I'm writing this post, in part, as a response of what we have seen in America these last few weeks.
Whether you realize it or not, there is much racial unrest in the country right now. And many fear for the future of America.
The reality is that racism, whether blatant or hidden, has been prevalent for years in America. Whether it was the Irish who came to our shore in the early twentieth ceuntry, or the massive droves of slaves stolen from their homes and shipped thousand of miles away, some form of racial tension has always been present. Currently there are several multiracial tensions before our collective eyes, including both the black and Hispanic community.
This is a hard fact for many Americans to accept. Many want to pretend that there isn't unrest here in the good ole USA. I mean after all we are America. We are the greatest country in the world, masters of our domain and rulers over all we see. When a country needs help, we send troops or aid because we are "America" and we are "awesome." When the Olympics come every four years, some of our athletes thump their chests while proudly wearing the flag as a cape, seemingly portraying visions of a superhero.
The harsh reality is that American is not as great as some would like to think. Children are killing each other; both physical and sexual abuse occur daily within our golden shores. Many have lost the respect for authority, in part fueled by years of misappropration of funds and policital corrutpion. May will say we are the greatest in the world, but if the reality of death that currently surrounds us raises too many challenges to our greatest for it to be true.
For several years know, I've followed several topics, including immigration. Thanks to social media, WITHOUT FAIL, every time an article is posted, questioning what is to be done with those here, both legally and illegally, entitled White America reels their collective head. Whether it's the image of a young many burning an American flag, or an oped on the Hispanic community, their "patriotic sentiments" come spewing forth. I am both constantly amazed and embarassed at the hate portrayed in their speech. They denounce the homosexual and berate him for his sexuality, using vitriolic words to support their "love" of America. They berate the illegal alien, who is hear working to prevent their family from dying of starvation, calling them names and telling them they do not belong in "their" house. They make fun of the Asian liquor store owner, or the 7-11 clerk whose skin color and speech are different than yours.
Sometime time ago, I was talking with a co-worker. He was, or I should say is, from the US, who professed his love of America and the Seattle Mariners. He would comment, quietly of course, that he didn't like black people, and that people with tattoos were not to be trusted. I listened to him because, well I had to as he was a supervisor until one dayI just couldn't take it anymore.
In front of me, I saw in part what is wrong with our country. The hate, the prejudice,the old school mentality. Refusing to accept things for what their current state, always wishing we could go back to the better days. When America was so white that even our apple pie tasted better. I had heard this long enough and finally had had my fill. I looked him squarely in the eyes, and with the calmes of tones said.
"The white America you think you knew does not exist anymore."
And furthermore, it never did.
The history of early U.S. exploration is well documented all across the land. Early explorers in hope of new lands free from religious persecution, brought hope aas well as sickness from Eurpoe as they arrived in the new land. Over time they kicked out the then inhabitants of the land, and forced them to live in groups. They escaped religious persecution only to institute racial prejudice in favor of a better tomorrow.
But your average red white and blue American chooses to ignore that. Rather they prefer to thump their chest, proudly proclaiming to be part of great America. They bash the media, they bash liberalism and anything that challenges their point of view. If you don't agree, then leave their country because the USA is not the place for you.
Such bigotry was not the intent of the founding fathers that White America so proudly supports. George Washington said in a letter to a Hebrew congregation, "The citizens of the United States of America have the right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and communities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were by the indulgence of one class of citizens that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support." Entitled White America - even the father of our country denounces your ways.
An even greater offense, however, is the degradation of human sacrifice made by the members of our military. Whether white or black, or yellow or red, straight or not, if you live in America - someone died for you to live freely today. Free to live in a nation absent of prejudice, hate, or fear. They died for their American, and their America is supposed to be great.
When you choose to be hateful, to be prejudice, to promote an elitist American mindset, you do the greatest of disservice to our brothers and sisters who died so that we may live. When you refuse to recognize the brokenness of our current immigration system, you belittle their sacrifice. Shame on you. I'm sure they were very proud of the colors of their country. And I'm not talking about the red, white and blue. I'm talking about red, yellow, black, and brown.
Upon the eve of election, I am saddened. We are in a sorry state of affairs. The choices for presidential candidates presented before us would be humorous if it all wasn't so tragic. Yet the reality is, no matter how many promises are made, the form of our government prevents one man or woman from changing so much.
And our government is at a gridlock because many Americans struggle with their national identity. So many have yet to accept the truth as they go to the store and are in a restaurant with their friends. As they drive along the highway, or stop to see our national landmarks, there is one prevalent truth:
White America does not exist.
And it never has.
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