Who could not be moved at the sight of a major political party naming Barack Obama, an African American, as its presidential candidate? To me, there could not be a better sign that America has left behind its racist past. We are now approaching what may be termed "the end of racism." The End of Racism was the title of my 1995 bestseller, hugely controversial when it was published, but now it seems to have been a decade ahead of its time. If we appreciate the significance of our current moment, we are driven to an ironic but rational conclusion: perhaps the best way to recognize Obama's historic achievement is to vote for John McCain this November.
Consider this: for the past several years we have been hearing liberal Democrats emphasize how racism still defines America, how things haven't really changed all that much, how racism has gone underground and is now more covert and more dangerous than ever. It may seem strange that a racist country would adopt legal policies that discriminate against the majority and in favor of minorities. Even so, liberal activists and civil rights activists continue to browbeat white America in the schools, in the universities, in politics and in the media if there is the slightest dissent from civil rights orthodoxy.
Well, I don't know how many people have been drinking the liberal Kool-Aid, but these people must be utterly shocked at the success of Barack Obama. Here is a guy who could not possibly have made it as far as he has with only black votes. He has attracted not only white votes but the votes of some of the most affluent and successful segments of the white community. Obama, not Hillary, is the pillar of the white establishment. Moreover, Obama's own campaign is based on the premise that America is no longer racist. Far from making race-based appeals, to blacks on the basis of solidarity, and to whites on the basis of guilt, Obama campaigns on the expectation that whites share his economic values and foreign policy positions and view of America. In other words, Obama's public message is that race doesn't matter and that transracial alliances should be built on shared political and cultural values. It's a good message, and how it must dismay professional civil rights activists to hear it. I wouldn't be surprised if Jesse Jackson is telling family members, "If race relations keep improving like this, I may have to get a real job."
Clearly there are many in the liberal Democratic camp who are made profoundly uncomfortable by the recognition that racism is no more a defining feature of American life or even African American life. Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that racism does not exist. This is a big country, and surely one can find several examples of it. But racism, which used to be systematic, is now only episodic. In fact, when I ask young blacks on the campus today whether America is racist, many say yes. But if I ask them to give me examples of how that racism affects their lives, they are hard pressed to give a single one. The best they can do is to mention "Rodney King" or provide some well-known, recycled horror story. Recently someone told me that McCain is still winning the white vote by a substantial majority and that shows "we have a long way to go" in overcoming white bigotry. By this logic, blacks are have even longer way to go in overcoming their bigotry since Obama is winning almost 98 percent of the black vote. When your logic leads to an absurd conclusion, go back and re-examine the premise.
Even though Obama's candidacy signals that America is overcoming its racial past, neither Obama nor his wife recognize that. Their personal statements, as seen for example in Obama's books, are suffused with race-consciousness, race-obsession and even racial resentment. The more privileges they have received on the basis of race, the more embittered they seem to become. The source of these pathologies is the very liberalism that the Obamas have embraced: a liberalism that declares them equal while treating them as inferiors who need preferential treatment. (Liberals hate to have this pointed out; hence the irrational invective of the early responses to this post.) The solutions are obvious. If you want to get rid of racial obsession, stop talking and thinking about race so much. If you want to remove race as the basis of decision-making in America, let's eliminate America's policies that make race the basis of decision-making. And if you want a party that stands for color-blindess and equal opportunity, you might consider voting for the Republicans.
Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 44)
91. Jane: "Do not presume to tell me who to vote for!"
I still think it makes sense for you to vote for the candidate that is most likely to be the Anti-Christ.
Ryan Anderson at 1:54PM on Aug 28th 2008
92. One day there will be a little less discussion on the matters of equality - only because it would be a "traditional" thought of understanding that all humans are to be treated with equal respect in all things.
TJ at 1:41PM on Aug 28th 2008
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Evolution rocks!
naturalpuppy at 1:58PM on Aug 28th 2008
93. I still think it makes sense for you to vote for the candidate that is most likely to be the Anti-Christ.
Ryan Anderson at 1:54PM on Aug 28th 2008
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Ryan, you've done it! You've finally explained why so many hypochrists vote for a republican! They know that if the antichrist was running for office he'd definitely be a member of the GOP!
Rapture, be pure! Take a tour! Through the sewer!
Saint Brian the Godless at 1:57PM on Aug 28th 2008
94. 89. You want a perfect example of racism? How about the fact that 90% of blacks favor Obama. Why isnt that a story? If 90% of whites were for Mccain, we would be hearing it from the liberal left 24/7. Why do blacks get a pass. Are they voting for him simply because he is a black man? It has to be that, or the fact that Obama promises more free giveaways on the backs of the people that work thier asses off to be successful, only to have it taken away and given to slackers.
Whit at 1:47PM on Aug 28th 2008
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I think 90 percent of black people support him because they don't fear him, being black themselves, and so aren't blinded by their fear and can see that he's exceptional and brilliant and in every way so superior to McCain and that he cares about them, notices them, being half-black himself, and won't leave them out in the cold like so many white republican politicians have in the past. I am white and certainly don't support him because he's black myself, nor is there any element of "white guilt" in my decision. I made it like everyone should make it; by weighing both options carefully and clearly seeing which one was by far the more competent.
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:05PM on Aug 28th 2008
95. Remember people, within 30-50 years, the US will have a white minority, and other races will be the majority.......Whitey Look Out!!!!
(I inherit the title)
Cack J Gassett. at 2:08PM on Aug 28th 2008
96. And by the way racist bigot hypochrists, Obama's HALF WHITE. He's as much white as he is black. Get a grip on reality, people.
Why are you morons still on the one-drop rule? Miss the good ole days when you could have just tarred-and-feathered the uppitty little n-word??
