The American Spectator

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Trying to prove a moral equivalence between Democrats and Republicans (as Mike Roush and desperate Democrats are doing) is impossible. Democrat history of manipulating racial issues to advance the party’s political fortunes is an ongoing saga. Never has the national Republican Party supported racial prejudice or openly discriminated against African-Americans. For those who think challenging Democrat voters at the polls is a racial issue it isn’t. It is about keeping Democrats who play fast and loose with voting honest (I’ve done it in predominately white voting places myself when Clinton and Perot voters were indifferent to election laws).

In this year’s election as always it is Democrats making race a major factor. Obama is using it to secure votes and Northern white Democrat politicians who back Hillary are saying Northern white Democrats will not vote for a black. When race, ethnicity and religion are used in politics to attack individuals it is normally Democrats doing it to people like Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Judge Brown, Miguel Estrada, Alberto Gonzales, Justice Alito, etc… It wasn’t Republicans asking if “Barack Obama was black enough?” Republican antipathy for Hillary and Obama has nothing to do with gender or race, but everything to do with their lack of ability and radical agendas.

As for the ministers cited none are racially divisive like Jeremiah Wright. There may be differences in matters of theology and ecclesiology between Protestants and Roman Catholics, but that is a spiritual not political matter. Falwell’s and Robertson’s post 9/11 ill-chosen words were theological and not political. They only became political, because the media chose to make them so. Unlike Jeremiah Wright they both apologized for their intemperate remarks. Wright on the other hand refuses to repudiate his slurs against the US and his racially insulting or divisive statements. In fact, his spiritual protégé Barack Obama has gone out of his way to defend and justify Wright while the liberal media and Obama’s supporters have continued to condone such hate speech.

p>On race and religion the differences between Democrats and Republicans are significant and pronounced. While the GOP is not the party of God (Joshua 5:13-14 illustrates God doesn’t take sides per se) it has more often been on the side of the “angels” regarding race relations in the U.S. than its counterpart. br> — Michael Tomlinson /p>

As a mixed race (Irish-Native American) baby boomer, there are few subjects more depressing and tragic in boomers’ lives than the discussion of race relations. I have been to more race seminars, lectures, organized discussions, controlled confrontations, sensitivity trainings, etc than I can remember since kindergarten. Yet, it all has been unproductive and unrewarding. After 45 years, given the contemporary unyielding resentment and anger, I have given up hope — at least for this generation.

In spite of all the sound bites from the politicians and talking heads about a need for a “national dialogue on race” in this country, it will never happen nor should it happen. Having such as dialogue would stand only to make things worse. The racial waters have become so corrosive and toxic that even sincere exchanges will alienate considerable portions of the citizenry.

I have given up any hopes for genuine reconciliation between all the races in contemporary America. Real progress may be made after this generation passes away. Perhaps even after the next generation or two. But for now, I have come to believe it is not humanly possible for all of us to “like” each other. What is possible and necessary is to treat each other with civility and respect. Yes. This is meeting a serious issue with low expectations. This is far from the wishes of Martin Luther King and the other men and women of the Civil Rights Movement — no denying it. But it is attainable and to a large degree it can be enforced.

p>Time is on the side of the ideals of the Declaration. It is an affront that we get it so wrong for now. But it is an error to believe we can do all the time what we can only do some of the time. As they say in psychiatry, start where the behavior is at — not where you want it to be. br> — Mike Dooley /p>