RubySoho
Winston
The Ugly Side Of America
October 16th 2008 05:46
Politics is a dirty game and nowhere is it dirtier than in the USA. Ever since a pro-John Adams newspaper warned that, should the unthinkable happen and he lose the 1800 election to rival Thomas Jefferson, "Murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced", negative campaigns have been par for the course in American elections.
During the 2000 Republican primaries, the Bush campaign started rumours about rival Republican John McCain's adopted Bangladeshi daughter, claiming he had fathered an illegitimate black baby. In 2004 a group of Vietnam veterans calling themselves Swiftboat Veterans For Truth (a misnomer if ever I heard one) and allied with the Bush (again) campaign called John Kerry's war record into question, claiming he had lied about his activities and subsequent bravery medals. This incident, wiped out any chance Kerry had of winning that election and gave rise to the term "swiftboating" to describe the victim of a smear campaign.
But there is something about the current election that bothers me even more than the two examples above. Watch these videos:
The sheer ignorance and overwhelming hatred on display is staggering. The constant references to Obama's "bloodlines", the insinuations and flat out declarations that because he is Muslim he must be a terrorist are indicative of a people who still fear anyone who is not exactly like them. Even ignoring the fact that Obama is not actually a Muslim, does being a Muslim automatically make someone a terrorist? According the the people featured above it does. Why else do they keep bringing it up? Why else is so much focus placed on his middle name? Recently, at a rally McCain finally attempted to put out the anti-Obama flames of hysteria by referring to Obama as a "good person". When an elderly woman said she could not trust Obama "because he is an Arab", McCain shook his head and said, "no Ma'am. No Ma'am, he is a good family man". Sure it looked like he was defending Obama, but hold the phone just a minute, even though Obama himself is not an Arab, does that mean that the woman is right not to trust Arabs? I'm sure there are many Arabs out there who would be very surprised to discover that they are untrustworthy. And I am one of them.
Now I am an atheist. I am an Australian. I also happen to have been born into a Muslim family from Lebanon. It frustrates and saddens me to no end that so many people will apparently assume the worst of me because of circumstances so totally beyond my control. My "bloodlines" seem to have condemned me to this group of misinformed Americans.
Not that I think all Americans are misinformed, nor that only Americans are misinformed. Far from it. After all, it was only recently that the grossly ignorant, xenophobic and unbelievably racist Pauline "I'm not part of Asia" Hanson was a viable force in Australian politics. She rallied her base of fellow racists and was the darling of the media. She proved that Australia is still susceptible to racism, that we have by no means come to terms with our racist past and purged it from our collective psyche.
There is a very important difference however. Hanson appealed to a minority of the population. She did not run on the ticket of a major party, nor would she ever have had a shot of leading this country.
The people featured in the videos above were all on their way to a political rally of one of the two major political parties in America. The party that currently holds government. This is not a fringe group of marginalised, ignorant racists. These are the people that go crazy for Sarah Palin and leave the rally when it's McCain's turn to speak. These are the people that Palin proudly whips into a hate-filled frenzy when she accuses Obama of "palling around with terrorists" and when she (mis)informs them that Obama "does not see America like you and I see America". These are the people whom she does not correct or reprimand when they scream out things like "terrorist!" and "treason!" and "kill him!" when Obama's name comes up at her rallies.
This is not minority. This is the Republican base. This is a significant section of mainstream America. This is what Obama and even McCain himself are up against. These people are for Palin, not McCain but it could be they who propel McCain to power. And Palin right alongside with him. His second in command. The Vice President of America. The proverbial heartbeat away from being leader of the free world.
During the 2000 Republican primaries, the Bush campaign started rumours about rival Republican John McCain's adopted Bangladeshi daughter, claiming he had fathered an illegitimate black baby. In 2004 a group of Vietnam veterans calling themselves Swiftboat Veterans For Truth (a misnomer if ever I heard one) and allied with the Bush (again) campaign called John Kerry's war record into question, claiming he had lied about his activities and subsequent bravery medals. This incident, wiped out any chance Kerry had of winning that election and gave rise to the term "swiftboating" to describe the victim of a smear campaign.
But there is something about the current election that bothers me even more than the two examples above. Watch these videos:
The sheer ignorance and overwhelming hatred on display is staggering. The constant references to Obama's "bloodlines", the insinuations and flat out declarations that because he is Muslim he must be a terrorist are indicative of a people who still fear anyone who is not exactly like them. Even ignoring the fact that Obama is not actually a Muslim, does being a Muslim automatically make someone a terrorist? According the the people featured above it does. Why else do they keep bringing it up? Why else is so much focus placed on his middle name? Recently, at a rally McCain finally attempted to put out the anti-Obama flames of hysteria by referring to Obama as a "good person". When an elderly woman said she could not trust Obama "because he is an Arab", McCain shook his head and said, "no Ma'am. No Ma'am, he is a good family man". Sure it looked like he was defending Obama, but hold the phone just a minute, even though Obama himself is not an Arab, does that mean that the woman is right not to trust Arabs? I'm sure there are many Arabs out there who would be very surprised to discover that they are untrustworthy. And I am one of them.
Now I am an atheist. I am an Australian. I also happen to have been born into a Muslim family from Lebanon. It frustrates and saddens me to no end that so many people will apparently assume the worst of me because of circumstances so totally beyond my control. My "bloodlines" seem to have condemned me to this group of misinformed Americans.
Not that I think all Americans are misinformed, nor that only Americans are misinformed. Far from it. After all, it was only recently that the grossly ignorant, xenophobic and unbelievably racist Pauline "I'm not part of Asia" Hanson was a viable force in Australian politics. She rallied her base of fellow racists and was the darling of the media. She proved that Australia is still susceptible to racism, that we have by no means come to terms with our racist past and purged it from our collective psyche.
There is a very important difference however. Hanson appealed to a minority of the population. She did not run on the ticket of a major party, nor would she ever have had a shot of leading this country.
The people featured in the videos above were all on their way to a political rally of one of the two major political parties in America. The party that currently holds government. This is not a fringe group of marginalised, ignorant racists. These are the people that go crazy for Sarah Palin and leave the rally when it's McCain's turn to speak. These are the people that Palin proudly whips into a hate-filled frenzy when she accuses Obama of "palling around with terrorists" and when she (mis)informs them that Obama "does not see America like you and I see America". These are the people whom she does not correct or reprimand when they scream out things like "terrorist!" and "treason!" and "kill him!" when Obama's name comes up at her rallies.
This is not minority. This is the Republican base. This is a significant section of mainstream America. This is what Obama and even McCain himself are up against. These people are for Palin, not McCain but it could be they who propel McCain to power. And Palin right alongside with him. His second in command. The Vice President of America. The proverbial heartbeat away from being leader of the free world.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Current Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
and shame on Palin for encouraging racism!
Comment by Mandy
Love of Pop
Mandy
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I watched the debate today and have to say I was very impressed with the way Obama handled this issue when it came up. Cool as a cucumber.
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
We just get more press.
Me, I'm voting for Nader--as always.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I respect Ralph Nader's politics too.
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
But hey, only 9 more days to go, and Obama has a significant lead... Go team!