Dear Editor,
President Obama's re-election signifies a sea change in many social issues, not the least of which is race relations. Notwithstanding his overwhelming support in the Latino demographic and almost total support among African Americans, Obama was strongly supported by tens of millions of white voters who supported issues important to them, and in so doing stung the Super Pacs and conservative millionnaires where it hurt - in the pocket.
Contributions to Mr Romney of as much as US$100 million may as well have been used to light up bonfires where at least tasty marshmallows would have been made available.
The United States of America's social strength lies in its exemplary Constitution, drafted in its overarching form by men under the gun - men who knew that the Unilateral Declaration of Independence would have cost them their lives if the British Armed Forces had prevailed against the rag-tag militias and citizen fighters the States could muster. And so, the paradox: Even while these laudatory strikes for freedom were taking place, slavery was widespread and a prominent founding father Thomas Jefferson even owned slaves himself.
Virulent, violent racism existed in early America and even in the post-Civil War era, but like the Ten Commandments in spiritual life, the Constitution and ideal of a classless society of freemen were always there.
The re-election of President Obama is still viewed with resentment by some rich whites accustomed to traditional pre-eminence and knee-jerk racists who have no other means of expressing their "self-worth". But clearly times are changing for this great country. In time it may well become the first largely classless, largely racism-free society in human history.
Cathy Brown
cathy291181@yahoo.com
US may well become classless, racism-free
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President Obama's re-election signifies a sea change in many social issues, not the least of which is race relations. Notwithstanding his overwhelming support in the Latino demographic and almost total support among African Americans, Obama was strongly supported by tens of millions of white voters who supported issues important to them, and in so doing stung the Super Pacs and conservative millionnaires where it hurt - in the pocket.
Contributions to Mr Romney of as much as US$100 million may as well have been used to light up bonfires where at least tasty marshmallows would have been made available.
The United States of America's social strength lies in its exemplary Constitution, drafted in its overarching form by men under the gun - men who knew that the Unilateral Declaration of Independence would have cost them their lives if the British Armed Forces had prevailed against the rag-tag militias and citizen fighters the States could muster. And so, the paradox: Even while these laudatory strikes for freedom were taking place, slavery was widespread and a prominent founding father Thomas Jefferson even owned slaves himself.
Virulent, violent racism existed in early America and even in the post-Civil War era, but like the Ten Commandments in spiritual life, the Constitution and ideal of a classless society of freemen were always there.
The re-election of President Obama is still viewed with resentment by some rich whites accustomed to traditional pre-eminence and knee-jerk racists who have no other means of expressing their "self-worth". But clearly times are changing for this great country. In time it may well become the first largely classless, largely racism-free society in human history.
Cathy Brown
cathy291181@yahoo.com
US may well become classless, racism-free
-->