The other day I was in the operating room and was opining about the unrest in Egypt. I was criticizing BO because when the world's arch enemy Achmadinejad experienced an uprising by his people, the US government was nowhere to be found. Yet, when our ally, Mubarak, was presented with the identical dilemma BO was the first to demand his stepping down. Another example of treating the enemy favorably while treating friends harshly. I commented that BO either had an agenda that would explain these reactions or he was completely incompetent.
The problem was there was a black scrub nurse present at the time and afterward I felt uneasy having criticized the president while he was in the room. Was I being racially insensitive by criticizing our president with a black man in the room? Should I have considered his feelings before going off on BO? Why should I feel discomfort discussing my president in a room with a black man? I should say, he never said anything, smirked, or gave any indication that he disapproved. He performed his job professionally, as usual, without any indication of disagreement. Yes, this was all in my head but why did I feel this discomfort?
I tried to do a little role reversal and imagined what if the president was a Jewish man. If everybody in the room was black and I was the only Jewish guy would I feel bias if the doctor started going after this Jewish president's policies? I think the answer is that I would and thus I feel badly for having put this man through that situation. But it is an emotional response, since logic would dictate that anyone should have the freedom to comment on presidential policy regardless of their race or the race of others in the room.
In any case I think black people support BO for the same reason that Jewish people would support a Jewish president. Both situations are intellectually shortsighted but emotionally understandable. I would like to think that I would not support a Jewish candidate who had opposing views to my own but I have not been presented with that option. But the fact some people support candidates solely for their religion or color is racist and discriminatory even though it is a positive action. It is a candidates opinions and stance on policy that should guide voters.
So I criticized a black president in front of a black individual while i suspect he supports BO solely for the color of his skin. Who is the real racist?
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I think the emotional feeling stems from a sense of 'responsibility'. When one belongs to a minority/group the members of a group feel somewhat responsible for one another.
ReplyDeleteThe same concept is applicable to Bernie Madoff or even the Chasidic Jews who try and separate themselves from society. One feels responsible from the reputations of the group he/she belongs to.
You are the racist! Not because you disagree with the actions of BO. The racism stems from assuming that the black scrub nurse has to be a supporter of BO which he very well may not be. Further the suggestion that the only reason he would support BO is due to the color of his skin is a reflection of racism. You may vote for a Jew because he is a Jew and not because you share his political beliefs but not every Jew would do the same. The expression of democracy and freedom by the youth of Egypt should be embraced. Just because M was an ally in the past does not mean he has not overstepped now. BO did the right thing on this one. Maybe he steps up in Iran when the time is right.
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