http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/minority_senators.htm I couldn't find the House statistics as easily. I like to believe we as Americans can, and do, achieve all kinds of success regardless of race. If you have ever been to the US you can see that is true. As far as the government and political reality, that has not ever caught up as fast anywhere.
I had to post on that blog sooner or later. http://logicpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/10/vote-for-obama-and-its-racial.html
Is that for real? Are people that deluded? Wow! I guess there really is no hope for this country when it comes to the concept of race. Oh well!
LogicFlux, I completely respect your reasons for voting Obama. I still fear his likely socialist ideas will result in radical changes I'm not going to like.
After a few hundred years of Rich, White, Male Presidents and the rest of society (Women, Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Scientologist, Baptist, Veterans, and so on..) constantly worried that they will not be properly represented, yet still choosing the most qualified candidate, it is amusing to see for the first time that NOW all of a sudden people are worried about equal representation for all. No one ever cared before, as long as they got theirs. The same stupid argument could be made in the opposite direction, since Obama is only half black, will he sell out the blacks in the country to cater to his white heritage and political base? Sounds just as stupid, doesn't it? P.S. Obama is not a "Black", he is an American first. If you too are an American, then I think you will be O.K.
I still fear this myself. And I wouldn't vote for someone based only on one issue. There may be a preeminent issue that concerns me or that I think is most important, but I also weight the importance of the other issues, even weighing them against each other, as in an equation. In other words, to put simply, I wouldn't vote for Obama for the reason I posted above if I thought he would be a socialist/marxist leader or if I thought he was incompetent in any way. On the other hand, I do believe it is somewhat of a gamble, with his leftist leanings at this pivotal time in our history. But I'm impressed by his ability to grasp problems and to communicate them and their solutions, and I'm hoping that he will use his great intellect and prudence to not govern ideologically but to govern practically and competently. I think a lot of people are counting on this. But it's not impossible that we are being hoodwinked.
Had no idea scientologists were around for hundreds of years. If that is the case, why then is he being labeled as the "first African American"...? The short answer is because his campaign has sought to make this race about race. Its pretty obvious why that was.
I am sure you understood the point He is an American first, just as the rest of us are. Can't you at least show him that much respect, or will your head explode? Was the same said about Kennedy being a Catholic President? That was O.K. wasn't it ? Or is it more sinister, or trigger some deep seeded personal hang ups that he is black ? The only people that I see constantly making this about race are conservative PAC's, and Palin. Some people just won't let it go, because they just don't want a Black President, Plain and Simple. Still holding on to some self perceived racial entitlement hierarchy. What they are really doing is forming their own minority, kinda like the south did before the civil war. I hear Alaska wants to separate, maybe you guys could go there and elect Palin as your President since you think she is just the "cat's pajama's". *wink, wink* "You betcha !" America is full of arrogant racists that believe America is for whites and that they just tolerate the rest of us. We understand. We know it. You will all be gone soon because everyone else is sick of hearing "the sky is falling", and then getting screwed anyway. Soon America will be allowed to exist as one country without all the fear and rhetoric preaching separation. Then it will truly be America first. The military in this country are the only people that truly understand that.
Not really That has yet to be either proven or dis proven. Nope. It was made about race the first time when a race hate speech by Obama was given as a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from his associations with a racist minister. Plan and simple. And I would disagree. People want a good president. They don't care if he is black, white or purple. That part of American is such a small minority they do not even garner a noticeable percentage of the voting public. And, those people share political views on every side of the spectrum, not just one. When the sky is falling, I will be sure to let you know. Its that way now. I'm not certain what America you hail from. Of course they do. That's why they are out there fighting and protecting us. Both from terrorists, as well as natural disasters, and other threats. The irony here is that they fight to protect your right to dislike what they are doing.
I'm not felling very argumentative today Mia, with my candidate soooo far ahead in the polls. You win. I'm going drinking and check out all the naughty nurses on the Vegas Strip. "Y'all have a good day"
If you're going to generalize and cetegorize, you could also ask if Americans can treat a "black" fairly
Why doesn't that surprise me. In any event I had no idea you were so fond of McCain. You do realize that lead has dwindled to almost nothing right? Almost a 9 point lead a week ago, gone! Have a few for me!
Everytime you see the word "black" in that article or this thread, replace it with "white" and vice-versa. Now, think about the implications.
How about if I replace every instance of "see" with "snorgle", "black" with "snooglemayer", "white" with "ham sandwiches" and "implications" with "fried frooglelhoffers"? This point is as good as yours as comparing the situation and history of blacks in america to whites is comparing apples to frooglehoffers.
I think this is quite stupid to be honest... Beside, before to fix this, give Americans time to fix what they're saying everyday: Justice and Liberty for all. One day, this will be fixed and there will be justice and liberty for all in America. Then, let's talk races. They're not ready yet... However, at that level, it's a stupid question...
Well, if you feel that way, maybe now you understand why I say this issue will never be resolved in "America" ever!
No, actually, I still don't understand why you say that, even though you put the "ever!" at the end. I think I did a pretty good job of laying out what I think needs to happen for the racial chasm in this nation to be closed. It doesn't mean that I'm right, I'm just a guy on the internet with half a brain. And I don't think this is a reason why you or anyone else should vote for Obama. It's my personal reason for voting for Obama. I believe that the problem with the black underclass in this country is a psychological and spiritual one rather than a political one and that symbolism isn't always just mere symbolism. If only 10% of the kids in the ghetto watch the new (half)black president speaking eloquently and intelligently on tv about the importance of staying in school, the importance of doing your homework, of not worrying about the ones who ridicule you as being "too white" because you read books, what kind of effect would that have? Am I deluded to think that this could improve the 50% high school drop out rate among blacks? If only 10% of the black people in the ghetto hear a black president saying, as he has already said, that "we can't simply write these problems off to past injustices", what kind of effect do you think that will have? This country will never reach its full potential as long as we have millions who are content to write all of their problems off to past injustices. Maybe I'm being sappy, maybe I'm being naive, maybe I'm just plain wrong about the problem and its solution, but it seems to me that what is needed is an injection of morale and inspiration. If it has the effect that I think it can, we will perhaps finally be able to start shedding this problem that has plagued us throughout our existence and move on to becoming a better country. Am I deluded to think that enough could be inspired to take a more positive course of action that could positively effect our tax burdens and even our GDP? How many potential Bill Gates' are there in this pool of millions that has up til now been largely languishing in the ghetto with no motivation or hope? If an Obama presidency could have these kinds of positive effects I think it would be worth 4 or 8 years of tax and spend liberalism. Because the return would eventually greatly out weight the up front investment and we could be reaping the rewards forever.