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Authors, sign in!I hate that I even have to revisit this subject but as you can see, the disrespect in this country has grown in multitudes.
By now, we know about the 'incident' at the President's speech last night but what we may not be aware of is the tenor in the room. Keith Ellison even tweeted that he could hear groans and even some whispered vulgarities prior to the outburst. Imagine how those who sat around this discord felt. Imagine how they feel now knowing that they must continue to work together for the best interest of the country when they see that their colleagues are simply working in their own best interest.
In my first post about the age of disrespect I pondered loosely on whether its roots were in racism. I no longer have to ponder - I know.
Never in my life, my mother's life and [still praying on this] my grandmother's life have we ever witnessed such animosity towards the president. But we have seen this animosity towards people of color. So I can only surmise that this disrespect is an extension of that animosity.
I guess I secretly wish that those with ill feelings would simply admit their true nature and just 'come right out with it'. But it reminds me of a bad rerun of 'All in the Family'. But hell, at least George knew how Archie felt. He could chose whether or not to be associated with him. Sadly, we are not being given a choice. Self serving bias is ruling the day and making decisions for all of us and we seem to be standing by helpless.
So I ask you all today to speak out against this disrespect, speak out against this animosity, call those out for taking a part in it and lastly, challenge them to be truthful, not simply mean. Take your choice back. Be a voice for those who can't speak. We must be more vocal and we must tell them that the America we love won't tolerate racism, sexism, ageism or any other 'ism'. Tell the the disrespect must stop. Tell them that unexceptionable behavior will not be excepted.
Published September 10, 2009 by Jenifer Daniels |
Permalink
| Tags:
Barack Obama
Congress
Joe Wilson
Politics
Racism
Comments (3)
Fortunately for all of us, Wilson showed the true face and voice of those on the right whose interests are solely their own--and the interests of those who bankrolled their elections to Congress.
A Progressive friend remarked, when G.W. Bush was elected, "Well, we can only hope that the Republicans will so badly over-play their hand that they'll all be out soon."
I think that the shrillness we're hearing is part of the death throes of those angry, bitter folks.
Hearing outbursts like this gives me pause, however, when I try to remember Teddy Kennedy's admonition that the people he disagreed with loved their country as much as he did. Somehow that's difficult to believe with the likes of Joe Wilson.
Posted by Richard Head
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September 10, 2009 4:10 PM
Posted on September 10, 2009 16:10
Racism is absolutely on display with subtle (and not so subtle) attempts to depersonalize and dehumanize this president. I hope other bloggers and reporters document the behavior in the hall beyond Wilson's outburst.
We are fortunate to have our first African-American president be a person of dignity, civility and grace --- even under fire. Let us pray his example will help lead the way for some of the people who have slipped into ignorance and ugliness over the past 8-10 years.
Posted by Tellie Meninger
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September 10, 2009 6:32 PM
Posted on September 10, 2009 18:32
I agree with everything that has been said on this page. Tellie, you are so right - we are blessed to have a President who is dignified, civil and graceful under fire. The fact that he is also African American - means that the far right racist will be seen by even more reticent members of their own far right racist group as exactly what they always have been - hateful, selfish, small minded, and - wrong. Not right. WRONG.
Posted by Pamela Jean
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September 11, 2009 11:02 AM
Posted on September 11, 2009 11:02