The fear, racism, and hatred now being exhibited toward Latinos and Muslims in America is part of the same right wing nativist mentality so much a part of American history!
In the past, it was Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Jews, and Catholics who suffered from such despicable mistreatment! Sadly, much of that same mistreatment often exists for members of these groups.
There seems to be something in the American psyche that we need to place our fears, racism, and hatred on one different group after another, and often it is people of earlier groups who have been discriminated against, who end up mouthing and mimicking much of the same behavior, sort of like the psychological trick known as “transference”.
This author has heard people who have voiced disgraceful statements and prejudice toward people of Spanish ancestry, and of the Muslim faith, stereotyping whole groups of people, rather than making judgments based on behavior of individuals!
Only education and good parental upbringing can overcome this promotion of fear, racism, hatred, and stereotyping, but unfortunately, there is so much work that needs to be done in this regard!
Hello Professor,
Today this racism has become so prevalent and so jaded that it is now accepted as normally blatant for an Independence Day Parade in Norfolk, Nebraska.
I posted a piece on this last night as I was so appalled. The good news is that this act has backfired against not only the parade organizers but for the City of Norfolk too.
It is tilted, “Obama and Presidential Library†Independence Day Parade Float
https://mindsandtimes.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/obama-and-presidential-library-independence-day-parade-float/
This 4th of July parade in Norfolk, Nebraska featured a flatbed, blue pickup truck with an outhouse and the words “Obama†and “Presidential Libraryâ€.
This demonstration of tastelessness is NOT a BANNER OF CLEVERNESS but an ENSIGN OF IGNORANCE.
Parade organizers with the local Odd Fellows lodge said, “the float was the most popular ones in the event and received an honorable mention award”.
What an appalling statement and to think someone thought this was a viable justification of this despicable act!
I will comment that the Odd Fellows as a whole are a honorable group much like my own Freemason Brothers, but this Norfolk local lodge should be disbanded along with those who approved this float, should be thrown out of their organization in reprimand, and disgust.
I am calling out the Odd Fellows to act honorable to do so.
On the counterpoint, I am pleased to pass on that the Obama “Outhouse Float” sparked a political firestorm across the nation. The disrespect for the office stands paramount far beyond the man holding the position. There is a level of respect for the office of the Presidency which should not be crossed…and the citizens of Norfolk cleared this disrespectful bar level in their streets shoes.
The Omaha World-Herald reports receiving several emails from people upset about the float, including one person who said that it was wrong to allow this sort of image to be displayed at a July 4th parade.
Those citizen’s of Norfolk who pointed and laughed at the float, seeing it as humor instead of finding the distastefulness in the act, displayed the deteriorating of our society. I will lay the direct blame for this at the feet of Conservative Talk Radio and Fox News.
It’s beyond disappointing the City of Norfolk, it’s officials, and citizens would allowed such a thing. This float was not a political statement, but one of the worst displays of racism….plain and simple. For me, no one can argue successfully against this statement.
The Washington Post notes that this was not the first time that an outhouse has appeared in a parade with the words “Obama†and “Presidential Library’ written on it.
In 2012, a Montana man expressed his views in a similar fashion, attaching a fake birth certificate to the outside of the float. That float was eventually banned from other events in the state of Montana.
In closing I will state that just as Jackie Robinson, when he broke the color barrier in baseball, is admired today across the country when he maintained control of his emotions as racial slurs were constantly hurled at him at the baseball games; President Obama for the betterment of the county and the office of the Presidency, has to maintain his emotional control ignoring the ignorance displayed by the citizens at the Independence Day Parade in Norfolk, Nebraska’s shame. The President too will be honored in the future for the same reason just as Jackie Roberson is today.
Professor,
Allow me to follow up with another example.
One recent Saturday morning I was listening to a NPR piece featuring Edward R. Murrow’s 1960 television documentary report, “Harvest of Shame”. This story brought back a flood of childhood memories for me.
Where I grew up was the area of farmlands where Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass were born into slavery and later escaped. The sad part is many still have the regressive mindset of those times even today. This would be the demographic segment calling themselves Tea Party Republicans back home.
My memories run through the mid 50″s and even as late as the early 70’s, as I can remember the bus loads of migrant farm workers coming up from Florida following the harvesting seasons of the local crops. Crops such as cucumbers, peppers, string beans, peas, tomatoes, cantaloupes, and watermelons.
One particular memory was when I was just a kid of no more than 10 years old, when I over heard a farmer talking to another who was looking over his fields being picked by the migrant workers when he stated, “At one time you use to own your slaves, now we just rent them”. With this he gave a snickering laugh as if he had just said something clever and funny.
The other replied, ” Yeah but today they would ask you, “How do’s you spell “NAACP”?” This last statement was done in the accent voice and speech patterns of the “Uncle Remus”, or Hollywood’s “Step-N-Fetch”, or O’l Shuff-Along” characters.
With this statement, both indulged in a good laughing bout over this perceived clever statement.
Engineer, I was also truly shocked at what happened in Nebraska regarding the 4th of July parade. It sickened me to the core!
And your comment about when you were young, and what was said about the farm workers, is enough to make one want to vomit!
I truly admire your compassion, empathy, and genuine decency, and I just know that if we ever do get to meet each other, we will be splendid friends of a similar mind. We are proof that there is still decency and principle in this world!
Good Morning Professor,
I know that should we meet that we would be splendid friends…. as I think we already are. 🙂
On a side note, I just heard that the Republican Party’s convention will be in Cleveland this year. So I guess that will make Columbus a more tasteful choice for the Democratic Party’s convention. If that happens it might be hard for me to contain myself.
Engineer, I laughed heartily at your excitement of being in the center of the political maelstrom in 2016! LOL
Historically, Ohio has given us six GOP Presidents over 55 years from 1868-1923. But do not bet on a seventh one! LOL
It also will put Ohio Governor John Kasich in the center of things, including a possible Presidential candidacy, food for thought!
“Ohio Governor John Kasich in the center of things”…. Very good good for thought.
I consider these kids fleeing Central America to be refugees.
I agree one hundred percent with you, Southern Liberal!