I have to admit, I had my mouth hanging open (at times) when listening to the now “famous” speech given by Barack Obama the other night. I was both proud & uncomfortable while listening to this wise man speak about things that are mainly discussed at a friend’s house, or at the beauty shop.
I admire Barack much more for sharing with world his take on his minister’s words and actions, while hinting at how “we”, Americans can seem so hypocritical and unrealistic when dealing with the “race” issue & our loved ones, in any capacity. I am sooooooooooooo glad he did not give the “politically-correct-driven-zealots” what they expected, and that was to voice his separation from a man based on few and isolated opinions that he himself does not possess. Who does that? I Mean Really? If we are being honest with ourselves, ALL of us have that roomate, friend, family member, spouse, child, boss, Elder, neighbor, or classmate who makes us wince every now and then. We ALL have had the experience of spending a few minutes or hours trying to understand how “they” can think such impolite (while sometimes real) thoughts about whatever the subject matter is or those minutes & hours spent trying to convince them otherwise. But do we rid them of our lives because we disagree?
All too often, the hightened sensitivity factor in our Country lends to unnecessary firings, denouncements, separations, retractions, and incomplete and disingenuous discussions about controversial issues. The main one being race/ethnicity. We are too afraid to face it and discuss it head on, so we just play “offense police” and rid our sights of those who raise eyebrows or possibly cause “emotional” harm.
I’ve said for some time now, if I see another person get fired or censored for saying or doing something offensive (to some)— one more GAIN, I’m going to scream!
That does NOT solve the problem, let alone get to the root of it. I’m reminded of Don Imus, who caused such a stir with his “nappy-headed hoes” comment. What was firing him going to accomplish? Well, what it did accomplish was more anger from those who thought the punishment did not fit the crime, and dissatisfaction to those he “possibly” offended. All the while, the Spelman basketball women went about their lives really not giving too much weight to his comments and settled for an apology. It also led more and more people to simply “hide” their true feelings for fear of being publicly denounced and/or scolded.
I don’t know about you, but firing someone for being ignorant is not the solution. They still walk away from the job ignorant. They still walk away from the job harboring the same thoughts. They also walk away possibly angry with a feeling of uncertainty about how they should proceed in this Country knowing that they have to watch every word. It’s not honest and it doesn’t work.
On the same token, when will we learn that just because you’re a public figure does not mean you are infallible????? Why are people still shocked when a public figure does or says something that you probably do and say once a month? Why are their words more scrutinized as if they are some all-of-a-sudden perfect creation??? Why do their stupid decisions or ideas make us gasp? Are public figures supposed to be better learned than you or me? Are they supposed to be Jesus-like just from the sheer fact that they get more camera time? Are all of their friends, family members, and associates supposed to be better then you or me could ever be?
There is a theory I heard long ago, stating that to expect a different result while doing the same thing over and over again renders one INSANE!
So if we keep firing people for saying ignorant things or things we disagree with, but yet, next month it happens with someone different, are we insane?
If we keep watching the news with our mouths hanging open when some lowly politician gets caught coming out of a brothel every year, are we insane?
If we continue to gasp when we learn that a public figure has a friend or associate who has ideas other than their own, while we do ourselves, are we insane?
I know I kinda got off the trail a little, but in summation, I’m simply saying, enough with thinking certain people are better than me. Enough with thinking public figures don’t have the same issues and dumb friends that I do. Enough with thinking they should not make mistakes. Enough with thinking that the media is our friend and tells us the “whole” truth and not just push out slighted sound bytes to make us judge the next person….. and enough about being afraid to talk about how I truly feel.
~~~~~~ Keep it real! ~~~~~~
If we’re all of the “human race” then we all should know that there are MANY sides to each individual; and to judge them based on one side & expect things of them that you yourself aren’t or can’t offer, is just, well, I guess insane.
Thanks Barack for giving a peek into the discussions we are afraid to have and for challenging us to just do it if we want a different result. Thanks for keeping it real and not letting America tell you who your friends are, no matter how provocative & skewed their words are.
