Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
(Deep breath...)
Please bear with me, it will take a bit to get to my point... I was an enthusiastic early adopter of the internet. My head always in a book as a child, the internet was like having the world's library at home. But, for all my enthusiasm, I have also been a committed lurker. Never, ever, did I post a comment or a review.
Then along came Ricochet. It coincided with some other shyness issues in my life and so, I resolved to post at Ricochet. Not often, not gregariously. As I glance back over some of these posts, I am not, well, particularly proud of them. Dad gum, you people can write! Most of my posts qualify as 'well, hullo, Captain Obvious'-type posts or 'what were you thinking!?' posts. Still, I overcame my shyness and hesitancy to post on occasion. That's a step. I feel a part of this community and I have loved it. In fact, so much so, (don't tell my husband) it intrudes everyday upon my at-home job.
There are no specific conversations that I can point to, but Ricochet has convinced me that as a citizen, part of my responsibility is personal, one-on-one discussions with those in my periphery concerning the direction of our great nation. I've just had the opportunity to do just that by responding to a friend's facebook posting. He is a black pastor. The gist of his post was that the furor directed toward our president is because he is black. The emotion in George's post was hurt, anger, and protectiveness toward President Obama. My response:
"George, I hear the passion in your writing, I do. But (and I say this as one of the uninsured working Americans) the reaction to the health plan promoted by President Obama has nothing to do with his race. The reaction is to the federal takeover of US health care. In my opinion, command and control from the top of a system with 350+ million participants will be a disaster! It will make health care more expensive and less responsive. There are many other ways to deal with a problem that affects, what, 1/8 to 1/10 of our population?
There is nothing more a large contingent of our media and many in power in the US would like than to make the next presidential election based on race issues. IT WILL TEAR US ASUNDER. I ask you, as an old friend, a man of God, a brother in Christ, PLEASE don't go there. The libertarian and conservatives in our nation, of which I am one, have their focus on economic and constitutional issues. I can't speak for all obviously, but this is not a racial reaction, but a reaction based on economics and the structure of our government. And we can argue and disagree about those things all day long.
I am proud that we have elected our first black President. But, for me at least, the last time I thought about President Obama being black was on Inauguration Day. Isn't that the way we want it to be?
I hope this note will not change our relationship. I've thought about your post for two days and felt led to say this. I hope it is taken in the spirit in which it is offered. I thank you for posting. "
Why am I sharing this here? I imagine most of you reading this are thinking, well, yeah, I do that every day. But it is a big step for me! Maybe part of the reason is 'Hey, ma, look what I did!' But mostly, it is to ask for help with the communication, how to address my friend's emotional response.
Better stated, how do we, as Ricochetians, meet our black compatriots' emotional response to the rejection of President Obama's agenda?
(...a deep breath and post)
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Adam's point about trying to prove a negative is so true. The incident with your friend has happened to me several times as well. I've been to three Tea Party events (heard Fla governor Rick Scott, Herman Cain and Marco Rubio speak!). I honestly think the people I spoke with about the events presumed either I just hadn't noticed or was ignoring some racist activity.
May '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Aaron, I like Cas's point as well, to ask questions. I must remember this. And I can see what you mean about helping "to bypass pride". This is so true. Instead of being focused on driving one's point home, you can help the other see how you got where you are in your thinking. It may (inadvertently) open up insights into fissures in your own thinking, too.
Dec '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Oh, yes! I also want to suggest a response to folks who say the TEA Party is racist, especially the progressive Christians who say it. I challenge them to attend a TEA Party event. They usually laugh, but I don't. I keep a neutral expression and from now on, I'm going to add something about "witnessing" the truth.
After all, conservative Christians walk the walk at abortion clinics every day. If progressive Christians want to battle the evil of racism, they should confront it where they think they'll find it. They have a moral obligation. If they ever take up the challenge, they'll be stunned at what they see, or in this case, don't see. People will only have their thinking changed by confronting the undeniable truth.
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Great post!
For those who think opposition to Obamacare is fueled by racism, I offer a thought experiment: imagine instead of Obama, the President proposing it were a white, good ole boy Southerner. Would conservatives still oppose it?
But wait, we don't need to imagine it, because it already happened. It was called Hillarycare. And we opposed it then, too.
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Joseph Stanko: Great post!
For those who think opposition to Obamacare is fueled by racism, I offer a thought experiment: imagine instead of Obama, the President proposing it were a white, good ole boy Southerner. Would conservatives still oppose it?
But wait, we don't need to imagine it, because it already happened. It was called Hillarycare. And we opposed it then, too. · Sep 16 at 11:52am
Yeah, but that's just because we're sexists too Joseph.
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
Welcome to the deep end, Briar Ann.
You shouldn't feel intimidated. I comment on occasion and I haven't added anything to any conversation yet.
Yer response to the Pastor was very graceful too.
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
How about asking the same liberal friends how they feel about Clarence Thomas? Can they imagine him as president? What kind of policies would he promote as president? Because he is black, would they be all the more inclined to vote for and support any and all policies he would propose? If not, how could they defend themselves from the slur of racism?
May '11
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
The good pastor needs to understand that its just as racist to vote for someone because he's black than to vote against him for the same reason.
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet, What a Difference You've Made in My Life
I used to share your trepidation and shyness about posting, but I also recently broke out of the mold a little bit, finally sharing a post. I completely understand what you're talking about.
And that is a great post! You should be very proud of it.
I've been getting away from posting here again, and I have to remind myself of my pledge to put myself out there more, the pledge I made when I first started commenting here.
You're definitely not alone.