On more than one occasion, I have been witness to racism incarnate concerning the upcoming Presidential Election. I"m GLAD that both a woman and an African-American are trying for the highest office in the land! Unfortunately, many blue-collar and Senior voters do not share my enthusiasm.
My Italian grandmother, who has a fifth-grade education and came to America during the Civil Rights Movement, hates Barack Obama. She has no idea what his plans for the country are, and she doesn't care. Granny is a sworn democrat....but she claims that she would rather see John McCain elected than have a black man in the Oval Office. "He go in office," she told me, "and WE go down and THEY own us."
This is appalling. I can't believe that a member of my own family could be so racist! I had hoped that the US vs. THEM mentality had disappeared, but it appears that I am mistaken. I don't think that any one race could or should rule this country (although I must admit that most of our politicians are white, male Protestants). I do not think that my grandmother's fears of white oppession are well-founded, but they seem to be prevalent in my geographical region.
Most of my family belongs to the working class, and so do most of their friends. I found, with horror, that most of them are also racist to a degree. On Super Tuesday, one of my uncle's friends was sitting at our kitchen table, enjoying a homemade dinner and bashing Barack Obama. When I objected to his inane rantings, he responded, "Why? Do YOU want a black man in the White House?"
If he's the right man for the job, then yes. And John McCain is going to keep the US in Iraq indefinitely, so it's a no for him...
Voting shouldn't be about color, it should be about the issues. I am registered to a particular party but I don't always vote in that party. It really bothers me when I hear someone say that they are voting for someone based on their color, what ignorance! I am pro-gun rights and pro-life so I vote based on who will support my views.
I too have an Italian grandmother who still is a bit racist when she speaks. However, she just can't help it. Imagine growing up where everyone actually believes that there is a difference between people because of their race. Unfortunately this is the case, and this ignorance is hard to correct while still being respectful to your grandmother. You ask when will this end? Well I see it ending. I see it ending in our young generation, where we have had the opportunity to be educated and taught to be understanding of each other, regardless of race. Eventually we will be grandparents, and slowly ignorant prejudice will slowly be reduced.
This is the main problem the democratic party has when it comes to gaining votes; it's members can be too exclusive. Unfortunately, the majority of America is too ignorant to understand the issues and policies that are brought up during an election. In past elections democrats, rather than trying to reach out to these people, have dismissed them because they are not intelligent enough. If you try and understand people rather than judge them, then they will be much more responsive to what you have to say.
Fortunately for America, Barack Obama has reached out to all kinds of people. The current Gallup poll has Obama up by 11%, which is absolutely overwhelming. He is not only leading in most of the swing states, but his campaign has even turned some traditionally republican states (such as North Carolina and Virginia) into toss ups. Even though there are exceptions everywhere where we see people being ignorant and racist, what Barack Obama has done so far is enough to say otherwise.