The American Far-Right: Guerilla Racism
Malcolm X once said, “I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, than for one who comes to me as an angel, but is nothing but a devil.” Powerful words that best describe the current situation in 21st century America; a phenomenon that has been quietly built by the American far-right since the late 80’s and has come to a head with the election of Barack Obama, permeating not only the right-wing media but the mainstream media as well. This phenomenon is something I like to call “guerilla racism”. Guerilla racism is comprised of a number of tactics, all of which are currently being directed at President Obama, but have far-reaching implications in American race relations. From comparing Obama to Hitler (anecdotally, most Europeans I...
The GOP, racism and the “Birther” movement: circling the bowl?
There was a lot going on in the world of US politics that I could comment on; the health care debate, the ongoing Dick Cheney-CIA-torture saga, Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination, etc. However, two specific topics have seriously captured my attention in the last few weeks and have compelled me to comment on them; the so-called “birther” movement, and the notion that Barack Obama is a racist, two theories that are dominating the right-wing media machine and Republican politics, both started by the radical fringe of the Conservative movement. Has the GOP been taken over by the lunatics, and will this takeover kill this once great political institution? According to a recent poll, only 42% of Republicans believe that President Obama was born in the US,...
The American Conservative: I Like My Chicken Fried
As the battle for America’s political soul rages on, I’ve noticed one thing about the conservative movement (at least among those conservatives in the media) that really didn’t hit me until recently, with the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. From Rush Limbaugh’s declaration that he wants the President to fail, because of his fear of what Obama’s policies will do to the country; to their opposition of gay marriage, out of fear for the “sanctity of marriage”; to their fierce opposition to the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, out of fear that terror suspects will be released into the general population; to their fear of calling waterboarding what it is (torture), to their opposition to an assault weapons ban,...
How the US Torture Scandal Has Altered My Political Thinking
For years I’ve considered myself politically “left of center”; a progressive / liberal on social issues, pretty much a moderate on fiscal issues. I tend to support politicians who have reasonable positions on issues, regardless if they’re Democrats, Republicans or Independents. The current debate about whether or not the US committed acts of torture in the name of national security, however, has really made me rethink my political leanings. As I’ve stated in the description of my website, I’m a political junkie. I watch the news every day on TV and online; When I read the newspaper, I always start with political stories; I listen to the news updates every hour on the radio; I talk to anyone and everyone who is willing to hear me out regarding...
