Clarence B. Jones wrote an article for Huffington Post. Clinton vs. Obama: Lest We Forget
He discussed the racial overtones that have been needlessly injected into the battle for the nomination for president, as well as a perceived struggle between race and sex discrimination. He talked about the life's message of Martin Luther King, Jr, his impact on us all and how we should be continuing in the path of tolerance and understanding.
Here are a few of my own thoughts...
It's too bad we even have to have this discussion. Many have devoted and even sacrificed their lives to make this a better country. We stand in their shadow and reap the rewards, yet we wear their suffering on our sleeves as if it were our own. Some are quick to offend and others take offense easily. The rest of us range from simple voyeurs to tag team slugging partners. Whether racist, sexist, religious or any other form, bias is ugly.
It shows up in many ways, too. Outright discrimination and abuse, crude jokes, slanderous speech, insensitivity, indifference. But also crying race as a tactic, harboring resentment for things that didn't happen to us personally, overgeneralizing and even celebrating one's race or working to advance one against another.
As long as we tolerate bias, we'll always be "us vs them." Instead of focusing on color, ethnicity, sex, lifestyle or other differences we should be working together to be better neighbors, citizens, Americans.
Beautiful walls are made by blending hues, not by throwing on colors that compete for attention. Our country is a grand melting pot. We can come together in a fine way, or continue to promote our differences as uneasy tenants and enemies. In which case the sacrifices of our forebearers will have been for nothing.
