Why can't we talk about race?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Why can't we talk about race?
93
Wed, 10-15-2008 - 4:35pm

I've seen this come up here and elsewhere. In the *very strange* thread about Obama's birthplace (or something like that; I couldn't follow the propaganda, quite frankly), two posters said that they wish Michelle Obama had not referenced race. (I don't mean to point those individuals out but merely point out their posts.)

In a country where race is a huge elephant in the room, I don't understand why we shouldn't talk about it. Of course this election is about race. For the first time in our country's history, a black man is running for president on a major political party ticket.

It doesn't have to be a bad thing or a good thing. But race is a factor in this election. It's not necessarily a factor because of McCain or Palin or Obama or Biden -- but because one of the candidates is black. Likewise, gender is an issue, simply because we have a woman on the Republican ticket. Why avoid the topic? Why suggest that the candidates or their spouses not talk about it?

Laura

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 12:29pm
No one has called Obama a terrorist... Ayers though most definitely is an unrepentant one...
Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 12:30pm
Race is very important in the 2008 election as our country, unfortunately, still has strong anti-minority prejudices, and a lot of people in the south are still fighting the Civil War. The election of Barack Obama will show the world that the United States is finally growing up. It has taken far too long, butjust compare Obama's great intelligence with the whacky blather that drops from the mouth of Sarah Palin, who seems incapable of speaking a complete sentence. Hooray for Barack Obama.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2008
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 12:31pm
Sorry, I think we lost focus on what we were talking about...Reread my previous post Igot into a hurry and
Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 12:58pm

Unfortunatly it's playing a major role and that's a shame. Martin Luther's dream is about to come through and most white American's are just afraid of that, but the issue are real and from my stand point if the issue affects you, do somthing about it, listen to what Senetor Obama has to say and if you have any moral bone in you, you will vote Obama.

One people, one country

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 1:04pm
it's definitely significant, as was gender- it's a reptilian brain response
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2007
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 2:15pm

If you please just read what I said, carefully, maybe you'll understand.


To me, saying someone is Communist or Socialist is not name calling. It has nothing to do with side. It would be like someone calling me a Capitalist. It's not offensive, because it refers to an acceptable belief system.


Racist is not an acceptable belief system. That is the difference.


It has nothing to do with "my side" or "your side."


It has to do with the fact that there are many reasons to NOT vote for Senator Obama based on his stance on issues. If you read further down the thread, there's a post from guest that says "if you have any moral fiber you'll vote for Obama" or something to that effect. To me, that suggests that the only reason I'm not voting for Obama is because he's black; the logical conclusion from that being, not supporting Obama means I'm a racist.


Can you really not see the difference?


Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 2:19pm
I don't think it plays a part in the election. I think the media is so biased in their reporting in favor of the democratic party, it is blatant. I am not the only person that thinks this, everybody I talk to feels the same way. That is the reason that I am sick of the election. If everything was presented fairly, I think I would enjoy weighing both sides.
Lynna
Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 4:19pm
If Obama were say 'George Wright', McCain/ Palin by now would have just been waiting for Nov 4 to come and go so they can go back to their day jobs.
American really do need a change but it coming from a black man. I don't think so.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-23-2008
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 6:45pm

As great as the idea of breaking down the racism barriers would be, I find that people tend to apply racism only to whites against.....well anyone else. I hate the term reverse racism, because racism is racism no matter what color your skin is and what color skin the person you're hating on is. If Obama wins this election, for whatever reason people can come up with, his policies, the color of his skin, how cool his wife is...whatever....it isn't going to do anything to the problem of racism. The one and only thing that will change it is being able to look at the color of someone's skin and not care whether they're white, black, brown, yellow, blue, purple, orange or rainbow. This means that whether you're white OR black...you have to be able to look at a white person OR a black person and not care that they're the same color as you or a different color....but care about that person based on their merits and humanity instead of the color of their skin. Voting for Obama BECAUSE he's black is just as racist and not voting for him because he's black - don't forget that.

Daisypath Anniversary tickers
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2008
Thu, 10-23-2008 - 6:56pm
I see it

Full length fiction: worlds undone

"You have no power over my body..." ~ Anne Hutchinson

Pages