(Observer
April
2010
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Fear, Anger and Denial
by
B entley de B ardelaben
“Baby killer,” “ Reload,” and
“Hell no, you can’t,” are some o f
the phrases pronounced by con
servative Republican leadership
Randy Neugebauer (Texas), Sarah
Palin (Alaska) and John Boehner
(Ohio) about the passing o f Presi
dent O bam a’s health care reform bill.
Prior to its passage, openly gay Con
gressman Barney Frank (Massachusetts) was
called the “f ’ word. Even members o f the
Congressional Black Caucus were called the
“n” word, with one person, Emanuel Clever
(Missouri), being spat upon as members of
the Tea Party chanted, “Kill the bill!” through
the halls o f Congress. Sadly, M ichele
Bachmann (Minnesota) stated that because
there was no video or audio evidence o f such
incidents, the incidents never happened.
How ludicrous is that?
These constant hurls of insult, disrespect,
and threat to our nation’s African American
or gay American leaders by other voices of
leadership and their following have presented
a constant trek up the hill o f hatred for awhile.
As a person who has trained hundreds,
perhaps thousands, in cultural diversity
workshops, I believe that racism is a possible
underlying cause o f the recent insanity. I
have often wondered what will result from
people’s fear o f the changing demographic
landscape of the United States by 2040-2050.
After all, the media continues to hype these
projected changes: “Whites no longer to be
the majority by 2050.”
Since the election o f Barack Obama, we
have been told there was record turnout for
people o f color and the youth who helped to
make history. While that has seemed won
derful for some o f us, it angers, frustrates,
and incites others. Presidential candidate
Obama received more death threats, and
continues to receive more death threats,
than any other U.S. President. Simply stated,
racism is the cause for that.
It is not my intent to say that all European
Americans are racists. However, my profes
sional experience has taught me that most
European Americans do not have to think
about their skin color as the means
holding them back from accomplish
ing their dreams or desires. Unfortu
nately, this is not the case for people
of color, not one.
With a struggling economy, along
with constant barrage o f hate monger
ing from the right wing media and some
conservative legislative leaders, we may be
seeing only the beginning of a new trend.
It is my hope that we can begin to speak
openly and civilly about our anxieties. Other
JJnrtlanb QDbsenwr
Symptoms of America’s
changing majority
wise the waters ahead will be even more d i f f i
cult to navigate for our elected leaders. That
would not be good for any o f us, black, white,
brown, red or yellow skinned, for we all love
our country and are proud to be American.
Only together can we go through these
difficult times.
Bentley de Bardelaben is executive fo r
administration and communications fo r Jus
tice Ministries in the United Church o f Christ.
With a struggling economy, along with constant
barrage o f hate mongering from the right wing media
and some conservative legislative leaders, we may be
seeing only the beginning o f a new trend.
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