party they are from? Is it about what gender or race they are? Or is it about how they act or are perceived as acting?
I'm not a big fan of some parts of the political system here in the U.S., but I do feel like we must take advantage of the opportunities given to us to choose who runs this country. I also think it's important to get past stereotypes, and see people for who they are--people, regardless of race, gender, country of origin, or personal beliefs. Let's focus on the candidates and what they want and can do for our country. What do you think?
Posted by jsbair ( Oct 02 2007, 11:39:40 PM EDT ) Permalink Comments [0]
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