"I voted for Obama" = "Some of my best friends are black"?

[knowledgeispwr]

I'm enthused by Obama's candidacy, and he, along with John Edwards, are my top two choices for president. I think Obama's win in Iowa is really positive.

That said, I think some are putting a little too much on Obama's candidacy. I've seen some state (in all seriousness) that if Obama became president, then that would mean that America has "overcome" racism and that it would basically be no longer an issue.

I find that view naïve. Prejudice and racism would still exist, just as surely as sexism would still exist if Clinton were elected. I feel that some people, especially those who see Obama as "one of the good ones," will use voting for him as an excuse for prejudiced beliefs/actions/statements, just as people now say "some of my best friends are X."

Let's be clear, I am not saying that America isn't ready for black president. I believe we are more than ready, just as I believe we're ready for a woman president (or any other group X president). I think there is a pretty good chance we'll have a woman or black president in 2009. I'm just saying it doesn't mean our racial and sexism problems are over.

I do think Obama and Clinton's candidacies are great for the US, because, at the very least, they are forcing us to confront issues of race and sex which are still important. Anyone who doesn't see that should only look around DU and find the thinly disguised racist and sexist prejudice shown against Obama and Clinton right here on this democratic message board.

[bluestateguy]

1. "Oh don't give me that 'racist' crap. My husband and I gave money to Colin Powell"

-Line from the movie Cruel Intentions, 1999.

[knowledgeispwr]

2. Heh, I didn't see that movie...

but that's the same sorta thing I'm talking about.

:hi: