Take a look at our forum on any given day, and you will find at least a few hot threads on racism. Recently, it seems to have gotten worse. Of course, actual racial relations in America have never been better. As time goes by, new generations come along, and the prejudices of the older folks are forgotten. We've made great strides since the Civil Rights era, in the way of education and jobs, but also in societal acceptance of differing races and cultures. It's reflected in our TV programs, advertising, and even in politics. For the first time in our history, America elected a black man president. We see Latino and Hispanic governors, we see cabinet positions held, nominations for the highest courts, and positions of power in the government. It's not just democrats who are putting these people in their respective positions, former president Bush made more appointments of cabinet-level positions to minorities than any other president, ever. Including Obama! One of the brightest stars in the Republican party at the moment, is a Cuban-American governor from Florida, Marco Rubio. For a time, the leading GOP front-runner was a black CEO. And one of the top, if not THE top, superstars at any Tea Party rally, is Lt. Col. Allen West.... a black man. Daughter of the late MLK, Alveda King, is also a frequent speaker at Tea Party rallies.
So we can clearly see that the supposed "racism" the left is claiming, simply does not exist in reality. This begs the question, why do liberals try so hard to throw the racism charge at the right? It certainly can't be, to win over people from the other side, because it's a direct and personal insult. You can't insult someone into accepting your viewpoints, it doesn't work. But here's what CAN happen, the constant maintaining of the 'perception' (even though false) might work to sway the vote of someone. If they believe Republicans are all racists, they won't vote for them, no matter what the options are. Or maybe they are independents who just decide to stay home and not vote, just in case Republicans ARE racists, wouldn't want to be associated to that. It's an insidious mind-control game, designed to diminish enthusiasm for the GOP. Apparently, their polling data must indicate it works to some degree, they continue to do it.
Before the 2008 elections, the conventional wisdom was, electing a black man president would represent monumental progress in race relations. We were supposedly going to enter a new era, one of colorblindness, and unity as a society. Is that what we've seen? To the contrary, we now see that "racism" is used at the drop of a hat, like a weapon in political battle. Everything that happens is viewed through the prism of race, every inkling of thought that can be construed (or misconstrued) as racist, is exploited at every opportunity. You can't even express criticism for the president without being hooted down as a "racist intolerant bigot who hates the black man in the White House!" If anything, Obama served to polarize race relations, but the sad thing is, I don't think it's because Obama is black, I think it's because he has been Chief Instigator of racial divisiveness at every opportunity.
True racism is not only disgusting and unacceptable, it is an indicator of low human character. Unfortunately, we will always be plagued by some elements of racism in society, to believe that anything else is possible, is a fantasy that will never happen. To some degree, all humans are prejudiced. Prejudice becomes racism through bigotry and ignorance, but prejudice is completely normal and part of being a human. It is the bigotry and ignorance which culminates in racist thought, racist belief, and racist sentiment. Having prejudices only makes you "racist" if you are bigoted in your prejudice. Racism is the thought or belief that one race is superior or inferior to another. If your actions reflect this thinking, you are said to be "racist." Where there is a real problematic gray area, is with how we view normal human prejudices. Liberals tend to want to blur the lines, and this means that virtually ANY prejudice becomes racist. The flaw with that thinking is, we are ALL prejudice to some degree, it's part of the human condition.
To continually focus on things which are clearly not racist, and call people racists who clearly aren't, is to do a sad injustice in combating real instances of intolerant bigotry and ignorance. How many hate-filled racists are out there filling our children's minds with their nonsense, while we lob the term "racist" around so casually, as a political tool? The true RACISTS in our society, are pretty much getting a free pass right now, because Liberals want to exploit the word 'racist' and use it as a weapon in their war on the right. That's really shameful when you think about it.
