Dear Sarah Palin and Republicans,
There's nothing perplexing to the American "others" -- or voices of exclusion -- unless you're referring to Tea Party or Republicans who spun a bunch of vicious lies and bigotry to win elections. Let's see, should I report those lies. No, I will not; there're more souls to search.
You wrote: "I just cannot believe that the majority of Americans believe that incurring more debt is good for the economy, for our children's future, for job creators. I just cannot believe that the majority of Americans believe that it's OK to ignore the constitution and not have a budget."
"It's a perplexing time for many of us right now."
The smart Americans aren't perplexed about what baffles you because they paid attention to mean divisions. We wanted to go forward -- not to lag behind -- to finish the economic crisis after they realized a president alone and one-term alone wouldn't fix it. We knew why we didn't get a budget and why the deficit is still high -- two wars, an economic, meltdown, etc. -- and we knew unemployment didn't skyrocket because President Obama took office in 2008. We may be hurting, unemployed, mentally and physically, chronically ill, and broke of all race, creed, religion, and color, but we don't lack hope or faith in possibilities.
We haven't reached the pinnacle of racial harmony, but we'll never get there if people in power influence this sordid racist history. And it doesn't matter whether any of you refute public comments as racist or not, we know, yes, we know that it is.
When Powell, former Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State in President Bush's first term, said he is more comfortable with President Obama and his administration than Mitt Romney on a host of issues, including his steady hand in foreign policy and the respect returned to America through Obama's leadership. When Powell, a distinguished military and political leader, endorsed Barack Obama, GOP's John Sununu suggested that Powell's 2012 campaign endorsement was motivated by race. I was infuriated but not appalled because of four years of blustering comments stereotyping African-Americans' vote was based on skin color as if we couldn't make sound political decisions. (I don't care what polls said; most of us decided these elections based on criteria used for white candidates)
Then a wind of wisdom blew through doors of our mind when Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former Colin Powell aide, responded by blasting Sununu defining his Republican Party as "full of racists."
"My party, unfortunately, is the bastion of those people -- not all of them, but most of them -- who are still basing their positions on race. To say that Colin Powell would endorse President Obama because of his skin color is like saying Mother Theresa worked for profit." Amen, amen. My sentiment, exactly.
Earlier in President Obama's tenure, President Carter warned Americans that racial factors contributed to Republican actions. (Our president believes in the greater goodness of everyone) They ran the football off course -- acting as if they have a God-given right, at the very least, voters' and taxpayers' permission to collect paychecks and keep seats warm. African-Americans knew that from Day One when Russ Limbaugh, conservative and hateful Talk Show host, announced in 2008 that he hoped the president failed. Congressional Republicans and upcoming Tea Party folk started plotting to rev up Americans against "Obama Care," and privately other issues, calling the signed and dried health care law everything but the devil from hades. Even when the Supreme Court lowered the pitch of voices, politicians vowed to "kill it dead" during the 2012 presidency primary, the general election, and in congressional battles.
Perhaps, Congessional amnesia trumped the facts about the "worst economy since the great depression" and denied any progress.
They lit an inferno deep within my soul. They claimed political differences, but I reject that cheap sale. There's something fundamentally wrong when you'd rather watch a country you claim to "love" crumble because of self-serving policies and destructive intentions. Abe Lincoln said, "Government by the people, for the people, of the people," but people power has hung outside the bowels of political inclusiveness and exclusiveness of the "others" outside political voices and their connections. (Unfortunately, others believe they are powerless)
Many of these others suffered through this campaign while listening and thinking about this maligning, disrespecting, discrediting, lying, fear of cheating through voting suppression or other means -- with political opposition counting on people's ignorance to propel GOPs into the White House. Oh, did I mention how covert and overt racism sunk spirits of many people who worked tirelessly to KO our shameful and sordid past?
News articles, TV programs, white voices and action on the streets perpetuated their anxiety by blatant uttering of the N-word and other racist language in addition to well-worn comments ingrained in weary minds: back to Africa, back to Chicago, take back our white House as if slaves didn't build it or if all presidents didn't live there, and a horrendous wish to bring back slavery. Anti-factions derided the Health Care Law and blatantly blasted medical care for the poorest with criticism of the undocumented. (a political shame before God)The pot boiled over, and these politicians and their supporters didn't care who they insulted or hurt. Older and younger American adults responded, "They want us all to die."
We're also perplexed to Mrs. Palin: Though all wealthy aren't opposed to the consideration, we're bewildered that wealthy Republicans don't feel obligation for Clinton-era tax cuts to lower the economic scaffold and soften the scalpel to slice the budget responsibly and fairly in reducing the deficit. We're baffled about the resurgence of deep-seated hatred. We're confused that after all the bloodshed for civil rights, we have voter suppression under the misnomer of voter fraud. We're confounded about the nay votes to equal pay, equal work for women, and about swollen anger over the right to equal opportunity and fairness to everyone. (Oh, by the way, if Obama Care opponents claimed unconstitutional then Republicans ought to know denying equality and justice for all IS still unconstitutional without a need for the Supreme Court ruling)
All Obama voters, I believe, honor colorblindness, not color consciousness, something that makes me proud to be an American, and I'm more proud today than ever. If only the rest of the country would wake up and close the canister of color consciousness with "equality and justice for all."
We're all in this Titanic. We'll all sink the country without a forward movement to equality and economic prosperity. Valuable lessons abound from the lessons of disasters -- 9-11, hurricanes, tornadoes and earth quake, and a tsumani when we work together without regard to party, religion, non-religious, class, skin color, gay or lesbian. We have outstanding opportunities if we work together and let go of political sabotage, bigotry, and pettiness. Party over people is the wrong direction whether you believe it or not. Party should never override the human race. You know that, don't you? If you don't I pray your faith will guide you.
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