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| | Start Date: May 24, 2007
| Last Update: Jul 25, 2008
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| | | | | Voting for a candidate because they share your racial background is that racist? | | | Obviously I am referring to African-Americans decision to strongly support Obama simply because he is black. Its true that most African American vote Democratic regardless, but if you noticed during the primaries they voted along the color line, regardless of the fact that the Clintons had been great friends to the African-American community.Obama is predicted to get as close to 100% of the black vote as one can possibly get. Say what you want about Bush but in the last election Bush got over million Black vote, which I believe was around 30%.
Any black co-worker or any of black buddies I talk to are overly supportive for him. For example, I went to happy hour with my Black buddy of mine (Jamaican) I really don't remember how we got on the topic of Obama, but he seemed pretty upset when I wasn't even going to consider voting from him. One of his comment was "you might be the only Jew that is not a Democrat." Another thing he talked about was his parents telling him about the 50s and 60s and basically about segregation and then school integration, is a good part of the reason he is voting for him.
Then it got me thinking is it racism that Blacks are have made up their minds primarily because Obama is Black? Maybe not! Blacks in America have a long and painful history. Starting with slavery, then 2nd class citizens, then intimidation, discrimination and violence at the hand of hate groups, then segregation and unfairness in every part of society including the courts to nowadays of being at the lower end of the economic spectrum and a still behind the scenes racism. Although things have changed greatly. I personally believe that the challenges of a black person born to poverty are not too much different than a White or Latino born to poverty. The same with a white person born to the upper class doesn't get any real advantages over a black or mexican born to the upper class. However, there is still the sting of Black History in America. Seeing one of their own to the highest office in the world would bring great pride. That is why you are hearing even conservative and republican blacks (who have always voted Republican) declaring their vote publicly for Obama. Is it right?
I take my situation as a Jew and equate it to what Blacks feel? I personally have never felt anti-semitism first hand in my life, not even when I was in Europe, Mexico, Israel and Egypt. But my father and Grandfather told me stories of being called Christ killer and having to fight against ignorant people in their young. They both told me about social clubs that they were not able to join etc. America has a pretty decent history of hating Jews also. Most specifically President/General Grant's call to expel all Jews from the America or at the very least make them 2nd class citizens.
Although I adhere to the atheism, I still identify myself as a Jew and take great pride in being a Jew. I personally would love to see a Jew in as President and take great pride in seeing it happen, but would I vote for him/her simply because he/she was Jewish? Better yet look at the Jewish Senators, Reps, Governs etc. 90%+ (and that is a conservative #) are utlra-liberals. Dig deeper some well-regarded Jews are: Lieberman (regard of his so-called independent status he id very liberal), Feingold, Wexler, Boxer and Bloomberg! Not one of them would I consider of a fiscal conservative. Bloomberg would be the closest to getting my vote, however, the fiscal conservative candidate must really blow for me to turn to Bloomberg. Although I would like to see a Jewish President, I wouldn't vote for a candidate simply because he was Jewish. I know the Jewish experience in American has still been FAR better and easier than the Black experience in American, .
Nevertheless, the question remains is it racism for blacks to hand their vote to Obama simply because he is black? |
| Whose an American? | | | Here is an idea of what an American is:
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right, not choice forced upon you.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to science, not to god, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Cent er victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
Being American means freedom, diversity and prosperity. |
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