I thought I would be able to let this, “race card” storm pass, but you know the beloved main stream media have managed once again to spawn, fuel and incense America into listening to them. Give them an inch and they take a mile of storytelling, some of which is actually newsworthy, most of which is for their stockholders and ratings.
We have a race issue in America alright, it is the Narcissism Race of 24/7 cable news. They play the race card every hour of the day, waiting to trounce on the most triffling of affairs and spin them into national news stories. But this race is more akin to a horse race card then any matter of ethnicity.
True journalists used to work hard to scoop the competition on a breaking news story. Once the competition beat you in the race, the other moved on to another story. Not now. The race is to determine who can sensationalize the changing of the wind once the wind direction is reported, and then milk it all day. Edward R. Murrow would puke over much of cable news.
Enter Shirley Sherod. Yawn. A mistake was made. The parties involved were not harmed. Apologies were granted. Move on for cryin’ out loud. This is not news. America is on the brink of an all out Depression and we are at war against the most difficult enemy in our history of warfare. Lets focus and pull together and insert some leadership into the media.
Why does Veteran Veritas hold this out for discussion? Because if these folks were in the Armed Forces, this topic would last about an hour! If the level of enmity and tirade were to occur in the military over a race issue, like it does in the cranked up ADHD MSM, someone would walk away with an Article 15.
Few civilians know that an active duty soldier cannot even have a bumper sticker message on their car on a Military Base? I like that level of disciplined civility. Free speech is overrated.
One media outlet, even suggested that we stop and think about how many black people have helped us in our lives, like that Georgia farming family. My God, is that milking a story or what? This could be an episode on the new AMC , Mad Men! Who can give the best identity to a non-story? Get the ad men involved, like Glen Beck does with his staff Psycholgists.
Well, I did stop and think of all the Black Americans who have helped me throughout this pilgrimage. The MSM made me do it.
I learned to fish for trout on the Rock River in Illinois by black men. I learned to sing from those same black men. Four of my soul brothers in Vietnam saved my ass on many a patrol. My black Drill Sgt. in Marine Boot Camp taught me how to survive and be brave but not stupid. A sage black man standing by me on a street corner in the midst of the Watts Riots in 1965, when I was a grunt cub reporter for Norm Woodruff of KRLA News, afforded me a thumb nail sketch of how cities spend money and ignore the inner city. No change to this day. My VA Psychologist was an Army Officer, black man. The lady that tracked down vital records for me at the Chicago VA was a black woman named Maude. The most helpful person I could find in my claim process was a black Gunny Sgt at the Marine Corps Records Section in Quantico, Va. He penetrated all red tape and bureaucracy to get my records amended to show additional war wounds.
So what is the point of referencing these experiences? Not once during those encounters, did I stop and think, “geeeze this is a black person.” Racism is an implanted idea. It is not a natural human emotion. Do not let them put this weed in your garden.
Summarily, where was the media during World War ll when 80% of the officer corps believed in segregation? Lets sensationalize that story.
I make no claims to speak for anyone but myself. That said, my belief is that race is still a very relevant issue today. The fact that around 25% of young black men are imprisoned and the endemic poverty in the black community I take as evidence of racism in America today. I perceive attempts to portray this as a “post-racial” society as intended to maintain the current status quo of social relations and racism in this country.
I do agree that racism is an implanted idea; not inherent to the human condition.
Who benefits from racism? The best answer I have heard is below:
“You can’t have capitalism without racism.” Malcom X
I too agree that racism is implanted. As a child in Salinas, Ca. I played with hispanic, asian, white, and black kids. I did so not because of their color but because of how they treated me. That was the determinant factor in how I saw people as a child and I have carried that philosophy into adulthood. It’s quiet simple really I give out what I expect back in return, a little respect. If I don’t get it in return, I just won’t play with you.
As for Shirley Sherod, there was no mistake made. The FULL tape of that incident shows that the point she was trying to make was how she viewed white people so many years ago, and how she went on to help that farmer anyway. Because she now viewed those that needed her help as poor people, not black, or white. This was nothing she did in her current job but that was how it was portrayed! This I lay at FOX NEWS’ door as a testament to their agenda of causing political upheaval in anything that has to do with President Obama. This whole incident was staged to disrupt, to show how a BLACK President can’t run this country! So yes Mike there is a race card being played here, but not by Sherod.
Great post Mike. As you know I grew up in multi-cultural Hawaii and didn’t not that I was ‘minority” till I came to the U.S. Mainland. Treating people as lesser due to darker skin color is baffling to me, as all people are beautiful for who they are. I try only to judge people by their actions (content of their character as MLK said).
I remember growing up in the south during the 1950’s and hearing two adults making terrible racist statements. Right at that moment I heard a voice tell me I could agree with them or not. Racism is a decision. I still pray for those men that the ugliness in their hearts disappeared.
Good analogy Brewer to military justice. Some think we are on the verge of a military coups anyhow! Who else can you trust? I do wonder, however, how many readers know what an Article 15 is?
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