Mind Games Part IV
In 2008, a remarkable thing happened. As an unlikely candidate rose to the forefront of the Democratic Party, the tools which had served Republicans so well for the past 40 years were suddenly lacking. As Barack Obama gained momentum in his quest for the White House, the right unleashed an unprecedented storm of division and accusation against him that one only needs to hear key words to recall each effort: Pastor Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, and Acorn. Obama was accused of consorting with terrorists based on the flimsiest “connections” they could produce.
There was also a racial and religious undertone not far below the surface that was exploited among whites. He was afterall black, and a Muslim. No matter how many times Obama proclaimed his Christian faith, he was a Muslim, and still is in the eyes of many who have succumbed to careful manipulation by Right.
On November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama won a clear majority of the popular vote and more than twice as many electoral votes than his opponent. Could it be that America had grown tired of the politics of division and accusation? That would be a wonderful outcome, but it would only be wishful thinking to believe that things have changed, they haven’t.
From the day Obama took office, those on the right launched into a new campaign to defeat the new president. In fact, for the first time in history, the voices of the right, proudly proclaimed that they were literally committed to “make Obama fail.”
In the fall of this year, conservatives gleefully responded to the news that the United States failed in it’s quest host the 2016 Olympics in Chicago. They were elated at the news because Obama had personally spoke to the Olympic Committee in an effort to help secure the Olympics. To them this represented failure for Obama, and victory for them.
Our nation is faced with an economy that could be worse than the Great Depression, our young men and women are fighting wars in two nations, and millions of Americans are without health care. At a time when we need to pull together as a people, regardless of political or religious belief, we are more divided than ever.
There is hope. While it is sad to see our nation failing in so many ways, it is during those times when people begin to reach out to one another. Young people, in particular are reluctant to blindly accept the agenda from the right or left without thoughtful consideration.
The only way we will ever be able to rise above the politics of division and accusation is through reason and critical thinking. When we begin to question those who proclaim moral superiority, to fact check, to analyze, to thoughtfully consider, then the politics of division and accusation will lose much of its effectiveness.
There was also a racial and religious undertone not far below the surface that was exploited among whites. He was afterall black, and a Muslim. No matter how many times Obama proclaimed his Christian faith, he was a Muslim, and still is in the eyes of many who have succumbed to careful manipulation by Right.
On November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama won a clear majority of the popular vote and more than twice as many electoral votes than his opponent. Could it be that America had grown tired of the politics of division and accusation? That would be a wonderful outcome, but it would only be wishful thinking to believe that things have changed, they haven’t.
From the day Obama took office, those on the right launched into a new campaign to defeat the new president. In fact, for the first time in history, the voices of the right, proudly proclaimed that they were literally committed to “make Obama fail.”
In the fall of this year, conservatives gleefully responded to the news that the United States failed in it’s quest host the 2016 Olympics in Chicago. They were elated at the news because Obama had personally spoke to the Olympic Committee in an effort to help secure the Olympics. To them this represented failure for Obama, and victory for them.
Our nation is faced with an economy that could be worse than the Great Depression, our young men and women are fighting wars in two nations, and millions of Americans are without health care. At a time when we need to pull together as a people, regardless of political or religious belief, we are more divided than ever.
There is hope. While it is sad to see our nation failing in so many ways, it is during those times when people begin to reach out to one another. Young people, in particular are reluctant to blindly accept the agenda from the right or left without thoughtful consideration.
The only way we will ever be able to rise above the politics of division and accusation is through reason and critical thinking. When we begin to question those who proclaim moral superiority, to fact check, to analyze, to thoughtfully consider, then the politics of division and accusation will lose much of its effectiveness.
posted by Mark Moshay at Sunday, October 18, 2009
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