No. 24: A Media Double Standard
November 25th 2008 20:17
Which way to turn?
Racism is wrong -- period! It is despicable. I do not believe in it, I do not practice it, and I try to help people understand that it is based on ignorance, initiated and propelled, by a dubious fear of the unknown. Now, with that having been said, please read more.
Admittedly, Southern people have had a sordid record for admonishing bias toward others. It still exists, but White racism appears to be dying in the South -- even though it still may be years before total acceptance is across the board.
Further, most Americans seem to think that bigotry is regional. For example: In the past, many felt that it was only the "backward" people of the South who harbored such tendencies. That was until the northern city burnings of the 1960's civil rights era , and the Boston school protestations of the 1970's. It was not until the late 1990's that this sickness reared its ugly head to me so overtly once more. While participating in a discussion with friends in upstate New York, I was shocked to hear how racist most were even at that late a date in history. People opened up to me and said bigoted things I had not heard since I was a child in the 1950's.
Folks, prejudice knows no geographical boundaries. It exists between religious and/or ethnic groups in India, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Russia, the Balkans, Palestine, Indonesia, China, and South America, and yes, all over America. It is, however, still wrong and impedes the hopes of billions that mankind will someday live in total harmony.
Back to the U.S.-- all I hear and see on the major television networks, radio, and, naturally CNN, is that we have the "First Black President." Why do they say this when 1) it is not true*, and, 2) It is racist and should not be an issue to start with? After all, have not the media been preaching for over 50 years that we should be color blind? It is as though they want to take our minds back to a more ignorant and less tolerant time. Is it possible many in our mainstream media are actually biased themselves and are trying to cover it this way?
It is a double standard for the media to correctly tell us not to be prejudiced, then turn around and espouse the very racism they professed to abhor.
Good, responsible, advanced, people do not care one's color or ethnicity. The media would be well advised to consider that their remarks and biases are revealing by the patterns they set, and these patterns can come back to bite them in the buttocks, figuratively, but painfully.
Please keep it between the lines.
*For the record only--Barak Obama is half White, a portion Arabic and a portion Black.
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Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Comment by Anonymous
The issue should not even have been brought up by the media in the first place if we are to be accepting of all people whether Black, White, Asian, Red, male or female. To think otherwise is a reverse form of racism.
To go around tabulating chronological events mathematically is, once again an attempt to play a game. There is no end to this game once it is started. For example you could say, "One has the first dog or first cat, first auto accident, etc." The office of the Presidency is much too important to reduce discussions to color, possessions, gender, etc. We should look at the person and his/her platforms, not the color or the order of sequential placements.
I stand by my comments.
Edward Allen
Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Talking too much about the problem (and it still is a problem for some people in this country) will arguably make it worse, but not talking about the problem won't solve it. At least it seems that way to me.
Comment by Anonymous
First of all, thank you for reading and making your comments known. I appreciate both.
You are right, talking about it so much does make it worse. I am only attempting to put it into perspective so that perhaps the issue WILL go away.
But let us not be fooled, this little blog post is like dropping a grain of sand into Lake Victoria. It will not even make a ripple.
May life bring you good health and prosperity.
Comment by S.L.
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