It's nasty. It's scary. But face it, it's not new – America was built on racism

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:



It's nasty. It's scary. But face it, it's not new – America was built on racism
Jimmy Carter's blast against Barack Obama's opponents was just, but the left too has problems with people of colour


Bonnie Greer
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 16 September 2009


When it comes to respect for former president Jimmy Carter's staunch and consistent anti-racist stance and his fearlessness in speaking what he considers to be the truth without fear or favour, I take a back seat to no one.

He has stated that much of the ire aimed at President Obama's healthcare reforms, his spending plans and other initiatives is based on racism, that there is an inherent sense in America that no African American should be president of the United States. Inherent?

Anyone over three years old knows the United States was built upon race, among other things, and that it remains utterly race-addicted on all sides. Sooner or later, race will always step forward and take a bow. But in the matter of calling opponents to President Obama racists, Carter needs to take the advice he gave to Hillary Clinton during last year's presidential primaries and "give it up".

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, you would have to have had a heart of stone not to laugh as the comment pages, the cable networks' politico-comedians, the blogosphere, the twitterati and 24-hour news feeds came alive as a result of Congressman Joe Wilson's boorish and crass outburst on the floor of the House during Obama's address last week. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/16/jimmy-carter-racism-barack-obama

[BlooInBloo]

1. Everybody knows it...

Fuck - I'm sick of saying it.

[MichiganVote]

2. America was built on justice INSPITE of racism

[bemildred]

3. And drugs. Don't forget the drugs.

Run, sugar, tobacco, and slaves, that's where the early money came from.

[Libertas1776]

4. Of course

racism played a huge part in the foundation and early years of our republic.

Much in the same way that racism played a part in the foundation of the British Empire. Racism against the Irish, the Indians, the Africans, the Asians, and so on in any part their empire reached. We only learn from the masters, after all.

[Ian David]

5. The country may have been built on racism, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGGckAc1rs

[marmar]

6. Good Gawd I hate that song.....