Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Obama tells truth about American climate during Brown vs. Board of Education

You have probably heard the latest smear about Obama:

Ooooh he compared the United States to Nazi Germany. See, he doesn't like America.

Well like the other smears, this one is a lie. But to me, an African-American, this is an extra insulting distortion:

In a radio interview in 2001, Barack Obama likened the United States to Nazi Germany . . .

The web site Little Green Footballs broke the scoop that Obama compares the "doctrines of Nazism... to what we have going on, back here at home." The remark came during a discussion of the United States at the time of Brown vs. The Board of Education.

Obama said, "...just to take a, sort of a realist perspective…there's a lot of change going on outside of the Court, um, that, that judges essentially have to take judicial notice of. I mean you've got World War II, you've got uh, uh, uh, the doctrines of Nazism, that, that we are fighting against, that start looking uncomfortably similar to what we have going on, back here at home."


Some folks have tried to use this comment as the lastest "Obama is not one of us" lies." But to me, this is more than a smear.

It is a slap in the face to all African-Americans. You see, Obama was not lying when he made his statement.

We all know the history of racism in this country. No matter how many folks like to say "it's in the past, forget about it," no one can.

And no one should. The fact of the matter is that during the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, the climate in this country can be compared to that of Nazi Germany.

During that time, some whites did not want to go to school with blacks. Some whites did not want blacks living in their neighborhoods. Some whites did not think of blacks as Americans worthy of the American dream.

They believed that there was a social, religious, and ethical order that made blacks inferior. And they lied, cheated, and murdered in horrible fashion to perserve this order.

The segregation, the lynchings, the dehumanization and victimization of entire group of people on the basis of race in America during that time is no different the victimization of entire group of people on the basis of religion during the time of Nazi Germany.

Sorry, but it is a fact. And no rallies, no flag waving, and definitely not mindful ignorance of that awful time in American history will make it go away.

We can give hell to the Nazis for what they did to the Jews and other groups, as we should. But when are we ever going to own up to our own history of racial discrimination?

So to those who criticize Obama for making this simple fact known, I have one thing to say:

How dare you.


Things are getting stinky down here in SC . . . and other issues via links

SC Senate Candidate Mick Mulvaney in Sick Robocalling Scheme (a South Carolina candidate gay bashes? It must be a week day)

Elizabeth Dole unleashes outrageous 'Love of God' ad (I'd never vote for someone named "Libby." That's like hiring someone named Scooter as your chief of staff)

McCain's Last Ditch Effort: Tying Obama To Muslim World (all of these attacks on Muslims due to 9/11 is something I don't understand. Was Timothy McVeigh or the Unibomber Muslims?)

Joe the Plumber pursued for record deal (Say what! The only way you can get famous around here is either butt in a rally with a distortive question or sleep with a Republican. I would do the latter but there aren't any who are attractive enough.)