In the past few months, I have heard many people (most claiming Christianity) say “I’m not racist, but . . .” If you aren’t racist, why do you have to let everyone know? Wouldn’t your actions and statement speak for themselves? Now most of these comments have stemmed from the recent election. I even overheard one person say “What will the rest of the world think if we put a black man in office?” Phrases like “They were interviewing people on the news and I couldn’t even understand what those black people were saying” were overheard at lunch. I am very sad to think that someone would not vote for a candidate based on the color of his skin. Or to hear someone’s only reason for not voting for someone was due to race.
I was starting to get really mad when I left work yesterday realizing that people still think this way. And still teach their children to cultivate this view of hatred. This caused me to review my basic American history in my head. I was a history major in college, but hadn’t reviewed it in quite some time. A girlfriend and I were talking about the economy and how America goes back and forth with when they want Congress to get involved. It made me think about how America votes tends to vote Republican in office when things are stable and going well. I think the nation tends to pull a “hands off” attitude with government, coupled with a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Which I think is why Bush was reelected; coupled with the fear factor of post-9/11. But when our nation is in crisis, we tend to vote for a Democrat, looking for someone to involve the government to come in and fix a problem. Thus some of our nation’s greatest presidents were democrats; FDR and JFK. Thus, most people who didn’t vote for Obama most likely did so because of party lines.
I am furious that race is even an issue when discussing a potential candidate. However, I don’t think the fact that America just elected an African-America man can be ignored. It shows change and progress for our country. It opens up Washington to people who maybe never thought they could make it. So to see Oprah Winfrey cry, and predominately black campuses erupt in cheers, made me tear up a little (even if I rolled my eyes a little at Jesse Jackson). I would be jumping around about the progree of women if Palin was in the white house.
As a disclaimer, I didn’t vote for a Presidential candidate. I did, however, vote on everything else! I still go back and forth between who I would have preferred in office. I’m one of those undecided voters the media kept talking about. I tend to vote a hands off approach putting more responsibility back on the state. But if Obama can get troops home it’s better for Kevin’s job, taking money aware from the war and putting it back into the other contracts, hopefully allowing the Ontario branch to remain open. And I see many areas, including the economy, where federal regulation is needed.
But it is over. No matter who is in office, we have a wonderful country where I still have the freedom to live and worship as I choose. People who say “our country is going to Hell in a hand basket” (as was overheard on Wednesday morning) have most likely never lived somewhere where their freedom is limited, and have probably never been discriminated against. Now my responsibility is to pray for my president (elect) and the people that surround him. Pray for his family and the difficulties that lie ahead. Pray that his marriage will remain strong as the stress levels begins to rise. Pray that he appoints people that will advise wisely and protect our country.
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