America ... Land of the Brave?

I have been watching and listening to too much news this past week. I say this because I feel spoiled, tainted, soiled, grimy, exhausted, anxious, fearful ... 

All the hate speech and violence that is swirling and whirling in the airwaves, with images and sounds has infiltrated my brain and sensibilities, and is taking over any compassionate, peaceful thoughts or feelings that I might have. Indeed, I have to do everything in my power not to stoop to fighting with the ignorance and bigotry that is screaming into my face.

What is amazing about all of this, is that it has evolved out of peoples' need and their right to health care. Surely, all this hate cannot be about denying others the right to medical attention? Surely, people cannot be so selfish? And yet, they scream and yell about repealing a law that will include millions of Americans into the health care system.

For me, what is most frightening is when our President speaks intelligently and compassionately, so many people around the country react with violent hatred. What can I say? They simply cannot abide a brown skinned man in this role. Yes indeed, I strongly believe that it is pure and simple: racism. For some, it is so deeply entrenched in their psyche, they seem unable to understand it themselves. For others it is right out there -open and stark, clear cut and direct. One thing is for sure. The election of Barack Obama has pulled and sucked ignorance, selfishness, bigotry and hatred right out of the woodwork - out of the closet! It feels like we are all being pulled down, down, down, into an abyss, back into some kind of hideous dark age.

Recently, someone I had considered a friend wrote on my Facebook page that they were surprised I had been "drinking the Kool Aid" ... I guess because I support the President I so happily elected. I was so surprised by the cynicism and disrespect in that comment, that I remained silent. I felt as if my intelligence had been insulted! 

But now that I see and hear all the lies and rubbish that is being said and believed, I realize, it was not my intelligence that had been insulted. It is everyone else insulting their own intelligence - because they do not have the courage to confront their own discomfort - the deep-rooted racism they learned in their earliest childhoods - to recognize their hideous biases - and to stand up against ignorance and bigotry with all their might. 

Rise up, America! Rally round! Push away all these dark forces of ignorance, ancient biased teachings and beliefs. Weed them out of your earliest emotional memories. Confront your discomfort! Reach up towards courage and light!

I am sure that you will feel so much better about yourself if you do. 

Comments

[Linda Hillin]

So well said. I am heart sick by all of it. I am very proud of my vote for Barack Obama but I've taken a lot of heat for voting for him. I stand by my vote.

[Michael Mlodozeniec]

In some parts of the country - particularly in the West there seems to bhe significantly less racism against African Americans. By NO means am I saying to doesn't exist - just less than cities out East. When I go back to Buffalo racism against African Americans is much more evident. I think people out here (out West) are more polarized for or against a different minority, specifically Hispanics. Threfore, I don't think bigotry is behind the hatred towards Obama. I think this is a simplistic view to take. What I think is really going on is a hatred between democrats and republicans. I think the republicans, who so completely f***ed up for 8 years and their conservative supporters, are so angry that they are no longer in power that they will do anything to derail Obama and the democrats.

[Kay Dennison]

I have been blogging my heart out on this. It puts me crazy. My nice young Congressman, his family, and his staff have all had death threats because he voted for the bill. He voted for the bill because he asked us and we said he should. And Sarah Palin has put him on her PAC's 'hit list' for the November elections.

This isn't the America I was taught to support and believe in!

[ainelivia]

Yes Tamar, it is sad, frustrating and maddening, trying to hold on to those little bits of light, in the midst of this maelstrom of ignorance and bigotry, and wondering where it is coming from. Well said.