Sunday, January 18, 2009

A new sheriff in town

I haven't written much about the upcoming inauguration, and to be honest, I haven't really been thinking about it that much. I'm feeling a little reflective today, though.

It's not like before the election, when there were many doubts about whether or not Obama could win. Those doubts have been laid to rest (although it might be more apt to say that they were beaten into submission), and it's just been a matter of waiting until he is sworn in. That day is almost here, and I think it's very appropriate that it takes place after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

I came across a rather disturbing column online, in which Obama is referred to as the "offspring of the sexual congress between an African black and an American white of European descent." I was even more disturbed when I saw that the author is black. He goes on to state that "Working whites don’t mind the relatively small portion of their own race on the dole so much, but they see the black race as (innately) parasitical and perhaps intellectually challenged. And this goes for those whites who voted along party lines for the black messiah. Whether they think this calls for coddling, deportation or extermination is an individual matter, but the perception is probably fairly uniform."

Wow. Dude. No, the perception is not uniform, and I find this really offensive. I also find it another example of someone with issues about themselves and an inferiority complex that they project onto others. I can assure you that I have never thought of blacks as either innately parasitical or intellectually challenged, and I've certainly never thought that coddling, deportation, or extermination was some sort of option. It's not even SANE.

By the way, I'm not even going to link to his bullshit or mention the guy's name, because I won't promote him or his nasty rhetoric. Get some therapy, buddy. Seriously.

I've made no bones about my support for Obama, but contrary to what some might believe, I don't think and have never thought that he was some kind of "messiah." He's quite human, and I'm sure he will make mistakes. But it also bothers me to hear the easy dismissal of him as all talk with nothing to back it up. One of my own relatives said that Obama is "stupid." You can call him a lot of things, but to call him stupid is...well, kind of stupid, and a gross underestimate of his intellect and talent. Do I expect miracles? No. I don't believe in miracles when it comes to the course of our nation and an attempt to turn around the sad state of our economy. I believe in hard work and research and good advisers, and I believe that there will be sacrifice involved on all of our parts. It could be a rough year, and Obama has said that over and over again.

But there's no need to rehash all of that, or debate it. On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, and I'll be watching. Despite the disgust I feel at reading things like the column I referenced above, I remain hopeful that this will mark a change in the way we deal with each other at home, and in how we're perceived around the world. I really don't understand anyone who wants Obama to fail in his endeavors as President. It's our country, and we should all believe and yes, HOPE, that good things can happen, that we can turn things around.

Now let's get this party started. There's a new sheriff in town. (If you want a chuckle, do a YouTube search for "blazing saddles new sheriff in town." It's a little rough, so I didn't put the video up here.)



13 comments:

  1. A lot of the comments and prognosis of today's "elite" are about as silly as the Blazzing Saddles scenes. Lets HOPE that America rallies behind their new president.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope my blog entry didn't offend you today. There ARE people out there who act like Obama is the messiah but I certainly didn't direct that comment at you!

    peace!
    heather

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm hopeful, yet realistic. I think alot of Americans are. There are, of course extremes on either end in any group of people. I'm sure we'll see that in the coming days and months.

    Have a great week! Leigh

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Sexual congress"? Oh, that's what we do in the bed, is it. I wondered.

    That quote sounds like sour grapes to me. Some ignorant white guy didn't treat him right so he's made up his mind all whites think all blacks are whatever he thinks we think they are.

    I applaud your remarks about Obama. He doesn't need a chance to prove his value. He needs a lot of chances, because the last guy made a mess of things.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds like this guys Perceptions are as tainted as the one I posted about on my journal. Thinking everyone have certain percieved persceptions about the Deaf. Good gravy, can those two taint that word.

    It took 8 years to reek the damage this country has undergone, it's going to take some time to undo it. It most certainly won't happen overnight. Although without a doubt, the first complication that arises the naysayers are going to start pointing fingers. I wonder how many thought to point the finger at Bush as he leaves office. (Hugs)Indigo

    ReplyDelete
  6. And it's a given I can't spell, nor structure a sentence worth much according to my last comment. Indy

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am keeping an open mind about his Presidency but in all reality it is going to take more than his being President to change this country and get her back on the right track. So much damage has been done it isn't going to be righted in short order.

    He is neither a Messiah nor is he stupid by any means...he is a man and he is our next President. I wish him the best - our future depends on it. To hope for failure is to hope for the failure of our great land.

    You couldn't pay me enough to take on what this man is about to step into.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Beth,
    I've just started tuning those idiots out ... their voices only mattered to me during the election, when I was afraid others might be listening to them. No need to legitimize them now and I'm sure glad you didn't link back to this particular moron. We've got too many challenges ahead of us to waste any more time with this nonsense. Though I do make one exception: Sarah Palin's media debacles continue to amuse me ... gobble, gobble ...
    Best,
    Marty

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beth,

    Mind if I start a fan club in your honor!

    Kudos....yes, we have to tune those idiots out and not let them rent space in our heads.

    Hugs, Rose

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, welcome to the self-loathing of black folks! I thought I would go into it a bit, but hey, I do well enough working thru it on my own, much less to say that I 'get it'.

    I am reading this after my little journal entry, and I think there is 'some of that guy', just a bit, in some of what I wrote. Whether it is inferiority complex, insecurity, or what, as a minority group blacks may be conditioned to feel that we don't measure up.

    There is this 'Willie Lynch' thingy that is out on the net, that explains how to keep and maintain the blacks in slavement last into perpetuity. It is a conditioning that has taken place, and I think for this cat you read, it bubbles up in a destructive, negative fashion.

    Just my take.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Whether it is black, white or purple, it is all self-loathing. Whenever I engage in any (and I believe we all do at times) I restrict it to ME, not saying that is healthy, but at least much more contained.

    I think reading articles like the one written by your unnamed man can be enlightening in ways the author never intended, but they(he) do a lot of damage when they hustle the gullibles with content like that.
    ~Mary

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow. I have to say I was very surprised after the "offspring of" quote to read that the author of that article is black. But then again, there are people like him/her at the ends of all spectrum -- black, white, brown, whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  13. doesn't that just tick you off , it just means it doesn't matter what happens someone will always have something stupid to say or believe , I agree with you girl better days are coming it just may take a while for it to happen
    hugs
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete

I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?