Americans are constantly being told by leading Democrats and liberal commentators that we are all racists if we raise objections to Barack Obama's political initiatives. Why is it so difficult for liberals to understand it is the President's socialist policies that many of us vigorously oppose, not the color of his skin? Thomas Sowell, Star Parker and Walter Williams happen to be some of the more articulate and effective critics of the President, but it is problematic painting them as racists since they too are people of color. Many of us white folks agree with them rather than the President, and I believe any of those three would be much better leaders of our country than anyone I have seen associated with the Democratic Party. I think that should make it quite clear that racism has nothing to do with it.
The history of America is a narrative of the struggle of the disenfranchised to overcome prejudice and societal obstacles to claim the rights of liberty, justice and equal opportunity promised by the founding fathers. Although those principles were meant to be universal, it took some time and effort for them to be realized by those who were persecuted, exploited or enslaved for reason of ethnicity, religion or social class. The disenfranchised included, to varying degrees, not only African Americans but also Irish, Italian, Eastern European and Latin American immigrants. It also included white Americans who were born and raised on the wrong side of the socio-economic boundary line.
Over time, with the glaring and shameful exception of the genocidal treatment of Native Americans, the maltreatment and grievances of the victimized have been addressed and rectified to a considerable degree. No society can ever be perfectly utopian. There will always be pockets of prejudice that can never be eliminated. That is true in all societies. Similarly, there will always be those who proclaim that racism and prejudice are still prevalent in society, and they will continue to do so long after strong evidence to the contrary is overwhelmingly established.
Whether the perpetually aggrieved claimants of societal subjugation ever admit it or not, the United States of America has basically achieved as ethnically accommodating culture as can humanly be expected. America has black and Latin American corporate CEO's, members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices and even an African American president. Minorities teach white children in our public schools, administer the laws in our courts, eat and drink in the same restaurants and bars, and become bands of brothers and sisters in our nation's military. We are all even beginning to sit in the same church pews.
Where segregation continues to exist it is often due to an ethnic groups comfort of associating with their own. Of course an unfortunately large part of it is due to economic circumstances and the financial inability to escape poverty stricken neighborhoods. That is a problem that needs to continually be addressed, but through the job creating stimulation of capitalism and economic progress rather than government programs that perpetuate the status quo and slam the door on self-improvement.
It is not racism that causes Americans to disagree and oppose the policies of ideologically zealous politicians. What causes the conflicts are the legitimate differences of opinion that naturally arise over how to best achieve the common objectives of improving the living standards and providing security for all Americans going forward. Regarding those objectives, we should all be on the same page. Neither side has all the answers. The first thing we need to remember before embarking in uncertain new directions is that so far our form of government and economic system has worked pretty damn well.
The United States of America has proven itself to be an exceptional country. We have been the powerful engine that has produced global economic growth and prosperity, stimulated technological and medical discoveries and innovations that have improved everyones lives, provided global security for the free world whenever threatened by ruthless enemies, and created the educational institutions that have shared our knowledge with the world. We are exceptional because the tradition of liberty and private enterprise has allowed us to nurture exceptional people and encouraged them to reach for the stars.
Somehow we now have a government that does not agree with the last paragraph. They think there is something very wrong with us that needs to be changed. Admittedly, there is always room for improvement, but all in all I believe most of us still love our country and continue to believe in our established traditions. The last thing we need is change that rejects our fundamental principles, destroys the progress we have made and turns our culture upside down.
