Here's a litmus test for Barack Obama: where does he stand on racial preferences? If he's for them, then how can he claim to be a national unifier? What country bases its rule of social justice on attempting to figure out whose ancestors did what to whom?
A generation ago, racial preferences were arguably necessary for African Americans, especially in the South, to kick in the closed door of segregation and Jim Crow. But then other groups (women, Hispanics, immigrants, gays) climbed aboard the affirmative action bandwagon, absurdly proclaiming, "We are the new blacks." To which the answer is: are you the descendants of slaves? Can you begin to show a comparable history of suffering and deprivation as African Americans?
Today preferences based on race, gender, national origin and sexual orientation have largely become a scam. In elite colleges, for instance, they are a way for Jesse Jackson's kids to get an unfair advantage over poor white kids with better grades and better test scores. On those same campuses, women with lesser qualifications especially in the sciences are routinely hired as teachers over men who are more deserving. What could be more divisive, and more infuriating, then such policies of official race and gender-based discrimination?
Obama can launch a national debate, and give substance to his pledge to be a uniter, by saying: It's time for America to become a post-racial society. This doesn't mean that racism has ended or that as a social reality "race doesn't matter." But the character and magnitude or racism have dramatically changed. Racism today does not have legal sanction, as it once did. Equally significant, racism today is episodic rather than systematic. This means that the law no longer has to take account of race in order to get beyond race. The best way to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making is quite simply to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making. If racial preferences fall, obviously gender preferences would disappear as well.
If Obama makes this argument, it would astound the country and immediately draw moderate and even Republican support. The Hillary camp would launch its usual attacks, but against Obama they would bounce off. This is one issue on which Obama would have unimpeachable credibility.
Will he do it? Does he have the guts?
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 10)
61. FOLKS . . . TRY TO LIGHTEN UP ON DARWINISM AND ATHEISM. SCIENCE SHOWS WE ARE WHAT WE ARE AND ALSO THAT THERE IS NO GOD ! IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD . . . IT'S JUST THE WAY THINGS ARE.
BELIEFS COMFORT MANY AND, EVEN THOUGH FALSE, HAVE A BIG PLACE ON OUR PLANET. LIVE AND LET LIVE.
Daniel Mullane at 2:54PM on Mar 10th 2008
62. Live and let live without trying to tell everyone there isn't a God as well please.
danny at 2:55PM on Mar 10th 2008
63. DD: I really think that there are times (lots of them actually) when you are clever by only about half. The sad truth is that if Obama took your tack, he would alienate one of his biggest voting blocs; i.e. those African-Americans who want Affirmative Action left firmly in place for their kids if not themselves.
If Obama does anything, he should talk about the progress that has been made, use himself as an example, and then note that he is looking forward to the day in the US when AA won't be needed. You may call such a response "gutless"; I call it politically smart.
Marty Adams at 2:55PM on Mar 10th 2008
64. Barack has addressed this issue. In his speeches he states there will be no White America, Black America, Brown america but there will be ONE AMERICA - THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. That is why the power mongers and bigots are fighting him so hard because America becoming one equally will take away their power. Basically, we have become a country where people feel better about themselves at the exploitation of ones less fortunate than they are. By uniting America, equality will remove race, gender, disability, and sociaeconomic divides because we will have be equal based on what we achieve through our stubborn efforts. It will also make America the strongest country in the world. For example, even during this recession and expense of Iraq war, look how much money Obama has been able to raise from small donations received by people uniting together for a common cause. Hillary and John McCain knew people with big pockets and had financial trouble. This is because they were courting the powerful instead of the grassroots. Hillary eventually had to plagurize Obama's technique by courting the grassroot people and was able to pull out of her slump but she still do not understand that the power is in the people - if you can unite them. We Obama supporters do understand because we all are fighting for the common cause - one America.
bvrlyjackson at 2:58PM on Mar 10th 2008
65. Brian,
I am an African-American woman that was deeply offended and hurt by the experience endured by your son at O'Charley's. No one deserves to be treated disrespectfully. I have waited tables and if I had witnessed that episode I would have reprimanded that man. Your son is not responsible for the actions of those that preceded him. He is only responsible for his own actions. I would hate to be held accountable for things that my parents or grandparents did. True, all actions have long term consequences, but God judges you by the life you led, not your relatives. I have a friend from Germany. He is a wonderful human being. I visited him in Munich three years ago. How fair would it have been for me to judge him and his parents for the actions of the Nazis? His parents were small children and he was not even born.
