I suppose it’s altogether fitting I write this on a day when I’m off work in honor of the memory of one of our country’s greatest civil rights proponents.  [IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are sensitive about strong opinions related to current day politics, or rather societal hot button topics, do not read this.  You have been warned.]

I have zero tolerance for racism.  I dislike prejudice in general, but the sad truth is that each of us in some form or another are prejudiced simply due to our flawed human condition.  But the particular brand of prejudice we label as racism can bring my blood to a boil.  Yet I also feel a sense of sadness because the “ideals” of racism clearly illustrate an unparalleled depth of ignorance, often blended with greed and selfishness.

Racism, at least in these United States, has generally become synonymous for whites hating blacks.  Often still, slavery is referenced in with racism for good measure, or perhaps for drama, even though that was officially outlawed in the U.S. over one hundred years ago.  Do not misunderstand, I abhor the whole concept of slavery in any form and consider myself blessed to live in a country and at a time when I am not faced with it.  Slavery in and of itself however is not exclusive to the U.S. or to whites owning blacks.  Neither is it technically coupled with racism.  Don’t believe me?  Read the Bible.

It certainly is most appropriate to think of racism in terms of severe repression.  But then again that’s a hallmark of prejudice in general.  Consider for example the present day inequality in pay scales between women and men.  Yes prejudice, and racism, have left very deep wounds in this nation, and in this world.  Unfortunately, after all of our battles and struggles, in spite of our high minded thinking and sophistication, it still exists.  You often hear stories of how people today are still affected by it.  Even myself, a middle aged white male with very long hair, am affected greatly by prejudice as people around me seem to somehow know what my “intentions” are purely based on my appearance.  This sort of blatant prejudice I’m afraid is a permanent part of the human experience.  What we don’t, or refuse to understand becomes what we fear and hate.  However, what I fail to grasp is why the racism portion of prejudice doesn’t go away already.  Hasn’t the world been enlightened enough by now to recognize the stupidity of it?  What’s most alarming to me today is how racism has suddenly gained in acceptance as of late.

Racism in the Untied States in 2009 has seemingly become sophisticated and welcomed.  It’s become elitist.  It’s become a standard.  And tomorrow it moves into the White House.  Has anyone noticed?  “How can you say that?!?!” is undoubtedly the rabid cry of supporters.  Yet if you’re willing to actually contemplate some simple observances, weigh them in rationale, please read on.  If you’re more interested in reacting than thinking, stop reading now.

Unless every single news agency has misrepresented the facts (something I can actually believe), and unless the man himself has misrepresented the facts, our new commander-in-chief, Barack Obama, has a black father and a white mother.  So let’s see, unless basic math has changed lately, that would mean he’s equally black and equally white.  50-50.  Half black.  Half white.  NOT black, but half black.  Which means it’s every bit as valid to say that he’s white, as it is to say that he’s black.

Ask yourself, why has the focus been on race, and especially focused on Obama being only black?  He’s also white.  At any time during the campaign did anyone ever focus on that?  No.  Being white doesn’t get black votes.  It doesn’t get the vote of the self righteous who view electing a black man to the presidency as a badge of honor.  Did anyone notice Barack didn’t really need to discuss issues and policy until the end of the campaign because the focus was on race and that was enough?  RACE!  Would Obama’s political ideals alone have gotten him elected?  If we were only allowed to read what he thinks and believes and not know his race, would he have won the election?  I honestly don’t know as I never heard enough of his ideas to say.  It was hard to hear anything above the “he’s black” roar.  But… he’s white too.

The press is practically wetting themselves over the hype of how this inauguration is going to be so historic.  And what are we hearing from the press?  Race race race.  There is some mention of Barack’s African heritage which of course supports the constant focus on race, but little has been said about his mother’s heritage.  But of course has there ever been mention of a new president’s heritage, much less his race?  If the U.S. is truly free from racial division why mention it?  Why does it suddenly matter?  The very act of calling attention to and making an issue out of Barack’s race IS by definition racist.

Millions of people are spending a lot of money in the midst of a bad economy so they can flood into the area to witness history.  There is a commotion in D.C. now that I’m not sure we’ve ever seen since the civil rights march.  Folks, there have been many black leaders in this world.  He’s not the first and won’t be the last.  Oh, and did I mention, he’s also white?  Well that’s not important, he’s black.  No one cares about a white man taking the oath.  I obviously suffer under some fanatical delusion that race has nothing to do with it, but that he’s a man like all other men, with some qualities that might make him a good leader, none of which happens to be race.

After the inauguration has passed, will the headlines say “The U.S. has a new white president”?  Can you imagine the understandably appropriate uproar from the black community if at any time in our history there was such a headline?  Yet in 2009, we can expect headlines to proclaim a black president, and articles having a great deal of the focus placed on the man’s race, and we’ll all be okay with that.  America, hello?!?!  Is anyone paying attention?  Give it up already.  We’ll have a new president.  His race is unimportant.  Just be sure to mention he’s also white.

I’ve heard more black Americans now making statements like “the white house is gonna be black now”.  Are you freaking kidding me????  Should we paint it black too?  After all the color of the thing is why it’s named what it is, not because of the race of the individual currently in office.  The most ridiculous part about this is how the press and black community in general don’t find anything wrong with that statement.  So now we’re down to renaming the residence of the president based on his or her race when it’s never been that way before?  But then again, it could be white, because he’s white as well as black.

Recently Obama has been compared to some of this country’s greatest leaders, Lincoln and Kennedy.  Why?  As of this writing he hasn’t taken office yet.  He hasn’t done anything yet.  How is it he is already deserving of such praise and adoration?  Because he’s black?  Or because he’s also white?

Has any part of this made you realize even for a moment, how utterly and insanely ignorant it is for us to be defining him by his race?  For me, I have no idea how the man will do in his new job.  I don’t care if my leaders are women or men, black or white or what ever color you want to attach to an individual’s race.  I want them to be intelligent, calm, collected, wise, a peace seeker, strong, and willing to seek the counsel of others with the same qualities.  I want them to be self sacrificing and willing to make the tough decisions.  Willing to listen to the people and not more concerned with serving themselves.  I reserve the right to make any comparisons to past presidents until I see what Barack is going to do.

Good luck Barack.  With the current state of this world and the U.S. economy, you’ll need it.  I hope you really are the great white hope everyone is looking for.  Or should I say great black hope?  Either way, I’ll pray for you and our country.