I’m disappointed in my country today...

I love my country, but I’m disappointed.

I’m disappointed in my country today.

In 2008, the people of the United States of America elected
its first President of African-American descent, and since then the office of
the President has been under siege under the guise of “principle disagreement.”

• Was it principle disagreement that caused Congressman Joe Wilson to call out, “You lie!!!” in the middle of a health care speech by President Barack Obama?
• Was it principle disagreement that caused Senator Jim Sensabrenner to openly discuss the posterior size of the first lady?
• Was it principle disagreement to have created a bumper sticker that says, “Don’t Re-Nig In 2012”? Paula Smith, the purveyor of said bumper stickers, says that the slogan isn’t racist. Really???

I’m disappointed in my country today.

I don’t believe any of these things would have taken place had the President been Caucasian, but that’s not why I’m disappointed in my country today. It’s not like people in America haven’t disagreed on heady topics for decades—abortion, affirmative action, health care, and gay rights have long been topics that have been split along cultural, demographic, and party lines. Somehow, though, Americans have managed to plod along and evolve views over time.

But race…race continues to be THE topic among all others that continues to be the most incendiary. Comedian Chris Rock said it best in stating, “I love Black people, but I hate N----s!” If you haven't heard Chris’ emphatic rant, it's a must see. In fact, it still makes me laugh today, and then I realize how sad it is that so much of what he said in 1996 is still true.

The real trouble, as I see it, is that there continues to be a segment of our society—Black AND White—that see all Black people as N----s regardless of how educated African Americans become, regardless of how much in taxes African Americans pay, regardless of how many people African Americans help and employ, and regardless of how many contributions to society African Americans make. But even that is not why I’m disappointed in my country today.

I’m not disappointed because of our inability to legislate morality. I understand and accept that, because the boundaries of morality are filled with discourse. No, I’m disappointed today because despite all of the progress and sacrifice of those that have come before us, we—the collective
“we”—haven’t managed to eradicate ignorance, stupidity, and bigotry. Sure, we've put a dent in it, but this country still has major body work to do to get to that societal concours de' elegance.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

I’m disappointed because in 2012, a young man who happens to be African American was shot in a state with an inane “Stand Your Ground” law, and all anyone can talk about is how blacks are perceived in a hoodie. Last I checked, the “hoodie” was a noun that effectively described 80% of Bill Belichick’s wardrobe during the NFL season.

I’m disappointed because the loss of Trayvon Martin has become a referendum on an article of clothing that 99% colleges sell in college bookstores across America, and amazingly no one fears a college student in a hoodie.

I’m disappointed because Conservative talk radio hosts continue their hate speech and insist that had the shooter also been African American, the same “consideration” would be given and the shooter would not be arrested while the investigation commenced. Really???

I’m disappointed in--No, outraged by the fact that--my country that has a police force that didn’t think enough to contact the parents of a young boy shot in their community who had a cell phone. A cell phone! Let's see: Phone Menu --> Contacts --> Mom (or Dad or Home). That (and some common sense) should have taken all of five minutes to contact the victim's parents, NOT three days.

I’m disappointed in my country because there are those that continue to quibble that the accused shooter in the Trayvon Martin case is Hispanic, not White. Like that makes a difference? The boy is still dead and the shooter is free.

I’m disappointed in my country because in my heart I believe that had an African American man
a) Proclaimed himself the head of a community watch,
b) Disobeyed directions from police (on tape) to, “stop following the ‘suspicious’ youth,” and
c) Gunned down a young man (or girl) that was not African American…

The. Response. Would. Have. Been. Different. So, yes, race absolutely plays a part in the world view of how this tragedy is perceived.

I’m disappointed in my country because there are those who are naïve enough to believe that such a reverse scenario would not take place, when in fact, it already has.

Beyond the tragedy, which is bad enough, I’m disappointed in my country that has “Stand Your Ground” laws in 21 states, and fails to recognize the significance of the fact that the number of justifiable homicides has more than doubled in less than five years!

I’m disappointed in my country because I fear for the lives of my sons and yours. I’m disappointed in my country because I thought we—the collective “we”—had more sense and sensibility.

I love my country, but I’m disappointed.

I’m disappointed in my country today.

I pray that those of you who have sons, regardless of race, color, creed, nationality, sexual orientation, or religious belief, have healthy, well-educated young men. I pray our sons be treated with consideration and I pray that they grow to be men of integrity, men who respect differences, and men who live with dignity and honor. And most of all, I pray that our sons never come across the wrong individual in a “Stand Your Ground” state. Amen.

‘Nough Said,
+THINKER