Obama, Age and Race

Noticing the 50+ crowd (of which I’m a member) complain about the upstart Obama campaign – and watching the news reports of how these folks are, if not flocking to, at least in some numbers joining, the McCain camp, I can’t help but wonder about a couple of things.

First, is this – the generation who never trusted anyone over thirty – now the generation that never trusts anyone under sixty?  After all, there does seem to be a feeling of “it’s our time” among this crowd that smacks of a bit of ageism.

Second, is all this talk about experience and age just cover for the racism that many of these folks feel?  Remember, these are the folks who championed civil rights – but never had any meaningful black friends.  These are the folks that fear black neighborhoods, but don’t know what to do about it.  These are the folks that broke cultural boundaries with their art and music, but run from the next wave – Rap and Hip-Hop – which broke cultural boundaries for the next generations.

If Obama was 60 instead, we may have a clearer picture of whether this is race or age… but to me, the underlying distrust in this country can, nearly always, be brought down to race and religion.

Why is Obama Black?

Obama is the first “black” presidential candidate.  At least that is what the press, the various campaigns, etc., are saying.  Also, Barack does more identify with his black roots than his white roots.

But here is the rub.  Barack is as black as he is white.  His mom was white, his dad was black.  He should be “grey.”

And there is the problem with the underlying racism in our society.  Racism that may (or may almost) prevent Mr. Obama from winning the presidency over a tired, cranky, old white guy who should be spending his time in an RV in Del Ray.  

A person can be white (e.g., both parents white), or something else.  The something else is never white.  It is Asian, Black, Jewish, Hispanic, Indian (US and Asian), etc.  The “impurity” is the problem

And the bigger problem is that we look at it as an impurity.

Face it, America.  We’re a racist, homophobic, xenophobic society.  We have a national religion – unaffiliated fundamentalist christianity.  

Maybe Jesus will save us – but I doubt it.  We still measure a man or woman’s worth by their race, sexual preference, religion, etc.  Jesus and god – ok, I don’t believe in either – aren’t going to bother with us as long as we buy into this crap.