Dialog on Race Will be Difficult
William McKenzie, in The Dallas Morning News Opinion blog, posted an item explaining "Why Obama's good on race and why he should talk about it." McKenzie argues that "More than McCain, his biracial heritage gives him an unrivaled ability to talk to many different corners of America about race."
It occurred to me that ever since JFK's election, the issue of Catholic as president has been buried. The country is the better for it. If Obama is elected, the issue of African-American as president will be buried. The country would be the better for it.
Rod Dreher didn't see it that way. He believes "The last thing anybody in this country, black, white and otherwise, wants is an honest discussion about race."
This is a sad indictment of America. In effect, it says we're a nation of racists, white and black, and none of us want to overcome it. That's almost certainly hyperbole. I sincerely believe Obama himself wants an honest discussion about race. I sincerely believe that millions of others do, too, black and white. Sadly, there are many who don't. And, in public discourse, those who don't have veto power over those who do, by mocking, belittling, and shouting them down.
One reader's comment was "So McKenzie and Cognoski recommend Obama because he is black," in effect labeling as racist those who want to see a racial dialog and those who want to see America narrow its racial divide. No hope of discussion with that reader.
Another reader's comment was "Everyone who dares criticize [Obama] is immediately called racist," in effect making a sweeping denial of any and all racism. No hope of discussion with that reader.
Rod Dreher says, "I also believe that if Obama is president, any criticism of him will be framed by certain of his supporters as racist." Instead of looking to open a dialog with open-minded Obama supporters, Dreher takes aim at the closed-minded Obama supporters. No hope of discussion with Dreher, either.
If there's any positive in this, it's this. Once, "playing the race card" referred to white politicians signalling to voters to vote against a candidate because of his race. In a sign of progress, white candidates can no longer play the race card openly. Now, they are forced to do it subliminally, using code words and subtle images with plausible deniability as to meaning. And when the target of the racist message objects, the attacker accuses the victim himself of "playing the race card." Today, everyone at least pays lip service to the notion that "playing the race card" is bad. Maybe in another generation or two, they'll really mean it.
Perhaps wishing for an open and sincere dialog on race was too much to ask for. I don't recall the nation ever having an open and sincere dialog on Catholicism, but after JFK, Catholicism just wasn't an issue in Presidential politics anymore. Perhaps what we should wish for instead is a maturity where a dialog on race isn't necessary. We haven't reached that stage yet, but Barack Obama's historic candidacy holds out the hope that by the time the next African-American candidate is nominated, a dialog on race won't be necessary anymore.
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