Our local paper had an editorial recently where the author stated how happy we was that we had elected a black president and how it "was time". I disagree with the whole premise - and wrote the following response.
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I think Dean’s editorial on January 28th is indicative of some being stuck in the past regarding race relations in America today. I don’t believe you will find an American that would condone the slavery of our country’s early years, nor that of the Europeans at the time or of the African tribes that rounded up enemies and sold them on the slave market.
Thankfully, you will find a slender few that are in agreement with the positions held concerning blacks up through the late 50s and very early 60s. The children of the boomers are virtually color blind. There are not black, white, brown, yellow Americans – there are simply Americans. I find the assumption that a majority of Americans are stuck in the era of slavery or the KKK tremendously insulting. We live in a world where all races have equal opportunity. Concerning blacks specifically people like Condoleezza Rice, Justice Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, the over 40 members of the House of Representatives, that over 500 cities run by black mayors, that over 6% of all college that have black presidents, that over 6% of all college faculty are black, that the National Society of Black Engineers boasts over 20,000 members nation wide – the list goes on and on – indicate to me that the days described by Dean are in the past. All people in America today have the opportunity to create the life they wish, regardless of race, creed or color.
So where does that leave us with our most recent election and the election of our first “Black” President – President Obama. I’m sorry that Dean feels the need to point out we elected a black president. Watching the various candidates run during the past year, it became apparent that many in the media were intent on focusing on the “racial component” of the election process rather that Candidate Obama’s skills and experience. There seemed to be little hesitation to label the close questioning of candidate Obama as racist. Candidate Obama himself wasted little time reminding us how he didn’t look like the traditional busts contained on our currency. I assume Dean would call these “white guys”. By playing the race card, Candidate Obama successfully eluded close examination and skated through on his mantra of Hope and Change.
Did we have the right to expect more from Candidate Obama? I believe so. Even though I was only 13 I remember Dr. Kings speech on the mall in August of 1963. In Dr. King’s words: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Please, take the time to read and listen to the speech. I can’t help but think that he would be disappointed by the thought that it was “time for a black president”. I believe he would have expected that a candidate measure up in terms of abilities and experience – a standard I do not believe Candidate Obama was held to. I must ask, was Candidate Obama elected on the content of his character or by the color of his skin? I understand that many feel that it was “time” for a black President – yet does that mean we should set aside the need for any qualifications just to assuage some perceived guilt over the sins of those long since dead and buried?
So, today we have a President that is the equivalent of a junior executive in training trying to run the most powerful nation on earth. He has never run a business, never made a payroll, never led an organization of any size, never faced hostile employees or competitors let alone the enemies of America. I try to imagine President Obama going before the Board of Directors of GM and convincing them he is the guy to turn their company around – he would be laughed out of the boardroom. Yet, today, the American people are expecting him to come to grips with one of our most challenging times financially while facing a resurgent Russia, a threatening North Korea and Iran and an ongoing threat from Islamofacists that he seems to honestly believe he can make nice with. He is the epitome of the “Peter Principal”.
And that is why I am disappointed that, at least for Dean, he is happy we finally elected a black man. I am disappointed that it even mattered, even came into play. Rather than being judged by the content of his character – and his life experience – it seems he was judged by the color of his skin – “it was time”. And, in so doing, the real evaluation of his abilities never took place. America is about to pay a terrible price for this kind of blindness.
