I am proud of our nation, but also greatly disappointed. Most Americans (whether they voted Democrat or Republican), realize that Obama's election as the first Black president speaks volumes of our country's growth in attitudes about race. However, prejudice, discrimination, and inequality are still very much alive. The target has shifted from racial discrimination to discrimination based on sexual orientation.
We seem to be at some sort of midpoint; we've grown, but need to grow.
I found a couple of things which illustrate this. The first is a blurb that KimboSue found and posted on her blog. The second is a copy and paste of a comment that my sister, a proud lesbian, left on my last post.
How far we've come:
This older white guy asked his older black friend, 'Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he's black'?
So
the older black guy fires back and says, 'Are you not voting for him
because he's black? Why can't I vote for him just cause he's black?
Hell
in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause they're black,
passed over for promotions just cause they're black, considered to be
criminals just cause they're black, but you don't seem to have a
problem with that.
This country was built with the sweat and
whip off the slaves' backs, and now a descendant of those same slaves has
a chance to lead the same country where we weren't even considered to
be people. A country where we weren't allowed to be educated, drink
from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even
vote, so you damn right I'm going to vote for him!
But not just because he's black.
But because he is hope, he is change,
and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says he wants to be
president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale but a short term
goal. Now he sees, understand, and knows, he can achieve, withstand,
and do anything just because he's black!
:::::::::
I wasn't around for the first Civil Rights Movement. Sign me up for this one.
I am proud of our nation, but also greatly disappointed. Most Americans (whether they voted Democrat or Republican), realize that Obama's election as the first Black president speaks volumes of our country's growth in attitudes about race. However, prejudice, discrimination, and inequality are still very much alive. The target has shifted from racial discrimination to discrimination based on sexual orientation.
We seem to be at some sort of midpoint; we've grown, but need to grow.
I found a couple of things which illustrate this. The first is a blurb that KimboSue found and posted on her blog. The second is a copy and paste of a comment that my sister, a proud lesbian, left on my last post.
How far we've come:
This older white guy asked his older black friend, 'Are you voting for Barack Obama just because he's black'?
So the older black guy fires back and says, 'Are you not voting for him because he's black? Why can't I vote for him just cause he's black?
Hell in this country men are pulled over everyday just cause they're black, passed over for promotions just cause they're black, considered to be criminals just cause they're black, but you don't seem to have a problem with that.
This country was built with the sweat and whip off the slaves' backs, and now a descendant of those same slaves has a chance to lead the same country where we weren't even considered to be people. A country where we weren't allowed to be educated, drink from the same water fountains, eat in the same restaurants, or even vote, so you damn right I'm going to vote for him!
But not just because he's black.
But because he is hope, he is change, and he now allows me to understand when my grandson says he wants to be president when he grows up, it is not a fairy tale but a short term goal. Now he sees, understand, and knows, he can achieve, withstand, and do anything just because he's black!
How far we have yet to go:
Hey Butthead,
I'm overjoyed and simply giddy about PRESIDENT OBAMA! All the Black folks in Wal-mart were smiling and cheesing all hard. But at the same time, I find myself a little upset. Proposition 8 passed in California and Mississippi passed a law that banned gay adoptions. Although I'm nowhere near marriage or near adoption, it saddens me that gays and lesbians who want to get married and have the right to be just as miserable as straight people (joke) aren't able to do so. And it saddens me even more that so many gays and lesbians that want to adopt aren't able to do so. It sucks......BUT WE GOT A BLACK PRESIDENT!!!!! :-)
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I wasn't around for the first Civil Rights Movement. Sign me up for this one.