We cannot undue the past. This is why it is so very important to make good decisions each day. Our ancestors and I mean ours; because humanity is one family made many terrible decisions. They did not consider the long term consequences of their actions. In many cases, they could not have envisioned the consequences. Do you think the Portuguese slave trader in the 15th century realized that his actions would engulf the lives of millions? No, he thought only of his personal gain. This doesn’t mean that we are absolved from trying to make amends. Personally, I am not an advocate of affirmative action. I think the stigma associated with it is debilitating to the self-esteem of the recipients. It would be better to strengthen families and stress high academic standards so that all children can succeed. This might mean making pre-kindergarten mandatory and tracking progress throughout the academic career. If a child appears to be lagging behind then assistance could be provided. Make cultural enrichment through the arts, music, field trips, etc. a regular part of the curriculum so that poor children of all backgrounds are exposed to a world beyond their narrow scope. I am continually amazed at how many children have never been to a museum, watched a play, heard an opera, etc. I visited Washington DC a few years ago. I was in the National Gallery. Most of the docents were African-American. They kept asking me if I was a student. I finally asked why everyone thought I was a student. They told me that the only African-Americans that visit the National Gallery are students. The residents of DC never visit. As I looked around I saw white and Asian children, but no African-American children. How sad!
Finally, we must recognize that racism is a spiritual problem. . Racism is the creature deified. When man elevates himself above another then he is assuming the role of the creator. A proper respect for God leads to a correct relationship with fellow human beings. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and most important command”. And the second command is like the first: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”, (Matthew 22:37-39).
janesophie1 at 3:34PM on Mar 10th 2008
66. To really believe one man (even though I love Obama) could ever unite this torn country is a complete delusion.
danny at 3:13PM on Mar 10th 2008
67. Live and let live without trying to tell everyone there isn't a God as well please.
danny at 2:55PM on Mar 10th 2008
danny, Have you ever told anyone there was a god?
mac at 3:31PM on Mar 10th 2008
68. danny,
"To really believe one man (even though I love Obama) could ever unite this torn country is a complete delusion."
Maybe, but it's nice to know someone is trying.
Mokele-Mobembe at 3:39PM on Mar 10th 2008
69. That's from the Shema, right? Something like "V'ahavta es '' b'chol levavecha, uv'chol nafshecha, uv'chol meodecha."
Mokele-Mobembe at 3:42PM on Mar 10th 2008
70. No I have never tried to persuade someone that there is a God. It's just what I choose to believe. I always state that.
danny at 3:50PM on Mar 10th 2008
71. "The best way to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making is quite simply to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making. If racial preferences fall, obviously gender preferences would disappear as well."
Hey DD! Do you think CHRISTIANS will ever be able to do that? You know, suffer a woman to teach, stop killing people of other religions etc. In other words, walk the walk instead of just talking about it? Do you think that even such a little thing as Irish and English Christians caring about EACH OTHER as fellow men and women will ever happen?
LOL :ox
JerryC at 3:52PM on Mar 10th 2008
72. Uh ... there is no affirmative action for "sexual orientation." And gay rights advocates have never even asked for it. Ever. Depressing how right-wing extremists never feel like they have to research anything. But I'm glad the real world is not the right-wing fantasia they keep claiming it is.
DFS at 5:12PM on Mar 10th 2008
73. danny,
If you CHOOSE to believe, do you ACTUALLY believe?
Mokele-Mobembe at 3:53PM on Mar 10th 2008
74. Hey moke how have you been man?? I guess you are right. I try not to subscribe to the "the world doesn't care about me so I don't care about the world" philosophy. But its hard not to be cynical at times when you look around.
danny at 3:54PM on Mar 10th 2008
75. Dinash: The best way to get rid of racism is to get rid of you and the garbage you spew out! Perhaps you are not up on the Obama newsflash but he "already" has the Republicans, Moderates, Democrats, White vote, Black vote, Hispanic vote, everything except your vote! Get onboard Dinny!
Brenda at 3:56PM on Mar 10th 2008