Man, I’m not even gonna wade into the healthcare debate. Honestly, it’s such a basic thing as far as nation building goes, so if you’re with it, cool, if not, there is something wrong with you. If you want an in depth discussion about something so basic, it will not be me.
I will say one thing that the entire healthcare debate has really brought out is the conversation about the ever present elephant in the room, racism. Personally, I enjoy talking to people, seeing different topics from different perspectives. And I’m always down for a good, lively discussion, but based on what I have been seeing, reading, and hearing, I’m not sure if that is possible when a black/brown person is involved. Even when one is the leader of the free world. To me, and most folks of color who have lived in America a large portion of their lives, we pretty know what it is. No, no one is yelling ‘nigger!’ at the top of their lungs (not on t.v. anyway). That would be too obvious, of course. The tipping point for me is how people who want to insult Obama immediately gravitate to the most horrid and despicable depictions America has offered in referencing Black folks. There is a consistency in the language and imagery of the arguments against the President that are indicative of the inherent bigotry that many have against him simply because of his color. And I really don’t even need to mention that outrageously disrespect comparison to history’s most infamous figures, Adolf Hitler. Still, I must say I do enjoy poking holes in peoples arguments as the continue to clutch at the taters of their reasoning when it is based on prejudice. And I think it is a good thing that all of this hatred is being exposed for what it is. Whether this will prompt our country to change it’s course, I’m not sure. But at the very least, people are talking.