I'm going to preface this blog stating that I hope this does not come across the wrong way.
I am not a big fan of the term "African American." I believe most (if not all) of people being referred to when this phrase is used are actually "Black Americans" as they are not immigrants from Africa. Otherwise, I should refer to myself as a "German American" or a "Polish American" or a "Slavic American." Are blacks in Britain referred to as African Britains? Can't we just all agree that we're simply American?
I'm afraid this next flow of thought could come across in a negative fashion...but I'm hoping it doesn't.
First of all, I don't care for either candidate for President. I voted for someone else in the primaries. It's looking that Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States. I'm sure I'll have a lot of issues with this as the next 4 years progress just as I probably would if John McCain were to become president. However, as I'm watching the election results roll in, my thoughts over the past several months are seeming to be looking as if they're based more on reality than just theory. I've heard several "regular citizens" mention that they voted or are *there* to celebrate because this is an historic time with the first "African American" to become president. I get the feeling that *so* many people voted for Obama simply because he is *black* and not because of his stance on issues. I would have thought the same thing had Hillary Clinton become a candidate and people voting simply because they wanted to see a first with a woman being president. It's so stinkin' frustrating!
I really hope "reverse racism" doesn't become more of a problem. I could go on an on about this issue. Can you imagine what would happen if there were grants out there that were only eligible for whites? Do you remember the big controversy with Kramer from Seinfeld? Did you ever hear the video from that night? The black man who Kramer (inexcusably) insulted referred to Kramer as a "cracker." Why is that okay (or at least not publicly abhorred) but what Kramer said was such an abomination (which it was)? It seems like quite the double standard that our country thinks it's completely wrong to degrade one person with a derogatory term yet not blink an eye when another person suffers the same type of treatment. I don't care who said what first...it's all wrong!
I've also heard (over the past couple of weeks) the issue of race arise in topics on the news more and more in regards to Obama's chances of winning. It seems to be that no matter the outcome, race was going to play a part in their excuse...either he lost because he's black or he won because he's black. After tonight's comments from citizens across the country, I find the latter to be true. How sad that a President might be decided not because of where he stands, but because of the color of his skin.
Now...I am in no way saying that the only reason why Obama would win is because of the color of his skin. I feel that the nation as a whole is very much repelled from the Republican party because of the last few years. I've said long before it was even determined who would appear on the primary tickets that our next president would be a Democrat because the nation is so turned off to the Bush administration. I'm just being quite candid with my thoughts.
When is race not going to play a role in our country? When are we going to realize that it's more "politically correct" to refer to people as either Black or White? When will we actually call all those with single citizenship to the United States simply Americans (for that's what they are)?
This ended up being longer than I had originally attended. I apologize if I have offended you in any way. Feel free to email me with any comments or concerns you might have.
