Shame, embarrassment, anger and disgust are just a few of the words that come to my mind as I observe the media’s continual negative and condescending reporting about Barack Obama. Once again I believe it comes back to inherent and ingrained racism.  Every segment of American society is tainted by racism that provokes reasonably sane people to do insane things. The media is supposed to be a filter so we the viewer, listener or reader can make their own conclusions, but has seemingly decided that we are not intelligent enough to determine if Barack is who he says he is.  I am skeptical and wary of the media because I observe them wielding their power to diminish ours.  How is it that everything Barack Obama does or says is interpreted by a majority of white pundits as arrogant and presumptuous or too presidential?  Why aren’t John McCain’s weekly radio addresses and his trips abroad determined to be too presidential? Why isn’t McCain receiving the same scrutiny and judged by the same standards as Obama?  Is McCain not black enough?

The Berlin speech given by Barack Obama on July 25^th should have given each of us a reason to be proud. An American son welcomed, embraced and celebrated in a foreign land yet treated as though he was one of their own. Instead of this being a good thing for the country and the world it has been twisted into a different event other than the one I viewed.  I now have some indication as to why news coverage is colored when it comes to Obama.  On July 28^{th the} George Mason University and The Project for Excellence in Journalism revealed that even though Obama received a majority of news coverage in the pass six months over 77% of that coverage was negative.  Seventy-seven percent!  What is wrong with this picture?  Could this much negative coverage be a co-incidence? I don’t think so.  You might not want to hear me say it, but it appears racism is once again stacking the deck to distort the truth. This has to stop, and it starts with each one of us saying NO. We must say NO to racism in our news, our courts and our schools. Say NO to racism in our politics and the coverage of our politics. NO, NO, NO!  To begin having our NO heard in unison please listen to the Berlin speech. Determine if you feel the same pride that I did as 250,000 people waving American flags hailed an American son? Tell me if you felt hope and belief rise up in your mind and heart thought long ago dead to politics?   Secondly hold the media accountable.  Take the time to learn the truth and fight the smears.  Write, call, e-mail, and let them know that false, misinterpreted and mean-spirited reporting will no longer be tolerated. To quote a young, gifted and black man whom I respect and admire, “This is our moment, the time is now and yes we can”

I had a clear vision when I initiated this site. I wanted a serious discourse about the difficult and hurtful issues of racism in America.  Let me be clear, prejudice is not racism.  Prejudice is an opinion or judgment that I believe every human being has about one thing or another. As we grow and learn, hopefully, we become less judgmental about people and life in general. Racism however, is an entirely different sort of prejudice and specifically applies to an individual’s race. Racism believes that race determines ones abilities, capacities, and rights as a human. Racism teaches that one race is inherently superior to another.  It is as much a part of American culture as it was in Hitler’s Germany. How painful it is to admit that I live in a country where hating another because of race can still be so polarizing, and is alive, and well.

I underestimated how uncomfortable the subject of racism would be to you the reader. I am hopeful as I continue to engage in this conversation that the discomfort will give way to a willingness to share your insights.

We are living in historic times. It is an opportunity to put the worst of who we have become as a country due to racism to rest, and give rise to the greatness of liberty, justice, and freedom owed to every citizen. For the first time in the history of this divided country a black man, Barack Obama, is running as the democratic nominee for president of the United States of America. What joy and confusion.  Since his nomination, the subtle and pointed racial over tones are permeating what we read, see, and hear.

The weekend of July 12^th Jesse Jackson was caught on a hot mike disparaging Barack and the black race. More recently it was revealed he used the “N” word also known as nigger to refer to African Americans at large. Let us not be hoodwinked into thinking racism is only one sided.  Jesse reminds us all that ignorance and prejudice are equal opportunity shortcomings. Monday, July 14, 2008, the cover of The New Yorker Magazine (7/21 issue) slapped me upside the head. The cover depicts Barack and Michelle Obama portrayed satirically by every lie and myth that dogs his presidential bid. It was racist, sexist, and harmful. The freedom of speech justification seems trivial versus the cover that validated what so many people believe.  I whipped off a letter to the New Yorker expressing my displeasure. I am requesting that you do likewise.  As soon as I mailed my letter, I caught a snippet of The View on July 17^th. There is a hot exchange between Whoopi and Elizabeth, co-hosts of the show, about the “N” word. I can’t believe that we still have so far to go. We are besieged by an economy gone amuck, failing banks and mortgage companies, a president and congress seemingly out of touch with the constituency it purports to serve and it is each other we are attacking.  Distract, disturb and divide the people. Confusion, blame and emotions will destroy any notion of order and rationality about the real issues and culprits. Add the race card, and behold you have the recipe for nothing. Nothing happens, nothing changes and everyone loses.  I am asking us to stop. It is time to hear with our hearts and see with clear eyes. If we are not willing to tackle this cancerous issue, the racism that affects us all, we all lose. The time is now what do you have to say?

Fourth of July was different for me this year.  Celebrating the independence of our country rang hollow. The liberty, justice and freedom celebrated since 1776 has lost its significant and magnificence. The pride and celebrations of prior Fourth of July celebrations compelled the patriot in me to stand at attention saluting my country. This year the fireworks and revelry fizzled in the darkness.  What I will remember this Fourth of July 2008 is the smear of oil that covers our flag and the blood dripping from it. What I will remember is the hurt and harm did to the thousands of troops and their families who have, and are still paying, the ultimate price.

I currently reside 16 miles from Fort Hood Texas.  The lives of troops and their families affected by this unjust war is collateral damage that is sucking the life out of them and out of this country.  My community is filled with children left parentless. There is no consideration given for them as they watch both parents sent into combat zones. The schools are wrought with emotional and psychological problems from once happy children now tormented by fear, anger and anxiety. Where is the independence in this? On any given day I meet someone who is now a widow or widower, a parent who has lost their son or daughter. Where is the independence in this? I pull into the gas station and see families of the troops who gave their limbs and life struggle to put fuel in their cars. Where is the justice?  I hear the stories of delayed benefits, substandard medical care and the stigma that haunts returning troops who dare to complain. Where is the freedom?  I walk down the aisles of the commissary and the PX and shake my head in shame at the continual increases in groceries and merchandise.  Once a star in the crown of the military these two places helped military families live a better quality of life.  The corporate practices of cutting hours and benefits of employees while rewarding management is now common practice. No regard for the customer or the troops that return with less then they left with. Where is the justice or independence?

This Fourth of July was different for me. Dependence on big oil, recession, cherry picking of my human and civil rights through the patriot act, desertion of the troops and their families who serve this country as they go without the basic necessities and the erosion of respect for America around the world has snuffed out the fireworks.

The memory of a holiday that stood for justice and liberty of all has been sullied by a rough administration and its policies. Will Fourth of July ever be the same?

What do you think and what do you think we can do to fill the skies once again with fireworks that set our hearts afire with freedom and justice for all?