Racism, But No Racists?

There is no denying it...no pretending it’s only isolated incidents, racism is alive and well in America.

For those that are not blinded by their own ideology, there are mounting ugly expressions of racism and bigotry around us that are occurring with alarming frequency. Under the white hood of online anonymity some propagate their own brand of racism as they breed hatred and intolerance within internet comments. Instead of taking responsibility for their statements they claim instead to be defending freedom of speech and with that twisted logic they falsely demand that they have the right to voice intolerance.

Their claim that the expression of bigotry is somehow protected by the First Amendment quickly becomes transparent and hollow, leaving them with the meager defense that those that point out their racism are “race baiting”. It is not, nor was it ever “race baiting “to stand against racism and intolerance in this country. Standing against racism, marching against racism, protesting against racism, is part of our legacy to the world. America stands for equality; America protects the dignity of all people regardless of gender, race, or religion.

Moderators at news websites usually delete individual racist comments but the expression of hate filled bigotry has become so prevalent that moderators are often forced to take down an entire thread. A growing number of newspapers disable an entire comments section beforehand if the article in any way relates to topics such as affirmative action or Planned Parenthood that consistently draw unashamed bigotry. These topics in particular open an online window for anonymous racial comments.

The opportunity for online anonymous comments empowers racism and that is why if any person chooses to comment on a news site they should use their full name, therefore removing the hood that hides their identity.

The danger of racist comments is that words coupled with hatred have the ability to generate action. Over the month of October, one ugly racial incident after another has occurred.  Beginning in early October an anti-President Obama campaign rally in Santa Clara, California, featured clear racial undertones, including a noose, watermelons and a sign that read "Go back to Kenya [1]."

A few days later, Jason Thompson, campaigning for his father, a Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate, echoed the same statement when he told followers at a rally that, “We have the opportunity to send the President back to Kenya”. [2] Then on October 12,  a shot was fired into the window of President Obama’s Campaign Headquarters in Denver, Colorado [3], and finally on October 18, someone spray-painted swastikas on at least one window of President Barack Obama's campaign office in Conifer, Colorado [4].

The emotional nature of this national election has pushed some to step over the racial line into open expressions of hatred and bigotry. President Obama has adamantly remained above the fog of petty racial slings, but as a nation, we will need to examine the real consequences of racism when that fog clears and the emotions of this campaign fade. But one fact is becoming clear; we have won important battles in the fight for equality, but not the war.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/14/jason-thompson-obama_n_1965692....

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-usa-campaign-thompson-idUSBRE89E18D20121015

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/13/shot-denver-campaign-obama/1631125/

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Swastika-painted-on-Obama-campaign-office-in-Colo.html