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:16PM on Aug 28th 2008
97. Just because I can...
http://objectiveministries.org/zounds/gaming.html
One Nation Under God is a 3D platform-type game where you guide Uncle Sam through the many-leveled Halls of History in quest of Liberty and to learn how America was founded as a Christian nation. Uncle Sam can jump, fly, bounce, and dodge cruise missiles while uncovering actual, researched quotes from the Founding Fathers that prove they were Christians. It is a great mixture of historical learning and fun 3D action for the whole family. (Demo no longer available.) †††
Guitar Praise (PC & Mac), which will do for Guitar Hero what their Dance Praise did for the Secular Dance Dance Revolution. Guitar Praise will have a guitar controller just like GH's and the same gameplay, only it will include only top Christian rock bands, such as dc Talk, Thousand Foot Krutch and Skillet, that reflect Christian values instead of those of Satan. For their sneakily hidden Satanic rock content, Guitar Hero & Rock Band both get ZERO CROSSES. Guitar Praise is not released as of this writing, but I'm sure I'll give it least ††††
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Komani, PS3) (Note: I have not played this game since it is rated "M" and isn't allowed on the Fellowship U campus, so I am basing this mini-review on Secular media reports.) In Metal Gear Solid 4, you play the role of Snake, a soldier who uses stealth to sneak around a battlefield on a mission to steal guns from the Patriots (and to choke people from behind). As his name implies, Snake is actually a symbolic agent of Satan, sent into the world to finish what he started in the Garden. Evidence of this symbolism can be seen by Snake's use of an Apple iPod throughout the game (Apple is a notorious promoter of Darwinism and counter-culture). Also, Meryl, who guides Snake via a disembodied voice, uses an Apple Macintosh computer (I think Meryl is supposed to represent Satan himself, but all the symbolism is very confusing since it was written by a Japanese guy). This game promotes drug use (Snake is addicted to cigarettes and the HDD installation process features an 8-minute video of Snake teaching players how to smoke), eugenics through human cloning (Snake was the product of a project to clone "super soldiers"), disrespect of Authority (Snake's main enemy in the game are the Patriots, who represent the Christian founders of our nation), and Materialistic Determinacy with an absence of Free Will (every game in the MGS series is a remake of the first, only with a different Snake clone, the theory being that by putting the clones through the same missions, they will develop into the same person). MGS4 was designed to train those who will be left behind after the Rapture to serve in the Antichrist's military forces. As such, it has no value for the Christian gamer, who is among the Elect and won't have to deal with that, but it may help the unsaved to know the tactics they will be up against in a post-Rapture world should they choose to join the fight against the Antichrist and secure themselves a place among the Sheep when Christ returns. Therefore, I am giving it ONE CROSS for this slight benefit. †
Carry on.
Mokele Mbembe at 2:12PM on Aug 28th 2008
98. DD makes a living by writing books and columns. His main audience is the right wing Christians and the republicans. It is not surprising then that he would want this 'cash cow' to go on for as long as it will. Under these premises he is not going to give any credit or accolade to the secular minded so called liberals. As long as there is a market for DD to prostitute himself to the so called conservatives he will continue these tirades and rants. We the readers should not upgrade him to a true journalist and feel disappointed. True journalists are supposed to be impartial in reporting on any mater and not make a biased statement. All said and done DD, in spite of his mental handicap, certainly found a nice, lucrative niche for his career.
RMS43067@aol.com at 2:13PM on Aug 28th 2008
99. Obama IS racism in America today
paul at 2:14PM on Aug 28th 2008
100. 98. Obama IS racism in America today
paul at 2:14PM on Aug 28th 2008
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Oh yeah, sure he is. And Fred Phelps is Elvis.
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:19PM on Aug 28th 2008
101. Guitar Praise (PC & Mac), which will do for Guitar Hero what their Dance Praise did for the Secular Dance Dance Revolution.
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So that's what killed it.
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:21PM on Aug 28th 2008
102. The great thing about being a Christian is the knowledge that I am daughter of Jesus Christ. Insults don’t hurt me. I am secure in my faith and beliefs. I know myself. My self –esteem is not predicated on belittling others, but on how I treat others. I treat others with respect, even when I disagree. It is easy to hurl insults from the safety of a computer screen. It only displays ignorance and cowardice!
janesophie1 at 2:23PM on Aug 28th 2008
103. Moke, thank you for posting that. I really needed a good belly-laugh.
Unbelievable. It's like there's a parallel reality called stupidworld that they all live in.
If Apple is satanic, then why does their game work on one? Guess taking money from satan is okay.
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:24PM on Aug 28th 2008
104. It is easy to hurl insults from the safety of a computer screen. It only displays ignorance and cowardice!
janesophie1 at 2:23PM on Aug 28th 2008
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Allow me to explain the nature of my insults. I have done this before, a while back, with brian small "b."
In the old zen parables, when a student said something that the master recognized as particularly naive or misdirected, the master often responds by taking off his shoe and smacking the student across the head with it rather than answering him.
My insults are in the nature of a smack with a shoe across your head, in the forlorn hope that you might wake up.
Not likely, but it's all that get's through your christian mindshield and christ-colored glasses. I could try reasoning with you, but I'm not that much of a masochist, sorry.
Saint Brian the Godless at 2:29PM on Aug 28th 2008
105. Right on, Dinesh! Geraldine Ferraro was 100% correct about symbolism-addicted Dem voters: Obama is where he is based purely on his race. Had he been some skinny, cigarette-huffing, big-eared white junior senator, he'd have gone nowhere in the primaries.
(Geraldine quickly discovered what happens when you speak the truth in p.c.-addled America.)
Huck Finn III at 2:30PM on Aug 28th 2008